Best generators for home backup in a power cut (2026)
For a long power cut, the best generator for most homes is a small petrol inverter such as the Champion 2200W or the Hyundai 2.2kW, run outdoors only, several metres from the house. When a power cut runs long — a storm that takes out the lines for a day or more — a portable generator can keep the essentials going: the fridge-freezer, a few lights, phones and the broadband router. But a generator is also the most dangerous thing on this site if used wrongly, so this page leads with the rule that saves lives, then compares the units actually worth buying.
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By Tom Calder · Updated 4 November 2026 · 5 products, all price-tracked
Our picks by size
Photo: AmazonHyundai 2.2kW Inverter
A petrol backup for a long power cut that can run a fridge, lights and sensitive electronics.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonHyundai HY3250SEi Generator
Caravanners and homes wanting clean inverter power with electric start for occasional backup.
All 5 compared
| Generator | Running power | Fuel | Runtime | Noise | Inverter | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3,000 W · Petrol · 5.5 hr · 59 dB · Yes (pure sine wave) Caravanners and homes wanting clean inverter power with electric start for occasional backup. | 3,000 W | Petrol | 5.5 hr | 59 dB | Yes (pure sine wave) | £629.99 at B&Q Checked 24 OctIn stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 3.2kW pure sine-wave inverter generator that delivers clean power for sensitive electronics, with electric and recoil start and 3,000W continuous output. At 26.5kg with moulded carry handles it is lighter than the HY3200SEi it replaces in our guide, but Hyundai lists no wheel kit or remote key-fob start for it. Sensible for occasional outage cover or off-grid use, which is what Hyundai designs it for, though it is a petrol machine that must be run and refuelled safely outdoors. Best for Caravanners and homes wanting clean inverter power with electric start for occasional backup. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy this if you only need to keep phones, a router and a few lights going, or if you have nowhere to run it safely outdoors: a battery power station is silent and gives off no fumes or carbon monoxide, so it can be used indoors (follow its maker's charging and storage guidance). A petrol generator must never be run in a garage, porch or indoors. Read the full review → | ||||||
2,000 W · Petrol · 61 dB · Yes A petrol backup for a long power cut that can run a fridge, lights and sensitive electronics. | 2,000 W | Petrol | — | 61 dB | Yes | £463.99 at Amazon as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Ships laterCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 2.2kW inverter generator with clean, pure sine wave output, so it's safe for laptops, routers and TVs, plus electric start and an eco mode that throttles down with the load. Like every petrol generator it must only run outdoors, well away from doors, windows and vents, and never in a garage, shed or porch, because of carbon monoxide. Best for A petrol backup for a long power cut that can run a fridge, lights and sensitive electronics. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: You only need to keep phones, lights and a router going through a short cut. A battery power station is silent, with no petrol to store, and gives off no fumes, so unlike a petrol generator it can be used indoors; follow its maker's charging and storage guidance. A petrol generator must run outdoors, well away from doors and windows, because of carbon monoxide. Read the full review → | ||||||
 3,000 W · Petrol · 3.6 hr · 63 dB · Yes (pure sine wave) Households that want 3kW of inverter power in a lighter, recoil-start body and are happy to use a 16A connection. | 3,000 W | Petrol | 3.6 hr | 63 dB | Yes (pure sine wave) | £523.99 at Amazon as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Ships laterCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 3kW continuous inverter generator that Hyundai lists at 21.15kg, lighter than the HY3250SEi already on this page but without electric start. Its only mains outlet is a 16A industrial blue socket, so ordinary 13A appliances need a suitable 16A-to-13A adaptor lead, and that connector suits caravan hook-up cables and some tools better than a household extension lead. The small 4-litre tank gives a stated 3.6 hours at half load, so a long outage means frequent, careful outdoor refuelling. Best for Households that want 3kW of inverter power in a lighter, recoil-start body and are happy to use a 16A connection. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: You want electric start or several household sockets without an adaptor; the HY3250SEi already on this page is the better fit. A petrol generator must run outdoors only, well away from doors, windows and vents, never in a garage, shed, porch or tent, with a carbon monoxide alarm indoors. Connecting any generator to house wiring needs a qualified electrician and a proper changeover switch; never backfeed through a socket. Read the full review → | ||||||
Sold out right now (2)
The shop says these are sold out today. We check stock every hour, and each one moves back up the list when it returns.
| Generator | Running power | Fuel | Runtime | Noise | Inverter | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1,900 W · Petrol · 10.5 hr · 58 dB · Yes (true sine wave) A light petrol backup for a long power cut that can run a fridge, lights and sensitive electronics. | 1,900 W | Petrol | 10.5 hr | 58 dB | Yes (true sine wave) | Out of stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Champion's 2.2kW inverter generator: 1,900W running with true sine wave output, so it's safe for laptops, routers and TVs, plus two standard 13A sockets and an economy mode that throttles back at light loads. At 17.6kg it's easy to lift into a car boot. Like every petrol generator it must only run outdoors, well away from doors, windows and vents, and never in a garage, shed or porch, because of carbon monoxide. Best for A light petrol backup for a long power cut that can run a fridge, lights and sensitive electronics. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: You only need to keep phones, lights and a router going through a short cut. A battery power station is silent, with no petrol to store, and gives off no fumes, so unlike a petrol generator it can be used indoors; follow its maker's charging and storage guidance. A petrol generator must run outdoors, well away from doors and windows, because of carbon monoxide. Read the full review → | ||||||
 1,800 W · Petrol · 5.7 hr · 61 dB · Yes (pure sine wave) A light, lower-cost petrol option for keeping a fridge, router, lights and chargers running through a power cut. | 1,800 W | Petrol | 5.7 hr | 61 dB | Yes (pure sine wave) | Out of stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A compact 2kW inverter generator with 1,800W continuous pure sine-wave output, which Hyundai lists at 18kg. It is lighter than the Hyundai 2.2kW already on this page and close in weight to the Champion 92001i, but it has one 13A socket where the Champion has two. It suits a household that needs to cover a few essentials rather than a kettle or heater. Like every petrol generator it must run outdoors only. Best for A light, lower-cost petrol option for keeping a fridge, router, lights and chargers running through a power cut. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: You only need phones, a router and a few lights covered: a battery power station is silent and gives off no fumes, so it can be used indoors (follow its maker's charging and storage guidance). A petrol generator must run outdoors only, well away from doors, windows and vents, never in a garage, shed, porch or tent, with a carbon monoxide alarm indoors. Connecting any generator to house wiring needs a qualified electrician and a proper changeover switch; never backfeed through a socket. Read the full review → | ||||||
ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
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Before you buy
Start with what you actually need to run, because it sets the size.
Add up the running watts of your essentials: a fridge-freezer (~150–200W running, but a brief start-up surge of 600–1,200W), a few LED lights (~50W), phone and laptop chargers plus the broadband router (~50W), and a gas boiler's pump and controls (~150W). Most homes' essentials fit comfortably inside a 2,000W (2kW) generator — which is why the popular models cluster there — but leave headroom for that fridge start-up surge.
Choose an INVERTER generator for home use.
Inverter models produce clean, stable 'pure sine wave' electricity that's safe for sensitive electronics — laptops, phones, modern TVs and boiler circuit boards — whereas a cheap open-frame generator's rougher output can damage them and is far louder. Inverters are also much quieter (around 58–63dB on the models here, versus 70dB+) and more fuel-efficient, throttling down when the load is light. For a house in a power cut, inverter is the sensible choice; open-frame generators are for building sites, not living rooms.
Then fuel and the practicalities.
Petrol is the norm and easy to buy, but store it legally and safely (up to 30 litres at home in approved containers, outside living space — see our fuel guide). Dual-fuel models also run on LPG bottled gas, which stores more safely and burns cleaner. Check the runtime at quarter or half load (3.6 to 10.5 hours a tank here) and the noise figure if neighbours are close. Most ship WITHOUT oil, so fill it before the first start; keep fresh fuel and a heavy-duty outdoor extension lead. The HY3900Si has only a 16A blue socket, needing a 16A-to-13A adaptor lead.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its UK price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labelled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
What's the best generator for power cuts in the UK?
For most homes, a small petrol inverter generator: the Champion 2200W Inverter and the Hyundai 2.2kW Inverter are light petrol backups that can run a fridge, lights and sensitive electronics through a long power cut, and the Hyundai HY2350Si is the lower-cost option. Run any generator outdoors only, several metres from the house with the exhaust pointing away from doors and windows, and keep a CO alarm indoors. For most power cuts, a battery power station is the simpler, fume-free alternative.
Can I run a generator indoors or in the garage?
No — never. Petrol generators give off carbon monoxide, which is invisible, odourless and kills quickly in an enclosed space. Run a generator outdoors only, several metres from the house with the exhaust pointing away from doors and windows, and fit a CO alarm indoors.
What size generator do I need for a power cut?
Add up the running watts of your essentials (fridge-freezer, a few lights, chargers, router, boiler controls) and leave headroom for the fridge's start-up surge. Most homes' essentials fit inside a 2,000W (2kW) inverter generator.
What is an inverter generator and do I need one?
An inverter generator produces clean, stable 'pure sine wave' power that's safe for sensitive electronics, and it's quieter and more fuel-efficient than a cheap open-frame model. For home backup in a power cut, yes — choose an inverter.
Petrol or dual-fuel generator?
Petrol is easy to buy and store within the legal 30-litre home limit. Dual-fuel models also run on LPG bottled gas, which stores more safely and burns cleaner — useful if you want a longer-term fuel option. Every model on this page is petrol-only.
How long will a generator run on a tank of fuel?
On the models here, from about 3.6 hours at half load to 10.5 hours at quarter load, depending on the model and how much you're running. Check the manufacturer's runtime figure, and keep fresh spare fuel stored safely and legally.
Should I get a generator or a battery power station?
For most households, a battery power station: it gives off no fumes, so unlike a generator it can be used indoors, and it runs quietly, but it has limited capacity and is still a large lithium battery to charge and store as the maker's manual says. A generator suits longer or higher-power needs, but must be run outdoors only. Many people are better served by a power station; see our power stations page.
