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Best Inverter Generator for Home Backup (2026): Picks by Home Size
For most homes, the best inverter generator for home backup is the DuroMax XP13500iH: 10,500 running watts on gasoline (10,000 on propane), a 50 amp outlet for your transfer switch or interlock, under 3% THD, and a 5-year warranty for $2,699. If you want the most watts for the money, the DuroStar DS14000iX makes 11,000 running watts for $1,999. For essentials only, the DuroStar DS8000iX does it for $999.
Below is every in-stock home backup inverter generator we carry, side by side, plus how to pick the right size.
Home backup inverter generators compared
| Model | Running watts (gas / propane) | 240V outlets | Noise at 25% load | Dry weight | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuroStar DS8000iX | 6,500 / 6,175 | L14-30 | Under 70 dB | 134 lb | 3 years | $999 |
| DuroMax XP9500iH | 7,600 / 7,200 | L14-30, 14-50 | 61 dB | 216 lb | 5 years | $1,999 |
| DuroMax XP11000iH | 9,000 / 8,550 | L14-30, 14-50 | 61 dB | 216 lb | 5 years | $2,499 |
| DuroStar DS14000iX | 11,000 / 10,500 | L14-30, 14-50 | Under 74 dB | 212 lb | 3 years | $1,999 |
| DuroMax XP13500iH | 10,500 / 10,000 | L14-30, 14-50 | 66 dB | 234 lb | 5 years | $2,699 |
| DuroMax XP16000iH | 13,000 / 12,350 | Two 14-50 | 66.9 dB | 368 lb | 5 years | $4,999 |
| DuroMax XP28000iHT | 22,000 / 20,000 (16,000 natural gas) | L14-30, two 14-50 | 70 dB | 466 lb | 5 years | $7,999 |
Specs and prices are from each product page. All are dual fuel or tri fuel with CO sensor shutdown, and none are sold in California. Manufacturers measure noise a little differently, so treat dB figures as a guide.
What size inverter generator do you need for home backup?
Size it to what you will run at the same time:
- Essentials (fridge, freezer, lights, internet, furnace blower, sump pump): about 3,000 to 5,000 running watts.
- Most of the house (add a well pump, microwave, window AC): about 7,000 to 10,000 running watts.
- Whole house with central air: a 13,000 watt class generator or larger.
Keep your steady load at or below about 80% of the generator's running watts, and leave room for the startup surge of your biggest motor. One more limit: a single 50 amp, 240V outlet carries at most 12,000 watts (50 A x 240 V), so that is the most you can push through one 50 amp transfer switch or interlock. Our guide on what size generator to run a house has the appliance-by-appliance list.
Our picks
Best overall: DuroMax XP13500iH ($2,699). 10,500 running watts covers essentials, a well pump, and a lot of the house. It has a 14-50 outlet, remote start, demand-based variable idle, and a 5-year warranty. On a 40 lb propane tank it runs about 16.9 hours at 25% load. Need natural gas? The XP13500iHT adds it at 9,000 running watts for $2,999.
Most watts for the money: DuroStar DS14000iX ($1,999). 11,000 running watts, the most per dollar in this list. The trade-offs: an open frame, so it is louder (under 74 dB at 25% load), a 3-year warranty instead of 5, and no remote start in its spec list.
Best budget essentials: DuroStar DS8000iX ($999). 6,500 running watts and an L14-30 outlet for a 30 amp transfer switch or interlock. It runs the fridge, freezer, lights, furnace blower, and sump pump. At 134 lb, it is also the easiest to move.
Quietest: DuroMax XP9500iH ($1,999) and XP11000iH ($2,499). Both are rated 61 dB at 25% load, which matters through a long outage at night. The XP9500iH covers essentials plus a well pump; the XP11000iH adds 1,400 more running watts. Natural gas version: XP9500iHT, $2,099.
Biggest: DuroMax XP16000iH ($4,999) and XP28000iHT ($7,999). For large homes and central air. The XP28000iHT runs on gasoline, propane, or natural gas. A single 50 amp connection carries up to 12,000 watts, so plan the transfer equipment with your electrician to use the full output. Tri fuel XP16000iH: XP16000iHT, $5,299.
See every model in our inverter generators collection.
Why choose an inverter generator for home backup?
- Clean power: the DuroMax iH models are rated under 3% THD, which suits computers, TVs, and the control boards in modern furnaces and appliances.
- Quieter at night: demand-based variable idle slows the engine when loads are light, which is most of an overnight outage.
- Less fuel at light load: for the same reason, a lightly loaded inverter burns less fuel per hour.
The trade-off is price per watt. A regular generator gives you more watts per dollar. See Inverter Generator vs Regular Generator for the full comparison.
How to connect it to your house
To power hard-wired circuits like the furnace or well pump, connect through a transfer switch or a listed interlock kit installed by a licensed electrician. Never backfeed through a wall outlet. See Generator Interlock Kit Installation: Steps and Cost and our Generator Transfer Switch Guide.
Need help sizing? Call 1-888-855-7286. Send us the appliances you need to run and we will match you to the right inverter generator and transfer setup.
Inverter generator for home backup FAQ
What is the best inverter generator for home backup? For most homes, the DuroMax XP13500iH (10,500 running watts, 50 amp outlet, 5-year warranty, $2,699). For the most watts per dollar, the DuroStar DS14000iX (11,000 running watts, $1,999).
What size inverter generator do I need to run a house? About 3,000 to 5,000 running watts for essentials, 7,000 to 10,000 for most of the house, and 13,000 or more for a whole house with central air.
Can an inverter generator power a whole house? Yes, if it is big enough and connected through a transfer switch or interlock. Large models like the XP16000iH and XP28000iHT put out 120/240V.
How long will an inverter generator run on propane? The XP13500iH runs about 16.9 hours at 25% load and 9.2 hours at 50% load on a 40 lb tank, per DuroMax.
Is an inverter generator worth it for home backup? If you want quieter nights and cleaner power for electronics, yes. If you want the most watts per dollar, a regular generator wins.
Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows and doors. Carbon monoxide is deadly. Specs are manufacturer ratings; actual output, runtime, and noise vary with load, fuel, altitude, and conditions.