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How far should a portable generator be from the house?
Updated
At least 20 feet. CPSC says to use a generator outside only, at least 20 feet from homes, with the exhaust facing away. CDC adds that the 20 feet is measured from any doors, windows or vents. That includes your neighbor's house, not just yours.
Why 20 feet
CPSC says one portable generator can put out as much carbon monoxide as hundreds of cars. You cannot see or smell it. An open garage door or a cracked window does not clear it. CPSC's wording is plain: never use one inside a home or garage, even if doors and windows are open.
Places that are never OK
EPA's generator guide lists these as "don't" spots:
- In a garage
- In a basement
- In any living space
- On a balcony, deck or porch
- Near homes or windows
A carport, a shed and a breezeway fail for the same reason. They trap exhaust next to the house.
Making 20 feet work
- Buy the cord for the spot, not the spot for the cord. Pick the location first, then buy outdoor-rated cords long enough to reach it. The Red Cross says a cord should be rated for at least the total load on it. Longer runs need thicker wire, so check the cord's amp rating at its length.
- Point the exhaust away. Aim it away from your house and the neighbor's. Watch for window wells, dryer vents and air intakes.
- Keep it dry without boxing it in. The Red Cross says to run a generator on a dry surface under an open, canopy-like cover, such as a tarp held up on poles. Open on the sides. Not a closed shed.
- Put CO alarms inside. Battery powered, or plug-in with battery backup, on each floor and near bedrooms. If one sounds, get outside first.
- Secure it. A generator 20 feet out is easy to steal. A chain to something solid is a better fix than moving it closer.
A CO shutoff helps, but it does not shrink the distance
Two picks on this site list a sensor that shuts the engine off when carbon monoxide builds up around it: the Champion 4000-Watt Dual Fuel and the Westinghouse WGen5300DFcv. We would favor that feature if you are choosing between close options. The caveat for both is the same. The sensor reads the air at the generator, not the air in your bedroom. The 20 foot rule still applies. The listings we read for the other three picks did not mention one.
If 20 feet is not possible where you live, such as an apartment or a rowhouse with no yard, a fuel generator is the wrong tool. See generator vs power station. Otherwise, size yours with the wattage calculator and compare picks on the roundup page.
Safety first, every time
- Carbon monoxide kills. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, in a shed or on a porch, even with the door open. Keep it at least 20 feet from the house. Point the exhaust away from windows, doors and vents. Put battery CO alarms inside your home.
- Never backfeed. Do not plug a generator into a wall outlet or dryer outlet. It can kill a utility worker or a neighbor and can start a fire. To power home circuits you need a transfer switch or an interlock kit, installed by a licensed electrician.
- Without that, run heavy-duty outdoor extension cords from the generator straight to each appliance.
- Let the engine cool before you refuel. Store fuel outside the house.