A 10000-watt generator is an excellent choice if you are looking for a generator to power most of your essential household items during a power outage.
However, not every 10000 watt generator is the same.
Since the generators that big do not come cheap, you should only invest in the top quality model.
To help you find the right fit, our team has spent 36 hours carefully researching 27 different 10,000 watt portable generators.
Below is our handpicked selection of the best 10,000 watt generators currently for sale in the US.
We’ve reviewed each unit to help you make a more informed choice and find the right generator for your needs.
Table of Contents
Best 10000 Watt Generators Reviewed
1. Westinghouse WGen9500DF Dual Fuel Portable Generator
Westinghouse generators receive overwhelmingly positive reviews from their users. WGen9500DF is one of the strongest generators Westinghouse has got on offer.
This excellent generator can run a host of regular home appliances, including the refrigerator, freezer, and lights.
The generator produces 9500 running watts and 12000 starting watts when using gas.
Liquid propane gas gives you 8500 running watts and 11200 starting watts.
The intuitive control panel controls the system with two ground fault circuit interpreters (a house 5-20R 120 Household Duplex and an L14-40 120 / 240V 30A twist lock outlet control).
The generator has got a large 6.6 gallon fuel tank.
It also comes with a propane hose that you can use to connect it to a propane tank (standard grill size bottle).
Fuel efficiency is a big selling point of this generator.
You should be able to run it for up to 17.5 hours on gas and liquid propane.
One thing we love about this generator is the remote start feature. It allows you to start the generator with a key fob even if you stand far away from it.
The portable generator starts without problems with the push of a single button. The battery system design is self-charging to extend the life of the battery and the operation of the generator.
It also comes with a manual recoil start for in case the remote electric start fails for whatever reason (e.g., in subzero temperatures).
The generator has met CARB, CSA, and EPA standards of safety and environmental safety.
The portable generator is covered by a three-year limited warranty.
The customer service generally attracts good reviews from users praising it for helpful attitude and efficiency in solving any issues.
2. DuroMax XP12000EH 12000 Watt Generator
The DuroMax XP12000EH AKA “The Beast” is a really solid 10,000 watt generator.
It has an original Duromax 457 cc OHV Engine.
The engine gives you a choice between gas and propane, giving you longer runtime and more flexibility. Lower operation cost (propane is generally much cheaper than gasoline) is another big selling point.
No matter what kind of fuel you decide to use, the engine will put out a lot of power of up to 12,000 starting watts and 9,500 running watts.
This amount of energy is enough to run many appliances simultaneously smoothly.
These include refrigerators, ACs, and plenty of other things on top of that.
The Duromax MX2 engine can put out power through multiple ports equaling 120 volts or 240 volts.
The control panel features a 50 AMP outlet suitable for a large RV or for connecting it to a home transfer switch.
The generator has also got a 30 AMP outlet with a 120V / 240V twist lock outlet. There is also the second 120V 30 AMP outlet and two 120V AC 20 AMP outlets.
The dual-fuel generator is CARB and EPA certified for safety and environmental standards in all 50 states.
The unit can operate for more than 15 hours on one tank of propane or 8.3 gallons of gasoline combined.
It also has a built-in noise reduction technology, making it reasonably quiet for a portable power generator of this size.
Read our full review of the Duromax XP12000EH here.
3. A-iPower SUA12000E 12000 Watt Portable Generator
The A-iPower SUA12000E generator is a good home backup generator that is strong enough to run all ordinary household appliances.
It can also run energy-demanding work tools such as MIG welders.
A considerable advantage of this portable generator is its price to quality ratio.
It costs only a fraction of the price of many of its competitors while offering similar performance.
The A-iPower SUA12000E is a fuel-efficient generator that can run continuously for almost 10 hours on 7 gallons of gas.
The unit produces 12,000 starting watts and 9,000 running watts.
The OHV engine runs on a 12V-14AH maintenance-free battery.
The control panel has got GFCI protected outlets with heavy-duty covers for additional protection.
The portable generator also has a DC adapter plug that can charge batteries or adapt to USB use.
The control panel is easy to use with an agronomical design placing it within reach of your hand.
One of them is the easy to use electric push start.
The panel helps you to control several tools or regular household appliances like your refrigerator, air conditioner, and lights.
The engine is protected by a heavy-duty rigid steel frame.
The kit includes solid wheels that never go flat while you maneuver it over uneven terrain.
On the negative side, the A-iPower SUA12000E 12,000-Watt generator can only run on gasoline, which makes it less cost-effective to run in states with high fuel taxes.
If fuel costs are your primary concern, you’d better invest in a dual fuel generator like Westinghouse WGen9500DF.
Check out our full review of A-iPower SUA12000E to learn more about this portable generator.
4. Pulsar Dual Fuel 12000 Watt Portable Generator
The Pulsar 12000 watt portable generator generates up to 12000 peak watts or 9500 rated watts with gasoline.
It has the peak power of 10800 watts and the rated power of 8550 watts when running on propane.
The dual-fuel capabilities are perfect for emergencies where choices of fuel may be limited.
The generator is capable of running for up to 12 hours on 8 gallons of gasoline.
The engine is a 457cc single-cylinder OHV engine with an electric push start.
The control panel has multiple power outlets, including 4x 120V 20A AC outlets, one dual 120V/240V 50A twist lock outlet, and one 12V DC outlet for charging DC tools, appliances, or RVs.
The unit has a drop-down handle, which makes it easy to move it with 10″ never-flat wheels.
The generator is quite compact in design, making it a bit easier to store and move than many other generators in this range.
It comes with a ready-to-use propane hose and an electric start, making this portable generator easy to start and use.
There are multiple safety features in place.
These include a low oil shutdown mechanism, a 3-in-1 digital meter, and a voltage regulator that runs automatically whenever the generator is operational.
5. All Power America APGG10000GL Portable Generator
The APGG10000GL Portable Generator is a tough generator that can run for 10 hours with a full tank.
The longevity of the generator makes it perfect for use during natural disasters.
The generator has 10,000-watt peak power and has a rating for 8000 watts when running on gasoline.
When running on propane, the power output is around 8500 peak watts and 7,000 running watts.
The total capacity of the fuel tank is 8 gallons.
This generator can operate continuously for around 10 hours on one single tank of gasoline. You’ll get a few hours on top of that when running it on LPG.
The noise level is around 76 dB noise, which is already quite loud. However, this is quite normal for 10,000 watt generators. You certainly can’t expect any of them to be whisper-quiet.
The entire system starts with a push-button electric start or the traditional recoil start.
The air cooled engine is ready to run multiple types of appliances and devices with 4x AC 120V outlets, one 120V twist lock outlet, and one 120V / 240V outlet. It also has a 12V DC outlet that can charge a basic RV or energy-efficient home.
The generator is both EPA and CARP compliant, which means you can use it in all 50 states.
The control panel has got an hour meter for additional safety and a wheel kit. The battery requires no maintenance except for occasional charging to stay fresh and ready for use.
6. WEN DF1100T Dual 11000 Watt Generator
The WEN DF1100T is a dual fuel generator that allows you to easily switch between fuel type to get longer operation and minimize your fuel costs.
WEN generators attract stellar reviews from buyers nationwide. They offer flawless performance and generally sell cheaper than the competition. This one is no exception.
As we’ve said before, the generator runs on gasoline or propane. It provides starting 11,000 watts and 8,300 running watts on gasoline.
Propane provides 9,500 peak wattage and 7,500 running watts.
The generator features an electric start, which makes it super easy to use. The engine runs on 457 ccs with a 4-stroke OHV engine. Everything turns on with a key to ensure the generator runs when you want it to run.
The engine has a 6.6 gallon fuel tank that can run for up to 8.5 hours on one refill. The control panel features multiple types of outlets, including 4x 120V 5-20R GFCI outlets, one 120V 30A twist lock outlet (LS-30R), and a 120V/240V 50 AMP outlet suitable for demanding power tools.
The control panel is logical in its design. It comes with several safety features, including a digital LED hour counter, an automatic voltage regular, and an overload protection feature designed to click off if the engine starts to malfunction due to the overloading.
A 47 –inch propane hose is included in the kit.
The unit is covered with a two-year limited warranty.
7. Pulsar Pg10000B16 Hybrid Generator
The Pulsar Pg10000B16 is an excellent hybrid generator suitable for home backup and construction sites.
The generator has got a long run time of 12 hours at half load, making it more fuel-efficient than many other units in the market.
It has a 420 cc, 4-stroke air-cooled OHV engine.
This versatile 50 amp portable generator comes with an electric start and a “Switch and Go” feature to alternate between a fuel type.
Just like most other 10,000 watt generators, this model features a large 6.6 gallon fuel tank.
The control panel comes with multiple outlets for running different appliances and devices.
You can choose from four 120V outlets, one 120V/40V twist-lock outlet, and a 1 x 50 AMP 120V / 240V AC outlet.
There is a low oil shutdown mechanism in place to protect your generator from damage caused by the lack of oil in the engine.
The Pulsar Pg10000B16 has solid steel construction and a light coating of blue and black paint to protect it from rust and other wear. The wheels are never-flat types making the unit portable and easy to move.
One downside of this generator is that it’s non-CARB compliant. Residents of California won’t be able to use it legally there.
8. Green-Power America GPG10000EW 10,000 Watts
The GPG10000EW 10000 W Pro Series Recoil Electric Start Generator is a simple and compact generator starting at 10,000 watts and running at 7,500 watts.
The generator has a 6.6 gallon fuel tank, which can last for up to 10 hours with at least a 50 percent load.
The control panel features multiple outlets, including the 120V AC outlets, one 120v twist lock, a 120v / 240v AC outlet, and a 12V, 8.3 DC outlet for RVs or small, efficient houses.
The outlets are covered and protected from the elements by removable rubber covers.
The generator starts with an electric start or a manual recoil.
The control panel has a digital indicator that helps monitor the health and condition of the generator.
The unit comes with multiple safety features, including an automatic low oil shutoff sensor.
9. Honda EB10000 Industrial Heavy Duty Portable Generator
When it comes to generators, hardly any manufacturer can rival Honda in terms of the quality of their products.
Honda generators consistently attract stellar reviews from buyers worldwide. They are among the most preferred choices among professionals in the US.
Honda EB10000 is one of the most durable generators in Honda’s offer.
It is a serious industrial generator primarily designed for professional use.
The unit features an original Honda GX engine protected by a heavy-duty steel frame.
The control panel comes with a variety of outlets suitable for all sorts of electrical equipment.
These include:
- 2 x 20A 125V Receptacles
- 1 x 30A 125V Locking Plug
- 1 x 30A 125/250V Locking Plug
- 1 x 50A 125/250V Locking Plug
The fuel tank capacity is 8.1 gallons.
As we would expect from a Honda generator, it is remarkably fuel-efficient.
At maximum power load the generator can run for up to 4.5 hours.
Running this unit at half load should get you around 7 hours of continuous operation.
One problem with generators of this size is that they are usually very loud.
Since Honda is known for manufacturing some of the quietest generators in the market like the super-popular EU2200i, we were curious to see if they managed to minimize the noise level in their largest generators too.
The EB10000 produces around 73 dB at maximum power load.
This industrial generator is remarkably silent for its size and is quieter than most of its competitors in this wattage range.
One disadvantage of this generator is its hefty price tag.
That’s the price you need to pay if you want to buy a generator for a demanding job site.
This generator can potentially serve you for years or even decades.
If you really don’t want to go on any compromises and simply want to get the best generator to get you through long power outages or need a robust unit for a job site – get the Honda EB10000.
10. Green-Power America GPG10000EW
When buying a generator, you should ideally go with a dual fuel unit.
They offer numerous benefits.
First, running a generator on propane is cheaper in the longer-term than using gasoline.
That’s especially the case with large 10000 watt units as they consume more fuel.
They also offer you more flexibility in terms of fuel choice and allows you to run the generator for longer.
Based on our comparative analysis, Rainier R12000DF is one of the best hybrid 10000-watt units out there.
It has a 457cc OHV 4 stroke engine providing up to 17 hours of continuous operation at a 25% load.
It delivers 12500 surge watts and 9500 running watts when running on gasoline.
On propane, the portable generator provides 10800 peak watts and 8550 running watts.
The generator comes with all standard electric outlets and receptacles. These include:
- 2 x 5-20R 120V 20A household outlets
- 1 x L5-30R 120V 30A outlet
- 14-50R 120/240V 50A outlet
The control panel has also got a 1L14-30R 120V 30A transfer switch ready outlet making this generator a viable choice for home backup power supply.
The generator has also got a low oil shutdown mechanism.
It also features an overload protection alarm that helps prevent damage to the engine.
Another good thing about this generator is that it’s both CARB and EPA certified.
The generator is 100% legal to use in all US states and is a viable choice for California residents.
10000 watt generators are usually noisy beasts. You certainly can’t expect them to run noiselessly, regardless of the load.
However, when preparing our list of 10 best 10000 watt generators, we examined the noise levels too. We were trying to find a generator that not only performs well but also minimizes the disruption caused by its loud engine.
We have found the Rainier R12000DF to be on the quieter side.
While not as quiet as the unrivaled Honda generators, the RD12000DF makes approx. 72 dB of noise at 25% load.
That is undoubtedly a better score than in case some of the older and bulkier contractor generators.
Overall, it is a quality 10000 watt generator and a good choice both for home and industrial use.
Frequently Asked Questions about 10000 Watt Generators
What is the best 10000 watt portable generator?
What will a 10000 watt generator run?
How big of a generator do I need?
What is the largest portable generator?
Generac GP15000E is one of the largest portable generators in the market. It produces 22500 starting watts and 15000 running watts of power. That’s more than enough power to run an entire large household.