I own a Yamaha 2000 watt inverter generator for my RV. It's a great little generator and is rated at 51db when operating at 1/4 max power. These little guys have variable speeds depending on the load. So as you increase the load it get's louder. They are not nearly as bad as some of the cheaper models you find out there, but you'll be up around 75-80 db at max power. So be sure to test the generator under a full load to know what it'll really sound like. There are some models that can be linked together to produce more power while keeping the volume down. When I was researching what to buy this summer, I learned that Yamaha and Honda have essentially the same specifications, however I was told by a repair shop that they have a lot more Hondas come in for repair than Yamahas, he said the engines are just a lot better in the Yamahas. So if you are buying I recommend you check out the Yamahas.