generators for backup power

A battery is the quiet, indoor answer for most dependencies. But when you need to run big or run long — a 240V well pump, a furnace through a multi-day winter storm, days of runtime on fuel — a generator is the workhorse a portable power station can't replace.

These guides focus on generators that keep a specific thing running, not on whole-home standby units you install with an electrician. Size comes first: get that wrong and nothing else matters.

by what you're keeping running

• best generator for a well pump On a private well, no power means no water. Well pumps are often 240V with a big startup surge — here's what actually runs one, sized to your pump.
• best generator for a sump pump The power fails in the same storm that's flooding your basement. The sump pump is the thing you can't lose — the right generator, sized for the surge.

portable generators

• best dual-fuel generator Runs on gasoline or propane — the most flexible fuel setup for backup, and our default recommendation for most homes.
• best portable generator Portable generators for home backup — what to buy when you want fuel-powered runtime without a permanent installation.
• best generator for home use Not everyone needs a huge unit. The best option for every budget, matched to what you actually need to keep on.

generator or battery?

For low-draw dependencies — a CPAP, a medication fridge, phones and lights — a battery power station is usually the better first buy: silent, safe indoors, clean power, rechargeable by solar. A generator earns its place when you need high wattage (a well pump, a furnace) or many days of runtime. Plenty of well-prepared homes end up with both — we walk through the tradeoff in generator vs battery backup, and you can size any of it with our power load calculator.

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