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The short answer
Honda EU2200i suits a light 120 V load list. Westinghouse iGen2550DFc adds propane as an option. Honda EU3200i gives more rated output. Check your starting loads and lifting limits before choosing.
Last updated October 2026
Honda EU2200iHonda EU2200i
Westinghouse iGen2550DFcWestinghouse iGen2550DFc
Honda EU3200iHonda EU3200iBest small generator: A small generator handles a short list of loads. It is not whole-house backup. This guide compares three compact engine generators. We look at output, voltage, fuel, weight and size.
Every figure comes from a maker's US specifications.
All three picks burn fuel. They must run outdoors and never in a home or garage. Battery power stations are a separate choice, and we explain the difference below. For larger or different options, see our best portable generator guide.
Honda EU2200iHonda EU2200i
Our verdict:
Light essentials
A narrow 120 V backup plan once your motor-start needs are confirmed.
Keep in mind: Not a 240 V source; light-load runtime does not describe rated-load use.
View on AmazonHonda lists the EU2200ITAN at 1800 W rated output. Its maximum output is 2200 W. Output is 120 V. Honda lists a dry weight of 47.4 pounds, the middle weight of our three picks.
The gasoline tank holds 0.95 gallons. Honda lists 3.2 hours of runtime at rated load. At quarter load, runtime rises to 8.1 hours. Sound is 57 dB(A) at rated load and 48 dB(A) at quarter load.
Those two runtime numbers are far apart. Runtime depends heavily on how much you run at once. Honda does not list points between them on this page. So plan fuel around your real load, not the longer number.
This unit suits a buyer with a short list of 120 V loads. Each item needs its own running and starting watts. The running total must fit under 1800 W. Starting surges must stay under the 2200 W maximum.
Honda's page cannot tell you whether a named appliance fits. The appliance's own label and manual supply that data.
The main drawback is output. At 1800 W rated, it gives up 800 W of rated output against the EU3200i. A list that fits the EU3200i may not fit here. Voltage is the second limit.
A 120 V source cannot supply a 240 V load. An adapter cannot create the missing voltage.
Starting is by recoil only. Someone must pull a cord each time. Think about who will do that during an outage.
Honda lists a body size of 20.0 by 11.4 by 16.7 inches. Allow space to carry and store it without blocking access. A storage fit does not make that space a safe place to run the engine.
Placement follows CPSC guidance. Run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home. Point the exhaust away from the house. Never run it indoors or in a garage, even with the doors open.
Choose the EU2200i if your checked loads are light and all 120 V. Skip it if your running total crowds 1800 W.
Westinghouse iGen2550DFcWestinghouse iGen2550DFc
Our verdict:
Compact dual fuel
Light plug-in loads when the selected fuel rating fits.
Keep in mind: Propane lowers continuous output; an RV outlet is not a home transfer system.
View on AmazonWestinghouse lists the iGen2550DFc as a dual fuel inverter generator. On gasoline, it lists 1900 W running and 2550 W peak. On propane, it lists 1700 W running and 2300 W peak. Output is 120 V.
Stated weight is 43 pounds, the lightest of our three.
Fuel choice is the main reason to pick this model. You can plan around gasoline, propane or both. But the propane ratings are lower for this unit. Running power drops by 200 W on propane.
Peak power drops by 250 W.
That gap changes how you plan. A load list built on the gasoline rating may not fit on propane. Build your list on the fuel you actually plan to use. This is what Westinghouse lists for this model.
Other dual fuel models publish their own figures.
The unit has an RV TT-30R outlet. Westinghouse states that it is not transfer-switch-ready. That is a real drawback if you hoped to feed home wiring. An RV receptacle does not prove approved home transfer use.
Any home connection needs a generator, switch, inlet and panel documented to work together. A licensed electrician should handle it under local code. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. CPSC warns against that kind of backfeed.
Gasoline availability varies by location during outages. Propane supply also depends on local service. Two fuel options can give you more ways to adapt. They do not guarantee either fuel will be there.
Use only the fuel setup the maker's instructions describe. Do not modify fuel parts yourself.
Compare Westinghouse's published runtime with its stated fuel and load. Keep the sound test conditions beside the figure as well. Use the exact dimensions to check the storage and moving task.
Placement follows the same CPSC rule as any engine unit. Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home, with exhaust pointed away. Never run it indoors or in a garage.
Choose this model if you want a propane option and the lightest carry here. Skip it if your loads need its gasoline output while running on propane. Compare its runtime and sound claims at the stated load before deciding.
Honda EU3200iHonda EU3200i
Our verdict:
More carryable output
More rated output for a 120 V plan when the heavier lift fits.
Keep in mind: Still 120 V only, with recoil start and a heavier case.
View on AmazonHonda lists the EU3200IAN and EU3200IAC at 2600 W rated output. Maximum output is 3200 W. Output is 120 V. Dry weight is 59.1 pounds.
Dimensions are 22.5 by 12.0 by 17.8 inches. Runtime is 3.3 hours at rated load and 8.6 hours at quarter load. Sound is 58 dB(A) at rated load and 54 dB(A) at quarter load. Honda lists fuel injection and recoil start.
This model fits a list that outgrows 1800 W but stays on 120 V. It gives 800 W more rated output than the EU2200i. Starting surges still need checking against the 3200 W maximum.
Here is how to screen a list for this unit. First, add the running watts of everything on at the same time. Call that total R. Include each motor's own running watts in R.
Next, find each motor's starting gap. That is its starting watts minus its own running watts. If only one motor starts at a time, add the largest gap to R. Do not add a full starting value on top of R.
That counts the same motor twice.
Motors do not always take turns. If several can start together, add every gap that could happen at once. Count each motor once in the set of loads that can start together. Leave room for control timing you cannot predict.
The result is a screening number, not proof of fit. It still needs real appliance data. Watts and volt-amps also differ. A label showing only volts and amps gives volt-amps, not watts, unless power factor is known.
The drawbacks are clear. At 59.1 pounds, it is the heaviest pick. It still uses a pull cord. It has no 240 V output.
Its quarter-load sound figure, 54 dB(A), is higher than the EU2200i's 48 dB(A).
Placement follows the same CPSC rules. Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home, with exhaust pointed away.
Choose it if your checked 120 V list needs more than 1800 W rated output. Skip it if weight is your biggest limit.
All three picks are engine generators. They burn fuel and make exhaust. That is why CPSC places them outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home.
Battery power stations work differently. For reference, BLUETTI lists the AC200L at 2048 Wh and 2400 W rated AC output, with 120 V US outlets. BLUETTI lists solar and AC recharging. Jackery lists the Explorer 2000 v2 at 2042 Wh and 2200 W rated AC output, with 120 V US outlets.
Neither is a pick here.
Keep two units apart when you compare. Watts measure power at one moment. Watt-hours measure stored energy. Watts times hours gives watt-hours.
A battery's watt-hour figure limits how long it can supply a load. An engine unit's runtime depends on fuel and load instead, as Honda's two runtime figures show. Follow each battery maker's own placement instructions.
Write down each item you must keep running. For each one, note running watts, starting watts and voltage from its label or manual. Do not guess from a generator's rating.
Use the screening steps in the EU3200i section. Add all running watts that overlap to get R. Then add the largest starting gap if motors start one at a time. Add every possible gap if they may start together.
Compare running totals with rated output and starts with maximum or peak output.
A spec page alone is not a full compatibility check. Fit depends on your exact appliances and how they cycle.
All three picks output 120 V. They cannot supply 240 V loads. Check each appliance label for its voltage. No adapter can add a missing 240 V output.
Some home transfer equipment is built around 120 V. Reliance Controls lists the TF152W as a 125 V, 15 A, one-circuit switch with a NEMA 5-15 inlet. It lists 1875 maximum generator running watts. That shows 120 V alone does not rule out every transfer system.
It does not show that any pick here is compatible.
Generac's guidance says the generator, switch, inlet, panel and circuit design must match. Installation belongs to licensed electricians under local code. Do not wire panels, change neutrals or bypass protection yourself.
The two Honda units are gasoline models. The Westinghouse adds propane at lower listed output. None of the three lists natural gas.
Gasoline availability varies by location. Propane depends on local supply too. Decide which fuel you will use before an outage. Then size your list to that fuel's rating.
Follow the maker's manual for fuel handling and storage.
The Westinghouse lists 43 pounds. The EU2200i lists 47.4 pounds dry. The EU3200i lists 59.1 pounds dry. Think about who will carry the unit outside and back.
Measure the storage space and the route outside before you buy. Honda gives the EU3200i body size as 22.5 by 12.0 by 17.8 inches. Check the handle clearance as well. A unit that fits a shelf may still be awkward to lift out safely.
Pick your outdoor spot before an outage. CPSC calls for at least 20 feet from the home with exhaust pointed away. Never run an engine unit inside a home or garage, even with doors open.
CPSC also calls for a dry surface. An open, canopy-like structure can help in wet weather. Follow the maker's own rules for rain operation. Never touch the unit with wet hands.
Shut the engine down and let it cool before refueling. Install carbon monoxide alarms in the home. If an alarm sounds or anyone feels sick, get to fresh air right away.
We used published sources only. We did not run hands-on tests. Each figure comes from the US maker page for that exact model.
Safety guidance comes from the CPSC carbon monoxide center and its generator safety alert.
The sources are Honda EU2200i, Honda EU3200i and Westinghouse iGen2550DFc. Home connection guidance comes from Generac's transfer article.
Sound and runtime claims need their test conditions beside them. Specs can change by model year or variant. Confirm the exact model number before you buy. For budget context, see portable generator cost.
If weight matters most and you want propane, the Westinghouse iGen2550DFc fits at 43 pounds. Size your loads to its propane rating. If your checked 120 V list stays under 1800 W, the Honda EU2200i lists that rating at 47.4 pounds. If your list needs up to 2600 W rated output, the Honda EU3200i fits at 59.1 pounds.
If you need 240 V loads or whole-home coverage, none of these three fit.
Not these three. Each lists 120 V output only, with rated output between 1700 W and 2600 W depending on model and fuel. They suit a short list of checked 120 V loads. Any 240 V load needs a different source.
Whole-home plans need their own equipment and licensed installation.
Neither wins in every case. A battery unit stores a fixed amount of energy, shown in watt-hours. An engine unit runs on fuel and must stay outdoors under CPSC guidance. Compare your load list, how long you need power and how you will recharge or refuel.
Only if you want to feed home circuits. Running cords to single devices is a separate setup. Any home connection needs a matching generator, switch, inlet and panel. A licensed electrician should install it under local code.
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
Westinghouse publishes separate ratings for each fuel. On gasoline, the iGen2550DFc lists 1900 W running and 2550 W peak. On propane, it lists 1700 W running and 2300 W peak. This applies to this listed model.
Check each other dual fuel model's own page.
CPSC calls for at least 20 feet from the home, with exhaust pointed away. Never run one indoors or in a garage, even with doors open. Use a dry surface, and shut it down to cool before refueling. Keep carbon monoxide alarms working inside.
