Power is paramount whether you are at home or on the go. However, power companies can be a little (or much) disappointing with their frequent power outages.
As such, you may find yourself needing a power backup plan in the form of the best 1000 Watt generator.
But, how do you go about that? Don’t worry. In this guide, we are going to cover the buying guide, reviews a few options, and address some frequently asked questions about the same.
We believe that will help in the decision-making process so keep it here for that.
Comparison Table
We strive to be as detailed as possible with our reviews, but we also understand that you may not be in a position to read through all we have to say.
In that regard, we have put together the following comparison table to help you make a quick choice.
Buying Guide – How to Choose
For you to get your hands on the perfect 1000 watt generator, you need to consider several factors as you shop. These include:
Power Requirements
Before embarking on your purchasing journey, you need to determine the amount of power required to run your appliances.
You can do this by checking the electrical rating on the appliances. We are reviewing 1000 Watt generators here that may be unable to power some of your appliances.
Noise Level
Most modern generators are quieter and will even remain quiet whenever there are no electronics connected.
If noise is a deal-breaker for you, it is important to ensure that the generator you pick does not generate a lot of noise. Ideally, the noise level should be below 60dBA.
The last thing you want is to be a nuisance to be your neighbors with those annoying generator noises.
Generator Durability
Your generator of choice has to be made out of something. What matters here is the quality of the material used.
You also want to consider that you may need to have the generator outdoors and that calls for high-quality construction. By that, we mean that the body of the generator needs to be weatherproof and rust-resistant.
Ease of use
Another thing you want to consider is how easy it will be to use your generator in terms of starting it. You need to pick a model that comes with a convenient ad quick way of starting.
In case yours comes with a recoil start, you want to ensure that it will be easy to pull and start eve when temperatures are lower.
Generator Type
You can either get an inverter generator or the conventional type. Now, the biggest difference between the two has to do with pricing and the purity of power produced.
Traditional generators generally cost less, but they are not necessarily fuel-efficient or quiet. Most importantly, they do not generate clean power so you may be jeopardizing some of your sensitive electronics when you let them run such generators.
On the other hand, inverter generators will cost a little bit more but make up for that will their features. First, they are fuel-efficient, quieter, and produce clean power making them safe to use.
Engine Power
The engine acts as the heart of your generator. That means that it needs to be reliable and powerful. Now, most generator inverter engines come with a capacity between 50-60cc volume.
You want to go for four-stroke models because they are more fuel-efficient than older two-stroke engines.
Tank Capacity and Runtime
A generator comes with a fuel tank and its capacity will determine how much run time you get. This is important in that when your fuel runs out, you need to allow the engine to cool down before adding more fuel.
That also means that you will be without power for half an hour or so. The average 1000 Watt generator will offer a maximum of 6 hours runtime which we feel is adequate.
That said; a larger fuel tank will take up more space even if it gives more runtime. We would therefore advise you to go for a sizeable fuel tank.
Size, Weight, and Portability
If you intend to travel with your generator, you want it to be portable. Granted, a 1000 Watt generator should be small, but these come in weight.
Go for something lightweight that you can carry from one spot to another easily. It should also come with other convenient features to facilitate transportation such as carry handles or wheels for easy movement.
Product Pricing
There is no denying that your financial capability will come into play as you search for the perfect generator.
Some brands offer cheaper products than others mostly depending on the features. We would therefore advise you to have a budget in place.
With that, you will be able to narrow down your choices and try to find the perfect balance between quality and price.
Warranty Period
Your generator should come with a warranty – period. This is because you need to protect yourself from defects caused by poor workmanship.
As such, you need to check whether the generator you intend to buy comes with a warranty or not. While at it, you want to look at the warranty period and determine whether it is reasonable or not.
High-quality generators generally come with a warranty because the manufacturer is confident in their product.
1000 Watt Generators Reviewed
We have taken it upon ourselves to review the top ten generators in the 1000-Watt category. That should give you an easier time when it comes to choosing.
1. Westinghouse iGen1200 Portable Inverter
- 1000 Rated Watts and 1200 Peak Watts at Less Than 3% THD – Weighs Only 33 Lbs. – Gas Powered – Two 120V 20 Amp Outlets
- Great Choice for Home Use as an Emergency Backup in a Power Outage – Strong Enough to Run Most Home Essentials
- Extremely Quiet, Extremely Fuel Efficient: As Low as 52 dBA Noise Output and Up to 9 Hours of Run Time on a 0. 8 Gallon Gas Tank –...
We begin our list with this piece from Westinghouse ad what we will tell you is that it will make a great power backup option for your home. How so? Simply because it is strong enough to run most home appliances.
As if that is not enough, this unit is extremely fuel-efficient and quiet as well. That means you will not have to spend too much on gas or be a nuisance to your neighbors. We are off to a good start, wouldn’t you agree?
What We Liked About It
This generator is parallel capable and we know you may not know what that means so let us school you a bit. That simply means that you can combine this generator with another similar one to double your power. How cool is that?
However, what we loved most is that this generator and all the others from the Westinghouse stable are factory tested and CARB and EPA compliant. This product is also backed by a 3-year warranty and we believe you will appreciate that.
What Could Have Been Better
This unit is a bit on the heavier side especially when filled with fuel and may be therefore quite difficult to transport from place to place. We feel that the manufacturer could have used lighter material in its construction to eliminate some of that weight.
Pros
- Comes with a carry top handle
- Parallel capable
- Highly functional
Cons
- Could be lighter
2. Jackery Portable Solar
This unit has a higher wattage and an even larger capacity of 1002Wh capacity. This solar-powered generator comes with 3 pure sine wave AC outlets to deliver additional capacity to power some of your home appliances at the same time.
We are talking about things like phones and laptops.
The generator is quite lightweight as well making it portable and ideal for outdoor activities such as camping.
What We Liked About It
Whenever this generator runs out of power, you will not have to wait for days to get connected again. It takes a mere 8 hours to fully recharge and it comes with an adapter cable to facilitate that.
You will also find this unit extremely easy to use especially when it comes to starting making it the ideal choice for beginners.
What Could Have Been Better
Some users have complained that the product they received is not the same as the one on the product description. We feel that the manufacturer should have been truthful with that.
Pros
- Portable
- User friendly
- Maneuverable
Cons
- Product description requires updating
3. Honda EU1000i Inverter
At only 29lbs. this inverter generator is as compact and lightweight as can be. That makes it easy to carry from one place to another.
Do not even get us started about how quietly this unit operates. You do not have to worry about disturbing your neighbors or even nature if you decide to go camping with it.
What We Liked About It
The Honda EU1000i comes with inverter technology to guarantee stability and clean power for the safety of your electronics. It also comes in a lighter, smaller package that you will find easy to transport.
Aside from that, this generator automatically shuts down whenever it detects low oil. You certainly cannot compete with that.
What we loved most however is that the manufacturer of this product employed an eco-throttle system to offer fuel efficiency that allows it to run for up to 8 hours on a single tank.
What Could Have Been Better
Some users have complained about this product’s run time and we feel that the manufacturer should have fitted it with a larger fuel time to give it more run time.
Pros
- Produces clean power
- Lightweight
- Fuel-efficient
Cons
- Run time could be longer
4. Sungzu Portable 1000W Power Inverter
No products found.
Power outages can cause anxiety but you do not have to go through that with this inverter generator. It can be used both as an outdoor and indoor power backup plan.
That means that you can recharge any electronic less than 1000W and that includes a mini-refrigerator, camera, phone, and laptop.
Now, this unit comes with a larger capacity engine that translates to more power and a longer run time. You will love that for sure.
What We Liked About It
The first thing we noticed about this unit is that it comes with an OLED screen that displays the status of the battery. Of course, that will help you decide when to recharge it.
While we are on that recharging bit, can you believe that this portable generator can be recharged through your wall socket or solar? It also generates clean power that is eco-friendly and safe for your appliances.
We love that it operates quietly as well and that it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That should give you enough time to decide whether it is good enough to keep or not.
What Could Have Been Better
As reported by some users, the fuses of this product are hard to install and we feel that the manufacturer should have done a better job at making the installation process easier.
Pros
- Easy recharging
- High capacity power
- Smokeless
Cons
- Installation could be easier
5. Honda 663510 EU1000i 1000 Watt
Multipurpose is the word when it comes to this unit from Honda. We say that because it can be used to effortlessly run a broad variety of home appliances.
This generator also comes with CO-MINDER functionality. Any idea what this is? Well, the functionality monitors carbon monoxide levels ad automatically shuts down when they get dangerously high. We have to applaud the manufacturer for that.
What We Liked About It
You will not have any issues as far as transporting this baby or finding space for it to stand in your home. This is because it is lightweight and compact.
Other than that, it comes with parallel capability that allows you to add another similar generator to get double power. Take a moment to think about what you can do with all that power!
Anyway, what we found most appealing is that this generator runs quietly such that you will not even remember that it is running until you see it.
What Could Have Been Better
Several users have complained that the instructions that come with this product are not as clear and we feel that the manufacturer could have made them clearer.
Pros
- Parallel capability
- Multipurpose
- Compact
Cons
- User instructions could be clearer
6. Buffalo Tools GEN1000I 1000 Watt
If you are looking for an inverter generator that will deliver reliable ad clean power, you do not have to look further than this one. All your sensitive electronics will safely run here.
You may also want to note that this particular unit is fitted with a powerful four-stroke engine that will give you a longer run time.
We also realized that this product is among the most reasonably priced on this list even with all the features that it has. We call that value for money.
What We Liked About It
Another great thing about this unit is that it is fitted with a single 120V AC outlet and 12V DC outlet. Both come with circuit breakers to ensure that you never suffer electric shocks.
That is not all though; the generator comes with an economy mode that is supposed to reduce noise, extend engine life, and minimize fuel usage.
It is also lightweight making it the perfect companion for your outdoor adventures and we love that about it.
What Could Have Been Better
From reviews, this unit tends to produce smoke, which means it is not as eco-friendly. We feel that the manufacturer should have put a mechanism in place to counter that.
Pros
- Value for money
- No assembly required
- Low oil shutdown
Cons
- Could do without the smoke
7. PowerSmart Generator (PS50)
How would you love not to have to change the oil in your generator? What do you know? You don’t have to with this unit.
It also comes with a tank capacity of 1.1 gal. that can run for up to 5 hours at half load. Talk about fuel efficiency!
What We Liked About It
As far as transportation, you will not experience any issues with this generator simply because it comes in a compact and lightweight design.
Moving away from that, this unit features quite a powerful engine that translates to longer run time and we love that about it.
What Could Have Been Better
According to some users, this generator is quite sluggish and we feel that the manufacturer should have made it with fast-operation in mind.
Pros
- Great tech support
- Longer run time
- Not heavy
Cons
- Could be faster
8. Yamaha EF1000iS
No products found.
The Yamaha EF1000iS is not the most affordable generator you will find but here’s why. This unit comes with a four-stroke engine, that is not only powerful but reliable as well.
We also applaud the brand for offering a 2-year warranty for commercial users and a three-year warranty for residential users. That saves you the money you would have spent to correct any manufacturer defects.
What We Liked About It
Noise will not be a concern when using this generator because it starts at only 47 dB of noise and gets to a maximum of 57 dB. It is also lightweight making it extremely portable.
Moving on, this generator can run up to 12 hours without requiring refueling hence giving you a longer run time. Imagine that.
What we found most appealing nonetheless is that this unit is CARB Compliant making it dependable.
What Could Have Been Better
Unfortunately, this product does not come with USB ports making it impossible to run appliances that require that kind of input method. We feel that the manufacturer should have put the ports in place to make the generator versatile.
Pros
- CARB compliant
- Extended run time
- Noise reduction feature
Cons
- Could use USB ports
9. SUNGZU 300W Power Station
No products found.
The biggest selling point of this product is probably that it features a Battery Management System Balancing Technology. What this means is that the entire battery pack will still function even if some parts are dysfunctional.
As a brand, SUNGZU specializes in producing greed power and they did not leave out this unit. It is a multifunctional generator that integrates 2 AC outlets and 2DC 12V outlets to help power devices like fans, cameras, and phones.
What We Liked About It
You get clean power with this unit. By that, we mean that you can run all your sensitive devices without having to worry that they will be damaged.
It is also equipped with a 346-watt battery pack so you won’t be needing any gasoline or fuel to run it. Do you know what else that means? No fumes!
We love that the generator comes with an in-built battery balancing system for temperature control. Besides, it comes with a cooling fan and automatically shuts off once it is fully charged. That is a host of safety features no?
What Could Have Been Better
Several users have come out to say that this generator is quite noisy. We feel that the manufacturer should have put a noise reduction mechanism in place to solve that problem.
Pros
- Safe operation
- In-built temperature control
- Battery management system
Cons
- Could be quieter
10. Pecron E1000 Portable Power Station
No products found.
With this power station, you get a large battery capacity as well as 3 types of charging solar, car, and grid charging. That makes it easy to use for both outdoor and indoor activities.
You will also find it easy to carry this unit from one spot to another because it is lightweight and comes with a handle to facilitate the same. As if that is not enough, you will not need any gasoline to power the unit and that means no smoke, no noise, and most importantly, no pollution.
What We Liked About It
This is a plug-and-play option. That tells you that it is extremely easy to use and we are just getting started.
Other than that, this product comes with multi-ports that you can use for a variety of applications whether for indoor or outdoor use.
Another great thing about this generator is that it comes with temperature and overload protection. We would also like to mention that it comes with pure-sine power to guarantee that your devices run safely. We love that about it.
What Could Have Been Better
This unit is quite heavy, which is unfortunate because it limits your ability to transport it from one place to another. We feel that the manufacturer should have used lighter material during construction to make it portable.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Powerful battery
- Designed for safety
Cons
- Could be lighter
People Also Ask The Following
At this point, you probably have a few questions that have to do with the best1000 Watt generator choices. We are up to the task and we have addressed some of them below.
How many watts does your generator need to have to run a house?
Most household appliances can run on a 5000-7500 watt generator. Some of those appliances include lighting circuits, freezers, and microwaves.
In fact, a 7500-watt generator can run several of these appliances simultaneously.
What appliances can you run on a 1000 watt generator?
An Energy Star-rated refrigerator can have 250-750 watts based on the energy efficiency rating and size. Therefore, a 250W refrigerator with a starting wattage 0f 650-750 Watts can run on a 1000W generator.
However, you will not have much power left to run any other electronic.
How many watts does my generator need to power a refrigerator?
That should be about 1000-2000 Watts. Depending on the size of the size, a home refrigerator will require about 1000-2000 starting watts. That should be enough to run both your freezer and refrigerator effortlessly.
Our Top Pick
The Westinghouse iGen1200 Portable Inverter Generator has to be our top pick on this list but let us explain why.
First, we noticed that this unit would make the perfect power backup option for both your indoor and outdoor activities. This is because it can effortlessly be used to run appliances such as laptops, phones, and televisions.
That is not all though; this inverter generator is energy-efficient as well and runs quietly. This means that you get to save on fuel costs and not disturb your neighbors with those annoying generator noises.
You would think that this is enough but we are just getting started. It is parallel capable but you probably do not know what that is. Simply put, you can add another similar generator to this one to double your power. It cannot get any better than this.
Nevertheless, what we found most appealing about this unit is that it is EPA and CARB compliant and factory tested as well. That translates to reliability. Moreover, the generator is backed by a 3-year warranty that we believe will come in handy in case you encounter manufacturer defects.
Conclusion
You are probably thinking that 1000 watts is not much particularly with the thought that some generators can provide more than 10,000 watts.
However, with a thousand watts, you can power most of the appliances in your home whenever there is a power blackout. It is also a great option if you intend to use it outdoors because it is portable.
Some of the appliances that can be powered by a 1,000-watt generator include your television, laptop, LED bulbs, or phone. The only problem would have to do with the selection process but we believe we have taken the guesswork out of that with this guide.
