Best Portable Generators for Home Backup (2026): Dual Fuel and Tri Fuel Picks

The best portable generator for most homes is a 13,000-watt dual fuel model with a 50-amp outlet, like the DuroMax XP13000HX: about 10,500 running watts on gasoline, 9,975 on propane, and carbon monoxide shutdown. Need less? A 5,500-watt unit covers essentials. Want quiet, clean power? A dual fuel inverter costs more but runs quieter.

Every portable generator on this list runs on both gasoline and propane, and two also run on natural gas, so you are not stuck when one fuel is hard to find after a storm. Below is how to choose, a side-by-side table with the manufacturer's numbers, and our picks. Jump to our picks if you already know your wattage.

Is a dual fuel generator a good idea?

For most home backup buyers, yes. Dual fuel gives you two practical advantages:

• Fuel that keeps. Propane stores for years without going stale, so a few tanks in the shed are ready for the next outage. Stored gasoline degrades over months unless you stabilize and rotate it.
• A backup for your backup. If gas stations are closed or out after a storm, you switch to propane, or the other way around.

The trade-off is a small power drop on propane. On the DuroMax XP13000HX, running watts fall from 10,500 on gasoline to 9,975 on propane, about 5% less. Size your generator on its propane numbers if propane is what you plan to use. Our guide to gas vs propane cost and runtime covers fuel costs in detail.

How to choose a dual fuel generator

1. Running watts, on the fuel you will use. Ignore the big peak number on the box. Add up the running watts of everything you want on at once, add the startup surge of your largest motor (well pump, fridge, AC), and compare to the generator's running watts on propane. Our generator sizing guide walks through it.

2. The 80% rule. For long runs, plan to keep your continuous load at or below about 80% of the generator's running watts. On a 10,500-watt generator that is about 8,400 watts. It is easier on the engine and leaves room for motor surges.

3. The outlet that feeds your house. To power hard-wired circuits you need a transfer switch, and the switch must match the generator's largest outlet. A 30-amp L14-30 outlet pairs with a 30A switch (up to 7,200 watts through it). A 50-amp 14-50 outlet pairs with a 50A switch (up to 12,000 watts). Our transfer switch guide explains the sizing.

4. Conventional or inverter. Conventional open-frame generators give you the most watts per dollar. Inverter generators produce cleaner power for sensitive electronics and run quieter, at a much higher price per watt. See our full comparison of inverter vs regular generators.

5. Safety and paperwork. Look for automatic carbon monoxide shutdown, and check emissions rules for your state. Some models are not sold in California or are not certified for all 50 states.

Side by side: the dual fuel generators we carry

Specifications from the manufacturers' published spec sheets. Running watts shown for gasoline / propane.

Our picks: best portable generators for home

Every generator below is carried by Krato Power and in stock as of this writing.

Best overall for home backup: DuroMax XP13000HX. 10,500 running watts on gasoline and 9,975 on propane from a 500cc engine, a 50A 14-50 outlet for a transfer switch, CO sensor shutdown, electric start, and a 5-year limited warranty. $1,399. It is $100 more than the XP13000EH, and that buys CO shutdown and two extra years of warranty.

Best tri fuel generator: DuroMax XP13000HXT. The same 13,000-watt class with natural gas added: 10,500 running watts on gasoline, 9,500 on propane, and 8,500 on natural gas. Remote start, CO shutdown, a 15 ft natural gas hose in the box, and a 5-year limited warranty. $1,499. Worth it if you have a gas line and expect long outages; have a licensed gas fitter make the connection.

Best value 13,000-watt generator: DuroStar DS13000MXT. Tri fuel, 10,500 running watts on gasoline, 10,000 on propane, 9,000 on natural gas, with remote start, CO shutdown, and a 25 ft natural gas hose, for $999. The trade-offs: aluminum rather than copper windings, a 3-year warranty, and its spec sheet lists it as not EPA certified and not 50-state emissions compliant, so check your state's rules before you buy.

Best for essentials and smaller homes: DuroMax XP5500HX. 4,500 running watts on gasoline, 4,275 on propane, an L14-30 outlet that pairs with a 30A transfer switch, CO shutdown, and a 5-year warranty, at 131 lb. $629. Enough for a fridge, freezer, lights, a furnace blower, and a sump pump, not central air.

Step up from 5,500 watts: DuroStar DS8000iX. 6,500 running watts on gasoline and 6,175 on propane, with inverter power rated under 3% THD, an L14-30 outlet for a 30A transfer switch, CO shutdown, copper windings, and a 3-year warranty. $999. It is not 50-state compliant, so check your state's rules.

Lowest price in the 13,000-watt dual fuel class: DuroMax XP13000EH. The same 10,500 / 9,975 running watts and 50A outlet as the HX, for $1,299. Its spec sheet lists no CO sensor shutdown and a 3-year warranty, which is why we would spend the extra $100 on the XP13000HX.

Best quiet inverter: DuroMax XP11000iH. 9,000 running watts on gasoline, 8,550 on propane, clean sine wave power, a rated 61 dB at 25% load, and both 50A and 30A locking outlets. CO shutdown, 5-year warranty. $2,499. Not for sale in California.

Most power: DuroMax XP16000iH. 13,000 running watts on gasoline and 12,350 on propane from a 744cc engine, two 50A outlets, and 66.9 dB at 25% load. At 368 lb dry it is portable only on wheels. $4,999. Not for sale in California.

Compare them all on our dual fuel generators and tri fuel generators pages, or call our team at 888-855-7286 with the appliances you want to run.

Can a 5,000-watt generator run a house?

It can run a house's essentials, not the whole house. A unit like the XP5500HX, at 4,500 running watts, handles a fridge, a freezer, lights, internet, a furnace blower, and a sump pump if you stagger the motor starts. Central air, an electric range, a dryer, and a well pump together need a 13,000-watt class generator. Our guide on what size generator to run a house has the full wattage list.

Dual fuel or tri fuel?

Tri fuel adds natural gas. If your home has a gas line and you want backup that never needs a refill, tri fuel is the long-outage choice. Expect less power on natural gas: the XP13000HXT drops from 10,500 running watts on gasoline to 8,500 on natural gas. If you do not have a gas line, dual fuel covers you. Our dual fuel vs tri fuel guide goes deeper.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best portable generator for home use? For most homes, a 13,000-watt dual fuel portable with a 50A outlet and CO shutdown, like the DuroMax XP13000HX. It can run the essentials and a well pump through a 50A transfer switch. If you only need a fridge, freezer, lights, and a furnace blower, the 5,500-watt XP5500HX costs less than half as much.

What can an 8,000-watt generator run? A unit in that class, like the DS8000iX at 6,500 running watts on gasoline, can run a fridge, a freezer, lights, a furnace blower, a sump pump, and a well pump or window air conditioner if you stagger the motor starts. Central air plus everything else usually needs a 13,000-watt class generator.

Which dual fuel generator is the best? For most home backup, the DuroMax XP13000HX: 10,500 running watts on gasoline, a 50A outlet, CO shutdown, and a 5-year warranty for $1,399. For quiet power, the XP11000iH inverter.

Is a dual fuel generator a good idea? Yes for most backup buyers. Propane stores for years, and you can switch fuels when one is hard to get. Expect about 5% less power on propane.

Is it cheaper to run a dual fuel generator on gas or propane? It depends on local fuel prices and how much you use. See our gas vs propane guide for the math.

What is the 80% rule for generators? Keep your continuous load at or below about 80% of the generator's running watts. It protects the engine and leaves room for motor startup surges.

What is the best tri fuel generator for a home? The DuroMax XP13000HXT for its 5-year warranty and copper windings, or the DuroStar DS13000MXT if budget matters most and its emissions rating is allowed where you live.

Should I get an inverter or a regular dual fuel generator? A regular generator gives you more watts for the money; an inverter gives cleaner, quieter power. Our inverter vs regular generator guide compares the two with real specs.

Can I run a dual fuel generator indoors or in a garage? Never. Run it outdoors, far from windows, doors, and vents, with working CO alarms inside. See our guide on running a generator overnight.

Ready to choose? Compare dual fuel generators, pair yours with a transfer switch, or call our team at 888-855-7286 and we will size the generator and switch together.

This guide is general information, not electrical or professional installation advice. Specifications are from the manufacturers' published spec sheets. Never run a generator indoors. Transfer switches and natural gas connections should be installed by licensed professionals per local codes.

Reviewed by the Krato Power team. Questions? Reach us at 888-855-7286.