10 Best Propane Generators You Can Buy in 2022 – Reviews and Buying Guide

This dual-fuel generator from Westinghouse is set apart by it’s incredibly easy to use push-button start and remote start via a key fob, similar to the starting mechanisms found on modern luxury cars. Once running, the generator is rated for 3,600 W on gasoline with a maximum surge power of 4,650 W and the four-gallon tank is able to run for 12 hours at half-load. The generator only offers two standard AC power outlets, but also comes with an RV-ready 30-amp outlet and a DC port for battery charging. At over 100 pounds and nearly two feet across on each side, the generator is certainly not easy to move around – especially when loaded with gas – but users appreciated the sturdy wheel design. Westinghouse also offers a three-year warranty on this unit, and the generator is CARB-compliant.

Performance on propane: When running on propane, this generator has a surge power of 4,180 W and a continuous power output of 3,240 W – enough to power a home full of appliances. On a standard backyard propane tank, the generator can run for up to 12 hours at half-power.

What makes it special?

• 4,180 W surge power on propane
• 12-hour runtime at half power
• RV-ready 30-amp outlet

What cons did we find?

• Only two AC ports

Getting a highly portable dual fuel generator can be quite difficult. Most of the models are in the market; this one included is quite heavy, which can make moving them from place to place extremely difficult. This is, thankfully, not the case for this model.  It has larger than average tires that, when properly inflated, make moving the generator over any terrain very easy. The flip-up handle another nice touch. It is quite solid and locks into place when you lift the generator. This helps to make this model exceptionally portable once you have it unloaded from your vehicle.

This unit is also ready for any type of weather and power outage. Not only does it have plenty of outlets, but each one has its own weather-resistant cover. This makes it a lot safer to utilize if there is still any precipitation coming down.

No matter what type of fuel you choose to use with this model, you can rest assured that you will get plenty of power. You are also guaranteed to have an easy time getting the motor started, thanks to the included push-button start. Just make sure to keep the battery charged for this, as you will otherwise need to use the pull cord. While the generator is running, you can easily see how much power is being used thanks to the digital output gauge.

Though the amount of power generated by this appliance is really nice, it does come at a cost. This particular generator is quite loud. You will want to make sure to keep it away from any of your neighbor’s homes for that reason. This louder than average design also makes this a poor choice for any camping outing.

What makes it special?

• Push-button start
• Weather-resistant outlet covers
• Air-cooled
• Easy to read output gauge
• Flip-up handle

What cons did we find?

• Loud

This smaller generator from FIRMAN looks at first glance like it’s larger cousin, but there are some important differences between the two. This generator is less powerful – it maxes out at 4,550 W of surge power and 3,650 W of continuous power on gasoline. The gasoline reservoir is also smaller, at only five gallons, but with the lower power output it is still able to run for 14 hours at half power. Plus, users love the integrated digital fuel gauge for keeping track of remaining runtime. At 112 pounds and paired with a sturdy set of wheels, the generator is relatively portable but still heavy and bulky for extended movement. In addition, although it comes with an RV-ready 30-amp outlet, note that the generator does not have a DC port for charging a battery.

Performance on propane: When running on propane, this generator is able to output 4,100 W of surge power and 3,300 W of continuous power. On a standard 20-pound tank, the generator is able to run up to about 15 hours at half power.

What are its best features?

• 14-hour runtime at half power
• RV-ready 30-amp port
• Three-year warranty

What could be improved?

• No DC port for battery charging

If you are in the market for a powerful and easy to set up dual fuel generator, then this model should be high on your list. For starters, its powerful engine can really crank out a ton of power. When its running on gas, it can put out an astounding 12,000W on startup with 9,500W while running. As you would expect, it does lose a bit of power when it is being run on propane, but not nearly as much as some of its competitors. It is still capable of putting out 10,800W on startup and 8,550W while running.

Amazingly, this machine is still able to run for a good long time even while putting out these outstanding amounts of power. Even if you have this model on half a load consistently, you should still expect it to easily run for about 12 hours at a time, regardless of its fuel source. Of course, since propane is a bit more efficient, it can usually run longer on this type of fuel than it can off of its 8-gallon gas tank.

This generator also comes loaded with tons of features. It has a low oil shut-off and an easy to read voltage output regulator. Best of all, it comes with a plethora of outlets that make it easy to hook up pretty much anything, regardless of what you want to power. Its foldout handles are a nice touch for storage, but they do make moving this generator a little bit tougher. This is mostly because this machine is quite heavy, so even wheeling it between locations might be a bit tricky, even though it comes equipped with good wheels.

What makes it stand out?

• High wattage output
• Multiple outlets to choose from
• Dual fuel
• Low oil shut-off
• Voltage regulator
• Long runtime
• Fold-down handle

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Very heavy

This compact dual fuel generator from Champion is incredibly expensive for the amount of power it delivers, but the advantage gained in portability and quietness when running can be worth the extra money. The generator outputs up to 3,400 W of surge power when running on gasoline and 3,100 W of continuous power, although the runtime is limited to 7.5 hours at one-quarter power since the gas tank is relatively small. The face of the generator offers both an RV-ready 30-amp outlet as well as a DC port for battery charging, although there is no meter for keeping track of used wattage or fuel levels. At under 100 pounds, users appreciated how portable this generator is – although the wheels can clog up on muddy ground. The generator comes backed by Champion’s three-year warranty and lifetime technical support from the company.

Performance on propane: The generator performs relatively well on propane, offering about 3,100 W of surge power and 2,750 W of continuous power. In addition, since the unit is not limited by the gas tank, it can run around 12 hours at half power on a standard propane tank.

What stands out?

• Excellent portability
• RV-ready 30-amp outlet and DC port
• Three-year warranty and lifetime support

What cons did we manage to find?

• No fuel or power meter
• Wheels can clog on muddy ground

This dual fuel generator from Champion was designed with safety and usability in mind. It offers a locking fuel selector switch that ensures you won’t accidentally switch fuels when plugging in appliances, as well as an electric motor start switch and a built-in surge protector for the outlets. On gasoline, the generator outputs 3,800 W, can surge up to 4,750 W, and can run for up to 9 hours on a full tank. Although having only two AC outlets can be somewhat limiting, the generator also comes with a 30-amp RV-ready outlet. Users’ favorite feature is the Intelligauge display, which gives an easy-to-read continuous measurement of the wattage being drawn from the generator so that it is easy to track performance and remaining runtime. Champion offers a three-year warranty but backs up this product even further with lifetime technical support from the company.

Performance on propane: You can draw out up to 4,275 surge and 3,420 continuous watts from this generator if you run it on propane. Thus, there is not a much difference between the generator’s performance on gas and LPG.

Why is it special?

• Competitive power output
• Intelligauge display
• Three-year warranty with lifetime technical support

What are the flaws?

• Only two AC outlets

If you’re looking for a generator that can run on propane but don’t want to spend a fortune, this budget unit from DuroMax is an excellent option. The 4,850 W of surge power output on gasoline is better than some more expensive generators, as well, although the continuous output drops significantly to 3,850 W. Like more expensive generators, it comes with a DC outlet for charging a battery and two 20-amp AC outlets. However, although it has a 30-amp outlet, it is not of the RV-ready variety and will need some modification to work with most RVs. Users appreciated being able to monitor the voltage via the analog display, although they noted it could be hard to read, especially when using the generator at night. For portability, users liked that the generator comes with thick rubberized wheels, although the 130-pound weight does not make moving it easy.

Performance on propane: One of the best aspects of this generator is its runtime on propane – up to 20 hours at half power on a standard 20-pound propane tank. In addition, output power only drops to 3,450 W when using propane instead of gasoline.

What makes it stand out?

• Up to 20-hour runtime on propane
• Inexpensive

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• No RV-ready 30-amp port
• Analog voltmeter can be hard to read

One of the biggest issues with some of these larger contractor style generators is that they can be extremely hard to maneuver from place to place. This is due to their larger engines and heavier bodies. That is, thankfully, not the case for this particular model. It has oversized wheels, which make it much easier to wheel into position. It also features a foldout handle that locks into place securely. Even if you have a large distance to go before you set this model up, it shouldn’t be too difficult, thanks to these features.

Another nice feature of this generator is its electric start. Once it is primed, you simply need to press the button and allow the device to do the rest. Of course, this does mean that you will need to keep the battery charged by running the generator once every few months or so. Otherwise, you will need to start it with a pull cord.

It is very easy to set this generator up, regardless of what type of fuel you are using. The setup for propane hookup is easy to access and utilize, and filling the gas tank is quite simple as well. The oil is also easy to access, which makes keeping the engine especially easy to maintain.

The biggest issue with this model is that, while it has plenty of outlet options, the larger two are difficult to access unless you have a straight plug. The oversized tires make it so you cannot plug in a right-angle plug completely.

What makes it special?

• Overload protection
• Long warranty
• Multiple outlets to choose from
• Fold-down handle
• Portable
• Easy setup

What cons did we find?

• Straight cord needed for larger outlets

This generator from FIRMAN is designed to provide a tremendous amount of power and sustain it for hours on end. The generator has a peak output of 10,000 W and a continuous output of 8,000 W when running on gasoline, making it the most powerful generator in our roundup by a longshot. Plus, thanks to the eight-gallon tank, the generator can perform at half power for up to 12 hours. Although the generator weighs in at 235 pounds, it is balanced on the frame such that users found that it was surprisingly easy to move for short distances. In addition, while this generator is significantly louder than less powerful models, it’s also quieter than other gasoline-only generators in the same output class. Another feature that users appreciated is the integrated fuel gauge, which makes it easy to track how much longer the generator will run.

Performance on propane: The performance suffers notably when using propane if you are ever planning to run this generator at the upper reaches of its output, but still, it is much more than many other generators on our list. On propane, the generator offers a peak output of 9,050 W and a continuous output of 7,250 W and will run for about eight hours on a standard propane tank at half power.

Why are we impressed?

• Extreme power output
• Surprisingly easy to move around despite weight
• Eight-gallon tank with integrated fuel meter

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Relatively short runtime on standard propane tank
• Louder and heavier than smaller generators

The only generator without wheels in our roundup, this dual fuel generator from DuroMax is much smaller than the other generators we reviewed – both in size and output wattage. The generator maxes out at 2,000 W of surge power and outputs only 1,600 W of continuous power, which means that most household and RV users will be running this generator at close to maximum output most of the time. Furthermore, the small size means a small fuel tank: it will only run for 6.5 hours at half power, and only a few hours at full output. The generator weighs only 53 pounds, less than half of the larger generators in our review, but this is still a heavy weight to carry for any distance – especially if you’re carrying a propane tank on the other arm. The generator also has no 30-amp outlet and no electronic start, so starting the unit can be a pain.

Performance on propane: The generator output rather low on propane, 1,800 W of surge power and 1,400 W of continuous power. However, since the propane tank is not limited by the smaller gasoline reservoir, the generator can run up to 16 hours at half power on a standard 20-pound tank. So if you don’t need much power, this will be perfect for you.

What makes it special?

• Smaller and lighter than competing propane generators

What cons did we find?

• Low continuous power output, especially on propane
• Heavy to carry without wheels