Recommended size: 10,000–12,000W
A 10,000–12,000W portable generator powers nearly every circuit in your house except central air conditioning. That covers your refrigerator, freezer, sump pump, well pump, window AC, space heater, microwave, lights, and all your electronics running simultaneously. Use a transfer switch for safe connection to your electrical panel.
Enough power for most home backup scenarios. 50A outlet for direct panel hookup with a transfer switch.
When you want to keep your entire home running during an outage (minus the central AC), you need a large portable generator in the 10,000–12,000W range. These units handle the combined running load of all your major appliances plus the starting surge of the largest motor. The 50A outlet connects directly to a transfer switch on your panel for safe, whole-circuit power distribution. These generators weigh 198–224 lbs and run on wheels, so they stay in the garage or shed and roll out when needed. Expect 8–12 hours of runtime at half load. Dual fuel models offer the security of propane backup when gas is hard to find.
DuroMax
Enough power for most home backup scenarios. 50A outlet for direct panel hookup with a transfer switch.
Westinghouse
Transfer-switch ready with remote start. Excellent runtime from a large 6.6-gallon tank and reliable Westinghouse build quality.
Generac
Purpose-built for home backup with COsense carbon monoxide safety shutoff. Long 11-hour runtime at half load.
Select your specific appliances in our sizing calculator to get a precise wattage calculation and personalized generator match.
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