Finding Deals on Used Generators on Craigslist and eBay

Generators are one of those things people buy in a panic before a storm, use once or twice, and then let sit in the garage for years. That cycle of emergency purchasing and long-term neglect is great news for buyers who know what to look for. Craigslist and eBay are loaded with used generators at prices well below retail, and unlike a lot of used power equipment, they're easy to evaluate before you hand over cash.

A Honda EU2200i that costs $1,100 new shows up used for $500-650 regularly. A Generac GP8000E that retails for $900 appears on Craigslist for $300-450 after a few years of sitting. Champion, Westinghouse, and Yamaha units follow the same pattern. If you're shopping for backup power or need a generator for a job site, the used market is absolutely worth your time.

Types of Generators You'll Find Used

The used generator market breaks into a few distinct categories, and knowing which one you need shapes how you shop:

• Conventional portable generators - The most common type on Craigslist. These run at a fixed 3600 RPM, are louder, and work great for powering tools or running basic household loads during an outage. Brands like Champion, Generac, DuroMax, and Briggs & Stratton dominate the under-$500 used market.
• Inverter generators - Run quieter and produce cleaner power suitable for sensitive electronics. Honda EU and Yamaha EF series are the ones people actually want. Used prices hold up better on these because demand stays strong. Still worth buying used if you find one in good shape.
• Dual-fuel and tri-fuel units - Can run on gasoline, propane, or natural gas. Popular with preppers and people who want long-term fuel flexibility. These show up used in decent numbers, especially after hurricane seasons in southern markets.
• Standby generators - Permanently installed, connected to natural gas or propane, and kick on automatically during an outage. Generac and Kohler dominate this space. Used standby units do appear on Craigslist but require professional installation, so factor that into your budget.
• Contractor/job site generators - Built for abuse. Honda GX-series engines, beefy frames, GFCI outlets. These show up when contractors retire or upgrade. Often higher hours but built to run.

What to Check Before You Buy

The beauty of generators is that they're simple to test. Bring a few things when you go to look at one:

• Check the oil. Pull the dipstick. Dark, gritty oil means it was run hard without maintenance. Milky oil means water got in somehow. Fresh or clean oil is a good sign. Ask when they last changed it.
• Look at the air filter. A clogged, filthy air filter means this generator was neglected. Not a dealbreaker, but use it to negotiate.
• Inspect the fuel tank and carburetor area. Stale gas is the number one killer of stored generators. Look for varnish or residue around the carb. If the seller says "it ran great last time I used it" and that was three years ago, assume the carb needs cleaning.
• Start it up and run it. This is non-negotiable. Listen for smooth idle, no blue smoke, no knocking. Let it warm up. If the seller won't let you run it, walk away.
• Load test if you can. Bring a hair dryer or a space heater and plug it in. Watch the voltage on the outlets (a cheap outlet tester with voltage display helps). Generator should hold stable voltage under load without surging or dying.
• Check the hours if displayed. Many generators have an hour meter. A quality engine like a Honda GX390 is good for 1,000-plus hours with proper maintenance. Under 200 hours on an older unit usually means it barely got used.

Brands Worth Paying More For

Not all generators are created equal, and on the used market, brand matters a lot because engine quality varies widely:

• Honda - The gold standard. GX-series commercial engines run forever. EU inverter series is wildly popular for a reason. Buy Honda used without hesitation if the price and condition are right.
• Yamaha - Right alongside Honda for inverter generators. EF2000iS and EF2200iS units are excellent and hold value well.
• Generac - The most popular standby generator brand in the US. Portable units are decent. iQ series inverters are underrated. Avoid the oldest budget portables, but modern units are fine.
• Westinghouse - Good value new, holds up reasonably used. Parts and support are solid.
• Champion - Budget brand but widely used and parts are everywhere. Fine for occasional use. Just know what you're getting.

Avoid off-brand units with no parts availability. A cheap generator that needs a carburetor and has zero aftermarket support is basically a paperweight.

How to Search on Craigslist and eBay

Start with the obvious searches - "generator," "portable generator," "Honda generator" - then get specific. Try searching by wattage: "5000 watt generator," "7500 watt generator." Search model numbers directly: "EU2200i," "GP8000E," "EF2000iS."

On Craigslist, check the farm+garden section and the tools section. Generators show up in both. Also check "free" listings after storms - sometimes people leave broken generators at the curb that just need a carb clean and fresh fuel.

On eBay, filter to "used" and look at completed listings to understand what units actually sell for in your size range. Local pickup listings on eBay often have better prices than shipped listings because the seller pool is smaller.

LurkMor handles the persistent searching so you're not checking manually every day. Set an alert for the make and model range you want, and it notifies you when something hits. Good generators move fast, especially right before and after storm season - having an alert already running means you're not starting from scratch when you need one urgently.

Timing and Pricing

Generator prices on Craigslist spike right before major storms and drop a few weeks after. If you live in an area with hurricane or ice storm risk, shop in the calm season - late winter and early spring - when nobody is thinking about power outages. That's when you'll find the best deals from people clearing out their garages.

After a major weather event, people who bought generators on impulse and never used them again start selling 12-18 months later. That secondary wave of post-storm selling is a real phenomenon and worth watching for.

Expect to pay roughly 40-60% of retail for a used generator in solid shape from a quality brand. If someone is asking 70-80% of retail, wait them out or walk. If they're asking 25% of retail for a Honda inverter, look closely - either it has a real problem or you're about to get a great deal.

Carburetor Issues: The One Thing to Know

If you buy a generator that won't start or runs rough, the carb is almost always the cause. Stale ethanol gasoline leaves varnish deposits that clog the tiny jets and passages. The fix is usually a $10-15 aftermarket carb replacement (OEM carbs exist for most popular engines) and about 30 minutes of work. This is a genuine opportunity on Craigslist - generators listed as "won't start" or "needs work" often just need a carb and fresh fuel, and sellers drop the price significantly because they assume it's a major problem.

If you're mechanically inclined at all, searching specifically for non-running generators can yield some of the best deals in the category. A Honda EU2200i that won't start because of a gummed carb is still a Honda EU2200i - fix the carb and you have a $900+ machine for $200-300.