Most of the portable generators do not have enough power to run an entire house.
However, generators with the rated wattage of at least 7500 watts can be used to run all crucial appliances (eg. heaters, refrigerators, lights, garage door openers) in the event of an emergency.
Anything rated at 12,000 watts and more can power an entire small household or the vast majority of electrical equipment in larger houses excluding some particularly demanding items (like for example electric clothes driers).
A 15,000-watt portable generator can run an entire mid-sized household.
Read more about whole house generators in our guide.