Generators
Best Tri-Fuel Generators
A natural gas line does not run out. That one fact outranks almost every other feature in a multi-day outage.
Written byMike M.
Published
Disclosure: we earn a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. It does not affect what we recommend or what we say about it — how we are funded.
The short answer
Champion's 12,500 W tri-fuel is the best choice: it publishes running watts for all three fuels (10,000 on gasoline, 9,000 on propane, 8,000 on natural gas), includes both the natural gas and propane hoses in the box, and has CO Shield shutdown. The Generac 12,500 W tri-fuel is the value pick at 9,500 running watts on gasoline. Note the natural gas penalty across the category: 15-25% of the gasoline rating, which has to be in your sizing.
Tri-fuel exists for one reason worth paying for: a plumbed natural gas supply does not run out. No jerry cans, no 3am refueling in a storm, no queues at a gas station whose pumps have no power. In a multi-day regional outage, that is the single most consequential feature on this site.
The short answer
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Champion 12,500W Tri-Fuel Home Backup The most complete tri-fuel package on the shelf: three fuels, both hoses, every output figure published, CO shutdown included. | Tri-fuel with both hoses in the box | 9.0/10 | $1,259.99 |
| 2 |  Generac 12,500W Starting Tri-Fuel The cheapest credible way to get a generator onto your home's natural gas line, which is the one fuel supply an outage usually does not interrupt. | Natural-gas hookup at the best price | 9.1/10 | $920.00 |
| 3 |  Westinghouse WGen11500TFc 14,500W Tri-Fuel Buy this when the sizing math genuinely lands above 10,000 running watts — not because bigger feels safer. | Larger homes with real 240V loads | 8.9/10 | $1,499.00 |
| 4 |  WEN TF-1450X 14,500W Tri-Fuel The value play in the 11,500-running-watt tri-fuel bracket, as long as you are comfortable with a thinner support network. | Tri-fuel value at high output | 8.8/10 | $1,199.99 |
| 5 |  DuroMax XP13000HXT 13,000W Tri-Fuel A well-built tri-fuel generator whose remote start and fuel selector are genuinely better than its rivals — with less published per-fuel detail than you would want. | Tri-fuel with remote start | 8.6/10 | $1,499.00 |
| 6 |  Westinghouse WGen14500TFc 18,000W Tri-Fuel The top of the portable range: V-twin, tri-fuel, clean power, and far more capacity than a correctly-sized essential-circuit plan requires. | Large homes, everything at once | 8.7/10 | $2,699.00 |
#ad Prices as of October 5, 2026; they may have changed since. Scores are our editorial judgment from published specifications, not test results — how we pick. How we are funded.
All three fuels, published side by side
| Machine | Gasoline | Propane | Natural gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 12,500 W | 10,000 W | 9,000 W | 8,000 W |
| WEN TF-1450X | 11,500 W | 10,300 W | 8,750 W |
| Westinghouse WGen11500TFc | 11,500 W | 10,500 W | 9,500 W |
| Generac 12,500 W | 9,500 W | Not published | Not published |
| DuroMax XP13000HXT | 13,000 W peak | Not published | Not published |
| Westinghouse WGen14500TFc | 18,000 W peak | Not published | Not published |
Look at the natural gas column. Champion loses 20% of its gasoline rating; WEN loses 24%; Westinghouse's WGen11500TFc loses 17%. If natural gas is your primary fuel, that column is your sizing figure — a machine advertised at 12,500 watts is an 8,000 running-watt generator on gas, and sizing from the headline leaves you short.
Westinghouse's WGen11500TFc has the best natural gas figure here at 9,500 running watts, which is why it ranks third despite costing more than the Champion — if gas is the plan, it is arguably the real winner.
Check the hoses, which is a genuine differentiator
Champion's listing states that both natural gas and propane hoses are included so the unit is ready to go. That is unusual and it matters: on most tri-fuel machines you buy the hoses separately and discover it on delivery day, and a natural gas hose is not a trivial purchase.
What the natural gas connection actually involves
A cheaper route exists if you already own a dual fuel machine: model-specific conversion kits use the carburetor's existing port, are reversible with no permanent modification, and cost a fraction of the difference between dual and tri-fuel. The output derating on a conversion kit is often unpublished, which is its real drawback.
Who should not buy tri-fuel
Anyone without a natural gas supply at the house. The third fuel is capability you will never use, and the money is better spent on a dual fuel machine with more running watts, or on the transfer switch.
- Running watts
- 10,000 W gas / 8,000 W NG
- Starting watts
- 12,500 W gas
- Hoses
- LP + NG included
#1 · Tri-fuel with both hoses in the box
Champion 12,500W Tri-Fuel Home Backup
The most complete tri-fuel package on the shelf: three fuels, both hoses, every output figure published, CO shutdown included.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026; it may have changed since. How we are funded.
What is good
- Both fuel hoses are included — on most tri-fuel machines you buy them separately and discover that on delivery day
- Publishes all three fuels' running and starting watts, so you can size against your actual fuel plan
- 10,000 running watts on gasoline is top of this class
What is not
- Natural gas drops it to 8,000 running watts — a 20% hit that is easy to overlook
- 231 lb
- More expensive than the Generac tri-fuel for similar output
Published specification & our scoring
- Gasoline: 12,500 starting / 10,000 running watts (manufacturer)
- Propane: 11,250 starting / 9,000 running watts (manufacturer)
- Natural gas: 10,000 starting / 8,000 running watts (manufacturer)
- Natural gas AND propane hoses included in the box (manufacturer)
- 500cc Champion engine, electric start, battery included
- Intelligauge plus CO Shield auto shutoff
- Published weight 231 lb
- Output headroom
- 10
- Fuel flexibility
- 10
- Transfer-switch fit
- 9
- Runtime
- 10
- Safety features
- 9
- Value
- 8
Specification figures are the manufacturer’s published values. Scores are our editorial judgment from those figures and are never published as structured review data — how we pick.
- Running watts
- 9,500 W gas
- Starting watts
- 12,500 W gas
- Fuels
- Gas / LP / natural gas
#2 · Natural-gas hookup at the best price
Generac 12,500W Starting Tri-Fuel
The cheapest credible way to get a generator onto your home's natural gas line, which is the one fuel supply an outage usually does not interrupt.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026; it may have changed since. How we are funded.
What is good
- Natural gas capability is the single biggest runtime upgrade available — a plumbed line does not run out
- 9,500 running watts matches the Westinghouse WGen9500DF, usually for less money
- Automatic voltage regulation plus both 240V outlets
What is not
- Running on natural gas costs you output — plan from the natural-gas figure if that is your primary fuel
- A natural-gas quick-connect has to be installed by someone licensed to touch your gas line; budget for it
- 219 lb
Published specification & our scoring
- 9,500 running / 12,500 starting watts on gasoline (manufacturer)
- Runs on gasoline, liquid propane or natural gas via a dial (manufacturer)
- 500cc Generac OHV engine with automatic voltage regulation
- 7.5-gallon tank: up to 9.5 h at 50% load, 14 h at 25% load on gasoline (manufacturer)
- Two 120V 20A GFCI duplex, one L14-30R 30A twist-lock, one 120/240V 50A
- COsense CO shutdown, electric start
- Published weight 219 lb
- Output headroom
- 9
- Fuel flexibility
- 10
- Transfer-switch fit
- 10
- Runtime
- 10
- Safety features
- 9
- Value
- 10
Specification figures are the manufacturer’s published values. Scores are our editorial judgment from those figures and are never published as structured review data — how we pick.
- Running watts
- 11,500 W gas / 9,500 W NG
- Starting watts
- 14,500 W gas
- Runtime
- Up to 19 h (mfr)
#3 · Larger homes with real 240V loads
Westinghouse WGen11500TFc 14,500W Tri-Fuel
Buy this when the sizing math genuinely lands above 10,000 running watts — not because bigger feels safer.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026; it may have changed since. How we are funded.
What is good
- 11,500 running watts is enough to add central air to the essential-circuit list in many homes
- 19-hour runtime means one overnight refuel instead of three
- Low THD on a conventional frame is unusual and genuinely useful if you are running computers and a modern furnace board
What is not
- Natural gas costs you 2,000 running watts versus gasoline
- 230 lb, and at this output you are firmly in permanent-location territory
- Price is well above the 9,500 W class for capacity many homes will not use
Published specification & our scoring
- Gasoline: 14,500 peak / 11,500 running watts (manufacturer)
- Propane: 13,500 peak / 10,500 running watts (manufacturer)
- Natural gas: 12,000 peak / 9,500 running watts (manufacturer)
- 550cc 4-stroke OHV Westinghouse engine with cast-iron sleeve
- Up to 19 hours on the 9.5-gallon tank (manufacturer)
- Low THD — manufacturer states it is safe for sensitive electronics
- Published weight 230 lb
- Output headroom
- 10
- Fuel flexibility
- 10
- Transfer-switch fit
- 10
- Runtime
- 10
- Power quality
- 9
- Value
- 7
Specification figures are the manufacturer’s published values. Scores are our editorial judgment from those figures and are never published as structured review data — how we pick.
- Running watts
- 11,500 W gas / 8,750 W NG
- Starting watts
- 14,500 W gas
- Outlets
- L14-30R + 14-50R
#4 · Tri-fuel value at high output
WEN TF-1450X 14,500W Tri-Fuel
The value play in the 11,500-running-watt tri-fuel bracket, as long as you are comfortable with a thinner support network.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026; it may have changed since. How we are funded.
What is good
- Matches the Westinghouse WGen11500TFc's 11,500 running watts for appreciably less money
- Both 240V outlets are transfer-switch ready, which is what you want at this output
- WEN publishes all three fuels fully, including the awkward natural-gas numbers
What is not
- WEN's service network is thinner than Generac's or Champion's if something fails out of warranty
- Natural gas drops it to 8,750 running watts — the largest proportional hit of the tri-fuel machines here
- No remote start at this price point
Published specification & our scoring
- Gasoline: 14,500 surge / 11,500 running watts (manufacturer)
- Propane: 12,500 surge / 10,300 running watts (manufacturer)
- Natural gas: 10,500 surge / 8,750 running watts (manufacturer)
- 500cc 4-stroke OHV engine, electric start
- 8.2-gallon tank, up to 12 hours at half load (manufacturer)
- WEN Watchdog CO shutdown sensor
- Four 120V 5-20R, one L14-30R, one 14-50R, one 12V DC — both 240V outlets transfer-switch ready
- Output headroom
- 10
- Fuel flexibility
- 10
- Transfer-switch fit
- 10
- Runtime
- 9
- Safety features
- 8
- Value
- 10
Specification figures are the manufacturer’s published values. Scores are our editorial judgment from those figures and are never published as structured review data — how we pick.
- Peak watts
- 13,000 W
- Fuels
- Gas / LP / natural gas
- Start
- Push-button + remote
#5 · Tri-fuel with remote start
DuroMax XP13000HXT 13,000W Tri-Fuel
A well-built tri-fuel generator whose remote start and fuel selector are genuinely better than its rivals — with less published per-fuel detail than you would want.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026; it may have changed since. How we are funded.
What is good
- Remote start on a tri-fuel machine is rare at this price
- Front-panel fuel selector is the best-implemented in the category
- All-metal DuroMax frame and panel
What is not
- DuroMax does not publish running watts per fuel as clearly as Champion or WEN do — size conservatively
- 240 lb
- Natural-gas conversion still needs a licensed gas fitter for the house side
Published specification & our scoring
- 13,000 peak watts (manufacturer)
- Runs on gasoline, propane or natural gas
- 500cc OHV DuroMax engine
- CO Alert automatic shutdown
- Push-button start plus remote start
- Front-facing fuel interface for seconds-long fuel changes
- Published weight 240 lb
- Output headroom
- 10
- Fuel flexibility
- 10
- Transfer-switch fit
- 9
- Build quality
- 9
- Safety features
- 8
- Value
- 7
Specification figures are the manufacturer’s published values. Scores are our editorial judgment from those figures and are never published as structured review data — how we pick.
- Peak watts
- 18,000 W gas
- Engine
- 713cc V-twin OHV
- Noise
- As low as 74 dBA (mfr)
#6 · Large homes, everything at once
Westinghouse WGen14500TFc 18,000W Tri-Fuel
The top of the portable range: V-twin, tri-fuel, clean power, and far more capacity than a correctly-sized essential-circuit plan requires.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026; it may have changed since. How we are funded.
What is good
- A V-twin at this output runs less stressed than a single-cylinder, which generally means it lasts longer
- Under 5% THD at 18,000 peak watts is genuinely unusual — most machines this big are dirty-power
- Tri-fuel, so a natural gas line makes outage length almost irrelevant
What is not
- Very expensive, and the great majority of homes will never load it past half
- 74 dBA is quiet for the output but still loud enough to annoy a close neighbor
- Needs a 50A transfer switch to use its capacity, which adds install cost
Published specification & our scoring
- 18,000 peak watts on gasoline (manufacturer)
- 713cc Westinghouse V-twin OHV engine
- Up to 16 hours at 25% load on the 10.5-gallon tank (manufacturer)
- Under 5% THD — manufacturer states it is safe for sensitive electronics
- One 120/240V 14-50R 50A and one L14-30R 30A, both transfer-switch and interlock ready
- Push-button and remote start, CO shutdown, as low as 74 dBA (manufacturer)
- Output headroom
- 10
- Fuel flexibility
- 10
- Transfer-switch fit
- 10
- Power quality
- 10
- Runtime
- 10
- Value
- 5
Specification figures are the manufacturer’s published values. Scores are our editorial judgment from those figures and are never published as structured review data — how we pick.
Questions people actually ask
What is the best tri-fuel generator?
Champion's 12,500 W tri-fuel, for publishing all three fuels' running watts, including both hoses in the box, and having CO Shield shutdown. If natural gas will be your primary fuel, Westinghouse's WGen11500TFc has the best published natural gas figure at 9,500 running watts.
How much power do you lose running on natural gas?
15 to 25% of the gasoline rating, based on manufacturers' own published figures. Champion's 12,500 W tri-fuel drops from 10,000 running watts on gasoline to 8,000 on natural gas; WEN's TF-1450X from 11,500 to 8,750.
Is tri-fuel worth it over dual fuel?
Only if a natural gas connection is realistic at your house. If it is, it effectively removes runtime from your outage planning, which is worth a great deal over several days. Without a gas supply, the third fuel is capability you will never use.
Do tri-fuel generators come with the natural gas hose?
Champion's 12,500 W tri-fuel listing states both the natural gas and propane hoses are included. Most do not, and you find out on delivery. Check the listing before ordering, because a natural gas hose is not a trivial extra purchase.
Can I connect a generator to my house gas line myself?
No. A natural gas quick-connect on your supply is licensed gas work in essentially every jurisdiction, usually permitted and inspected. Arrange and quote it before buying the generator rather than afterwards.
Does a natural gas generator run forever?
Effectively, as long as the gas supply holds — Generac's listing describes connecting to a natural gas line for virtually unlimited runtime. You still need to stop it periodically for oil checks, and the output is 15-25% below its gasoline rating.
Sources
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission — Portable Generator Information CenterThe placement and carbon monoxide guidance every generator page on this site links to.
- Eugene Water & Electric Board — Generator Sizing ConsiderationsPublished appliance running and additional-starting watt figures used in the sizing arithmetic on this page.
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