Best Dual Fuel Generators 2026: Gas and Propane Picks

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Day two of the outage. The gas stations near you are dark too, and the cans in the shed are almost empty. But two propane tanks sit outside by the grill, full since spring. You turn the selector on the generator from gasoline to propane, and the fridge, the sump pump and the furnace blower keep running. That switch is the whole point of a dual fuel generator.

The best dual fuel generator for most homes in 2026 is the Westinghouse WGen9500DFc: 9,500 running watts on gasoline, 8,500 on propane, 240-volt outlets for a transfer switch, remote electric start and an automatic CO shutdown sensor. If you have natural gas at home, the Champion 9200W Tri Fuel adds a third fuel.

Below: seven picks, exactly how much power each loses on propane (from the makers’ own figures), why propane is easier to store, and what it takes to run a tri-fuel model on natural gas.

Prices change often. The prices below are the maker’s own published price or list price in October 2026; check the current price before you buy. Where the maker shows no price, we left it out. We researched and compared these generators from maker specs; we did not test them.

Our top picks

Dual fuel generators compared

Generator	Running W: gas / propane	Starting W (gas)	Gas tank	240 V outlets	Weight	About (Oct 2026)
Westinghouse WGen9500DFc	9,500 / 8,500	12,500	6.6 gal	L14-30R, 14-50R	212.1 lb	$1,399 (list)
DuroMax XP13000HX	10,500 / 10,000	13,000	8.3 gal	L14-30R, 14-50R	240 lb	$1,399 (maker sale)
Champion 9200W Tri Fuel	9,200 / 8,500 (NG 7,500)	11,500	8.5 gal	L14-30R, 14-50R	216 lb	Check price
Westinghouse WGen7500DFc	7,500 / 6,750	9,500	6.6 gal	L14-30R	202.1 lb	$1,299 (list)
Champion 4500W Dual Fuel Inverter	3,500 / 3,150	4,500	2.3 gal	None (120 V)	99.2 lb	Check price
DuroMax XP2300iH	1,800 / 1,700	2,300	1.1 gal	None (120 V)	50.6 lb	$649 (maker sale)

Westinghouse shows list prices on its own store but marked both models unavailable to buy there in October 2026. Westinghouse and DuroMax say their models here are not CARB compliant, and Champion’s pages we read don’t say, so California buyers should check for a CARB version.

Propane vs gasoline: how much power you lose

The same engine makes a little less power on propane than on gasoline. Champion puts the drop at around 5–10%, and says natural gas loses more. Here is the gap on each maker’s own spec sheet (running watts; our percentage):

Generator	Gasoline	Propane	Propane vs gas	Natural gas	NG vs gas
DuroMax XP13000HX	10,500 W	10,000 W	−4.8%	(tri-fuel twin XP13000HXT only)	–
DuroMax XP2300iH	1,800 W	1,700 W	−5.6%	–	–
Champion 9200W Tri Fuel	9,200 W	8,500 W	−7.6%	7,500 W	−18.5%
Champion 4500W Dual Fuel Inverter	3,500 W	3,150 W	−10%	–	–
Westinghouse WGen7500DFc	7,500 W	6,750 W	−10%	–	–
Westinghouse iGen5000DFc	3,900 W	3,500 W	−10.3%	–	–
Westinghouse WGen9500DFc	9,500 W	8,500 W	−10.5%	–	–
Generac GP9500E Tri Fuel	9,500 W	8,550 W	−10%	7,000 W	−26.3%

So size your generator on its propane number if propane is your outage plan, and on its natural gas number if you’ll run it from the gas line. A 9,500-watt generator that you’ll run on natural gas is really a 7,000-watt generator (Generac’s GP9500E) or 7,500-watt one (Champion’s 9200W).

Propane also goes faster than you’d think on big units. Champion lists 10 hours on its 8.5-gallon gasoline tank at 50% load but 5 hours on a 20-lb propane tank for the 9200W Tri Fuel. Run it 12 hours a day at half load and you’d use about two and a half 20-lb tanks a day. Westinghouse says the WGen9500DFc runs up to 7 hours on a 20-lb tank. For long outages, have several full tanks, or talk to a propane supplier about a larger tank installed to code.

Why propane is easier to store

• It doesn’t go stale. Champion says gasoline can begin degrading after several months if it isn’t stabilized, while propane does not degrade over time. A full tank bought in spring is still good in hurricane season.
• No gummed-up carburetor. Champion notes that propane avoids the stale-fuel clogging that gasoline causes in a generator sitting unused between storms.
• Easy to get ahead of time. A standard 20, 30 or 40-lb cylinder fits the hose that ships with Champion’s tri-fuel model, and you can fill or swap them before a storm, when gas stations still have power.
• Check the date. Most portable propane cylinders are qualified for 12 years from their manufacture date, then need requalifying, typically every five years after that (Ferrellgas). The date is stamped near the handle or valve; Champion’s manual says to check it hasn’t expired.
• Store tanks outdoors, upright. Never in the house, garage or another enclosed area. Propane is heavier than air and pools in low spaces if it leaks. Check connections with soapy water before use: growing bubbles mean a leak.
• Cold weather: propane pressure drops in very low temperatures (Champion). If frost forms on the tank valve or regulator and power sags, Champion’s manual suggests swapping to a second tank to let the first one warm up.

Gasoline still has a place: it gives the most power, and you can store it safely with a stabilizer (below). Learn more about both fuels in propane energy and petroleum energy.

Tri-fuel: running on natural gas

A tri-fuel generator adds natural gas, so it can run from your home’s gas line for as long as the utility keeps gas flowing, with no tanks to swap. It’s the closest a portable generator gets to a standby unit. But connecting it is a job for a pro, not a weekend project:

• A licensed plumber or gas fitter runs the line. Champion’s 9200W manual says gas line connections should be made by a certified plumber familiar with local codes, with piping that complies with ANSI Z21.54/CSA 8.4. Expect a permit where your town requires one.
• Your meter has to keep up. Champion’s manual says the generator needs 5–7 inches of water column pressure and at least 130,000 BTU per hour, and tells you to ask your gas supplier whether the meter can handle the generator plus your furnace, water heater and stove.
• The quick-connect goes where the generator is safe. Champion includes a 25-ft natural gas hose kit, and the generator still has to sit at least 20 feet from the house. Plan the outdoor connection point with the plumber so you never have to bring the generator closer.
• If you smell gas, shut the supply off, don’t start the generator and call the gas company or a qualified technician from outside.

Running on natural gas does not make a generator safe to use near the house: it still makes carbon monoxide. If you want automatic, hands-off natural gas backup, compare the cost of a permanently installed standby generator in our whole house generator cost guide.

The best dual fuel generators

1. Westinghouse WGen9500DFc: best overall

The WGen9500DFc makes 9,500 running and 12,500 starting watts on gasoline, and 8,500 running and 11,200 starting on propane. Westinghouse lists up to 12 hours at 25% load on its 6.6-gallon tank and up to 7 hours on a 20-lb propane tank. For house hookups it has both a 120/240 V L14-30R and a 120/240 V 14-50R, plus two GFCI-protected 20 A duplex outlets. Start it with the remote fob, the push button or the recoil cord; the battery is included. An automatic CO shutdown sensor is built in. List price is $1,399 on westinghouse.com (October 2026), shown unavailable there.

• Good: enough for a well pump, fridge, furnace and lights; 50 A outlet; remote start.
• Watch out: 212.1 lb and 74 dB(A); not CARB compliant.
• Best for: whole-home essentials through a transfer switch.

Check the Westinghouse WGen9500DFc price on Amazon

2. DuroMax XP13000HX: most power

The XP13000HX gives 10,500 running and 13,000 starting watts on gasoline and loses the least on propane of any model here: 10,000 running and 12,500 starting. DuroMax lists 17 hours on gasoline and 13 on propane at 25% load from its 8.3-gallon tank (the page doesn’t say what propane tank size the figure assumes). You get four 20 A GFCI outlets, an L5-30R, an L14-30R and a 14-50R, push-button electric and recoil start, and DuroMax’s CO Alert shut-off. It’s about $1,399 on duromaxpower.com (maker’s sale price, October 2026; list $1,799).

• Good: the most watts on propane; five-year warranty; lots of outlets.
• Watch out: 240 lb; no remote start (the XP13000EH has one, about $1,299 on DuroMax’s site, with a three-year warranty); not CARB compliant.
• Best for: bigger homes with 240 V loads that want propane as the main fuel.

Check the DuroMax XP13000HX price on Amazon

3. Champion 9200W Tri Fuel with CO Shield: best tri-fuel

Champion’s 201412 runs on gasoline (9,200 running / 11,500 starting watts), propane (8,500 / 10,625) or natural gas (7,500 / 9,375). It ships with a 6-ft propane hose and a 25-ft natural gas hose kit. Champion lists 10 hours on gasoline and 5 hours on a 20-lb propane tank at 50% load, and 74 dB(A) at 23 feet. Outlets include two 20 A GFCI duplexes, a 120/240 V L14-30R and a 120/240 V 14-50R. CO Shield shuts the engine off when CO builds up, though Champion notes it is not a substitute for an indoor CO alarm.

• Good: three fuels; natural gas hose included; electric start.
• Watch out: the gas-line hookup needs a licensed plumber; 216 lb; no maker price shown.
• Best for: homes with natural gas that want long outages covered without tanks.

Check the Champion 9200W Tri Fuel price on Amazon

Other tri-fuel options: Generac’s GP9500E Tri Fuel with COsense (9,500 W gas, 8,550 W propane, 7,000 W natural gas; MSRP about $1,539 for the 50-state model, maker’s price, October 2026), and DuroMax’s XP13000HXT, the tri-fuel twin of our #2 pick (about $1,499 on duromaxpower.com).

See the GP9500E at Generac

4. Westinghouse WGen7500DFc: best mid-size

If you don’t need a 14-50 outlet, the WGen7500DFc gives 7,500 running and 9,500 starting watts on gasoline, 6,750 and 8,550 on propane. Westinghouse lists up to 11 hours on gasoline and up to 8 hours on propane at 25% load. It has a transfer-switch-ready L14-30R, two GFCI duplex outlets, two USB ports, remote and electric start, and an automatic CO shutdown sensor. List price is $1,299 on westinghouse.com (October 2026), shown unavailable there. Buy the “c” model; the older WGen7500DF has no CO sensor.

• Good: pairs with a common 30 A transfer switch; remote start.
• Watch out: 202.1 lb, 72 dB(A); not CARB compliant.
• Best for: fridge, freezer, furnace, sump pump and lights through a 30 A switch.

Check the Westinghouse WGen7500DFc price on Amazon

5. Champion 4500W Dual Fuel Inverter: quietest

An inverter with a propane option: 3,500 running watts on gasoline and 3,150 on propane, 4,500 starting on both. Champion rates it at 61 dB(A) at 23 feet, far below the 72–74 dB(A) of the open-frame models, and lists up to 14 hours on gasoline or 21 hours on a 20-lb propane tank at 25% load. Electric start, wheels, a 30 A RV outlet, clean inverter power and CO Shield. It’s 120 V only.

• Good: quiet; very long runtime per propane tank; safe for electronics.
• Watch out: no 240 V; about a third of the power of the big units.
• Best for: fridge, sump pump, lights and Wi-Fi in neighborhoods where noise matters. More in our best inverter generators.

Check the Champion 4500W Dual Fuel Inverter price on Amazon

6. DuroMax XP2300iH: best budget

The smallest pick runs on gasoline (1,800 running / 2,300 starting watts) or propane (1,700 / 2,150), a drop of only about 6%. DuroMax lists up to 38 hours on propane and 13 on gasoline at 25% load. It weighs 50.6 lb, has two 20 A outlets, an L5-30R, USB-A and USB-C, and DuroMax’s CO Alert shut-off. It’s about $649 on duromaxpower.com (maker’s sale price, October 2026).

• Good: low price; easy to carry; small propane penalty.
• Watch out: fridge-and-lights power only; not CARB compliant.
• Best for: a small, cheap backup that waits on propane.

Check the DuroMax XP2300iH price on Amazon

How to choose a dual fuel generator

• Size on the propane number. Add the running watts of what you’ll run at once, plus the starting watts of the biggest motor. Champion’s chart puts a 1/2 HP well pump at 750–1,000 running and 1,500–2,000 starting watts. Our generator sizing guide walks through it.
• Match the outlet to the hookup. An L14-30R feeds a 30 A transfer switch or inlet (Reliance rates its 30 A gear for generators up to 7,500 watts); a 14-50R needs a 50 A inlet. A licensed electrician installs the transfer switch or interlock, with a permit where required, and an interlock kit must match your panel’s brand and listing. See our transfer switch guide.
• Insist on a CO shut-off. Every pick has one: Westinghouse CO Sensor, DuroMax CO Alert, Champion CO Shield (and Generac COsense on the GP9500E).
• Electric or remote start is worth it on a 200-lb generator that has to start on a cold, wet night.
• Inverter or open frame: inverters are quieter and gentler on electronics; open-frame units give 240 V and more watts per dollar. Compare them in inverter vs conventional generator.

Carbon monoxide and fuel safety

Every fuel, gasoline, propane or natural gas, makes carbon monoxide. CPSC says an average of about 100 people in the U.S. die each year from CO poisoning from portable generators. Follow CPSC and CDC:

• Outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents.
• Never in a garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with the door or windows open, and not on a porch or in a carport.
• Battery-powered or battery-backup CO alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas, tested monthly. A generator’s CO shut-off does not replace them.
• Feeling dizzy, sick or weak? Get to fresh air right away and call 911.
• Refuel gasoline only after the generator is off and cool. Spilled gasoline on a hot engine can ignite (CPSC).
• Never backfeed through a wall outlet; it can electrocute utility workers and neighbors.
• Store fuel outside living areas, gasoline in labeled, non-glass safety containers, away from fuel-burning appliances. Add stabilizer when you fill the cans (STA-BIL says its Storage formula keeps gas fresh up to 24 months) and use older gas up in the car or mower.

Keep exploring

Start with our home generators guide, then see the best generator for a house power outage and how to run a generator safely. Curious about natural gas as a fuel? Read natural gas energy. If you’d rather skip fuel altogether, compare home battery backup and the best portable power station for home backup, or browse all generator articles.

Dual fuel generator questions

Is a dual fuel generator worth it?

For home backup, usually yes. Propane stores without going stale, so you can keep tanks full for years and avoid fuel lines at gas stations during an outage. You give up about 5–10% of running watts on propane by the makers’ figures.

Does a generator make less power on propane?

Yes. On maker spec sheets, running watts on propane are 4.8% (DuroMax XP13000HX) to about 10.5% (Westinghouse WGen9500DFc) lower than on gasoline. Natural gas costs more: 18.5% on the Champion 9200W Tri Fuel and about 26% on the Generac GP9500E. Size your generator on the fuel you’ll actually use.

How long will a 20-lb propane tank run a generator?

It depends on size and load. Champion lists 21 hours at 25% load for its 4500W Dual Fuel Inverter, but 5 hours at 50% load for its 9200W Tri Fuel. Westinghouse lists up to 7 hours for the WGen9500DFc. Large generators can empty two or three tanks a day, so plan accordingly.

Can I hook a tri-fuel generator to my gas line myself?

No. Have a licensed plumber or gas fitter install the line and the outdoor quick-connect, with a permit where required. Champion’s manual calls for a certified plumber and piping to ANSI Z21.54/CSA 8.4, and your gas supplier should confirm the meter can carry the extra load.

Is propane safer than gasoline in a generator?

Not for carbon monoxide: a propane or natural gas generator can still poison you. Run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from windows, doors and vents, and keep CO alarms on every level. Store propane tanks outdoors and check connections for leaks.