Best portable generators for home backup under $1000

Top pick: Champion 7500W Electric Start Dual Fuel Home Backup. For whole-home backup it's the one that behaves like a standby unit: electric start (no pull cord in the rain), enough running watts to carry a furnace, fridge and a few circuits through a transfer switch, and dual fuel so you can run it on propane when gasoline lines are long. CO Shield and a 4.8 rating from 96 owners back it up.

Who the others suit:

• Champion 4000W Dual Fuel inverter — quieter, cleaner power for electronics; best for a fridge, lights and router, not a whole panel.
• DuroMax XP5500HX — dual fuel with CO alert, a middle ground if you want more headroom than an inverter but don't need 7500W.
• KingChii 4500W inverter — budget inverter for essentials only.
• DuroMax 13,000W — the most power here; check your panel and fuel supply before committing.
• Champion 2500W / Aceup 1200W — tailgating and phone/laptop charging, not home backup.
• Efurden 4400W — cheap, but I'd treat the wattage claims and support with caution.

Whatever you pick, plan for a transfer switch or properly sized cords, and never run a generator indoors or in a garage.