Welcome to Generator HQ! Please note that some of the links in our articles are affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions support our work and allow us to continue bringing you valuable content.
Before you begin your search for your new generator you’ll be faced with numerous options – inverter generators, sine-wave models, diesel-powered generators, and propane generators all have their own drawbacks and benefits, so making a definitive choice certainly won’t be easy.
Today we aim to talk about some of the best propane generator models, as well as the reasons why they’re currently one of the most popular generator types on the market, so let’s get straight to it:
What’s the conclusion – why should I buy a propane generator?
Propane offers the ‘cleanest’ solutions in the sense that it’s substantially environmentally friendlier than other alternatives (inverter generators excluded). On top of that, propane is significantly cheaper than regular gasoline; it even tops the cost-effectiveness of battery-powered generators by a long shot.
While other types of gases and fuels require huge tanks and plenty of storage space, storing propane does not. Moreover, propane will not lose its potency and degrade over time, making it an excellent long-term solution when buying in bulk.
As far as propane generators are directly concerned, they’re much easier to maintain and clean due to the fact that propane can’t ‘spill’. As far as raw performance is concerned, propane-powered generators are strikingly stronger than models that run on natural gas.
They may be just a tad weaker when compared to diesel-powered generators in terms of engine longevity as they burn faster and put more pressure on the motor.
All things considered, propane generators are great for people who can’t afford designated storage for gas/fuel and for people who want to help keep their environment healthy and clean. Without any further ado, let’s dive into the reviews:
Top 5 Best Propane Generators
Image | Title | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|
Top Top | Generac 5939 Generator, Portable, 5500 Watt, Manual Recoil Start, Gasoline | Check Lowest Price | |
Top Top | A-iPower SUA12000EC 12000 Watt Portable Generator CARB Compliant Gas Powered With Electric Start For Jobsite, RV, and Whole House Backup Emergency | Check Lowest Price | |
Top Top | WEN 56200i 2000-Watt Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator, CARB Compliant | Check Lowest Price | |
Top Top | WEN 56475 4750-Watt Portable Generator with Electric Start and Wheel Kit | Check Lowest Price |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:Best Overall Generator – Westinghouse WGen9500DF
- 9500 Running Watts and 12500 Peak Watts (Gasoline); 8500 Running Watts, 11200 Peak Watts (Propane); Remote Start With Included Key Fob, Electric and Recoil Start; Up to 12 Hours of Run Time on a 6. 6 Gallon Fuel Tank With Fuel Gauge
- Features Two GFCI 120V 5–20R Standard Household Receptacle, One Transfer Switch Ready 120V L14-30R, and One RV Ready 120/240V 14–50R; All Outlets Have Rubber Covers for Added Safety
- Powered by a Heavy Duty 457cc Westinghouse 4-Stroke OHV Engine Featuring a Long-Lasting Cast Iron Sleeve With Automatic Low Oil Shutdown and Digital Hour Meter
- Plug-and-Play: Comes With a Remote Start Key Fob, 12V Battery Charger, Oil, an Oil Funnel, a Tool Kit, and a User’s Manual to Get You Started Right Out of the Box (Minimal Assembly Required)
- All Westinghouse Portable Generators are Functionally Tested in the Factory and May Contain Minimum Residual Oil and/or Fuel Odor; EPA and CARB Compliant; Backed by 3-Year Limited Service, Labor, and Parts Coverage with Nationwide Customer Service Network
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our top pick of the day is Westinghouse’s WGen9500DF – a workhorse generator that offers the portability of smaller models, due to it wheeled frame, coupled with the strength and durability of industrial-grade power generators.
Even though it weighs approximately 220 pounds, this dual-fuel generator is equipped with a pair of easy-rolling wheels. Also, the generator utilizes an open-frame design that makes it significantly easier to store, although this also makes it slightly more difficult to maintain.
Westinghouse’s WGen9500DF generator offers 8,500 watts of rated power with a peak wattage of 11,200 while on propane fuel, provided by a robust 457CC engine, which is located inside the robust cast-iron sleeve. You can increase the output of this generator if you switch to gasoline to get a whopping 9,500 rated watts with a peak of 12,500 watts.
Another remarkable feature of the Westinghouse WGen9500DF generator is the Pulse-Flo muffler, which drastically reduces the amount of noise this model is emitting. We also loved the voltage-regulating system and its exceptional connectivity – it offers (2) 120 VAC outlets (2) 120/240 VAC outlets and (1) ST switch ready outlet. This makes it a perfect choice for people that are looking for a home backup generator.
Even though it may be a tad bigger and more expensive in comparison to some of the models on the list, it’s still among the best propane generators on the current market with plenty of power and a whole lot of watts.
Pros:
- Electrical start-up switch
- Key fob with 260 ft remote start range
- Five household outlets
- 8,500 watts of power, great runtime
- A generator that is built to last
- Minimal noise output
- Great RV generator for high demand luxury RVs
Cons:
- Fairly heavy and expensive
Best High-End Propane Generator – Generac 5939 GP5500 5,500 Watt
- Wattage:5500
- Volts AC:120, 240
- Phase:1
- Type:Generator, Portable
- NEMA Configuration:5-20, L14-30
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
In plain words, Generac’s 5939 GP5500 is easily the best propane generator – if you can afford it, that is. On a brighter end, it comes equipped with top-shelf features and technologies and its performance is second to none within its price range.
Some of the convenience features Generac’s 5939 GP5500 is supplied with include the hour meter indicator and low-oil automatic shutdown. However, the highlight utility features are the covered and thoroughly reinforced circuit breaker pads on the outlets.
Speaking of which, Generac’s 5939 GP5500 is supplied with four 120 VAC outlets and one 120/240 VAC outlet. It delivers 5,500 watts of pure power.
Also, this propane generator sports a robust 389 CC engine and a 7.2-gallon fuel reservoir, which can endure up to approximately ten hours of continuous runtime while at half load capacity. Also, Generac’s 5939 GP5500 sports a pair of all-terrain tires that further boost its portability.
Overall, its versatility and superior features make it one of the best propane generators in the high-end category, although it is pretty expensive. Let’s sum up the information so far in the pros and cons rundown.
Pros:
- Remarkably portable for a heavy-duty power propane generator
- 5,500 watts of power
- Proprietary 389CC engine
- Automatic low-fuel shutdown
- All-terrain tires
Cons:
- Fairly pricey
Best Heavy-Duty Generator – A-iPower SUA12000EC – Quality Wheels, Top Wattage
- The A-iPower SUA12000EC produces 12,000 starting watts with 9,000 running watts to power your tools at the construction site, camping ground, or home appliances.
- Powerful 459 cc OHV 4 stroke engine with a low oil alert light and low oil automatic shutdown, helping keep your generator performing year after year.
- Large 7 gallon gasoline fuel tank provides average run time of 7 hours at 100% load and 9 hours at 50% load.
- Complete with Electric Start capability and CARB Compliant for use in all 50 states allowing you to start up your generator whenever you need it.
- Outlets include 4 x GFCI 120V 20A NEMA5-20R, 1 x 120V 30A NEMAL 5-30R, 1 x 120/240V 30A NEMA L-14-30R, 1 x 12V8.3A Multifunction Port USB Ready. All outlets include Rubber Covers for an additional layer of Safety.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
If you are looking for a strong, reliable power propane generator that can power up anything and everything aside from the most heavily equipped construction sites, the chances are that A-iPower’s SUA12000EC is what you’re after.
This is our best propane generator pick for the heavy-duty category as it sports 12,000 watts of tamed electrical power. Moreover, this generator features a convenient safety feature – the high-performance alternator, which offers consistent output regardless of how many devices are wired to it.
This generator also excels in connectivity as it sports a single DC 12V port, 4 AC 120V 20A, 2 12VCA 30A ports, and two 120/240 VCA ports. Even though it’s fairly big and bulky, it’s still decently portable due to the fact that it’s supplied with two quality rolling wheels.
However, its drawback is that the wheels need to be installed manually. The installation kit is included as a complementary feature along with the straightforward setup manual.
Pros:
- Superb connectivity
- Portable due to all-terrain wheels
- 12,000 watts of power
- High-performance alternator for consistent performance
- Ultra-strong 16-horsepower 459CC engine, great runtime
- Perfect for a whole house backup generator.
Cons:
- Exceptionally heavy
- Wheels need to be installed manually
Best Portable Generator – WEN 56200i
- Dimensions: 18 x 11 x 18 | Weight: 50 lbs
- Noise Level: 53 dB operation
- EPA III and CARB Compliant 79.7 cc 4-stroke OHV engine produces 2000 surge watts and 1600 rated watts
- Great for campgrounds, construction sites, tailgates and power outages
- Produces clean power to safely operate and prevent damage to sensitive electronics such as phones, tablets, televisions and computers
- Includes two three-prong 120V receptacles, one 12V DC receptacle and one 5V USB port
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The next generator review is the WEN 56200i, coming in as one of the best, but also a polar opposite of the A-iPower’s generator – it’s a handheld generator that offers 1,600 watts of power, a whisper-quiet performance, and a relatively smaller amount of connection ports.
First and foremost, WEN’s 56200i weighs barely 48 pounds; also, it is supplied with a built-in carry handle, which makes it an ideal companion on camping trips.
What makes it stand out from similar light-duty propane generators is the fact that it emits only 53 decibels of noise. Connectivity-wise, WEN’s 56200i features two 120V ports, a single 12V port, and a single USB port.
All in all, WEN’s 56200i is small, light, and absolutely unrivaled when it comes to portability. It’s obviously a bit weaker than some of the models on our list, but it’s a perfect option for people who are looking for a backup. 1,600 watts of power isn’t a whole lot, but if that’s all you need, there is no reason to go any further. Also, it is portable and fits in your home, car or RV. We’ll sum up the review with a list of pros and cons.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Whisper-quiet performance and good runtime
- Built-in carry handle
- Three connectivity receptacles and a single USB port
Cons:
- Fairly weak, 1,600 watts of power
Best Budget-Friendly Propane Generator – WEN 56475
- Digital readout helps manage oil changes and maintenance schedule
- Features electric start, low-oil shutdown, an automatic voltage regulator and overload protection to maximize safety
- CARB and EPA III meet requirements for sale in all 50 states
- Includes wheel kit and foldable handles for easy transport
- 223cc engine provides 4,750 surge watt and 3,750 rated watt
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Let’s wrap it up with another model from WEN’s catalog – the 56475 model. This propane generator may be perfect for you if you are on a tighter budget. It offers 4,750 watts of power, a strong 223 CC engine, and a variety of utility features.
Speaking of which, WEN’s 56475 is equipped with the electric start-up mechanism, the auto voltage regulator feature, overload protection, as well as low-oil shutdown.
It also excels in portability since it comes supplied with two rolling wheels and foldable leg stands. The main drawback of this propane generator is that it weighs around 112.5 pounds.
Pros:
- 4,750 watts of power
- Auto voltage regulator
- Low-oil shutdown and electric start-up mechanism
- Decently sturdy, solid runtime
Cons:
- Heavy
- Low-quality wheels
Before the Conclusion – Best Propane Generator Buying Guide
Propane generators, just like many other gas-powered models, are different than electric-powered generators, inverter generators, and sine-wave models. Some of the most important things you should consider include:
Starter method
Even though your generator uses propane as its fueling method, it’s important to understand what source it is using to start in the first place. All propane generators feature either the electric start-up method or the recoil starter method. Recoil types utilize analog means (a basic rip cord) whereas electric models run either on batteries or on electricity.
Recoil-start generators are somewhat slower, but they’re often more reliable by a long shot. Electric-starter models are capable of priming the generator faster, but they rely on electricity, which means that your generator will be virtually useless in case of a blackout.
The compactness of the features
If you and your family live in a home and are looking for a definite solution for your power-supplying needs, the compactness of a generator should be the least of your worries. However, if you are renting an apartment or if you are frequently moving, a 300-pound machine may not be the best option.
Compact generators are not only smaller, lighter models but also generators supplied with rolling wheels.
The Watt number
The wattage of a power generator determines what type of devices can be powered by it. For instance, low-consumption devices such as cellphones or laptops can be wired to even the weakest of generators; on the flip side, industrial machines need substantially more power.
Conclusion – Propane Generators Deliver the Power
By now we hope that you’re more cognizant of things to look for in propane generators – raw strength does not define the performance of a generator, although in this particular case it’s an important factor due to the innate ability of this generator type to compensate for its minor shortcomings. We hope that you liked our guide and wish you luck in finding the best propane generator to fit your needs. If you need more information one best propane generators and what the key features and ratings are, feel free to hit us up. Stay safe, folks.