Honda Generators
The long-standing quiet-and-reliability benchmark for portable inverter generators — a premium price for class-leading refinement and resale value.
Honda at a glance
| Segment | Portable |
|---|---|
| Power range | 2,200–7,000 W portable inverter |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Transfer switch | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit |
| Warranty | 3-year limited residential (1-year commercial); extended coverage available |
| Running noise | ≈48–58 dB(A) depending on model and load — the long-standing quiet-portable benchmark |
Notable Honda models
- EU2200i (2,200 W)
- EU3000iS (3,000 W)
- EU7000iS (7,000 W)
How Honda compares
Where Honda sits against the other major US generator brands:
| Brand | Best for | Power range | Fuel | Transfer switch | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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
Are Honda generators worth the money?
For buyers who prioritize quiet running, low weight, fuel efficiency and strong resale value, most owners say yes — Honda's EU-series has been the reference point other "Super Quiet" inverter lines are compared against for years. If budget matters more than the last word in refinement, Predator's Super Quiet or Champion's inverter models get you most of the same quiet-running experience for meaningfully less.
Why are Honda generators so expensive?
Honda prices its EU-series on brand reputation, engineering refinement (low total harmonic distortion for sensitive electronics, class-leading fuel efficiency) and a track record of reliability that keeps resale values unusually high — a used Honda inverter often holds value better than a budget competitor sells new. You're paying for that refinement and resale strength, not just the watts.
What is the quietest Honda generator?
The EU2200i is Honda's quietest, rated around 48 dB(A) at a quarter load and 57 dB(A) at rated (full) load — smaller output naturally runs quieter than the larger EU3000iS or EU7000iS. Like any generator, actual noise depends heavily on how hard you're running it, not just the model.
Can a Honda generator power a house?
Honda doesn't make a whole-house standby line — its largest consumer portable, the EU7000iS, tops out at 7,000 W, enough for a strong essentials-plus load (fridge, furnace blower, well pump, lights, some AC) through a transfer switch or interlock, but not full central air in most homes. For true whole-house backup, see the standby brands — Generac, Kohler, Cummins or Briggs & Stratton — and size the load first with the sizing calculator.
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, Briggs & Stratton, FIRMAN, WEN.
gennyguide is independent and not affiliated with Honda. Specs and pricing change — confirm current model details with the manufacturer or retailer. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.