DuroMax Generators
A budget-to-mid-range brand built around high running-watt dual-fuel portables — more raw power per dollar than a quiet, compact inverter.
DuroMax at a glance
| Segment | Portable |
|---|---|
| Power range | 2,200–16,000 W portable & inverter |
| Fuel | Dual-fuel (gasoline or propane) across nearly the whole line |
| Transfer switch | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit |
| Warranty | 3-year limited (5-year on select XP/iH inverter and high-output models) |
| Running noise | ≈68 dB(A) at 23 ft on mid-size dual-fuel models — not the quiet pick of the group |
Notable DuroMax models
- XP12000EH (12,000 W dual-fuel)
- XP13000EH (13,000 W dual-fuel)
- XP16000iH (16,000 W inverter)
- XP4400EH (4,400 W dual-fuel)
How DuroMax compares
Where DuroMax sits against the other major US generator brands:
| Brand | Best for | Power range | Fuel | Transfer switch | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 DuroMax a good brand of generator?
DuroMax is a well-regarded budget-to-mid-range brand, especially for buyers who want a lot of running watts (10,000–16,000 W dual-fuel models) at a lower price than Generac or Honda. The trade-off is running noise — DuroMax portables run louder than the “Super Quiet” inverter lines from Honda, Champion or Predator — and support runs through DuroMax’s own customer service rather than a large dealer network.
Which is better, Generac or DuroMax?
They mostly serve different jobs. Generac’s strength is permanently installed whole-house standby systems; DuroMax makes portables only, at a much lower price and with more raw running watts than Generac’s own portable line. For whole-house backup, Generac standby is the safer long-term investment; for a powerful, budget dual-fuel portable, DuroMax is a common pick.
Who makes DuroMax generators?
DuroMax Power Equipment is its own US-based company, designing and selling generators, water pumps and power equipment directly and through retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s, with US-based customer support and parts.
What are the common problems with DuroMax generators?
The most reported issues are starting trouble after a season in storage — usually stale fuel or a gummed-up carburetor, fixed with a fuel stabilizer or a carb clean — and running noise that’s noticeably higher than quiet-inverter competitors, since most DuroMax models prioritize output over a compact, quiet design.
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, Briggs & Stratton, Honda, FIRMAN, WEN.
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