Buying a 2000 Watt generator won’t give you enough power to supply enough electricity for your entire home during a power outage. It is, however, a very portable and useful generator that will keep the essentials running. They cost less to buy than large generators and use less fuel. So a smaller generator is much more economical to own.
A 2000 Watt generator is ideal for camping trips and for contractors who need a portable generator to supply electricity to a work site. If you’re using a generator to power your RV, portability is important, as is your fuel consumption. You have limited space so a smaller generator is obviously going to be easier to transport. Reducing the amount of gas that you need to take with you is another obvious benefit.
Portable 2000 Watt Generators Reviewed
Now let’s take a look at the top 2000 Watt portable generators on the market. We’ve taken consumer reviews of these products very seriously. This means that we’ve chosen the best 2000 Watt generators in the opinion of regular folk like you and me. All of these generators have been rated the best when it comes to quality, user functions and then there are some other reasons why some individual models have made the grade as being one of the best 2000 Watt generators. Some may have exceptionally low noise levels, which many prefer. Others may be more economical to run. Whatever the reason, all of these generators are of the highest standard for their price and the people who’ve bought them are impressed with the value that they’ve gotten from their hard earned cash.
1. Honda EU2000I 2000 Watt Inverter Generator
One of the most common complaints that I’ve found with Honda generators, in general, is that they are more expensive than many other generators that offer similar power and features. Despite this, the Honda EU2000i is one of the most popular inverter generators and many see them as the best 2000 Watt generators that you can get. So I thought I’d investigate this to see why the Honda EU2000i is such a highly rated generator –it is quite an achievement.
I think one of the big reasons why people are prepared to pay extra for the Honda EU2000i is simply because of the reputation that the brand has earned over the years. Honda generators have been supplying people with reliable power for decades and they last. It’s also easy to get service and spare parts for many years after you’ve purchased your Honda generator.
Though, brand reputation alone can’t fully account for the little Honda’s popularity. There are many other generators in this review of the best 2000 Watt generators that carry a name that is loved and respected. The Honda has some pretty impressive specs – right up there with the best of them.
Running wattage is 1600W (13.3A) and the peak load capacity is 2000 Watt (16.7A), nothing out of the ordinary here. It has a state of the art inverter which is great but, this too, is not unique to the Honda EU2000i. When it comes to fuel efficiency, the Honda EU2000i is quite impressive. Thanks to a very efficient engine and an electronically controlled eco-throttle, you’ll be getting up to 8-hours from a gallon of gas.
The little Honda EU2000i is designed for maximum portability, which makes it one of the best for camping and tailgating. It weighs only 46 LBS and has a compact design that incorporates a comfortable carrying handle. You can easily carry the Honda EU2000i in one hand. The design of both the well-insulated casing of the generator, as well as its engine and muffler make it incredibly quiet. Even at full load, when the engine is running flat out, the noise level is only 59dBA (less than a normal speaking voice. At 25% load, the noise level is an impressive 53dBA. This makes the Honda EU2000i one of the best 2000 Watt generators for campsites where generator noise levels easily become a problem.
It has two standard household 120V power outlets and an 8A 12V battery charging outlet. All the power sockets are load protected by a circuit breaker. The Honda EU2000i has ports for parallel connection so you can step up your power output as needed.
So, the reason why the Honda EU2000i is rated as one of the best 2000 Watt generators seems to be due to a combination of factors. There’s Honda’s reputation for build quality and backup service – you get a 3-year warranty on the Honda EU2000i. Then there’s the very low noise levels and incredible fuel economy. The Honda engine is compliant with the strictest emission control standards, so it’s able to be sold in California where these regulations are particularly restrictive. All this packed into a light and portable inverter generator that can be connected to another Honda EU2000i to double your power output.
2. Champion 73536i 2000 Watt Stackable Portable Inverter Generator
As with all Champion Power Equipment generators, the 73536i offers great quality and exceptional value for money. What’s most remarkable about this little generator is its innovative design. You’re able to safely stack several Champion 723536i generators on top of one another, this is very handy when you’re using more than one generator connected in parallel.
You get all the benefits of an inverter generator like low harmonic distortion at less than 3%, the economy of low engine revs when the power demand isn’t too high and parallel connection ports. When switched to eco-mode, the Champion Power 73536i will give you up to 9.5 hours of runtime at 25% load from the 1-gallon gas tank. It’s also a very quiet generator, producing only 53dBA from a distance of 23 FT.
Not only is the Champion Power 73536i very light at 49 LBS, but its handle design makes it incredibly easy to carry. One person can carry it easily with one or two hands and it’s just as comfortable when carried by two people. Like most other 2000W generators, you only have a recoil starter (no electric starter motor) but it starts effortlessly with a single pull.
The neatly laid out control panel gives you two standard 120V household power outlets and a 12V battery charging outlet. The power outlets are protected by circuit breakers and additional safety features include a USDA approved spark arrestor and a low oil shut-off sensor to protect the engine. It has warning lights for current overload and low oil.
The Champion Power Equipment 73536i offers you the full package at a very reasonable price. It also has one of the best designs of any small 2000W generator. You get fantastic backup support from the guys at Champion Power and this generator comes with an excellent 3-year limited warranty.
3. Briggs & Stratton 30651 P2200 PowerSmart Series Portable 2200-Watt Inverter Generator
Briggs & Stratton Generators have, for a long time, been seen as among the best generators that you can get. The Briggs & Stratton P2200 is a reasonably priced generator that provides a little more power than many others in this class. While it has some specs that fall slightly short of the best 2000 Watt generators, this little powerhouse is still a great contender and offers excellent value for money.
While not the lightest 2000 Watt generator, the Briggs & Stratton P2200 is still very portable at 54 LBS. When looking at this weight, you should take into account that this generator is going to deliver more watts. The Briggs & Stratton P2200 has a peak load capacity of 2200W and a running load of 1700W. This power is supplied by a rugged and reliable 110cc engine. While being a fantastic engine, you should note that it doesn’t meet all emission standards and can, therefore, not be sold in California.
Noise levels are quite good, though also not the best. At 25%, and measured from 23 feet away, the Briggs & Stratton P2200 measures 59dBA. This makes it acceptable for campsite noise levels, though the more expensive Honda has the same 59dBA noise level when standing right next to it and running at 100% load.
The design of the Briggs & Stratton is very practical. You’ll notice by looking at it that this generator has one of the best handle positions. It can be carried by two people just as easily as it can by one, thanks to the two side handles and centrally positioned single handle that provides a perfect weight balance when carrying it with one hand.
As part of the Briggs & Stratton PowerSmart series, the P2200 has parallel connection ports that allow you to couple it with another PowerSmart Briggs & Stratton generator to increase your power output. A neatly laid out control panel provides you with two 120V AC outlets as well as 5A 12V outlet with a USB adapter for charging cell phones and similar devices. It also has warning lights for low oil and power overload. The power outlets are protected by circuit breakers and it provides clean inverter supplied electricity with less than 3% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD).
Fuel consumption is perfectly within the range that you’ll expect from an inverter generator with an economy mode. At 25% average load, you’ll get around 8-hours from a tank of gas.
In its price range, the Briggs & Stratton P2200 can easily be the best 2000 Watt generator and you get more watts/amps than most other generators in this class. Briggs & Stratton quality and service is also among the best – this model has a 2-year warranty. If you look at all the specs, you’re getting a lot of generator for your money and the P2200 PowerSmart deserves its spot among the best 2000 Watt inverter generators.
4. WEN 56200i Portable Inverter Generator
For unbeatable value for money, WEN generators must be the best. Despite being one of the cheapest 2000 Watt inverter generators, the WEN 56200i generator has specs that leave many of its competitors slightly red-faced and embarrassed. There are generators with a much higher price tag that don’t quite match some of the impressive specs that you’ll find on this 2000 Watt inverter generator
It’s fantastically lightweight. If you’re going to be carrying your generator around quite a bit, you’ll be glad to see that the WEN 56200i weighs only 48 LBS and has a comfortable carrying handle, making it easy to carry using one hand. It’s also very compact with exceptionally low noise levels (51dBA at 25% load), making it one of the best generators for campsites. The 79.7cc 4-stroke engine also meets all environmental standards, it is both EPA III and CARB compliant.
With 2000 watts of peak (surge) power, 1600W constant running power, and parallel operation outlets, you have all the power you’ll need. You also have the benefit of clean inverter supplied electricity and, of course, the economy of an electronically controlled eco-throttle.
It has all the power outlets that you need – two 120V AC sockets, a 12V DC outlet and a 5V USB outlet. As with any modern generator, all the power supply sockets are protected by circuit breakers and it has warning lights for low oil and current overload.
If you don’t have all that much to spend, but still want a 2000 Watt inverter generator that can hold its own amongst the best, the WEN 56200i will bring a smile to your face. It’s a high-quality portable generator with a 2-year warranty and provides a spec level comparable to the best 2000 Watt portable generators.
5. Westinghouse iGen2500 Portable Inverter Generator
Westinghouse is a relative new comer to the portable generator market. They have, however, been in the power generator business longer than most. The Westinghouse Company built some of the first power stations in the US. With over a century of experience, Westinghouse is one of the best-placed companies to deliver excellent power generation products. This dedication to excellence is clearly evident in the Westinghouse iGen2500 portable inverter generator.
While being one of the lightest portable generators in its class (48.5 LBS), the Westinghouse iGen2500 produces a lot of power – 2500W peak power. This power is delivered from a very efficient and silent running 98cc engine with a spark arrestor. The inclusion of parallel connection means that you can increase this power output if desired. Its portability is aided by a comfortable carrying handle. The Westinghouse iGen2500 is designed to be exceptionally quiet. I don’t have manufacturer specs for noise levels but, if I were to hazard a guess, I’d say that at 50% load, it’s well under 60dBA (lower than a conversational voice).
Fuel consumption compares well with the best, again I don’t have official specs, but you can expect up to 8-hours from the 1-gallon gas tank. It has all the advantages of any inverter generator, being clean, low THD power and an economy mode that reduces fuel consumption. You also get a good array of power outlets – two 120V household receptacles and two USB outlets.
Unbeatable power and great build quality, places the Westinghouse iGen2500 comfortably among the best 2000 Watt (in this case 2500W) generators. It comes with the backing of a well-established company and a 3-year warranty.
6. Westinghouse WH2200iXLT Portable Inverter Generator (Certified Refurbished)
This smaller Westinghouse generator still gives some of the best performance, beating many of the other 2000 Watt generators in this review.
It has an EPA and CARB compliant 79cc engine which, thanks to a bigger 1.3-gallon gas tank, will give you a much longer running time. At 25% load, the Westinghouse 2200iXLT will run for 13-hours on a tank of gas. You’re probably not going to be using that much power through the night, this means that you could go to sleep with the generator running and wake up with it still purring away.
It won’t keep you awake either, the noise level at 50% load is only 59dBA. The quiet running low-fuel consumption engine does not compromise on power output, you get 1800W constant power with a peak load of 2200W.
Unlike the other inverter generators that we’ve reviewed so far, this one doesn’t have ports for parallel connection. It does provide the same clean inverter power as the others. It also has versatile power outlet options which include two 120V AC power sockets and a 12V 8A battery charging outlet.
For one of the most portable generators and the best running time in its class, the superb little Westinghouse 2200i XLT deserves a good deal of merit. With the best emission standards, it’s compliant in all states and also comes with a 3-year warranty.
7. Yamaha EF2000iSv2, 1600 Running Watts/2000 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Inverter
The Yamaha brand is one of the best to come out of Japan. Like its Japanese competitor, the Honda EU2000i, the Yamaha EF2000iSv2 generator is not a cheap machine. You are getting a fantastic generator for your money, though. It’s one of the most compact (2.2 CU.FT) and fuel efficient generators around.
Weighing only 44.1 LBS and an incredible run time of 10.5 hours at 25% load from the 1.1-gallon gas tank, places the little Yamaha right up there with the best.
The 79cc OHV 4-stroke engine is not only one of the most fuel efficient, but is also fully CARB and EPA certified, compliant in 50 states. Noise levels are also amongst the best – 51.5dBA at low load and 61dBA when running at high revs. It delivers 2000 Watts peak power and 1600 Watts constant load.
It has one of the best inverters ever made, giving you the purest sine wave and it has parallel connection abilities. There are quite a few features on the Yamaha EF2000iSv2 that many will see as the best that you can find on a portable 2000 Watt generator. This includes an easy start function that automatically decompresses the valves when starting the generator. It also has a fuel gauge, something that is not common on a small generator.
Your outputs are as to be expected on one of the best portable generators of this size and include two 120V AC outlets and an 8A 12V outlet with battery charging cables.
With really cool looks and some of the best design features for a compact 2000 Watt generator, the Yamaha EF2000iSv2 is rated very highly by those who’ve bought this generator. The 3-year limited warranty and excellent dealership support are also one of the best.
8. Champion 75537i 3100 Watt RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator with Wireless Remote Start
Even though the Champion Power Equipment 75537i is priced very closely to the Honda EU2000i, it’s in a completely different league. It’s the most powerful of the generators in this review. The only reason why this much more powerful generator (with some more advanced features than the others) has made it into this review of the best 2000 Watt generators is that it comes at a price that compares to many of the other, less powerful generators that we’ve chosen.
The Champion 75537i generator has a peak power output of 3100 Watts and 2800 running watts. Because it has a higher power output than the others, this one includes a 30A RV power outlet alongside the two standard 120V outlets and a 12V battery charging outlet, you also get a USB adapter for the 12V cigarette lighter-style 12V socket. This power is provided by a potent 171cc OHV 4-stroke engine. This is the only engine in this review to include an electric starter and, what’s more, it also has a wireless remote. This means that you can switch the generator on or off from up to 80 feet away. The added advantage of enhanced cold-start technology makes this generator even more user-friendly.
It’s a bigger and more powerful generator than all the others we’ve looked at and, because of this, its fuel consumption is quite a bit higher. You’ll get 8 hours from the larger 1.6-gallon gas tank at 25% load. This also means that the noise levels will be a little higher, though, this is still very good at 58dBA from 23 feet away. Being CARB and EPA certified, means that it’s compliant with emission regulations in 50 states.
Like most of the other generators in this review, the Champion 75537i is an inverter generator, giving you clean low HD power. What it doesn’t have is parallel connection ports and this is probably the only area where this generator falls short of the others.
With a bit of an unfair advantage over the others, rated as the best 2000 Watt generators, this 3100W generator offers you a lot for your money. For this, the Champion Power Equipment 75537i is worthy of its position alongside its smaller stablemates. As with all Champion Power Equipment products, quality and backup service is a given and you get a 3-year warranty on this generator.
9. Sportsman GEN2000, 1400 Running Watts/2000 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Generator
As the only generator in this review that does not have an inverter and it’s, generally a cruder machine than all the others, the Sportsman GEN2000 still deserves a mention among the best 2000 Watt generators. Mainly because it’s a good, robust 2000 Watt generator at a very reasonable price.
Unlike the others, the Sportsman GEN2000 has a more conventional design with a sturdy steel cage and it doesn’t have all the sound insulation of the modern designs
This means you won’t get the best noise levels, but it’s still very reasonable for this design type – just under 65dBA at 50% load which places it at the noise level of an average conversation.
The power is good, but also not quite the best. The EPA certified 87cc OHV 4-stroke engine will give you 2000 Watts peak (starting) power which is equal to most of the generators in this review, but its constant load is slightly lower than most at 1400W. As it’s not an inverter generator, you won’t get parallel functionality either and its fuel consumption is slightly higher than the best inverter generators. Though fuel economy certainly isn’t much of a problem being around 9-hours from the 1.2-gallon gas tank at 50% load.
Despite its heavy durable frame, the Sportsman GEN2000 is not a very heavy generator, weighing only 53 LBS. Not as light as any of the other 2000 Watt generators that we’ve reviewed here, but it has a completely different design so it will never be as light as the others.
It has a very conveniently laid out control panel with two 120V outlets and a 12V battery charging outlet, all protected by circuit breakers.
While many might not consider the Sportsman GEN2000 to be the best when you compare it to the more sophisticated 2000 Watt inverter generators. We need to compare apples to apples here. This is not an inverter generator and this also means it’s not nearly as expensive as the others. When you compare the Sportsman GEN2000 to similarly priced generators, it emerges as one of the best. Not everyone has that much to spend on a portable generator. So, for its price, we can say that Sportsman GEN2000 ranks among the best. It comes with a 1-year warranty which also more common for generators in this price range.
10. Amico Power 2000 Watt Portable Sine Wave Inverter Generator
The Amico Power 2000 Watt portable inverter generator may not have the brand reputation that many of the others in this review have, but it still deserves a place among the best 2000 Watt generators available to you.
It compares well to the best-known brands in every regard. A CARB/EPA certified 78.5cc OHV 4-stroke gas engine provides you with 2000 Watts peak and 1600 Watts constant power and all the advantages of inverter technology including the option to connect it to another Amico Power generator in parallel and double the power output.
It has a robust and well-insulated casing made from aluminum and plastic which gives it a very competitive weight of only 47 LBS. Its noise levels are also one of the best – 52dBA at 25% load. As is the fuel efficiency, the 1.1-gallon gas tank will give you up to 11-hours run time at 25% load. It has the standard two 120V AC power outlets and an 8A 12V battery charging outlet.
In every aspect of its design and function, the Amico Power 2000 Watt portable generator compares with the best of them. The only area where it doesn’t quite match up to many of the others is with its 1-year warranty, most of the other generators in this review come with 2 or 3-year warranties. This could mean that the guys at Amico aren’t quite as confident about their quality as the other manufacturers. Though there’s no evidence that the Amico generator is of an inferior quality standard and customers who have bought this generator are thoroughly impressed.
Why an Inverter Generator?
These days, most generator manufacturers are using inverter technology in their generators. The obvious benefit of an inverter is the clean power that it provides. The low Harmonic Distortion (HD) of an inverter means that they won’t harm electronic circuitry. Just about every modern appliance uses a microprocessor to make them more efficient and provide better user functionality. Even a washing machine, air conditioner or microwave with touch button controls or an LCD display will have electronics that will be damaged by repeated exposure to HD. So an inverter with low HD has become important in protecting the electrical equipment that we use every day.
An inverter generator is also much more economical to run. Because they use the latest electronic management systems, an inverter generator is able to control the engine revs of the generator. When the generator is not running at a high load, the engine will run at a lower RPM, greatly reducing its fuel consumption. You save money on gas and the generator will run a lot longer on a tank of gas.
Many inverter generators have parallel ports that allow you to connect more than one generator in parallel. When you buy a 2000 Watt generator, it’s great to have a small unit that’s easy to transport but there may be times when it would be better to have more power than you’ll get from a small 2000 Watt generator. This is where parallel connectivity comes into play. You have the benefit of a small very portable 2000 Watt generator and the flexibility to increase your power by adding another generator, or even two, to increase the electrical power that’s available to you. It’s like having the best of both – portability when you need it and a high power output when that’s more important.
JC says
April 10, 2018 at 9:10 pmWhy did the Sportsman 2000 watt Generator win over the Sportsman 2200 watt Inverter Generator, which is $200-$300 less then the other units described above. I bought one for $329 from Home Depot and it is as reliable and efficient as the Top Ten. It does not have all the features of some of the other units, but you can’t beat the price for an inverter generator.