Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

If you are looking for the best home generator deals, it might help to understand that the best time to shop for a generator is when you don’t need one. June is the beginning of the hurricane season, but don’t wait until a hurricane is headed your way or for an area-wide power outage to shop for a generator, for example, because you’ll be in line with tons of other generator shoppers. Even outside of blizzard and hurricane seasons you should take advantage of the best generator deals. Tough winters with crippling storms can also cut out power in many parts of the U.S. Then there are wildfires, blackouts, and more. As long as you shop ahead of time, you’ll find loads of excellent deals for the best portable generators. Whether you want a generator for storm-related outages, to have power for tools and lights on a worksite, to use with an RV, or for tailgating, camping, or other recreational pursuits, you can find excellent generator deals to meet any need. We found the best generator deals available for a variety of uses, listed below. We’ll update this post regularly with the best cheap generators, so check back often.

Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel — $180, was $200 Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 — $255, was $350 Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 — $450, was $600 Puleida Pu600 600W Portable Generator/Power Station — $500 Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station — $934, was $1,099 Bluetti EB240 MAXOAK Portable Solar Inverter Generator Power Station — $1,299, was $1,999 Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station and two SolarSaga 100W Solar Charging Panels — $1,399, was $1,649 Discount with coupon on page Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station and two SolarSaga 100W Solar Charging Panels $1,399 $1,649 Stay powered up while off the grid with the combination of a Jackery Explorer 1,000-watt portable power station with two SolarSaga 100W solar panels that can fully recharge the power station. more Buy at Amazon Puleida Pu600 600W Portable Generator/Power Station $500 Portable power for camping, tailgating, power outages, and emergencies with 600 watts of juice for your gadgets. Also compatible with a solar panel (sold separately) for recharging in the outdoors. more Buy at Amazon Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel $180 $200 This large, foldable solar panel charger is the perfect road trip or blackout companion, letting you juice up your power station without having to rely on any energy source other than the sun. more Buy at Amazon Discount with coupon on page Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station $934 $1,099 This beefy battery can juice up laptops, mini coolers, drones, and other electronics with an AC outlet, DC carport, and two USB-A ports. You can also recharge it with solar panels (sold separately). more Buy at Amazon With on-page coupon Puleida Pu300 Portable 300W Rechargeable Generator/Power Station $300 $350 If you need a compact generator and portable power station for phones, laptops, and even emergency situations, the handy little Puleida Pu300 does the trick. more Buy at Amazon Discount with coupon on page Pulsar Products G450RN 4500W Portable Inverter Generator $760 $800 Powerful gas-powered inverter generator with 3,700 watts of continuous and 4,500 watts starting power. Runs up to 15 hours on 3.2 gallons of gas. For worksites, RVs, camping, and home blackout power. more Buy at Amazon Discount with coupon on page Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 $450 $600 A portable power generator that charges with AC, 12V, or even solar panels (not included). Max 500 watts via AC, DC, USB-A, and 12V plugs. Essential in power outages and convenient away from home. more Buy at Amazon Discount with coupon on page Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 $255 $350 A portable power generator that charges with AC, 12V, or even solar panels (not included). Max 300 watts via AC, DC, USB-A, and 12V plugs. Essential in power outages and convenient away from home. more Buy at Amazon Westinghouse WH2200iXLT Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator $452 $479 Gasoline-only powered portable inverter generator for recreation, RVs, and home backup. Quiet and up to 13 hours of run time on 1.3 gallons of gas. 2,200 watts starting power and 1800 running watts. more Buy at Amazon Honda EU1000i 1000-Watt Portable Inverter Generator $929 $979 Gas-powered Honda inverter generators are known for their relatively quiet operation. Maximum 1,000-watt power load and a continuous carbon monoxide monitor. Good for smaller appliances and devices. more Buy at Amazon Discount with coupon on page Bluetti EB240 MAXOAK Portable Solar Inverter Generator Power Station $1,299 $1,999 Portable power station and inverter generator can be recharged by solar panels (not included) or AC outlet. Suitable for home, car, recreation, and worksite. 2,400/1,000-watt peak/continuous power. more Buy at Amazon Discount with coupon on page Pulsar G12KBN-SG Heavy Duty Portable Dual Fuel Generator $950 $1,100 Dual fuel generator runs on gasoline or propane. For RVs or home power source via transfer switch. 9,500 watts continuous, 12,000 watts peak power. Up to 12 hours at half load on 8 gallons of gas. more Buy at Amazon Westinghouse iGen4500 Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator $1,025 $1,049 Enough power for worksite, home emergency, and RV use, this gas-powered inverter generator is rated at 4,500 peak watts and 3,700 watts continuous power. more Buy at Amazon Generac 7127 iQ3500 3500-Watt Portable Inverter Generator $999 $1,449 Power work tools or use for camping, tailgating, and other recreational purposes. Peak 3,500 watts of starting power and runs at 3,000 watts continuously. A quieter alternative to gas generators. more Buy at Amazon

When you shop for a portable generator during an emergency you lose out on more than just a chance for a good deal on a cheap generator. There are many types, sizes, and optimal applications for generators and if you shop when the power is threatened or has already failed, you may have to take what you can find, which might not be the best choice for your needs. Assuming you’ll have the time to shop for the right type of generator deals, keep the following factors in mind.

Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.