Whole house, inverter or RV? Our 12 generator rankingsOur 12 generator rankings → See all
Compare models
A premium dual fuel generator with a propane tank on a wet terrace at night, a lit house behind

Updated October 2026 · 4 generators, no paid placements

Best Dual Fuel Generators in 2026

Four dual fuel generators big enough for real home backup (10,000 peak watts and up): the fridge, the freezer, the sump pump and, through a transfer switch, the furnace or the well pump. Ranked on buyer ratings, review volume and specs, with the catch of each one spelled out. Smaller, inverter and tri-fuel picks have their own lists.

See the ranking Compare up to 3 generators

In short

DuroMax XP12000EHOur top pickDuroMax XP12000EH9.3/10. The one we'd start with.$1,299 on Sep 30, 2026, may have changedDuroMax XP13000HXThe crowd favouriteDuroMax XP13000HX1,047 buyer reviews, 8.8/10. Plenty of owners to learn from.$1,079 on Sep 30, 2026, may have changedChampion 12,500W Tri FuelThe most running watts on paperChampion 12,500W Tri Fuel10,000 W running watts per the listing, 8.2/10. The biggest running figure among the rest.$1,259.99 on Sep 30, 2026, may have changed

Short on time? The DuroMax XP12000EH is the one we'd start with, and the other three are here in case your house, your hookup or your budget says otherwise. Variants that share one review pool take a single slot, so these are four different generators.

Written from each listing's specs and buyer reviews, not from our own use · How we rate

The ranking in detail

1DuroMax XP12000EH
Dual fuel generators · DuroMax · Top pick

DuroMax XP12000EH

9.3Excellent · out of 10

Also available as: XP13000EH (10,500 W running, 13,000 W peak)

Best for: a house that has to keep the well pump and the furnace going

  • 12,000-watt dual fuel power
  • Transfer switch-ready 50 amp outlet
  • All-metal frame and panel

The catch: No CO sensor mentioned for the DuroMax, while most units here have one.

4.5/5 from buyers3,966 buyer reviews, shared by 2 variants$1,299 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
See it on Amazon ↗ DuroMax XP12000EH (opens in a new tab)Read the reviewaffiliate link to Amazon.com
2DuroMax XP13000HX
Dual fuel generators · DuroMax · Runner-up

DuroMax XP13000HX

8.8Very good · out of 10

Best for: long outages with most of the house running

  • 13,000 watts dual fuel
  • 500cc OHV engine
  • Heavy-duty 50AMP outlet

The catch: Expect fewer watts on propane than on gas; the manual has the exact number.

4.5/5 from buyers1,047 buyer reviews$1,079 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
See it on Amazon ↗ DuroMax XP13000HX (opens in a new tab)Read the reviewaffiliate link to Amazon.com
3Champion 12,500W Tri Fuel
Dual fuel generators · Champion · Top 5 pick

Champion 12,500W Tri Fuel

8.2Very good · out of 10

Best for: storm country where gas stations close first

  • 12,500 starting watts
  • Runs on gas, propane, natural gas
  • Electric start, battery included

The catch: No 50 amp outlet named for the Champion, unlike most of this list.

4.5/5 from buyers165 buyer reviews, shared by 2 variants$1,259.99 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
See it on Amazon ↗ Champion 12,500W Tri Fuel (opens in a new tab)Read the reviewaffiliate link to Amazon.com
4Generac 12,500W Tri-Fuel
Dual fuel generators · Generac · Top 5 pick

Generac 12,500W Tri-Fuel

7.3Good · out of 10

Best for: a house with a natural gas line and long outages

  • 12,500 starting watts tri fuel
  • 7.5-gallon fuel tank
  • COsense automatic shutdown

The catch: Only 48 buyer reviews so far, so that average can still move.

4.3/5 from buyers48 buyer reviews$1,169 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
See it on Amazon ↗ Generac 12,500W Tri-Fuel (opens in a new tab)Read the reviewaffiliate link to Amazon.com

Product images: Amazon listings

How to choose

Pros and cons of a dual fuel generator for home backup

The good

  • Runs on gasoline or on propane from a 20 lb tank, so a closed gas station is not the end of the plan
  • Big enough, on paper, for the fridge, freezer, sump pump and, through a transfer switch, the furnace blower

The catch

  • Fewer watts on propane than on gasoline
  • Loud and heavy next to an inverter, and it needs a transfer switch or interlock fitted by an electrician to feed the house

Warranty, as each listing states it

Only what the exact listing says. Where it says nothing, the manual or the maker's site has the terms; registration rules and what counts as wear differ by brand.

#1 DuroMax XP12000EHNot stated in the listing
#2 DuroMax XP13000HXNot stated in the listing
#3 Champion 12,500W Tri Fuel3-year limited warranty (stated in the listing)
#4 Generac 12,500W Tri-Fuel2-year limited warranty (stated in the listing)

Not quite your outage? Other rankings

Comparison table

All 4 on one screen. Tap a column header to sort by what matters on outage night: running watts, peak, fuel or price.

Comparison table: Best Dual Fuel Generators in 2026
DuroMax XP12000EHDuroMax9.3$1,299†9,500 W12,000 WGasoline, PropaneOpen frame3,966 (shared)*
DuroMax XP13000HXDuroMax8.8$1,079†10,500 W13,000 WGasoline, PropaneOpen frame1,047
Champion 12,500W Tri FuelChampion8.2$1,259.99†10,000 W12,500 WGasoline, Propane, Natural gasOpen frame165 (shared)*
Generac 12,500W Tri-FuelGenerac7.3$1,169†9,500 W12,500 WGasoline, Propane, Natural gasOpen frame48

† Prices as of Sep 30, 2026; they may have changed. The button always shows today's price.

* Shared: the same review pool appears on every variant of a listing family (DuroMax XP12000EH, 2 variants; Champion 12,500W Tri Fuel, 2 variants), so the count is not specific to one variant.

Our 2026 rankings

Whole-house backup, a quiet inverter, a propane plan or a plug for the RV? Each ranking answers a different outage, and every card names its #1.

All rankings →
Westinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter#1: Westinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter · 9.2/10Best Inverter Generators in 20265 models rankedWestinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter#1: Westinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter · 9.2/10Best Quiet Generators in 20265 models rankedDuroMax XP12000EH#1: DuroMax XP12000EH · 9.3/10Best Propane Generators in 20265 models rankedWestinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter#1: Westinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter · 9.2/10Best RV Generators with a 30 Amp Outlet in 20265 models rankedWestinghouse 13,500W Tri-Fuel#1: Westinghouse 13,500W Tri-Fuel · 9.2/10Best Tri-Fuel Portable Generators in 20265 models rankedWestinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter#1: Westinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter · 9.2/10Best Dual Fuel Inverter Generators in 20265 models rankedDuroMax XP12000EH#1: DuroMax XP12000EH · 9.3/10Best 10,000 Watt Generators in 20265 models rankedDuroMax XP12000EH#1: DuroMax XP12000EH · 9.3/10Best 50 Amp Generators for RVs in 20265 models rankedDuroMax XP13000EH#1: DuroMax XP13000EH · 9.3/10Best 15,000 Watt Generators in 2026 (13,000 W and Up)5 models rankedWestinghouse 13,500W Tri-Fuel#1: Westinghouse 13,500W Tri-Fuel · 9.2/10Best Remote Start Generators in 20265 models rankedWestinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter#1: Westinghouse 5,000W Dual Fuel Inverter · 9.2/10Best Dual Fuel Generators Under 10,000 Watts in 20265 models ranked

How we rank

Every model gets a rating out of 10 from its exact listing: what buyers give it, how many of them there are, and how completely the seller documents the specs. We also weigh how it stacks up against the other generators on the list. The best-rated model goes first; on an exact tie, the listing slug decides.

We haven't run or load-checked these generators ourselves, and a commission never moves a rating or a rank.

Read the methodology →Affiliate disclosure
  • 45 % buyer rating, damped when a listing has fewer than 50 reviews.
  • 35 % review volume, on a logarithmic scale up to 5,000 reviews.
  • 20 % documentation: feature bullets, images and stated brand of the listing.
  • Running watts, peak watts and fuels are shown only when the exact listing or its manual states them (gasoline rating unless stated); we measure nothing ourselves.
  • One slot per listing family: variants of one parent listing, which usually share one review pool, count once and are listed under the best-rated variant.
  • Prices carry the date we recorded them. They may have changed since; the button shows today's offer.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best dual fuel generator for home backup in 2026?

Our pick is the DuroMax XP12000EH, at 9.3/10 (excellent). It has 3,966 buyer reviews averaging 4.5/5, a review pool shared by the DuroMax XP12000EH listing family (2 variants); its listing states 9,500 W running and 12,000 W peak. Close behind: the DuroMax XP13000HX at 8.8/10.

How is this ranking built?

We start from 5 dual fuel generators (gasoline and propane) whose listing states at least 10,000 peak watts, each with a buyer review record. Each one gets a rating out of 10 built on 45 % buyer rating, 35 % review volume and 20 % how completely the listing documents its specs, plus our own read of how the models compare. Variants of one listing family (same parent listing) share a single slot: the best-rated variant represents the family, and the others are listed under it. Four families remain and are shown.

How big a dual fuel generator do I need for home backup?

Add up the running watts of everything you want on at the same time, then add the biggest starting surge (a well pump, a sump pump or the air conditioner). Our sizing calculator puts a 20% margin on the running total. Every model in this ranking states 10,000 peak watts or more; check the propane rating too, because it is usually lower than the gasoline one.

Is propane or gasoline better during a long outage?

Gasoline ages in the tank, and gas stations can close during a long outage, while sealed propane tanks keep for years. Propane usually gives you fewer watts. None of the 4 are inverter designs, and two also list natural gas. Plan your loads against the rating of the fuel you will actually rely on.

What is the best dual fuel generator for home use?

For whole-house backup through a transfer switch, our pick is the DuroMax XP12000EH at 9.3/10. If you only need the fridge, freezer, sump pump and lights, a smaller unit from our dual fuel generators under 10,000 watts list costs less to buy and to feed.

What is the most reliable dual fuel generator?

We don't run generators ourselves, so we can't measure reliability. The closest thing we publish is the buyer record: the DuroMax XP12000EH has 3,966 buyer reviews averaging 4.5/5 (a pool shared by its listing variants), the largest record in this ranking. Maintenance decides the rest: fresh oil, rotated fuel and a monthly run.

Do these dual fuel generators have electric start?

All four state electric or remote start in their listing. Keep the starter battery charged between outages, and know the recoil backup.

Are the prices up to date?

Each price is the one we recorded on Sep 30, 2026, and it may have changed since. The button always opens the exact listing with today's price and seller.

Have you used these generators yourselves?

No, we haven't run or load-checked these generators ourselves. The ratings come from what buyers say and from the specs stated in each exact listing or its manual, weighed with a formula we publish, and from our editors' read of how the models compare.

Generator sizing calculator →Buying guide: sizing a generator for home backup →Best Dual Fuel Generators Under 10,000 Watts in 2026 →Best Dual Fuel Inverter Generators in 2026 →Best Inverter Generators in 2026 →Best Tri-Fuel Portable Generators in 2026 →Best 50 Amp Generators for RVs in 2026 →Best Quiet Generators in 2026 →Best Propane Generators in 2026 →Best RV Generators with a 30 Amp Outlet in 2026 →Best 10,000 Watt Generators in 2026 →Best 15,000 Watt Generators in 2026 (13,000 W and Up) →Best Remote Start Generators in 2026 →All rankings →Comparison tool →
Dual fuel generators →Champion →Generac →DuroMax →Buying guides →