7 Best 4000 Watt Generators Reviewed and Rated

A 4000-watt generator is a perfect solution to your power outage problems. It generates enough power to run your essential appliances and electronics in a medium-sized home. You can easily power a full-sized refrigerator, an air conditioner, microwave, and a toaster or coffee maker at the same time.

Many people prefer to buy 4000-watt generators for their home or outdoor usage. The reason is that they can not only power your essentials but also they are portable. You can take them anywhere with you to meet your power needs.

So, if you are looking for a 4000-watt generator but not sure which one is the best, then there is no need to worry. Here, we have a list of seven best 4000-watt generators that you can go through to select one.

4000-Watt Generator Reviews

1. Westinghouse iGen4500 Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator – Quietest 4000-watt Generator

Noise Level: If you are looking for the best 4000-watt inverter generator, then you should buy this Westinghouse iGen4500. It is an extremely quiet generator that only produces 52 dBA noise levels.

Certifications: It is a CARB compliant unit as well as EPA and USFS approved.

Weight and Start System: It weighs around 93 pounds and comes with an electric and recoil start systems along with a remote start option.

Engine and Power Output: Its 224cc, 7HP Westinghouse OHV engine produces 4500 watts of peak power and 3700 watts of continuous power. Its THD rating is less than 3% which means you can power your sensitive electronics such as TV, smartphone, tablet, and laptop without any hesitation.

Tank Size and Runtime: It is a camper and RV ready unit that features a 3.4-gallon fuel tank. With this fuel tank capacity, you can get 18 hours of runtime at a 25% load. It also has an efficiency mode that helps you to get an excellent runtime.

Mobility: There are two small carrying handles located at the top front and backside to easily lift the unit by two persons. But if you are the only one and need to drag the unit, you can use a built-in telescopic handle located beneath the generator. Also, its two small but never flat tires make transportation easier.

Control Panel: If we focus on its main panel, then there are two USB outlets, two 120V 20A outlets, and an RV ready 30A outlet. Other than power outlets, you have three LED light indicators and a digital data center. This data center displays the power output, fuel level, remaining runtime, and voltage.

2. DuroStar Gas Powered Portable Generator – Best under $350

Weight and Warranty: This DuroStar DS4000S generator is another good-quality generator that you can buy to handle multiple jobs at the same time. It only weighs 94 pounds and comes with a 3-year limited warranty. This generator is also EPA and CARB compliant that allows you to use the generator in all 50 states of the US.

Engine: If we focus on its engine, then it is a 208cc, 7HP 4-stroke OHV engine. It comes with an air-cooled cooling system to protect the engine from overheating damages. Also, the engine turns off automatically when the oil levels reach almost zero.

Mobility: The unit comes with a big fold-down handle and a wheel kit for easy transportation. The tires are big that can run on any type of surface.

Power Output: Moving towards its output power, the unit produces 4000 watts of peak power and 3300 watts of running power.

Tank Size and Runtime: Its fuel tank capacity is 4 gallons. With this fuel tank size, you will get 12 hours of runtime at 50% load.

Safety: Other than its low-oil shutdown safety feature, there is a surge-arrest feature that protects your valuable unit from power surges.

Noise Level: The unit also features a super quiet muffler that keeps the noise levels at the lower side. It has a decibel rating of 69 dBA.

Control Panel: Its control panel has an engine switch and a voltmeter. Also, there are two 120V AC household outlets and a 120V 30A twist-lock outlet.

3. Champion Power Equipment DH Series Open Frame Inverter – Lightest 4000-watt Generator

 

Weight: This Champion 100302 portable inverter generator comes with an open-frame design that is lighter in weight as compared to Westinghouse iGen4500. It is also quieter and a little bit lighter than a conventional 3500-watt Champion generator.

Certification and Warranty: It is a CARB compliant unit and is backed by a 3-year limited warranty. Also, the company offers free technical support for a lifetime.

Noise Level: This inverter generator from Champion can’t beat the Westinghouse inverter generator in terms of quiet operation. Its decibel rating is 64 dBA whereas the decibel rating of Westinghouse is 52 dBA.

Engine and Power Output: It has the Champion OHV engine of the same power of 224cc, but it generates less output power of 4000 peak watts and 3500 running watts. Its less than 3% THD rating allows you to power your sensitive electronics.

Tank Size and Runtime: The unit has a small fuel tank of 2.9 gallons, but it offers 17 hours of runtime at 25% load. Its Economy mode helps you to get this runtime.

Parallel Ready: It is also a parallel ready unit that allows you to link another generator to produce more output power. You will need to buy a parallel kit to do so.

Starting System: If we talk about its start system, then it only recoils, but it is easy to pull.

Control Panel: Its power outlets include one 12V DC receptacle, one 120V RV-ready outlet, and two 120V AC household outlets. Other than power outlets, the control panel has an engine switch, eco switch, parallel connections, and reset buttons.

4. Pulsar Portable Gas-Powered Quiet Inverter Generator – Under $850

Engine and Power Output: This Pulsar PG4000iSR and the Westinghouse WGen4500 are similar in design, but the features are different. It has the same powerful OHV engine of 224C, but the maximum and running power it generates is different. Its engine produces 4000 watts of peak power and 3500 watts of continuous power.

Tank Size and Runtime: On the same 3.4 gallons fuel tank, it offers 15 hours of runtime at 50% load.

Noise Level: It is a noisy inverter generator as compared to Westinghouse WGen4500. It produces only a 63 dBA noise level, but it is higher than what Westinghouse produces.

Starting System: The unit also offers all three start systems. You can either use recoil, electric, or a remote start system to turn your generator on and off.

Inverter Technology: It is an inverter generator that will provide clean and stable power to all your appliances and electronics. You can power all of your sensitive electronics through this generator without any reluctance.

Parallel Ready: One thing that creates a significant difference between Pulsar and Westinghouse is the parallel capability. This Pulsar allows you to connect two PG4000iSR in order to produce more power to meet your needs.

Control Panel: Its power outlets include one 12V DC outlet, two 120V AC outlets, one USB outlet, and a 120V 30A RV receptacle.

Certifications and Warranty: It is also CARB compliant as well as an EPA and CSA approved unit. But its warranty period is very short, that is of only 1-year.

5. Sportsman GEN4000DF Dual Fuel Powered Portable Generator –Best under $300

Power Output: If you are looking for a dual fuel 4000-watt generator, then you can consider this Sportsman GEN4000DF. It uses both gasoline and propane to produce 4000 watts of peak power and 3500 watts of continuous power.

Engine and Noise Level: The unit is equipped with a 212cc, 7HP OHV engine with cast iron sleeve. It has an open frame design, but still, its noise level is not higher. It only produces less than 69 dBA noise level.

Starting System: It comes with a recoil start system. There is no second option to start or shut off the generator. But its recoil system is easy to pull.

Tank Size and Runtime: Its fuel tank capacity is 3.6 gallons. On a full gasoline tank, you can get 10 hours of runtime when you apply only 50% load. But on a 20-pound propane gas tank, the generator will run about 12 hours at 50% load. So, to get more runtime, you can run this generator on propane.

Control Panel: Its main panel features an engine switch, voltmeter, and circuit reset buttons. Other than this, there is a 12V DC outlet that can be only used for battery charging. Also, you have four 120V AC household receptacles and a 120V 30A RV-ready receptacle.

Warranty: But the main problem with this generator is its warranty that is of only one year.

6. Yamaha EF4500iSE Gas Powered Portable Generator – Heaviest 4000-watt Generator

Certification: Another portable inverter generator on our list is the Yamaha EF4500iSE that is a CARB compliant product. You can ship and use it in the state of California without any problem.

Weight: The unit is smaller in size, but it weighs around 194 pounds.

Engine and Power Output: If we focus on its engine, then it has a very powerful 375cc 4-stroke OHV engine that features an air-cooled cooling system. This engine generates 4500 peak watts and 4000 running watts. But it runs at a very low speed from 2600 rpm to 1000 rpm. This low engine speed results in lower fuel consumption and noise levels.

Starting System: The unit features both the electric and remote control start systems. Even from a distance of 66 feet, you can control your unit with the help of remote control.

Tank Size and Runtime: It has a 4.5-gallon fuel tank that offers 15.2 hours of runtime at 25% load and at full rated load, you will get 7.4 hours of runtime.

Inverter Technology with PWD: The inverter technology from Yamaha is featured with PMW (Pulse Width Modulation) that ensures voltage and frequency stability. You can freely power your sensitive electronics like laptops, computers, smartphones, etc. through this generator.

Control Panel: Its control panel has an hour meter that tells when your generator requires servicing. Also, there is a Power meter that shows the amount of remaining power and the power being used. Moreover, there are two 120V AC household outlets and a twist-lock outlet.

7. Briggs & Stratton 30676 Gas Powered Portable Generator – Largest Fuel Tank

Engine and Power Output: Briggs and Stratton model 30676 is last in our list, but it doesn’t mean it is not a unit to buy. It is powered by a 208cc Briggs & Stratton OHV engine that produces 4375 watts of peak power and 3500 watts of running power.

Mobility: It features a long fold-down handle that makes pulling easier. Also, its two big size wheels can run on any surface.

Tank Size and Runtime: If we talk about its fuel tank capacity, then it is of 5 gallons. With this fuel tank size, you will get a runtime of 14 hours at 50% load.

Alternator: It is also featured with a power surge alternator. The objective of this alternator is to produce more surge power up to 25% to start large tools and appliances at the same time.

Control Panel: It has a simple control panel that features only two 120V 20A household outlets and a 120V 30A RV locking outlet. In addition, there is an engine switch.

Weight and Warranty: If we talk about its weight, then it is 114 pounds. Also, its warranty period is of 2 years.

Starting System: The unit only features a recoil start system, so if you are an older person, then it is better to avoid this generator.

Buyer’s Guide

In this buyer’s guide section, you will be able to know which things you must have to check before purchasing your 4000-watt generator. So, take a look.

Conventional vs. Inverter Generator

The traditional and inverter generators are different from each other in various ways. First, a conventional generator only generates AC power and releases from the power outlets. But an inverter generator first converts AC into DC and then that DC is converted back to AC to provide clean and stable power to all your appliances and electronics.

Other difference between these two is of noise levels. An inverter generator produces less noise as compared to a conventional generator. Also, inverter units are more fuel-efficient, but they are expensive to buy. On the other hand, conventional units are less fuel-efficient but are less expensive and generate more power.

Single vs. Dual Fuel

Many people prefer single fuel generators. But having a dual fuel generator is useful in emergency situations. When one fuel source gets short, you can use the other fuel source to keep your generator running. Also, propane is less expensive than gasoline so you can depend more on propane as compared to gasoline.

Power Output

As you are looking for a 4000-watt generator, so make sure that it has a high starting wattage. A unit with 4500 starting watts and 4000 running watts is ideal to buy so that those appliances that are motor driven and need more starting power can easily get started.

Fuel Tank Size and Runtime

We all know that the runtime of a generator depends on its fuel tank size. A generator with a medium-sized fuel tank of 4.5 to 5 gallons can give you more runtime as compared to a unit having 3 to 4 gallons tank size. But it also depends on the fuel source and the fuel-efficiency feature of a generator.

A fuel-efficient generator can give you a good runtime even on a small tank.

Power Outlets

Make sure that the power outlets available on the control panel of your generator are according to your needs. If you need USB ports, make sure your unit has those ports. If you are buying a generator to power the appliances of your RV, then confirm your unit has an RV outlet. Moreover, some units come with two household receptacles, whereas some generators feature four power outlets. So, check the number of household outlets as well.

Noise Level

There are many 4000-watt generators available that considerably produce less noise. So, it is better to select a unit that operates quietly. Make sure that your unit is a closed frame. Also, confirm that it has a noise-reducing muffler.

Safety Features

It is also necessary to consider the safety features of your selected generator. A low-oil shutdown feature is a must that turns the engine off when it senses that the available oil level is insufficient to run the engine. Also, confirm that your unit has overload protection that will protect your generator and appliances from damages.

Warranty

A unit having a longer warranty is always recommended to buy. Before finalizing a 4000-watt generator, make sure that it has a 3-year limited warranty. If not, then a 2-year warranty is a must.