DuroMax XP12000E Generator Review – Is “The Beast” Worth It?

Last Updated on May 3, 2023 by Rod Olivares

While great for power outages, a powerful generator can help get your RV powered, power a food truck, and even power your job site.

The possibilities are endless with the many different features that a generator can offer.

Today, we are going to look at the DuroMax XP12000E 12,000-watt portable gas electric start generator.

This generator offers plenty of power to be used as a standby source for your home in the convenient package of a (relatively) portable generator.

Functions and Ease of Use

While its size and number of buttons/sockets may make the XP12000E look intimidating, starting and using this generator is relatively easy thanks to the electric start.

Simply switch over the power selector to the type of power you need and turn the engine switch key over to start.

This is a great advantage over recoil start generators as some people may not be able to have the strength needed to operate a recoil cable.

On the side of the generator, you will notice the control panel and the instructions on how to start the generator. These instructions alone add to the user-friendliness of this generator.

Main Control Panel

On the control panel, there are a number of different switches, buttons, breakers, and plugs that give you a quick and easy way to control all of the generator’s features.

I have already mentioned the power selector and engine switch, so we will move on to the two indicator lamps located next to the engine switch.

1. The first lamp, labeled oil lamp, illuminates when your generator is low on oil. This helps to prevent your engine from running dry, which could cause major damage.
2. The second lamp, the recharge indicator, notified you when the starter battery is charging.
3. To the right of these lamps, you will notice an idle control switch which can be used when you plan to run the generator for long periods of time.

Built-in Safety Features

Below this switch and to the right of this switch you will notice a series of circuit breakers that show that this generator was built with safety in mind, These can be used to reset breakers when they are tripped.

A voltmeter is located in the upper right-hand corner to monitor the voltage being delivered.

Outlets

The last but most important features are the electrical sockets found on the control panel.

This generator features 1 AC 120V 30A socket, 2 AC 120V 20A GFCI sockets, a single AC 120V/240V 30A socket, and a single AC 120V/240V 50A socket.

This shows that the Duromax XP12000E is versatile and ready for the large load capacities it is rated for.

Noise Level – Is It Quiet?

With a generator of this size, one would think that the noise level would be unbearable.

That is not the case with this generator!
To understand how loud a generator really is, we have to look at what is considered to be loud.

Generators are rated in decibels and are measured 23 feet away from the generator.

Most generators operate between 70-80 decibels, or about as loud as a vacuum cleaner.

Surprisingly, this generator only puts out 72 dBa, which is considered to be relatively quiet – for a generator of its size.

Gas Consumption & Capacity

• Rated Amps: 79.2/39.6 Amps
• AC Maximum Output Starting Watts: 12000W
• AC Rated Output Running Watts: 9500W
• Rated AC Voltage: 120/240 VAC & 12VDC

With an 8.3-gallon fuel tank, you can expect to get about 10 hours out of your generator at 50% maximum output.

This means you can sleep worry-free and that your needed appliances are kept running throughout the night.

With the large wattage capacities and multiple different outlets, the possibilities are just about endless when it comes to powering up your home, campsite, or event.

Service, Manual & Warranty

DuroMax has a dedicated tech team and a customer service email support system to aid in any problems or questions you may have with their products.

DuroMax offers a 30-day replacement warranty and a 1-year full parts warranty on this generator to ensure that you are properly taken care of if an issue arises.

During the warranty period, parts are not charged, however, freight charges will be the responsibility of the customer.

With the availability of the manual online, we suggest getting familiar with it before making your purchasing decision.

This will allow you to understand the ins and outs of this generator to ensure it is what you are needing.

DuroMax XP12000E Portable Generator VS the Competition

XP12000E VS Pulsar Products PG10000B16 (10000W Hybrid)

When investing in a generator as large as this one, you want to see how it compares to the competition.

We are going to look at how well the DuroMax XP12000E compares to the Pulsar Products 10000W generator we have previously reviewed here.

Power Ratings

This is an obvious winner for the Duromax as it is rated for 12,000 watts. However, the dual-fuel capabilities of the Pulsar generator may make up for the lower power rating.

Read my dual fuel generators buyer’s guide for more similar inverters.

Noise Levels

While Pulsar does not give a rating on their generator, we did notice that many of the reviews complained about the noise level. Due to these reviews and the lower rating of DuroMax, I am going to say that DuroMax is the winner here.

Power Outlets

When comparing the power outlets, the winner will be determined by the end user’s goal of what they need to power. The DuroMax does offer an extra AC 120V 30A plug whereas the Pulsar generator offers 2 more GFCI outlets.

XP12000E VS Champion 12,000 Watt

Comparing the DuroMax to a generator that puts out a little more power should even out the playing fields, however, the DuroMax still outshines in some areas.

Power Ratings

As stated above, the Champion 12,000 watts is putting out more power than the DuroMax.

The 12,000 watts are the Champions running watts and the DuroMax is only putting out 9500 running watts.

It also puts out 15,000 starting watts making it a clear winner in this category.

Noise Levels

If noise is a big concern of yours, opt for DuroMax. It is slightly quieter coming in at a mere 72 dba.

The Champion generator will be slightly louder at 79 dba.

Power Outlets

When it comes to the power outlets, the two have very similar power receptacles.

Champion edges out the DuroMax with an extra set of 120V GFCI outlets

Online Reviews and Scores

With 70 customer reviews on Amazon at the time of this article, the DuroMax seems to be about mid-level on the popularity scale.

However, we do have to consider that not as many people are buying larger generators as compared to smaller generators.

Over 70% of these reviews at in the 4-5 star range with an alarming 17% of all reviews being a single-star rating.

Potential Problems / Known Issues

Looking at the lowest reviews for potential problems, there seem to be 2 main issues that we are seeing with this generator – customer service and poor quality.

Many reviews state that the generator arrived in non-working condition or stopped working after a few hours.

These reviews seem to follow suit and could be a potential problem that we hope DuroMax will correct.

Within these reviews, I noticed a few concerns about customer service.

While I have never dealt with the company personally, it could be a concern if you have to contact them.

In My Opinion: Should You Buy It?

Looking past these reviews, I can honestly say that I would pick up this generator to use for, job sites, food truck operations, and other situations where one might need a decent amount of power and portability.

The many different plugs, high wattage capacity, and the lower price tag make this a solid contender for any power needs.

At 12,000 peak watts, you can power many of the appliances you need to use in your house at the same time during a blackout (check out my calculator to estimate your needs).

Whereas with smaller generators or generators with less versatile sockets, you would have to alternate out your appliances to get the power you needed.