| Portable and light-duty sets | Approximately 1–20 kVA | Usually compact, air-cooled gasoline or diesel engines; open-frame or enclosed designs | Small worksites, temporary power, outdoor activities, and household backup | Rated output, runtime, noise level, portability, and starting method |
| Small commercial and industrial sets | Approximately 20–500 kVA | Commonly liquid-cooled diesel engines with three-phase alternators; optional sound-attenuated enclosures | Commercial buildings, workshops, farms, and small industrial facilities | Prime or standby rating, fuel consumption, control-panel functions, and service access |
| Medium-duty industrial sets | Approximately 500–2,000 kVA | Typically liquid-cooled diesel systems designed for stationary installation and automatic transfer arrangements | Factories, hospitals, data facilities, infrastructure projects, and larger commercial sites | Load acceptance, transient response, paralleling capability, emissions requirements, and commissioning support |
| Large-power and project-engineered sets | Often above 2,000 kVA per unit; project capacity may use multiple units | Heavy-duty diesel or gas systems, frequently configured for synchronized operation and site-specific integration | Large industrial plants, utilities, mining operations, and major infrastructure projects | Project engineering, synchronization, redundancy, fuel-system design, and long-term parts support |
| Gas generator-set specialists | Available across a wide range, with capacity determined by engine and installation design | Spark-ignition engines configured for pipeline natural gas, biogas, or other approved gaseous fuels | Sites with suitable gas supply, combined heat and power projects, and some continuous-power applications | Gas quality, fuel pressure, heat-recovery options, site emissions limits, and maintenance intervals |
| Rental and mobile-power suppliers | Varies from small mobile units to large containerized packages | Transportable, weather-protected or containerized sets with connection and distribution equipment | Construction, events, temporary grid support, and emergency power | Delivery time, mobility, operating hours, connection compatibility, and on-site service |