The best dual fuel portable generators can make your life a whole lot easier during a natural disaster or emergency. It will provide you with clean, reliable power when you need it most, and they are inexpensive enough to be a good option for most people. They are EPA and CARB compliant and come with a 3 year warranty or more. If you need one immediately, down below are our top tried and tested generators also recommended by experts.
A dual fuel portable generator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. This allows you to keep running your air conditioning and heating systems, dual fuel generators are considered more environmentally friendly. The fuels they use emit less gases, which is a plus for people who love the environment.
A dual fuel generator that runs on both gasoline and propane should also have a good battery backup. The battery capacity should be high so that you don’t run out of fuel before you finish charging your gadgets. The durability of the fuel is an important factor in a dual fuel generator, and it’s crucial that you choose a high-quality unit.
Table of Contents
Features to Look for in a Dual Fuel Portable Generator
Required Power Output
The only good dual fuel generator for you is the one that can meet all your power requirements. In order to calculate them, you need to add the starting wattages of all the appliances you will be running on the dual fuel generator. For instance, if you will be running two appliances on it, with starting wattages of 1000W each, then a 2500W generator should suffice for you. However, we have added generators in our list which have way more wattage and can be used with many equipments at once.
This is because the generator should have a starting wattage about 10% to 15% higher than the sum of starting wattages of the appliances that are to be run on it.
Size and Weight
The physical size and weight of the generator are really important factors to consider as well. A generator too large and heavy can be a great hassle to carry around, even for short distances. So portability becomes an issue in this case.
Typically, most dual fuel generators are rather heavy. They weigh between 150 to 250 pounds. You should look for a generator that has wheels attached to it so that it can be carried here and there with slight ease.
These wheels are a great deal because if you were to separately get them attached to your inverter generator for camping, they could cost you up to $150.
Noise Level
Most dual fuel generators are very loud as well.
What you can do in case you get a loud generator is that you can muffle the noise to some extent using a muffler or silencer that you will have to buy separately. Another thing that you can do is place the generator away from your living space so that you hear as little of it as possible.
Usually, a generator with a decibel rating of 60 dBA is considered to be somewhat acceptable. But most dual fuel generators have decibel ratings higher than 60 dBA.
Push-Button Electric Start
If you want to make using your generator easier, then you should look for one that has a push-button electric start because it makes ignition convenient.
The other option is to buy one with the conventional pull-starting mechanism, which is usually what is found in dual fuel generators.
If your generator doesn’t have push-button electric ignition, then you can get it installed in most generators for about $50 yourself too.
Fuel Gauge
Fuel gauges allow you to check the fuel levels of your dual fuel generator at any point in time. These are especially useful because they can save you from running out of fuel during an emergency, and become more reliable for you.
Automatic Low-Oil Shut-off
Some generators have an automatic low-oil shut off which causes them to shut down as soon as your fuel levels become dangerously low. This saves you the trouble of damaging your generator.
Price
Most dual fuel generators have very high power output, so their prices are also higher. Therefore, it’s important to see if you can afford the generator you are choosing or not. Of course, a very important feature to consider in any generator you are purchasing is the price that they come in. The price of the generator should be worth all the other features it includes.
Most generators with a starting wattage of 1200W to 2400W will cost around $350 to $600, whereas ones with 3000W to 3500W can go up to $800 or more.
Warranty
If a generator brand offers a good and high warranty, then that means that the brand delivers high-quality generators and would hold itself accountable for any mishap on its part.
However, you should try to find out the trustworthiness of the warranty by checking customer reviews as some brands will offer a high warranty but then end up breaching it when you need them.
Comparing Our Favourite Picks
Image | Product | Details | Price |
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WGen9500DF by Westinghouse Outdoor Equipment | Watts: 25000 Voltage: 120 V/ 240 V Engine Type: 4 Strokes Engine Displacement: 457cc Running Time: 12 Hours Dual Fuel Enabled: Yes Portability: Easy Noise Level: 74dB Emission Rating: EPA and CARB Approved |
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XP13000EH by DuroMax | Watts: 13000 Voltage: 240 V Engine Type: 4 Strokes Engine Displacement: 500cc Running Time: 8 Hours Dual Fuel Enabled: Yes Portability: Easy Noise Level: 74dB Emission Rating: EPA and CARB Approved |
Check Price | |
200961 by Champion Power Equipment | Watts: 2500 Voltage: 120 V Engine Type: 4 Strokes Engine Displacement: 79cc Running Time: 11.5-34 Hours Dual Fuel Enabled: Yes Portability: Easy Noise Level: 53dB Emission Rating: CARB Approved |
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11,000-Watt 120V/240V by WEN | Watts: 11000 Voltage: 120 V/ 240 V Engine Type: 4 Strokes Engine Displacement: 457cc Running Time: 17 Hours Dual Fuel Enabled: Yes Portability: Easy Noise Level: 73dB Emission Rating: CARB Approved |
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100891 by Champion Power Equipment | Watts: 9375 Voltage: 120 V Engine Type: 4 Strokes Engine Displacement: 439cc Running Time: 8 Hours Dual Fuel Enabled: Yes Portability: Easy Noise Level: 74dB Emission Rating: CARB Approved |
Check Price |
Product Reviews – Our Top Picks
9500 Rated 12500 Peak Watts Dual Fuel Portable Generator (WGen9500DF) by Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment
This is a great dual fuel generator for anyone who wants ease in usage. It offers electric ignition and recoil to make the journey easier for you. It also includes a remote start key for additional convenience.
The WGen9500DF by Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment also offers automatic fuel shut-off. So you don’t have to worry about accidentally damaging your generator by running it on dangerously low fuel.
Specifications
- Dimensions – 27.2 x 26.1 x 26.5 inches
- Weight – 220 Pounds
- Wattage – 12500 watts
- Voltage – 120 and 240 volts
- Engine Type – 4 strokes
- Engine Displacement – 457 Cubic Centimeters
- Frequency – 60 Hz
- Runtime – 12 hours
- Noise Level – 74 dB
Customer Rating – 4.6/5
This is a great generator for you if you want to get yourself a dual fuel generator that can be operated easily.
13000 Watt Dual Fuel Electric Start Portable Generator (XP13000EH) by DuroMax
The XP13000EH by DuroMax is one of our favorite high-power output dual fuel portable generators. It can handle most of the very heavy loads in your house or your RV.
Despite being large and heavy, it has wheels attached to it so it’s portable and can be carried around.
Specifications
- Dimensions – 30 x 29 x 26 inches
- Weight – 234 Pounds
- Wattage – 13000 watts
- Voltage – 240 volts
- Engine Type – 2 strokes
- Engine Displacement – 500 Cubic Centimeters
- Frequency – 60 Hz
- Runtime – 8 hours
- Noise Level – 74 dB
Customer Rating – 4.6/5
If you are looking for a very heavy-duty dual fuel portable generator, then XP13000EH by DuroMax is a good choice for you.
2500 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator (200961) by Champion Power Equipment
This is our favorite best quiet and smallest dual fuel generator. It’s very compact and lightweight, which also makes it super portable.
However, because of its small size, it also has a lower power output as compared to most conventional dual fuel portable generators, which is why it’s not the best option for carrying heavy loads.
Specifications
- Dimensions – 17.3 x 11.5 x 17.7 inches
- Weight – 39 Pounds
- Wattage – 2500 watts
- Voltage – 120 volts
- Engine Type – 4 strokes
- Engine Displacement – 79 Cubic Centimeters
- Frequency – 60 Hz
- Runtime – 11.5 to 34 hours
- Noise Level – 53 dB
Customer Rating – 4.7/5
This generator is suitable for anyone looking for a dual fuel portable generator that is not conventionally heavy.
11,000-Watt 120V/240V Electric Start Dual Fuel Portable Generator by WEN
Despite being heavy-duty, this dual fuel portable generator by WEN supplies clean power for sensitive electronics.
So, it can conveniently and safely be used for all kinds of appliances, whether they are sensitive, or require heavy wattage to work.
Specifications
- Dimensions – 27.3 x 20.6 x 21.9 inches
- Weight – 214 Pounds
- Wattage – 11000 watts
- Voltage – 120 and 240 volts
- Engine Type – 4 strokes
- Engine Displacement – 457 Cubic Centimeters
- Frequency – 60 Hz
- Runtime – 17 hours
- Noise Level – 73 dB
Customer Rating – 4.7/5
This generator is safe to be used for sensitive appliances.
9375/7500-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Portable Generator by (100891) by Champion Power Equipment
The 100891 by Champion Power Equipment is a dual fuel generator that has met our expectations like all the others mentioned.
It is a heavy-duty generator that can carry most of your heavy loads very easily. Despite that, it can also provide clean power for your sensitive appliances, and hence won’t be damaging them.
It also features automatic shut-off in case of dangerously low fuel, saving you from damaging your generator.
Specifications
- Dimensions – 28.9 x 27.7 x 26.1 inches
- Weight – 207 Pounds
- Wattage – 9375 watts
- Voltage – 120 volts
- Engine Type – 4 strokes
- Engine Displacement – 439 Cubic Centimeters
- Frequency – 60 Hz
- Runtime – 8 hours
- Noise Level – 74 dB
Customer Rating – 4.7/5
So far, this is the dual-fuel generator that has had the least stated problems by customers, which sounds like a pretty fair deal to us!
Essential Accessories With Your Dual Fuel Portable Generator
To make your dual fuel portable generators even more efficient, you should get a few of the essential accessories with them as well.
- Transfer Switch
- Fuel Stabilizer
- Extension Cords
- Cold Weather Kit
- Weather Proof Cover
- Maintenance Kit
- Wheel Kits
- Muffler
- Wireless Remote Start
- Push Start
- Battery Chargers
- Automatic Voltage Regulators
Wrapping it Up
We compiled for you a few of our favorite best dual fuel generators for 2022. As long as you know your needs and pick the right product, you’ll have a reliable partner with you!