Best Inverter Generator Reviews – All New Comparison For 2021

Inverter generators tend to be the most suitable power source in many conditions where alternative power sources are needed, because they are easy to use, portable, and they make such a reliable and stable source of power. They are also versatile, light, and noiseless machines.

What Exactly Does An Inverter Do, and How Does It Work?

All modern inverter generators work quite the same way, in a basic sense; they work based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Michael Faraday, reputed by many to be the “father of electricity”, discovered this principle of electromagnetic induction in 1831. He observed that when an electrical conductor (any material that can conduct electricity like a metal rod or wire) is moved around within a magnetic field, electrical pressure is created between the two ends of the conductor. If you connect an ammeter to the conductor, you’d observe a current flowing through the conductor.

Generators can be either of two types: AC or DC. AC refers to alternating current while DC stands for direct current. Inverters convert DC power into AC power. Simple, isn’t it? Well, maybe not as simple as it looks. There are a bunch of inverters that work in different ways. Some output AC current in square wave form while others output modified sinusoidal wave signals. The ones you need to concern yourself with are the inverters that output pure sinusoidal wave AC power. That’s where inverter generators have an edge. Inverters don’t simply modify the signal, they also make it cleaner.

Clean current? What’s that?

You see, the power company supplies power to your home in the form of pure sinusoidal AC waves. IF you’re familiar with sine waves, you know they’re curved lines that rise and fall on a time axis. Square waves, on the other hand, are square-shaped signals that rise and fall abruptly, sometimes damaging sensitive electronic circuits in the process, making them operate at higher temperatures than their specified operating range. Inverters ‘invert’ the input signal, and then superimpose the inverted signal on the original output by shifting the phase. Too technical for you? Don’t bother your head about it. Let’s move on.

An inverter generator basically consists of a simple AC generator, a rectifier, and an inverter circuit. The alternator gives out 3-phase AC power that the rectifier converts to DC. The resulting DC power is then passed through the inverter, where it is cleaned up and then converted to single-phase AC at a specific output voltage. The final output is a stable, pure sinusoidal AC current you can use to power your regular home appliances – your TV, stereo, air conditioners, etc.

Any modern electronic appliance designed to run on sinusoidal AC will only display peak performance when it is supplied with stable, clean AC power. An inverter generator gives you electricity similar to the one you get from the power company. Inversely, the power output from a conventional generator is best described as low quality, consisting of square wave signals, which is dangerous for delicate electronic appliances. It’ll heat up your laptop, phone, home theatre, and other equipment and appliances, and cause damage to any microprocessor-based low-voltage system with prolonged use. This is usually most evident when you power speakers with your conventional generator – you’ll notice the degradation in sound quality output. It may be barely noticeable, but it will definitely be there.

Important Considerations When Choosing an Inverter Generator

Everyone’s needs differ. And that’s why, as opposed to giving you a list of best inverter generators, we simply made an outline of several factors that would help guide you through your decision-making process in arriving at your unique choice of the best inverter generator for you in particular.

1. Maximum Power Output

Power output of generator engines tends to vary across board with each specific model and price or range of prices. Nevertheless, conventional generators can deliver within a range of 3,000 to 20,000 watts of electric power. Inverter generators are much more limited in maximum power output due to the desire for less noise and greater portability as evidenced by their design. They generally give a maximum power output between 4000 and 5000 watts on average, which is quite sufficient for most domestic applications. 4000 watts is enough electric power to run an air conditioning unit in an RV while microwaving a meal with the TV on. You don’t really need more than 4,000 watts – not unless you plan to start a kind of local power company to supply your next-door neighbors.

Even if the RV isn’t the intended destination for the inverter generator, but your home instead, maybe as a backup in the event of a blackout or a natural disaster, you wouldn’t need more than 4000 watts. You can power almost 10 LED lights, 4 fans, a microwave, a TV, water heater and a laptop – and there’ll still be some space to add some extra appliances in the mix like a blender or toaster. On out website we have generator wattage calculator, try to use it to understand your needs.

Although conventional generators can generate more maximum power than inverter generators (going off sale prices only, not adjusting for efficiency or running expenses), you won’t need more power than the higher end inverters deliver, and you can as well buy something lower if it suits your needs (be sure to double-check your calculations).

2. Fuel Efficiency and Run-Time

Inverter generators can gain up to 40% extra fuel efficiency compared to conventional generator models, even though they feature smaller fuel tanks. This is due to their extremely efficient engine design optimizations. These efficiency tweaks make inverter engines deliver more power for longer periods than conventional generators per the same amount of fuel.

For power to be delivered at the right frequency, a conventional generator has to keep the RPM (revolutions per minute, a unit of engine speed) constant, at about 3600 RPM. Fuel consumption increases as more power is demanded. But the least speed the engine can run at is 3600 RPM, even with minimal load and power demand.

Inverter generators also feature an intelligent load monitoring system that checks the load being put on the output, so that the microprocessor can tell the engine to either increase or reduce its speed to save fuel, similar to how power saving mode on your smartphone gets activated when it isn’t using much processing power for tasks. They can operate at much lower speeds than conventional generators, which in turn reduces vibration and noise.

Unlike the conventional generator, the decrease in engine speed does not result in lower frequency in the output power of the inverter generator, as inverter generators are designed to output power at a constant frequency regardless of the engine speed. Consequently, an inverter generator consumes less fuel when power demand is low, and can increase its engine speed to supply more power when needed.

Generator run-times tend to vary based on differences in engine design. Standard generators have larger fuel tanks since they are designed to supply a specific minimum power output with less regard for portability. Inverter generators, designed from the get-go with portability as a major consideration, have smaller fuel tanks. Nonetheless, due to their superior fuel-efficient design, many inverter generators have run-times of up to 10 hours, as well as lower exhaust emissions.

3. Power Quality

Conventional generators feature a very basic, functional design. Hook up an engine to an alternator, and the AC frequency is determined by the speed of the engine. This has nothing to do with the load. An increase in load while is in use will lead to an increase in throttle, so that the engine speed (3600RPM) can remain constant.

The power output from the alternator goes straight to the attached equipment without being regulated or processed.

Inverter generators are also different in this regard. Instead of sending the electricity directly to the load unprocessed, inverters use a rectifier to convert AC to DC, and then make use of capacitors to smooth out any fluctuation in the resulting output.

Next, the DC is inverted back to clean AC power at the needed frequency and voltage. This makes for more consistency in power output that is constant and clean regardless of the engine speed.

This quality of power is what the electric utility company supplies you. It is very important when powering electronics like TV’s, gaming consoles, phones, laptops and other sensitive appliances that require high quality, clean power.

4. Noise

Noise level is a very important consideration, depending on what you plan to use it for. For domestic uses or generating power in areas that are sensitive to noise, the inverter generator is a no-brainer.

They are designed with engines that are much quieter than conventional generator models, coupled with specially designed mufflers to further reduce noise, and noise dampening technology. All these embedded features combine to keep the overall noise very minimal. Moreover, since inverter generators don’t need to maintain a minimum speed of 3600RPM to maintain a steady supply of clean power like a standard generator, the engine speed is also lower most of the time which means less noise.

Noise levels for inverter generators range from as low as little as 50 dB of noise (the general level of a normal conversation) at partial load, to 60 dB when running at full load. For some more context, an electric razor is rated at 68dB. A lot of conventional generators have noise ratings that go as high as 75 dB – that’s about as loud as a car traveling around 70 MPH. That’s too much noise to expect your neighbors to cope with, whether at home or out camping.

5. Portability

Portability is a relative concept; with a practical definition that gets updated very quickly as developments occur, especially in our fast-paced world. So, while a lot of conventional generators are referred to as ‘portable’, they are usually very heavy. After all, they basically consist of an engine and fuel tank connected to an alternator – how portable could they be? Their design gives more consideration to power output and run-time than to portability (unit weight and size). And rightly so, if you’re looking to run equipment that requires heavy load like a plasma cutting tool or welding tool.

Many conventional generators are so heavy that they need metal bars to be lifted and are also fitted with wheels for movement.

Like we earlier pointed out, inverter generators are built with portability as a major design consideration. This is why they typically offer lower power outputs (between 500w and 4000w) in a more compact and lighter unit package when compared to standard model generators. Inverter generators are small and light enough for one person to easily carry, and they can also easily be stored in the trunk of a car, RV or boat.

6. Price

Premium products, especially premium technology products, attract a premium price point. For all its benefits, if at all there is any downside to the inverter generator, then this has to be it. Try as hard as you can, you will never be able to find an inverter generator that is cheaper than or equal to a conventional generator that gives similar output.

The reason for this is not far fetched: manufacturing inverter generators requires extensive research on the cutting edge of technological development in power generation resulting in custom parts built specially to reduce noise increase portability and be more environmentally friendly, and all that without a reduction in performance. You could say that inverter generators are worth every cent of their higher price.

Inverter generators are still far more expensive than conventional generator models, even though the prices have been reducing, and continue to reduce as time goes on. If you aren't too keen on clean AC power and your appliance is capable of operating on square wave AC current then a standard generator might just be all you need.

Some other times a conventional generator will be a better choice than an inverter generator are times when:

• You need at least 14 hours of continuous power a day for an appliance that isn’t so sensitive to power quality.
• You’re on a budget and you need something inexpensive to power lights, heaters, fans, and other appliances that are not very sensitive to current quality.
• The generator is going to be some distance from your house or room, so the heat and noise won’t be a bother for you.

7. Simplicity of Design & Repair

It’s quite obvious that the simplicity of design of the inverter generator gives it an upper hand over standard model generators. With fewer components, namely an engine connected to an alternator, there are fewer points where failure can occur, and troubleshooting is much easier. This can be an important criterion in making your decision to purchase an inverter generator.

That said, there is little evidence to suggest that inverter generators have a higher failure rate than conventional models. They can be more difficult to repair, however, due to their more complicated electrical components and circuitry.

Of course, it's all a matter of personal preference, but if you really need something that is very easy to fix, then it might be better to go for a conventional generator.

Important Additional Features to Look For When Buying Inverter Generator

Apart from the basic, general features of inverter generators, you may want to look out for some of the following additional features:

Fuel Gauge

One very nice additional feature that not all inverter generators have is the fuel gauge, even though one would think a fuel gauge would be standard issue on all units by now. It’s not enough to be able to guess how much fuel you have left by examining the model specifications when there is a more effective way to tell.

Some generators have analog gauges while others have digital gauges, and yet some have multiple gauges. The ones with multiple gauges can tell you how many hours the fuel you have left can last you. They do this by measuring the power being used on one gauge and fuel consumption on another, then combine those two measurements to calculate the amount of time left.

Parallel (or Tandem) Operation

Many inverter generators can be used in parallel or combined to increase and potentially double their power output while still offering their trademark quiet, clean power. Conventional generators do not have this feature.

This is typically done by connecting two identical units with a special cable.

Remote Start

Some new inverter generators come with a remote electric start. That’s a great feature to have especially when out camping, because it’s super convenient: just push a button and your generator starts. Some inverter generators can be started remotely from up to 300 feet away.

It also has a very good safety feature embedded. Some models are programmed to shut down if the oil reaches a level that isn’t safe for operation.

Eco Mode

Some inverter generators sport an eco mode function. This feature reduces fuel consumption by reducing the engine speed as much as possible when the power needed isn’t very much.

The eco mode isn’t automatic; it can be toggled on or off, so you could choose to switch off eco mode if you need more power for a particular appliance, and put it in eco mode and save fuel when the extra power is no longer being used. Also, the lower engine speed when eco mode is on means the engine motor gives less noise.

Manual Fuel Shutoff switch

Truth be told, except you live off the grid or out in the middle of the desert, your generator will be in storage most of the time. You only take it out once in a blue moon – when you need to go fishing, tailgating, on a trip in your RV or in one of those rare instances when the power goes out. All that’s going to come to in a whole year is just a few hundred hours. So what happens when your generator hibernates in your garage for months at a time? Fuel may escape, and the fuel system could get clogged.

To prevent this, you need to drain out all the fuel and run the engine until the tank is totally dry before storing the generator for an extended period of time. Nonetheless, to prevent fuel loss or leakage, a good generator should still have a switch that can turn off the fuel system automatically when you shut down the engine.

Low-oil automatic shutoff with indicator light

You may have observed (or maybe not) that when the generator has been on for a while, it starts to rattle strangely all of a sudden. That may be an indication that your oil is going down and your engine is not getting enough lubrication. This could lead to engine failure in extreme cases, and will cost you roughly half the amount you originally bought the generator to fix. It would be best to get a generator that has some kind of display or indicator for the engine oil level.

When would it be better to use an Inverter Generator instead of a Conventional Generator?

An inverter generator almost always trumps a conventional one when compared shoulder to shoulder. Unless you need a lot of power, an inverter generator would most likely be the way to go. It is quiet, stable and safe, and provides clean power in a highly efficient manner. Inverter generators are portable and easy to transport.

Here are some specific occasions and situations in which an inverter generator would obviously benefit you more than a conventional generator:

• Camping: An inverter generator can give you adequate power supply and not be too noisy for other campers around.
• RVing: Many camps have noise restrictions, especially at night, so you’ll need a quiet power source.
• If you’re in a cabin or a boat, you’ll possibly need to charge your phone or laptop. A noisy generator can be quite frustrating to listen to.
• An inverter generator is a quiet and stable source of energy that can be useful in emergency situations to power some basic devices and appliances.

Mistakes to Avoid When Buying an Inverter Generator

To round off this guide, beware of these mistakes people tend to make especially when buying something as important and useful as an inverter generator. These tips will serve you in making other purchasing decisions too.

• Don’t get distracted by industry jargon that you might probably be unfamiliar with. Focus instead on the specifications of each machine you are presented with. The sales and marketing department exists simply to make sure you buy what they are selling, so you have to do your own due diligence and ignore their praise for their product, which could sometimes turn out to be undeserved.
• Buy a generator from a well-known manufacturer. If after making some research, you can’t find anyone who knows of a particular company, make sure you don’t buy from that manufacturer.
• Ensure you get a warranty – and make sure it’s a good one. If more than one generator fits your exact needs, then go for the one with the best warranty. A warranty is a vote of confidence by the company on their own product, and good insurance for you.
• Don’t just buy the first generator you feel meets your needs. Check around and make comparisons. Search inverter generator reviews and compare specifications, features, and prices to ensure you get the best option possible. Buying online usually turns out to be a thrifty way to go.

If you have been wondering which inverter generator to choose, look no further. We will guide you in your quest to get the best inverter generator that meets your needs. Our aim is simple: to arm you with enough information to make an educated decision of the best portable inverter generator that will meet your specific needs.

In doing this, we will majorly be juxtaposing the inverter generators with the well-known, conventional model. This guide will leave you with all you need to know about inverter generators, how they function, and how to select the most suitable one for you.

Honda EU2200i Portable Inverter Generator

The Honda EU2200i is an updated version of the EU2000i. It is by far the most reliable engine in the inverter generator category with a capacity of 98.5cc able to comfortably support large loads without rescinding its overload circuit.

Honda has always been the best engine manufacturers ever since, the Honda 2200W engine cannot be therefore compared to other engine types in terms of performance. Moreover, Honda has the largest number of service stations that will come in handy whenever anything goes wrong with your Honda engine.

Read our full Honda EU2000i Review.

WEN 56200i 2000 Watt Inverter Generator

The WEN 56200i inverter generator is the most pocket friendly generator in terms of initial purchase costs. This can be articulated to the low power, it comes in handy for use with low power Consuming electrical appliances. The use of the WEN 56200i generator eliminates the wastage of fuel since the produced voltage is put into maximum usage. Moreover, one saves on fuel costs that would otherwise been spent on a considerably larger generator due to minimal utilization of the produced power.

Talking of fuel utilization, the WEN 56200i generator has a run time of 6 hours at 50% load with a full 1-gallon fuel tank.

WEN 56200i has an eco-mode which comes in hand to regulate the amount of fuel that consumes depending on the appliances that have been plugged in. When a low power Consuming appliance is being used the eco-mode setting will automatically reduce the speed of the engine by reducing the amount of fuel intake.

Oil is of utmost importance to enable a smooth running and a longer lifespan for the inverter generator. Also, there is a low oil indicator amp to prevent running on low oil levels.

Read our full WEN 56200i Review

Briggs Stratton 30651 PowerSmart Inverter Generator

Briggs & Stratton P2200 is a 55 pound generator producing 1700W running watts and a surge output of up to 2200 Watts. Fortified with multiple power outlets, the power smart generator can comfortably support all home appliances safely at a go.

The Briggs Stratton 30651 inverter generator is equipped with a one gallon fuel tank that can power the power smart generator for up to 8 hours at quarter the load producing a noise level of 59 db. At eco mode this generator produces 57db of noise, it is very unobtrusive.

You can read our full Briggs & Stratton 30651 p2200 Review.

Westinghouse iGen2500 Portable Inverter Generator

The Westinghouse iGen2500 Inverter generator is contrived with a double Acoustic protective cover case. It has disproportionate cooling fans to maintain a low internal temperature and stumpy toned mufflers to reduce operating Noise. It has a run time of up to 10 hours at 25% load with a full gas tank, very economical on fuel.

Yamaha EF2000iSV2 Inverter Generator

The Yamaha EF2000isv2 inverter generator produces a peak of 2000W and a running wattage of 1600W output from a 79cc engine capacity. EF2000isv2 is fuel efficient with a running time of 10.5 hours at quarter capacity of the load from a 1.1 gallon full tank. It is a robust generator that is able to run comfortably in parallel to double the level of power output.

At 25% load connected, it produces noise of 51.5 dbs. It produces 61dbs at 50% load connected to the system, this considerably low and is suitable for camping and home use. It is super-quiet.

Read our full Westinghouse WGen7500 Review

WEN 56310i Compliant Inverter Generator

The WEN 56310i inverter generator is a beast with 3.5 horsepower engine with 212cc air cooled engine with impressive performance from the fuel efficient strong engine. Having a runtime of 7.5 hours on half the load from a full 1.85 gallon tank is a great thing given the high engine output.

Characterizing 57 decibels of noise at 25% load is such an impressive character from the 2800W generator. Moreover it weighs a mere 81.4 pounds-a superb feature from this robust generator providing power wherever needed conveniently. With all these features from the 2800W generator, WEN 56310i is one of the best inverter generators on the market.

Generac IQ2000 6866 Inverter Generator

The Generac 6866 Inverter generator, a product of Generac boasts a 2000 Watt peak voltage and a 1600w running wattage which is exactly similar to the Honda EU 2000i engine rating. At its heart sits an OHV 80cc 4-stroke engine that runs for 7.7 hours at 25% load from a full 1.06 gallon fuel tank, somehow thirsty on fuel compared to its other Honda equivalent.

It features a beautiful LED display for almost all the functions and units, these include; fuel bar, run-time, low oil and fuel, run-time counter, reset, load indicator and a power bar.

Read our full Generac IQ2000 Review.

Champion Power Equipment 75531i 3100 Watt Inverter Generator

Housed in a sleek cube design, the Champion 75531i is one of the best inverter generators ever, it produces a peak 3100 Wattage and 2800 Watts while running from a huge 171cc Champion 4 stroke OHV gasoline engine. This RV ready generator is the ultimate choice for all mega appliances that would have otherwise needed two small generators paralleled to produce the required watts.

Honda EU3000iS Super Quiet Inverter Generator

The Honda EU3000is inverter generator Constitutes a robust engine that spits out 3000W of power on start and a running wattage of 2800W of super clean power than is available for use on even the most power sensitive electronics and appliances. It is a strong engine that is available for use in multiple electrical needs either in a camping site or in the household. This Honda engine does not have a bad performance on fuel economy given that its power production is unmatched. It has a run time of up to 20 hours on a 3.4 gallon full tank on half the load, perfect from a 3000 Watt generator.

Furthermore, Honda 3000 Generator produces only 49 decibels of noise at quarter load and goes up to 58 decibels when loaded with the full rated load, quieter than a normal conversation that one would not hesitate to go for.

Read our full Honda EU3000 Review.

Atima AY2000i Inverter Generator

The elegant Atima AY2000 inverter generator is a proud product of Yamaha, always available to power all your home appliances with great ego, you won’t stop loving it. It produces up to 200W from the 120V with a recoil oriented start system with the support of a parallel system to comfortably respond to all your demanding power needs at a go.

Atima-AY2000 is savvy on fuel and can run for up to 7.6 hours on quarter load from a full 1-gallon fuel tank. Suitable for all your daily power needs and never fails.