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Black Friday Generator Deals 2026: Tested Generators on Amazon
Last Black Friday Amazon cut generators by 10% to 40%. Here are four that Bob Vila tested, what they can run, and what a real deal looks like.
The bottom line
For quiet camping and outage basics, Bob Vila's testers liked the Honda EU2200i (Best Small) and the much cheaper Pulsar 2,200W dual-fuel inverter (Best Bang for the Buck). For running a fridge, a window AC and more during an outage, its home pick is the DuroMax XP12000EH. Last Black Friday Bob Vila found the Honda at $1,099 on Amazon and the bigger DuroMax XP13000EH at $939 (from $1,499), so a good deal on a big dual-fuel generator can be several hundred dollars off.
Generators to watch this Black Friday
Honda EU2200i Inverter Generator with CO-Minder
Best for: Quiet camping, tailgates and RV power, plus a fridge in an outage
$1199.00 on Amazon (checked Oct 30)
Black Friday 2025 on Amazon: $1099.00 (today is $100.00 higher)
Why
- Bob Vila's Best Small inverter generator: it ran a table saw and miter saw, then a refrigerator on its own, without trouble
- 1,800 running watts, about 47 pounds, and up to 8.1 hours on its 0.95-gallon tank at a 25% load, per Bob Vila
- CO-Minder shuts it down if carbon monoxide builds up, per the Amazon listing
Watch out
- Premium price for its output, and no USB ports, per Bob Vila
- Sold on Amazon by an outside dealer, not Amazon itself; the listing says it isn't sold in California
Pulsar 2,200W Dual-Fuel Quiet Inverter Generator
Best for: Light outage backup and DIY projects on a budget
$429.99 on Amazon (checked Oct 30)
39% under Amazon's list price of $699.99
Why
- Bob Vila's Best Bang for the Buck inverter: easy to set up and started in a couple of pulls
- Runs on gas (1,800 running watts) or propane (1,600), and handled heat guns and hair dryers at once in Bob Vila's test
- 46.5 pounds; sold by Amazon itself
Watch out
- Bob Vila found it louder than its advertised 59 decibels, closer to a vacuum
- The oil fill sits behind a panel that's hard to remove, and oil changes mean tipping it, per Bob Vila
Ford FG2500iS Gas Inverter Generator
Best for: Charging electronics and running lights where noise matters
$439.99 on Amazon (checked Oct 30)
Why
- Bob Vila's Best Light-Duty inverter: noticeably quieter than open-frame generators and easy for one person to carry
- 2,200 running watts, 48.5 pounds, and it can be paired with a second unit for more power, per Bob Vila
- About 6 hours of run time at half load on a 1-gallon tank, per the Amazon listing
Watch out
- Recoil start only, and gas only
- Sold on Amazon by an outside dealer, not Amazon itself
DuroMax XP12000EH Dual-Fuel Portable Generator
Best for: Running several big appliances at once in an outage
$1299.00 on Amazon (checked Oct 30)
Why
- Bob Vila's Best for Home Use: in its test it ran a refrigerator, a window AC and home electronics without lagging
- 9,500 running watts on gas or 9,025 on propane, with electric start and a CO sensor that shuts it down
- Has a 50-amp outlet plus 30-amp outlets; sold by Amazon itself
Watch out
- 224 pounds, and only two standard household outlets, per Bob Vila
- No hour meter and no covers for the outlets, per Bob Vila
- Last Black Friday the bigger DuroMax XP13000EH was $939 on Amazon, per Bob Vila; compare that with this model's live price above
Prices come from Amazon and are checked three times a day. Amazon's price at checkout is the one that counts.
Which one is right for you
| If you... | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Camp, tailgate or RV and want it quiet | Honda EU2200i | Bob Vila's small-generator pick, and it ran a fridge on its own in testing. |
| Want basic outage backup for under $500 | Pulsar 2,200W | Runs on gas or propane and was Bob Vila's best value inverter. |
| Mostly charge phones and laptops and run lights | Ford FG2500iS | Light, quiet and inverter power that's safe for electronics. |
| Need to keep the fridge, AC and more running in a long outage | DuroMax XP12000EH | 9,500 running watts on gas, plus 30- and 50-amp outlets. |
What last Black Friday's generator deals looked like on Amazon
Bob Vila's Black Friday 2025 list of Amazon generator deals had most cuts between 10% and 40%: the Honda EU2200i at $1,099 (from $1,299), the WEN 2,350-watt inverter at $355 (from $444), the DuroMax XP13000EH at $939 (from $1,499) and Champion's 4,000-watt dual-fuel inverter at $659 (from $899).
Treat last year's Black Friday price as the target, and compare it with today's price on this page.
Inverter or open frame
Inverter generators adjust engine speed to the load, which cuts fuel use and noise and gives stable power that's safe for electronics, per Bob Vila. The Honda, Pulsar and Ford here are inverters.
Big open-frame generators like the DuroMax XP12000EH put out far more power, but they're heavier and louder than inverters.
Running watts are the number to compare
Every generator lists a peak (starting) wattage and a lower running wattage. Compare running watts with what you need to keep on. A 2,200-watt inverter like the Honda runs about 1,800 watts, which Bob Vila used to power a refrigerator alone; the DuroMax runs 9,500 watts on gas.
Dual-fuel models like the Pulsar and DuroMax lose some power on propane: 1,600 instead of 1,800 running watts for the Pulsar.
Where to run it
Bob Vila advises placing a generator at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors and windows. The Honda and DuroMax here have carbon monoxide sensors that shut the engine down, but that doesn't replace running a generator outside and away from the house.
Before you check out
- Add up the running watts of what you need on in an outage.
- Decide on gas only or dual fuel (propane stores longer).
- Check the outlets you need, such as a 30-amp RV outlet or a 50-amp outlet.
- Check the seller; some generators on Amazon come from outside dealers.
- Plan where it will sit, at least 20 feet from the house.
How we put this guide together
We don't test generators. The picks come from Bob Vila's tested guides to inverter generators (January 21, 2026) and portable generators, limited to models sold on Amazon. Last year's prices come from Bob Vila's list of Amazon's Black Friday 2025 generator deals. Specs come from those reviews and the Amazon listings; today's prices come from Amazon and are checked three times a day. We earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links, which doesn't change the price you pay.
Quick answers
Do generators go on sale for Black Friday?
Yes. Last year Amazon's generator deals ran about 10% to 40% off, per Bob Vila, including the Honda EU2200i at $1,099 and the DuroMax XP13000EH at $939.
What size generator do I need for a refrigerator?
Bob Vila ran a refrigerator on its own with the Honda EU2200i, which makes about 1,800 running watts. To run a fridge plus other appliances at once, look at a bigger generator like the DuroMax XP12000EH.
How far from the house should a generator be?
At least 20 feet, with the exhaust pointed away from doors and windows, per Bob Vila.
When is Black Friday 2026?
Friday, November 27, 2026, with Cyber Monday on November 30. In 2025 Amazon's Black Friday Week ran November 20 to December 1.
Sources
- Bob Vila, 'The Best Inverter Generators of 2026', tested, January 21, 2026
- Bob Vila, 'The 7 Best Portable Generators, Tested and Reviewed'
- Bob Vila, Black Friday generator deals on Amazon 2025, published November 28, 2025
- Amazon, Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday 2025, November 20 through December 1
- Honda EU2200i, Amazon listing (CO-Minder, California note)
- Pulsar 2,200W dual-fuel inverter, Amazon listing
- Ford FG2500iS, Amazon listing (run time, outlets)
- DuroMax XP12000EH, Amazon listing
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