8 Best Portable Gas Generators in 2023 | Tips and Guides

It’s easy enough to understand why there’s a continuous demand for the best portable gas generator. You need a generator when there’s a power outage at home, and you still need to run your various appliances.

A good portable generator is also more useful, since you can move it from one spot to another more easily if you bring it to a campsite.

As for using gasoline, it’s a very convenient fuel source. It’s everywhere, wherever you go there’s a gas station nearby to provide for your needs.

All you need is your gas generator to power house and a campsite doesn’t have to be torture for you. You can still power your camp lights and recharge your smartphones and laptops. You may even power a fan in the summer or even a TV if you can’t miss the football game.

Some offer enough watts to let you use a mini-fridge so you keep food fresh and your beer cold. You do need to take into account that burning gasoline leads to fumes.

This means you have to use it where you have ample ventilation. These things can be a bit noisy too, so you need to place them far enough away so they don’t annoy you (and everyone else).

Our Picks of 8 Best Portable Gas Generators:

With so many gas generator brands available, how do you pick one that’s best for your needs? One easy way to choose is to narrow down your options to the generators we recommend in our list of the best options:

1. DuroMax XP4400E, Best Gas Powered Portable Generator

This is also another modest generator best reserved for emergency use at home. However, it does come with a handle and wheels so you can also move it about around a campsite.

With this, you get 4400 starting watts and 3500 continuous watts. This comes with a 4-gallon tank that gives you 8 hours of use at half load.

The frame is heavy duty, the tires are solid, and you have a 1-year warranty for the parts. This should last a good long while with features like the circuit breaker and automatic low-oil shutoff.

This isn’t really complicated to use at all. There are 2 120V outlets, along with a 120-Volt/240-Volt twist-lock outlet.

The power panel has the engine shutoff switch and the volt meter. It also has an electric key start so there’s no cord you need to pull. It’s even EPA-approved and the noise levels are tolerable.
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2. DuroStar DS4000S, Natural Gas Powered Portable Generator

The DuroStar is known for its affordable yet well-made products, and the DS4000S justifies this reputation.

It’s a modest gas powered portable generator with 4000 starting watts and 3300 running watts, with should be enough to power your essential appliances at home.

It’s easy enough to use, as it comes with a full complement of safety measures. There’s a volt meter, an oil warning light, a circuit breaker, forced air cooling system, and automatic low oil shutoff. You get 8 hours of use at 50% load, and it’s not noisy at all due to the muffler.
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3. Pulsar 1,200W Portable Gas-Powered Generator

What if you just want a small gasoline generator to power a few simple appliances at a campsite? If you’re not going to use your generator to power your air conditioner and fridge at the same time, it’s a waste of money to buy a generator with more than 10,000 watts.

Instead, the 1,200 watts from this Pulsar should be more than enough.

This gives you 900 watts that should power more than a few lights, a music system, a fan, and perhaps a TV too. You have a couple of 120V outlets to work with, plus a 12V DC output.

This doesn’t have wheels, and that’s because it doesn’t weigh more than 100 pounds. You should be able to lift this from the trunk of your car into your campsite, since it only weighs 35 pounds instead.

It also comes with a comfy handle. Bring this to the beach and have a good time. To keep it compact, this only comes with a 1.1-gallon tank.

That’s more than enough for campsite appliances, and it can still give you 8.5 hours of use at half load. You also have a low oil indicator along with automatic voltage regulation, so you have nothing to worry about. It’s pretty much plug and play.
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4. Pulsar PG2000iS 2000 Watt Portable Inverter Generator

This gives you 1600 running watts to work with, along with a couple of AC outlets and a DC outlet.

The nice thing about this is that it also comes with a USB outlet, so on camping sites and beaches you can make sure your smartphone and laptop don’t run out of juice.

This comes with the stable sine wave technology that makes it safe for more sensitive electronic devices like smartphones.

It’s very compact and it weighs less than 47 pounds so it’s not really impossible to carry to your campsite. This only comes with a 1.18-gallon fuel tank, but that’s big enough to give you 8 hours of use at half load.

You can get two of these Pulsar generators and connect them together to double your power output. This has multiple safety features, including an automatic voltage regulator and a low oil shutoff feature.

It’s also comparatively quiet, as it only operates at 59 decibels even when you’re just 10 feet away. Other generators are noisier at 23 feet away.
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5. DuroMax XP12000E 12000W Portable Gas Electric Start Generator

This is another option for those with lots of appliances to power. It offers 12,000 starting watts and 9,500 running watts.

There’s a volt meter and an oil warning light, along with automatic low oil shutoff.

It’s a simple generator to use, and you have a handle and wheels to move it about your home or campsite. This is a “Beast” of a generator, and you might not even notice that there’s a power outage at all.
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6. A-iPower SUA12000E Gas Powered Portable Generator

Sometimes you really don’t want to be bothered by a power outage, and maybe you also like to bring lots of appliances with you at camping sites.

This means you need lots of available generator power, and that’s what you get with this A-iPower.

You get 9000 running watts and 12,000 starting watts, which should be enough to power the appliances that make life comfortable.

This is also the preferred generator by quite a few construction site professionals. It helps that it does comes with wheels and a handle so you can easily move it around a worksite.

The same goes for a campsite too. To power all those devices, the fuel tank here can hold up to 7 gallons. Even at half load running 4500 watts, this should still give you 9 hours of running time.

It’s not all that noisy either considering its size, as it operates at 78 decibels. This comes with lots of features for convenience and safety. There’s a keyless electric start button, GFCI Protected Outlets, and a heavy duty full frame.
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7. PowerSmart AY3000i Small Portable Gas Generator

With its 3,000 starting watts and 2600 running watts, you can power your 13500 BTU AV Air Conditioner during the height of summer.

You can also power a long list of appliances at once, including your refrigerator, coffee maker, PC, and TV.

It’s very simple to use, and it’s rather like just plugging your appliances in a wall socket.

It offers continuous, stable electricity that won’t damage your appliances with unpredictable power surges. There’s even an LCD screen showing the current status of all the generator functions.
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8. Rockpals 2000-Watt Portable Inverter Generator

Here’s another nice generator for campsites, as it’s EPA-approved and also CARB-compliant.

It’s so quiet backup generator that at full load (not half load) that it only operates at 58 decibels.It’s also compact and lightweight at 47 pounds.

This gives you enough power at 2000 starting watts and 1800 running watts.

If you find that the wattage isn’t enough, you can get another generator like this one and combine them to double your available wattage.

The power is clean and stable, and it won’t damage your sensitive electronic devices. This is quite durable too. The warranty is for 2 years and you get free lifetime technical support.
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9 Benefits of a Using A Portable Gas Generator:

1. Gasoline is readily available, so it’s not as if you need to search for long for a fuel source.
2. Many of these portable gas generators have wheels and a handle so you can move it from one spot to another.
3. They’re very easy to use. Normally, even an average child in grade school should be able to figure them out.
4. If it in the height of summer, having a gas generator means being able to run the air conditioner or even just a fan when you have a power outage.
5. You can use it to power your lights and other appliances at a camping site.
6. At a tailgate party, this can be used to power your music system.
7. When you’re racing to finish a school assignment on your PC, the generator can make sure you don’t end up failing your class.
8. You don’t have to miss the football game even if the power’s out.
9. This generator will have various safety features like automatic low oil shutdown and overloading protection.

How Do Portable Gas Generators Work?

The mechanism of a portable gas generator is quite easy to understand. The unit takes gas and converts its magnetic energy to electrical energy. And it supplies the current to power your appliances. Let’s quickly talk about the main components of a portable gas generator and its functions.

Engine: This is the main part of the generator that converts magnetic energy to electrical energy. The engine is more or less the generator itself.

Fuel Tank: Every generator has a fuel tank in which it stores the fuel of the generator. The tank has a hose or tube through which the fuel will enter the engine from the tank. In an industrial generator, the fuel tank is referred to as the fuel system.

Voltage Regulator: This component regulates the voltage being supplied by the generator. It prevents high voltage, low voltage, or fluctuating voltage. If your generator starts supplying a low voltage, your voltage regulator may be faulty.

Recoil Start Assembly: This component has a cord wound around it. The cord has a handle. This is where the generator is started. After doing the needful, you have to pull the cord swiftly. The generator will start at once.

Spark Plug: This plug helps to ignite the generator. If the plug is dead or dirty, your generator won’t start.

Battery: The function of the battery is to start the generator using the key. If the battery is weak or dead, you won’t be able to start your generator with its key. However, the recoil start does not require a battery.

Having listed the major parts of a portable generator, let’s discuss how it works. Once the generator starts running, the engine generates a magnetic field and converts the magnetic energy to electrical energy.

How Is a Portable Generator Powered?

There are two main types of portable generators. One type of generator is powered by fuel, while the other type is rechargeable. The rechargeable type of generator is also known as an inverter generator.  The inverter generator has an in-built battery. When the battery is weak, it will indicate, and you’ll charge it by plugging it into an outlet.

The other type is the generator that is powered by either gasoline or natural gas. That type of generator has a fuel tank. In fact, some generators are fueled by both natural gas and gasoline. You get to choose which of the fuel types you’d stick to.

If your generator uses gasoline, we suggest that you always fill its fuel tank to capacity before using it. Don’t wait until it runs out of fuel while using it. Although the generator will shut down whenever it runs out of fuel, it’s not a good idea. Once the fuel finishes, the generator may suck some dirt before going off. Over time, the dirt will accumulate in the engine and reduce its performance.

How Does a Portable Generator Power a House?

To make your generator power your house, you have to connect it to either the transfer switch or breaker box. First, an outdoor socket is installed. The generator cord is plugged into the generator outlet, and the other end of the cord will be plugged into the outdoor socket.

The socket is linked to the transfer switch. When there’s an outage, you’ll start your generator and plug the generator cord from the generator to the outdoor socket. Then, you can flip the transfer switch from the main supply to the generator.

When power is restored, switch off the generator and remove the plug. Then, flip the transfer switch back to the main supply. Nowadays, there are automatic transfer switches that do not require manual operation.

How Long Will a Portable Generator Run on a Tank of Gas?

How long your generator runs depends on the following 4 factors.

1. Rate of fuel consumption: Some generators consume fuel faster than others. You need a generator that will conserve fuel. It will reduce the amount of fuel you’ll buy.
2. The fuel tank capacity: The amount of fuel the tank of a generator can take matters too. Generators with larger fuel tank capacities will work for a longer period before running out of fuel.
3. The amount of fuel in the tank: The more the amount of fuel in the tank, the longer a generator will run. If your generator has a full tank, it will run twice longer than when it has a half tank. That’s if you put the same amount of load on it.
4. The amount of load: This should be pretty explanatory. The more the load, the higher the rate of fuel consumption. And when it runs out of fuel, the generator will shut down.

In general terms, a portable generator runs for about 5 – 12 hours. In fact, some can run longer than 12 hours, but it is better to allow your generator to rest after 12 hours.

Buying Guide – How to Choose the Finest Portable Gas Generator?

The best portable gas generator for one person may not be all that good for another person. It all depends on your particular circumstances and needs. To pick the right one that’s best for you, these factors must be considered:

Wattage

You have to consider the running (or rated) watts as well as the peak (or starting) watts. This is the most important consideration, as this will determine what kind of appliances (and how many of them) you can run with the generator. With enough wattage, you can run the usual appliances of an entire household during a power outage.

Running Time

This is usually determined by the size of the fuel tank and the efficiency of the motor. This will also depend on the load you’ve placed on the generator. Normally, you’d expect a gas generator to run for about 8 hours at 50% load.

Portability

This normally isn’t a problem, as these generators generally have wheels and a handle. But the weight may be an issue if you’re going alone to a camping site and you need to lift the generator from the car trunk.

Ease of Use

Again, this shouldn’t be a problem. Even average gas generators should be easy enough to figure out by most adult users. They’re usually so simple even children can use them.

However, it’s best if you do have easy to read gauges and indicators for engine and fuel status, and if you also have lots of safety features like auto low oil shutoff.

Noise

The bigger ones with the most watts tend to be noisier, so it’s up to you to balance your need for power vs. your need for peace and quiet.

You should be able to get used to a gas generator working at 70 decibels or so, which is as loud as a vacuum cleaner. But some generators don’t make as much noise at all.

Durability

How long will the unit last? You may want to stick with well-known brands or to generators made in countries known for good quality control. The length of the warranty can also indicate how long the generator is expected to last.

Who Makes the Quietest Gas Generator?

One of the main drawbacks of using a gas generator is that you have to deal with the noise. It’s one thing to use a rechargeable power station to power your appliances. When you deal with a motor that runs on gasoline, noise is generally part of the deal.

But some generators are noisier than others, and some are run comparatively quieter. Usually, you can thank your lucky stars if your gas generator makes about 70 decibels.

That’s about as loud as a modern vacuum cleaner, or when you turn on your TV at normal sound volume. Some of the more silent gas generators emit even lower noise levels.

• The HONDA EU3000IS can run at less than 50 decibels. That’s as noisy as a quiet suburb which means it’s very quiet.
• The Yamaha EF2000iSv2 goes only up to 61 decibels even on a full load. That’s the normal sound volume of a typical office. It’s about as noisy as an air conditioner 100 feet away from you.
• The Champion Power Equipment 73536i is also good at 53 decibels.

Take note that these decibel readings were taken from 23 feet away. So you may want to get the hint and place your gas generator far from where you usually sit.

Final Verdict

A gas generator is one of those must have items in your home. Sooner or later you’re going to need one because you’ll have a power outage.

These generators are best portable generators for camping, picnics, tailgate parties, beach outings, so you can still have lights, music, and the use of your beloved coffee machine.