Briggs & Stratton Generators
A home-standby line built around an unusually long warranty — 7 years standard, 10 through a dealer — versus the 5-year norm from Generac, Kohler and Cummins.
Briggs & Stratton at a glance
| Segment | Home standby |
|---|---|
| Power range | 12–26 kW home standby (PowerProtect / PowerProtect+) |
| Fuel | Natural gas or liquid propane |
| Transfer switch | Automatic transfer switch included on most standby packages |
| Warranty | 7-year parts/labor/travel (PowerProtect+) — 10-year available through a dealer, longest of any major brand |
| Running noise | ≈64 dB(A) at 23 ft on the 20 kW class |
Notable Briggs & Stratton models
- PowerProtect+ 26kW
- PowerProtect+ 22kW
- PowerProtect+ 18kW
- PowerProtect 13kW
How Briggs & Stratton compares
Where Briggs & Stratton sits against the other major US generator brands:
| Brand | Best for | Power range | Fuel | Transfer switch | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Briggs & Stratton | Whole-house standby with the longest warranty in the category | 12–26 kW home standby (PowerProtect / PowerProtect+) | Natural gas or liquid propane | Automatic transfer switch included on most standby packages | 7-year parts/labor/travel (PowerProtect+) — 10-year available through a dealer, longest of any major brand |
| Generac | Whole-house standby (market leader) | 7.5–26 kW standby · 3,000–8,000 W portable | Natural gas or liquid propane (standby); gas & dual-fuel (portable) | Air-cooled standby pairs with a Generac automatic transfer switch | 5-year limited (air-cooled standby) |
| Kohler | Premium whole-house standby | 10–26 kW home standby | Natural gas or liquid propane | Pairs with Kohler RXT/RDT automatic transfer switches | 5-year / 2,000-hour limited (many home models) |
| Cummins | Standby with industrial engine heritage | 13–20 kW QuietConnect home standby | Natural gas or propane (home standby); diesel (industrial); Onan (RV) | Pairs with Cummins automatic transfer switches | 5-year limited (many home standby models) |
| Champion | Value portable & dual-fuel | 1,200–12,500 W portable · 8.5–14 kW standby | Gas, dual-fuel (gas/propane) and tri-fuel across the portable line | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch; standby line included | 3-year limited (many portables) |
| Westinghouse | Portable & dual-fuel home backup | 2,200–12,500 W portable & inverter | Gas and dual-fuel (gas/propane) across most models | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch | 3-year limited (many models) |
| Predator | Budget portable & inverter (Harbor Freight house brand) | 2,000–13,000 W portable & inverter | Gasoline; tri-fuel (gas/propane/natural gas) on select inverter and portable models | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 90-day limited; 2-year coverage on the emissions control system — shorter than most rivals |
| DuroMax | High-output dual-fuel & inverter portables | 2,200–16,000 W portable & inverter | Dual-fuel (gasoline or propane) across nearly the whole line | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 3-year limited (5-year on select XP/iH inverter and high-output models) |
| Honda | Premium quiet inverter portables (RV, camping & home essentials) | 2,200–7,000 W portable inverter | Gasoline | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 3-year limited residential (1-year commercial); extended coverage available |
| FIRMAN | Budget dual-fuel and tri-fuel portables sold through big-box retail | 1,200–13,000 W portable & inverter | Gasoline; dual-fuel (gas/propane) on the H-series; tri-fuel on the T-series | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 3-year limited on most portable models |
| WEN | Budget inverter & portable generators with a 2-year warranty | 1,250–12,000 W portable & inverter | Gasoline; dual-fuel (gas/propane) on the DF-series | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 2-year limited — twice Predator’s 90 days, at a similar price point |
Frequently asked questions
Is a Briggs and Stratton generator better than Generac?
Generac has the larger dealer network and the widest whole-house line-up; Briggs & Stratton’s edge is warranty length — 7 years standard on PowerProtect+ (10 through a dealer) versus Generac’s 5-year limited coverage. Both run on natural gas or propane and cover similar kW classes, so the honest comparison is warranty and installer availability in your area, not raw capability.
Are Briggs and Stratton standby generators good?
Yes — Briggs & Stratton’s PowerProtect and PowerProtect+ line are a serious whole-house standby option, with the 26 kW model rated for two 5-ton AC units and a front-facing exhaust designed to vent heat and fumes away from the house. The main practical question before buying is finding a local Briggs & Stratton-certified installer, since the dealer network is smaller than Generac’s.
How long does a Briggs and Stratton generator last?
With the recommended annual service, a Briggs & Stratton home standby generator commonly lasts 15–20+ years, similar to other major standby brands. The 7-year (or 10-year dealer) warranty covers the early failure risk; after that, longevity comes down to routine maintenance and how often it actually runs during outages.
Next steps
- Not sure what size you need? Use the generator sizing calculator.
- Compare the field: best whole house generators · best portable generators.
- Other brands: Generac, Kohler, Cummins, Champion, Westinghouse, Predator, DuroMax, Honda, FIRMAN, WEN.
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