A standby install runs $12-18K all in
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Our Honda verdict
Honda's EU series remains the inverter benchmark: 48 to 57 dBA on the EU2200i, first-pull starts after years of monthly exercise, and the best resale value and dealer service network in portable power. You pay roughly double per watt against Champion or Westinghouse dual-fuel, and Honda gives you no factory propane option in return. The math works if you plan to keep the machine 10 to 15 years and value quiet and certainty over storm-week wattage; the EU7000iS plus an interlock is still the classic premium whole-panel setup. If your priority is maximum backup watts per dollar or fuel flexibility when gas stations lose power, the value brands win this one.
Honda publishes MSRPs on its own model pages and dealers rarely discount, so sticker is street: the EU2200i is $1,199, the EU2200i Companion $1,299, the electric-start EU3000iS $2,399, the fuel-injected EU3200i $2,799 ($2,899 for the 50-state version), and the EU7000iS flagship $4,899 ($4,999 50-state). That buys the generator alone. Pairing two EU2200i units for more power requires the Companion model plus a parallel cable kit sold separately, and none of these include anything for home hookup; an interlock or manual transfer switch installed by your electrician typically adds $400 to $850. Every EU model is gasoline only, so budget for fuel storage and stabilizer if you are storm-prepping. Honda holds pricing steady year-round; meaningful sales are rare, so waiting for a discount mostly means waiting.
powerequipment.honda.com · Verified July 2026
Before you buy Honda
The fastest buyer pages to read next if this brand is on your shortlist.
Inverter vs open-frame
Why inverter watts cost roughly double, and when they are worth it.
Best portable generators for home backup
How the premium inverters stack up against the dual-fuel value picks.
What size generator do I need?
Running watts, starting surges, and why the well pump usually decides.
The carbon monoxide rules
Placement distances and the mistakes that kill people every storm season.
From Honda
Official product and lifestyle imagery from the brand.
Images courtesy of Honda.
Strengths & considerations
What it does well
- +Reliability and start-when-needed reputation no rival matches
- +48-57 dB on the EU2200i, neighbor-friendly quiet
- +Best resale value and dealer service network of any portable brand
Where it falls short
Sourced, not our opinion. This is the part the brand's own page leaves off.
About $1,199 for 2,200 starting watts when a Westinghouse or Champion inverter with more output costs half; the premium buys reliability and resale, not watts.
Source: Generator Bible price tracking
No dual-fuel EU model exists; running propane or natural gas requires an aftermarket conversion kit, which complicates the 3-year warranty and fails the storm-week fuel-flexibility test.
Source: Honda Power Equipment specifications
About 200,000 EU2200i, Companion and EB2200i units were recalled in 2019 for fuel leaks from the valve, with 19 leak reports and no injuries; dealers fixed them free. Worth checking on used units.
Source: CPSC recall notice, 2019
Before you buy: confirm these
These are Honda's own documented terms and open questions, not our test results. Get the specifics in writing on the quote before you order.
- ?The $1,199 EU2200i delivers 1,800 rated watts; getting to 240V or serious wattage means a $1,299 Companion plus a separately sold parallel kit, so price the full setup before comparing brands
- ?Every EU model is gasoline only from the factory; third-party propane conversions exist but can complicate the 3-year warranty, so decide your storm fuel plan first
- ?No transfer switch or interlock is included for home hookup; add $400 to $850 for an electrician-installed interlock before the EU7000iS can feed your panel
- ?Buying used? Check EU2200i serials against the 2019 fuel-valve recall (about 200,000 units); dealers fixed them free, but not every unit went in
Storm-belt buyers who need maximum watts per dollar, or anyone who wants propane capability without an aftermarket conversion.
Alternatives to compare
Champion Power Equipment
budgetChampion is the watts-per-dollar play that does not feel like a gamble: $733 buys a dual-fuel storm portable with CO Shield, $1,260 buys tri-fuel with electric start, and no rival matches the 10-year warranty on the aXis standby line. The honest tradeoff is what stands behind it: no dealer-install network, so warranty claims run through a phone queue and service centers instead of a dealer's schedule. That makes Champion ideal for the self-reliant buyer who lines up their own electrician and wants maximum hardware for the money. White-glove buyers who want one company to size, install, and service everything should pay up for a dealer brand instead.
Machine $733 - $5,787
Westinghouse
budgetWestinghouse is the watts-per-dollar play: $1,249 buys 9,500 running dual-fuel watts in the WGen9500DF, roughly half of what Honda charges per watt, and the hardware itself reviews well. Spend the extra $150 on the WGen9500DFc for the CO sensor; that is cheap insurance on a machine that will run next to your house. The honest tradeoff is what happens after the sale: an FTC action over illegal warranty terms and a documented BBB backlog of unanswered claims mean you are betting on the machine, not the support desk. If you want the best spec sheet in the budget dual-fuel class and accept DIY-grade service, buy it. If a warranty you can actually use matters more, pay the Honda premium or look at Champion.
Machine $499 - $3,499
DuroMax
budgetDuroMax is job-site iron pointed at your breaker panel, and at July 2026 prices it is a strong deal: $1,399 for the XP13000HX buys 13,000 peak watts, CO Alert and a 5-year warranty, and $1,499 for the XP13000HXT adds natural gas capability nothing else matches at the price. The tri-fuel HXT is the standout; hook it to the house gas line and storm-week fuel hunting disappears. Plan for the tradeoffs: 200-plus pounds, open-frame noise, and a warranty that ships you parts rather than sending anyone to your driveway. Buy it for the interlock-plus-big-watts use case and treat the 5-year HX warranty as parts insurance, not a service plan.
Machine $549 - $3,499
Comparing a few brands?
Tell us your outage pattern and budget. We'll tell you whether Honda or one of these fits you better, and check your quote so you don't overpay.
Key models
2,200W super-quiet inverter, 48 to 57 dBA, about 47 lbs, $1,199 MSRP
adds a 30A outlet for parallel pairing and RV use, $1,299 MSRP
3,000W electric-start classic, runs most 13,500 BTU RV ACs, $2,399 MSRP
newest fuel-injected mid-size, under 60 lbs with app monitoring, $2,799 MSRP
7,000W fuel-injected flagship, electric start, the whole-panel interlock partner, $4,899 MSRP ($4,999 50-state)
Support & warranty
EU-series generators carry a 3-year residential warranty, which Honda's EU2200i page describes as covered top to bottom for the full three years. Warranty and service run through Honda's authorized power equipment dealer network, the deepest service bench of any portable brand, and the dealer locator on Honda's site is the fastest way to confirm a servicing dealer nearby.
3 years residential, serviced through Honda's dealer network.
Large authorized Honda Power Equipment dealer network handles service and warranty, the best portable service story in the business.
FAQ
Is Honda worth it in 2026?
Honda's EU series remains the inverter benchmark: 48 to 57 dBA on the EU2200i, first-pull starts after years of monthly exercise, and the best resale value and dealer service network in portable power. You pay roughly double per watt against Champion or Westinghouse dual-fuel, and Honda gives you no factory propane option in return. The math works if you plan to keep the machine 10 to 15 years and value quiet and certainty over storm-week wattage; the EU7000iS plus an interlock is still the classic premium whole-panel setup. If your priority is maximum backup watts per dollar or fuel flexibility when gas stations lose power, the value brands win this one.
How much does a Honda generator cost?
Honda machines run from about $1,199 up to about $4,999 based on current pricing on powerequipment.honda.com as of July 2026. Honda publishes MSRPs on its own model pages and dealers rarely discount, so sticker is street: the EU2200i is $1,199, the EU2200i Companion $1,299, the electric-start EU3000iS $2,399, the fuel-injected EU3200i $2,799 ($2,899 for the 50-state version), and the EU7000iS flagship $4,899 ($4,999 50-state). That buys the generator alone. Pairing two EU2200i units for more power requires the Companion model plus a parallel cable kit sold separately, and none of these include anything for home hookup; an interlock or manual transfer switch installed by your electrician typically adds $400 to $850. Every EU model is gasoline only, so budget for fuel storage and stabilizer if you are storm-prepping. Honda holds pricing steady year-round; meaningful sales are rare, so waiting for a discount mostly means waiting.
What fuel does a Honda generator run on?
Gasoline
Does a Honda generator need a transfer switch?
Pairs with a $400-$850 interlock install for panel power; the EU7000is is the standard whole-panel interlock partner.
What is Honda's warranty?
EU-series generators carry a 3-year residential warranty, which Honda's EU2200i page describes as covered top to bottom for the full three years. Warranty and service run through Honda's authorized power equipment dealer network, the deepest service bench of any portable brand, and the dealer locator on Honda's site is the fastest way to confirm a servicing dealer nearby.
Who is Honda best for?
The buyer keeping it 15 years, exercising it monthly, and valuing quiet, first-pull starts and resale over sticker price.
Who should skip Honda?
Storm-belt buyers who need maximum watts per dollar, or anyone who wants propane capability without an aftermarket conversion.
What brands should you compare against Honda?
Most buyers should compare Honda with Champion Power Equipment, Westinghouse and DuroMax before deciding. Quote at least two brands in the same lane. The installed price and the local service coverage decide more than the badge does.
Sources (9) · Verified Jul 12, 2026
We earn nothing from the “Visit” links on this page. Prices are public ranges and change often; confirm current pricing on the brand's site.
Methodology
Brand verdicts are based on buyer fit, lane and fuel logic, real machine and installed pricing, warranty terms, service network reach, and the recall and complaint record. A strong reply from a manufacturer can improve factual clarity, but it does not improve placement.
If dealer coverage is thin, the warranty fine print is ugly, or the complaint file is long, we say that plainly instead of hiding it behind marketing copy.
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