Clear selection criteria, the trade-offs that matter, and recommendations matched to how you will actually use the equipment.
Our buying guides recommend classes of equipment, defined by the specifications that matter for a job, rather than individual models we have not tested. Each explains the types, the trade-offs and what to look for, and links to current listings so you can compare models and prices for yourself. Read our editorial standards to see how recommendations are made.
The best portable generator depends on what you need to run. Compare the main types, the features that matter and the right size for home backup, camping and job sites.
Read GuidePortable, inverter or standby? A step-by-step way to choose a home generator: what to power, how to connect it, which fuel to use and…
How standby generators work, how to size one for your home, natural gas versus propane, what installation involves and the upkeep to expect.
Dual-fuel generators run on gasoline or propane. Here is what changes when you switch fuels, how long a propane cylinder lasts, and who benefits…
Match the pump to the water and the job: the main pump types, the specs that matter, and which class suits draining, dewatering, irrigation…
A 60-gallon compressor is the step from garage to shop. What the class offers, single- versus two-stage at this size, the specs that matter…
Match pressure and flow to the jobs you actually do, understand nozzle colors and pump types, and avoid buying more washer than your deck…
What to buy first, what to buy well, and what to skip until you need it: a three-phase plan for a home garage that…
