The 8 Best RV Inverter Options in 2022 – Expert Buyer’s Guide

Last Updated on May 12, 2022 by Chris and Lindsay

Having the best RV inverter will make life on the road so much more convenient and this post will share our top picks and help you know what to look for when shopping for an RV inverter.

The best RV inverters will complement your battery bank and solar panel system, making your RV electrical system robust and adaptable for any power needs on the road. And it will be absolutely imperative if you want to be self-sufficient and go off-grid while being able to use all of your electronic devices.

Your RV battery bank will store quite a lot of energy. And while having a great solar panel setup can supply you with unlimited energy wherever you travel, using that energy is a different story.

An RV power inverter will allow you to convert 12-volt direct current (DC) power stored in your RV battery bank into alternating current (AC) power that you can make available to charge and use appliances that require standard 110v power.

While we will admit that a power inverter is not the highest item on our RV must-haves list for everyone with an RV, campervan or travel trailer we can say that we would NEVER consider camping anywhere without one.

In fact, if you are or are planning to go full-time RVing then a high-quality and reliable power inverter does become absolutely necessary. But RV inverters can be pricey, bulky and altogether confusing when shopping.

In this post, we’re going to break down what you need to know before you decide on which inverter is best for your RV and provide you with our top recommendations.

NOTE: All options we list are 2000 watt models. Each model has both a larger and smaller inverter size offering. But we have found that 2000W is the optimal inverter size for most RVs. And with the exception of one product, all inverters on our list are pure sine wave.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post may contain links to products we think you’ll like. If you purchase any of the products through the links below we’ll receive a small commission. As full-time RVers, we know our RV products well and only recommend those that we either own or would consider owning ourselves.

Best Product // Our Top Picks at a Glance

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The Best RV Inverter

Although there are a lot of different RV inverter options out there, we have narrowed down the list of those we think are the best for you. Here are our top recommendations and why we think you’ll like each one.

Our Honesty Disclaimer: In the course of living in our RV full time for over 4 years we have thoroughly researched all of these products before making the choice on our own. So we’ll give you honest information that allows you to make the best decision for which product is right for you.

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BEST OVERALL: Renogy 2000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

We like that the LED display outside the high watt power inverter helps the user understand when the inverter is alternating current, or invoking under and over-voltage protection. If you require a lot of power, the pure sine RV Inverter can support peak surges at up to 4000-watt pure sine wave, helping you keep the lights on. 

The system is designed to protect itself from all sorts of common electrical issues. The best RV pure sine wave inverter out there comes with both USB ports and AC outlets to ensure its multifunctional performance.

We also love that we can connect the remote switch to be able to turn it off and on with our other switches.

However, installing this inverter in a small space can be challenging as it is a bit bulky and does require ventilation.

Otherwise, this is our favorite inverter that we have used at both the 1000W and 2000W levels.

SAVE 10% MORE when you shop directly at Renogy.com and use our coupon code “CALLEDTOWANDER” at checkout! Note: Discount does not apply to sale items or batteries.

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RUNNER UP: AIMS 2000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

We really like that the upstarts at AIMS are a household ac sine wave inverter name, you can have peace of mind in their products. The company offers lifelong technical support at home and a two-year warranty on all parts of this RV inverter.

You can tuck this pure sine wave inverter away in the darkest corner of your recreational vehicle and hook it up to an optional remote, allowing you to control your dc to ac power inverter for RV appliances without having to dig around the electrical appliances tucked underneath the couch.

We also love that it has a GFCI outlet, USB port, and shutdown protection to establish itself as a modern RV power inverter. Owners will solve any RV input voltage needs for years to come with 2000 watts of AIMS Pure Sine inverter.

On the downside, the remote control is not included and there are multiple complaints that it really cannot handle loads over 1500W.

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BEST PREMIUM INVERTER: Go Power! 2000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

Its 2000W of consistent, pure sine reliable energy can tackle projects another 2000w power inverter couldn’t quite fire up. What truly sets this option apart is the size. Most types of RV inverters with this emergency backup power won’t fit within the compact space necessary for the van life.

These pure sine wave inverters are no larger than your typical RV power inverters, with twice the power capacity. All this continuous power performance comes at a price point much higher than any other option on this list.

But if you’re planning on demanding extreme ac power out of your RV inverter, invest in the best RV inverter. Go Power! ‘s offering will bring your visions to life. 

On the downside, this 2000W power inverter is a bit pricey and is also fairly bulky to install.

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PREMIUM RUNNER UP: Xantrex 2000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

The wave RV power inverter comes with an LED display system so you can stay informed about how your sine wave power inverter is functioning. A full two-year warranty gives any buyer some extra peace of mind, and the GFCI ports combined with the 12v dc capability give your sine wave inverter extra freedom.

We had the 600 watt model when we first started RVing in 2018 and had to call customer service when the inverter went on the fritz (we had battery issues we needed to address). Customer service was greatly helpful in trying to diagnose and fix the issue over the phone. And when we could not resolve the issue, Xantrex sent a new unit with no questions asked.

To ensure stability, Xantrex’s RV inverters come with automatic low and high-voltage shutdowns to save a bad day from getting any worse. 

On the downside, the GFCI outlets are fairly sensitive and can trip frequently. And the terminal studs are small, so you need to be careful when installing the wiring to and from the inverter. Additionally, while it is one of the best pure sine wave inverter for RV of all types, it also only delivers 1800 watts of continuous power, slightly lower than its 2000W rating.

Otherwise, any product from Xantrex will be well worth the investment.

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BEST BUDGET INVERTER: GoWISE Power 2000W Pure Sine Inverter

It does all this while staying compact and portable enough to slide into any existing recreational vehicle and make it a home.  It has a power switch with a high 6000W of peak power and provides 2000 watts of continuous power protected by a total harmonic distortion system that looks to keep the ac power flow consistent.

We also really like that it has a remote switch so you can pack it away in its own home and run all of your RV appliances through the inverter with the switch of a button. Further, a low voltage alarm protects both your devices and your RV batteries.

On the downside, to arrive at such an affordable price, the sine wave inverter is not packed with a fan or the most high-quality materials. Still, if you’re not concerned about having the same power inverter plugged into your mainframe in a decade, this product is worth a second look.

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BEST INVERTER CHARGER: AIMS 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger

We really like that as an inverter-charger with an automatic transfer it automatically detects how it draws power depending on what type of power source it is connected to, has an alarm to prevent short circuits, and blocks itself against low voltage.

These features make the inverter one of the best pure sine wave power options on the market for RV appliances.

It’s got a remote control and an automatic transfer switch for overload protection. For a pure sine wave inverter for RV solution that will work regardless of the scenario, this particular power inverter choice is worth the high price tag. 

  

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INVERTER CHARGER RUNNER UP: Renogy 2000 Watt Pure Sine Inverter Charger

We like that this inverter’s high surge capacity can easily power up your ac unit alongside all appliances in your RV without reaching peak power. It’s a large and heavy unit, but once you get the inverter installed in its allotted space, the features packed into this inverter should allow years before you have to move around the device again.

We really love the built-in battery charger that allows you to charge your batteries with this same device while using shore power. While this multi-function makes the device a little larger than other 2000w power inverters on our list, it also saves you from having to purchase 2 or 3 separate devices.

The high price brings with it tons of expectations, but the inverter delivers everything it has promised, plus peace of mind. Just remember its size and weight and that you always need to have the inverter turned on when connected to shore power in order to charge your RV batteries and use your ac outlets.

SAVE 10% MORE when you shop directly at Renogy.com and use our coupon code “CALLEDTOWANDER” at checkout! Note: Discount does not apply to sale items or batteries.

 

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BEST MODIFIED SINE WAVE INVERTER: AIMS Power 3000 Watt Modified Sine Power Inverter

A thermal cooling fan keeps the inverter running. With 3000 watts of continual ac power, the inverter will keep your entire RV running. The RV inverter comes with every feature necessary to get your energy flowing with no extra bells or whistles.

The compact mainframe supports two GCFI outlets along with power terminals. Some RVers loaded up with heavy amounts of electronic devices may find a modified sine inverter might not be enough to safely power up your more sensitive devices.

Any everyday direct current power needs will be more than satisfied by the capabilities packed into AIMS 3000 watt power inverter. 

On the downside, this is a modified sine wave inverter that can cause issues and damage to more sensitive devices like televisions and microwaves. It is also known to have a rather loud cooling fan.

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RV Inverter Buying Guide

When shopping for an RV inverter there are several factors you will want to consider. We’ll walk you through each of the most important considerations so that you can make the best decision for your RV, campervan or travel trailer.

Your Power Wattage Needs

The first thing that you will need to consider before purchasing any inverter is to determine your power wattage needs. Living in an RV for any amount of time requires that you think differently about your power consumption.

For example, in a standard brick and mortar home, you may run several large appliances at the same time. However, in an RV you would not want to make it a habit to run your AC and your microwave at the same time due to the large power requirement of these two appliances.

The best way to determine how large of an inverter you need is to consider all of the appliances that you would use on any given day and figure out whether you would run them together or separately.

For example, you may run two devices that draw 500 watts of power at the same time and you would need at least a 1000W inverter to do so. But if you were to only run each appliance one at a time you could consider using a much smaller power inverter.

A good rule of thumb is to find the largest appliance you could possibly imagine using on your inverter, check for its wattage and then add an extra 10-20% to account for any surge in power.

And while it is tempting just to purchase the largest possible inverter, you need to know that the larger the inverter the larger the battery bank required to keep it supplied (and thus the more solar panels you need to remain self-sufficient).

Just because your inverter may be able to deliver 2000W does not mean that your battery bank has that much energy stored up in it. You can use this resource to help you determine your power usage.

Pro Tip: We were not certain how much power we would need from an inverter when we first started and we did not look at our appliances. A friend told us we would be OK with a 600W inverter but we quickly learned that we consume far more power than that in charging our most important devices. We later upgraded to a 1000W inverter to account for the difference.

Types – Pure Sine vs Modified Sine

There are 2 basic types of inverters you will see when shopping: pure sine wave and modified sine wave. Without getting into the complex technical specs of each, essentially the difference between the two types is how “clean” and efficient the energy is delivered to your appliances via the power outlets and thus the cost.

Pure sine wave inverters deliver smoother, quieter and more reliable electricity than modified sine wave inverters. As such you can trust them to run more sensitive appliances such as laptop computers, newer TVs, microwaves and refrigerators.

On the other hand, modified sine wave inverters should only be used in simple power systems that don’t include sensitive appliances. The energy provided from these types of inverters comes out choppy and intermittent and can thus cause issues for more sensitive appliances.

Pro Tip: While we’ve included several Modified Sine Wave inverters on our list due to their affordability, we have only owned Pure Sine Wave inverters because it was that important to us that we protect our sensitive electronic devices.

Surge Capacity / Power Ratings

After considering how much power you will consume you will also want to consider what will happen in the event of a power surge. In some cases, power can surge from the source, such as from an electric grid or battery bank.

Other times the surge is pulled through the system from the appliance or other draw on the power. In both cases, having an inverter that is capable of handling surges is important.

You will find a surge rating alongside the standard power rating that will give you an idea of the inverter’s ability to handle short bursts of power. This is important because many devices will draw significantly more power to start up than to continuously run.

Coffee makers, for example, can pull quite a bit of power when they are heating up the water. So if you run your coffee maker off your inverter then you want to make sure the inverter can account for that extra power needed upfront.

As the water is heated coffee makers will drop off on the amount of energy they need to continue to brew.

If you trace the power cords and/or look on the back of most appliances you will see the surge ratings, which you should use to account for the maximum amount of power you can expect to draw.

Pro Tip: Never count on “exact math” when accounting for surge ratings. If you planned to use 3 appliances at the same time that each had a maximum surge rating of 500 watts you do NOT want to purchase a 1500W inverter. Even though those appliances should not surge beyond 500 watts it is always good to build in an additional 10-20% extra. You are protecting your appliances by making sure they have the power they need to function.

Efficiency

When shopping for an RV inverter you will also want to factor in the efficiency of the inverter. Most inverters these days are quite efficient, with ratings over 90%. But all have some negligible loss associated with them.

Whenever energy is transferred via wires and especially when it is transformed, as in the case of inverting AC power to DC power, there is loss.

So finding an inverter with minimal loss will allow you more power for the appliances you want to use inside your recreational vehicle.

Other Bells and Whistles for RV Inverters

There are lots of other bells and whistles when shopping for the best RV inverters. Here are a few of the top ones to be aware of:

Inverter Charger

An inverter charger serves 2 purposes, especially if you are starting from scratch in your power system and/or RV or van build, which can save the space and expense of a separate battery charger.

An inverter charger will allow you to invert DC power into AC power like all inverters would do. But also it can convert AC power into DC power to top off your battery bank when you are plugged into AC power.

Remote Control

One great feature of newer inverter models is that many come with remote controls. Most still have manual wires with a switch that requires it to be physically plugged into the inverter before the switch is installed in a more convenient place.

But the idea is that you can tuck your inverter out of the way and run the remote control switch to a more convenient location. While not necessary, remote control switches definitely add to the convenience of being able to switch the inverter on and off as often as necessary.

Low Voltage Alarm and Shut Off

Inverters can only pull so much energy from your battery bank. As you use your batteries their voltage will drop. To protect the batteries from losing too much voltage, most RV inverters now have some form of low voltage alarm. Some even have shutdown protection where they will actually power down before causing damage to your battery bank.

USB Ports

While having accessible USB ports on a recreational vehicle inverter is not necessary, some allow you to plug USB devices directly into the inverter. This bypasses having to have a separate USB charger. So keep this in mind if this additional feature is important to you.

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