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The short answer
Compare the complete backup task before comparing generator costs. Honda EU2200i covers light loads; Champion 201176 adds fuel choice; Westinghouse WGen11500TFc offers more output. Fuel, transfer equipment and installation can change the total budget.
Last updated October 2026
Honda EU2200iHonda EU2200i
Champion 201176Champion 201176
Westinghouse WGen11500TFcWestinghouse WGen11500TFcPortable generator cost is more than the price on the box. Running watts, voltage, fuel and connection gear all shape the total. This guide compares three capacity bands using manufacturer specifications.
We list no retail prices, because prices change. Use the View on Amazon button on each pick for the price today. This guide covers what the price does not: output, fuel, runtime and connection gear. For wider model choices, see the best portable generator guide. If sound is your main concern, read the quietest 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 AmazonThe Honda EU2200i is the smallest band here. Honda lists 1800 W rated output and 2200 W maximum output. The unit supplies 120 V only. Dry weight is 47.4 lb.
The gasoline tank holds 0.95 gallon. Honda lists 3.2 hours of runtime at rated load. At quarter load, runtime rises to 8.1 hours. That gap matters for fuel budgets, because heavier loads mean more refueling stops.
Honda lists sound at 57 dB(A) at rated load. At quarter load, it lists 48 dB(A). Starting is by recoil. This listing shows no electric start.
This unit may suit a buyer whose whole list runs on 120 V. The total running load must stay within 1800 W. It may also suit someone who wants a light unit to move by hand. First, gather each item's running watts, starting watts, voltage, plug type and needed run time.
Without those numbers, no one can say a given appliance fits.
The main drawback is capacity. There is no 240 V output, and an adapter cannot create it. A 240 V appliance or split-phase connection needs a different generator.
A 120 V source does not rule out every transfer product, though. Reliance Controls lists the TF152W as a 125 V, 15 A, one-circuit transfer switch. It uses a NEMA 5-15 inlet. The maker states a maximum generator running rating of 1875 W.
That describes the switch, not a confirmed match with this Honda. The circuit, panel, cord and local rules all need a licensed electrician.
The small tank is a second cost drawback. Fuel purchases scale with hours of use. Gasoline availability during an outage varies by area. Plan your supply with local conditions in mind.
Like every engine generator in this guide, it must run outdoors. CPSC says to keep it at least 20 feet from the home, with exhaust pointed away. Never run it indoors or in a garage, even with doors open.
Think ahead before buying this band. If your list may grow, compare it with the larger picks first. Starting small can lead to a second purchase later.
Champion 201176Champion 201176
Our verdict:
Larger fuel-flexible loads
A larger essential-circuit plan when a matched connection is confirmed.
Keep in mind: An open-frame engine unit needs outdoor placement and a suitable fuel supply.
View on AmazonThe Champion 201176 is the middle band. Champion describes it as an open-frame inverter with 120/240 V output. It runs on gasoline, propane or natural gas.
Running watts change with fuel. Champion lists 7250 W on gasoline and 6525 W on propane. Natural gas gives 5875 W. Plan your load against the fuel you will actually use.
If you are unsure, plan against the lowest figure that might apply.
As an inverter, it still uses an engine-driven alternator. Power electronics then shape the output. That design does not change placement rules. CPSC outdoor distance and exhaust guidance still applies.
This unit may suit a buyer who needs 240 V output in a mid-size range. It may also suit a buyer who wants fuel options. Natural gas use depends on a suitable supply at the property. Fuel pressure and flow, exact instructions and source voltage are separate checks.
Electric watts on a spec sheet do not tell you gas flow needs. Gas connections belong to licensed gas trades.
The 240 V output makes a panel-fed setup possible. Reliance Controls lists the 306CRK as a six-circuit 30 A manual transfer kit. It contains a 306C switch, PB30 inlet and PC3010 ten-foot cord. Generac lists the HomeLink 6853 as a 30 A pre-wired manual transfer kit.
These sheets identify kit contents, not a confirmed fit. Generac says the generator, switch, inlet, panel and circuit design must match. Installation belongs to licensed electrical trades.
Champion specifies 9000 W starting on all three fuels. Its lower natural-gas running output still limits the steady load. Match the circuit connection and starting load separately.
A second drawback is the drop on gaseous fuels. Natural gas output is 1375 W below the gasoline figure. If you pick natural gas for supply reasons, size circuits to 5875 W. Do not size them to 7250 W.
Connection hardware and licensed labor add cost beyond the generator. No source here priced them. Ask local installers for itemized quotes.
Westinghouse WGen11500TFcWestinghouse WGen11500TFc
Our verdict:
Larger tri-fuel loads
A larger connected-load plan when its fuel-specific capacity fits.
Keep in mind: 230 lb dry; requires safe outdoor placement, planned fuel and a compatible connection.
View on AmazonThe Westinghouse WGen11500TFc is the largest band here. Westinghouse lists 11,500 W running and 14,500 W peak on gasoline. Propane gives 10,500 W running and 13,500 W peak. Natural gas gives 9,500 W running and 12,000 W peak.
Output is 120/240 V.
Westinghouse lists gasoline runtime of 19 hours at 25 percent load. At 50 percent load, it lists 9.5 hours. We found no runtime for other loads or fuels. So we do not estimate one.
This unit may suit a buyer whose list exceeds the middle band on the planned fuel. Confirm that list with running watts, starting watts and voltage for each item. A higher rating alone does not prove any appliance fits.
The current product page also describes pairing with the Westinghouse WATS200 automatic transfer system. This guide does not compare that system's full requirements. Automatic operation for your home stays unresolved until you review the exact documents. Do not assume it works with generic standby controllers.
Even with automation, the engine still needs safe outdoor placement under CPSC guidance.
The first drawback is weight. Dry weight is 230 lb. That is a real handling cost. Plan a stable, dry outdoor spot that meets the 20-foot guidance.
Exhaust must point away from the home. The setup surface comes from the manual, not a blanket rule.
The second drawback is fuel spending at larger loads. Runtime falls by half between the two published gasoline points. More load means more fuel bought per hour.
The third drawback is connection scope. A larger unit often means a larger connection project. Any transfer switch or interlock must be listed or accepted for your exact panel. It must also meet local rules.
An adapter cannot create a missing voltage. Installation and service belong to licensed electrical trades.
Natural gas use needs the same separate checks as the Champion. Licensed gas trades must confirm fuel pressure, flow and instructions.
Compare the propane and natural gas figures with your list before choosing this band. If the lower fuel figure still covers your plan, the extra size may be justified.
The three picks mark three capacity bands. Equipment price is only the first budget line. Fuel, connection hardware, licensed labor and setup space follow. No primary source here lists retail prices for these models.
Get current quotes from local sellers and installers. Ask installers to itemize equipment, materials, permits and labor.
For contrast, Generac publishes an indicative US total of $8,000 to $16,000 for a home standby project. That covers the generator, system equipment, materials and installation. It is manufacturer guidance, not a quote or national median. It applies to standby systems, not these portable units.
Start with R, the running watts of everything on at the same time. Include every motor's running watts in R.
If only one item starts at a time, find each item's starting watts minus its own running watts. Add the largest positive gap to R. That gives the starting need, S.
If items can start together, add the gap for each of those starts. Multiply each gap by how many of that item start together. Treat negative gaps as zero. Do not assume motors never start together.
Do not add a motor's full starting watts on top of R. That counts its running watts twice.
Watts and volt-amps differ unless the power factor is known. Watts and watt-hours differ too. Watts measure power. Watt-hours measure stored energy, like the BLUETTI AC200L's 2,048 Wh battery.
Match voltage before comparing price. The Honda supplies 120 V only. The Champion and Westinghouse supply 120/240 V. An adapter cannot create a missing voltage.
A 120 V unit may still work with some 120 V transfer products, such as the TF152W. A 240 V setup needs a 240 V source. In every case, the generator, switch, inlet, panel and circuits must match. An RV-style receptacle is not proof of approved home transfer use.
Never backfeed a wall outlet. Never modify wiring, gas lines or neutral connections yourself.
Both tri-fuel picks list lower running watts on propane and natural gas than on gasoline. That holds for these two listed models. Plan your load against your actual fuel.
Gasoline availability varies by area during outages. Natural gas depends on your utility supply and on pressure and flow checks. No source here supports a storage life, maintenance or emissions advantage for any fuel. We report runtime only where the maker published it.
Before buying, list which fuels you can actually get. Then size circuits to that fuel's running watts. Store any fuel only as the maker's instructions allow.
CPSC says portable engine generators belong outdoors, at least 20 feet from homes. Point the exhaust away. Never run one in a home or garage, even with doors open.
Use a dry surface and follow the maker's rain instructions. Shut down and let it cool before refueling. Never touch it with wet hands. Install CO alarms and leave for fresh air if one sounds or you feel symptoms.
Weight changes setup effort. The Honda weighs 47.4 lb. The Westinghouse weighs 230 lb. Standby units follow their own manuals and local rules for clearances.
We compared published running watts, peak or maximum watts, voltage, weight and runtime. Every figure comes from a manufacturer page or CPSC document. The Generac budget page showed no publication date. We did not test or score units.
We did not estimate missing figures. Where a page lacked a value, we said so.
Specifications can change. Recheck each page against the exact model number before buying.
Choose the Honda EU2200i if your full list is 120 V and fits within 1800 W running after startup math. Consider the Champion 201176 if you need 240 V and your load fits your chosen fuel's running watts. Compare the Westinghouse WGen11500TFc if your list exceeds that band. You must also handle 230 lb and a larger connection project.
If none fits cleanly, trim your list or get a standby quote.
Make a short order record before comparing offers. Name the exact model and the fuel you plan to use. State whether the total includes delivery and any required accessories. Keep installation work separate from equipment.
An included hose or cord does not settle the installed scope. It also does not prove that the part suits your home.
Put unknown costs in an open-items list. Do not treat a missing line as a free item. A lower equipment total can be offset by required work. A larger package can include parts you do not need.
Compare the same useful task in each case. That is more helpful than comparing a headline watt number with a price alone.
Keep the date with the quote. Also note any change to the model or package. A quote for a different revision is a new comparison. Return to your load and connection plan before accepting it.
The unit price covers only the generator. A full budget can include fuel, connection hardware and licensed electrical labor. A natural gas setup adds licensed gas work. Outdoor placement can add cord or handling costs.
No source here prices these items, so collect local quotes for each line.
Not by a fixed rule. Fuel use depends on load, fuel and hours. Westinghouse lists gasoline runtime of 19 hours at 25 percent load. At 50 percent load, it lists 9.5 hours.
The listed runtime falls at the higher load. That is not a curve for other loads. Use the published points with their conditions.
Sometimes, with matching equipment. Reliance Controls lists the TF152W as a 125 V, 15 A, one-circuit switch. It cannot add 240 V, and no adapter can. The generator, switch, inlet, panel and circuit must match.
A licensed electrician must handle installation.
No source here prices portable units, so we cannot compare totals directly. Generac publishes an indicative $8,000 to $16,000 standby total, including equipment and installation. That is manufacturer guidance, not a quote. Portable totals depend on your unit, hardware, fuel and local labor rates.
Our sources do not support a cost advantage. They show lower propane running watts than gasoline on both tri-fuel picks. The Champion lists 6525 W on propane and 7250 W on gasoline. Size your load to the propane figure if you plan to use propane.
