Generator Rental

A generator rental gives you temporary power for jobsites, events, outages and remote work, and a light tower keeps the area lit after dark. Add up your running watts and the starting surge of your largest motor, size up from there, and compare suppliers before you book.

What generators and light towers are used for

Contractors rent generators to run saws, compressors, heaters and site trailers before permanent power is connected. Event planners use them for stages, food vendors and lighting. Homeowners rent them to ride out a power outage or run tools far from an outlet. Larger towable diesel units power whole buildings during electrical work or keep critical equipment running during a planned shutdown.

Light towers are mobile masts with a bank of lights, usually on a trailer with their own generator or a battery and solar setup. They light night road work, parking lots, outdoor events, emergency response and any jobsite that runs past sunset. Light stands are smaller versions for indoor or tighter spaces.

Types and sizes

Fuel containment berms and fuel tanks are often available alongside the bigger units and may be required on some sites.

How to choose the right generator

• List every load. Write down the running watts of each tool or appliance you will run at the same time, then add the starting surge of the largest motor, such as a compressor, pump or air conditioner.
• Match the voltage and phase. Small jobs use standard 120-volt outlets. Shops, buildings and big motors may need 240-volt or three-phase power, so tell the supplier exactly what you are connecting.
• Check the outlets. Portable units have household and twist-lock outlets; large units often connect through a distribution panel or cables that an electrician should hook up.
• Think about run time and fuel. Ask how long a tank lasts at your load and whether the supplier offers refueling service for long rentals.
• Consider noise. Inverters, battery units and sound-attenuated diesels make sense near homes, events and anywhere with noise limits.
• For light towers, compare mast height, LED versus older lamp types, how the tower is powered and how long it runs per tank or charge.

How to use a generator

1. Place the generator outdoors on level ground, well away from doors, windows and vents, with the exhaust pointed away from people and buildings.
2. Ground it as the manufacturer and supplier direct.
3. Check fuel and oil before starting. Never refuel while it is running or hot.
4. Start it with nothing plugged in and let it warm up for a minute.
5. Plug in the largest motor load first, then add smaller loads one at a time.
6. Use outdoor-rated extension cords heavy enough for the load and the length of the run, and use GFCI protection, especially in wet conditions.
7. Keep an eye on the load. If breakers trip or the engine labors, unplug something.
8. To shut down, switch off or unplug the loads first, then turn off the generator and let it cool before refueling or loading it up.

Mistakes to avoid

• Running a generator indoors, in a garage, a basement or a crawl space, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide builds up fast and can kill without warning. A battery-powered CO alarm in the home is a smart backup.
• Plugging a generator into a house outlet to backfeed the panel. Without a transfer switch installed by an electrician, it is dangerous, illegal in most places and can electrocute utility workers.
• Sizing only for running watts and forgetting starting surge, so the unit stalls every time the compressor or pump kicks on.
• Using thin indoor extension cords that overheat and drop voltage on long runs.
• Refueling a hot engine and spilling fuel onto the muffler.
• Running a generator exposed in the rain instead of under a cover made for it that still leaves it in open air.

Pro tips

• Sizing up a step gives you headroom and keeps the engine from running at full load all day.
• Put the generator downwind from where people work or gather so exhaust and noise drift away from them.
• On a light tower, aim the lights down at the work area and away from traffic and neighbors to cut glare.
• For multi-day rentals, ask whether the unit has a fuel gauge or hour meter, and track fuel use on the first day so you can plan refills.

If you are heating a cold jobsite, see the construction heater rental guide for heaters to pair with your generator. For lighting-only jobs, the light tower rental page goes into more detail.

Tips before you rent

• Confirm whether delivery includes setup and whether an electrician is needed to connect larger units.
• Ask what cables, distribution boxes or adapters come with the generator and what costs extra.
• Check whether the unit should come back full of fuel, and how refueling is handled on long rentals.
• Make sure there is a level, accessible spot for a towable unit or light tower, with room for the delivery truck.
• Ask about noise levels if you are near homes or working at night.

How to find a generator rental near you

Rates are set by each supplier and vary by size, fuel type, rental length, accessories, location and delivery. Use the Browse equipment button to search by your city and rental dates on the Derental marketplace. Compare suppliers by location, delivery options and rates, check the output and outlet details on each listing, and request the rental online once you have your load list in hand.