Generator for House: Battery Backup and Fuel Generator Guides
Start here for backup power: battery power stations sized for the house or for travel, brand comparisons, CPAP sizing and the safety rules for a fuel generator.
Last updated September 2026
Backup power for a house usually means one of two things. A battery power station you charge ahead of time. Or a fuel generator you run during the outage. This section covers both. Specs come from the makers' own pages. We also cover the safety rules that matter most if you pick a fuel generator.
A battery power station does not burn fuel or produce fuel-generator exhaust. Follow its maker's instructions for use and charging. A fuel generator can carry more power for longer. But it needs a transfer switch if it's wired to your panel, put in by an electrician. It also has real distance rules from the CDC, which we state plainly in this section.
Where to start
- Best solar generators for home backup: four battery power stations sized to stay in one spot and cover a fridge, lights and devices through most outages.
- Best portable power stations: three lighter units sized for camping, road trips and short outages, where weight matters more than top capacity.
- EcoFlow vs. Jackery: a direct comparison of the two brands' mid-size units on capacity, weight and recharge speed.
- Portable power station for CPAP: how to size a unit against your CPAP's real wattage, with a worked example.
- Power station vs. generator: the full comparison, including the CDC's carbon-monoxide rule and how a transfer switch makes a fuel generator safe to wire into a house.
Already have a fuel generator, or planning to buy one? See our auto transfer switch guide for how to connect it to your home safely.
Questions people also ask
Should I get a battery power station or a fuel generator?
A battery power station can cover a fridge, lights, a router and devices without burning fuel or producing fuel-generator exhaust. Follow its maker's instructions for use and charging. A fuel generator carries more load for longer, but needs outdoor space and a transfer switch if it is wired to the house. Follow the CDC carbon-monoxide rules exactly.
Where do I start if I've never bought either one?
Start with our best solar generators for home backup roundup if you want a unit sized to stay in one spot, or best portable power stations if weight and portability matter more. Both link back here and to each other.