Small Gas Engines Market Size | Global Report [2033]

Small Gas Engines Market Overview

Global Small Gas Engines Market size is forecasted to be worth USD 8754.93 million in 2024, expected to achieve USD 12036.23 million by 2033 with a CAGR of 3.6%.

The global small gas engines market surpassed 3,514.1 million USD in 2024, with 1,318.3 million USD attributed to lawnmower engines alone . Units are categorized by displacement: 20–100 cc, 101–450 cc and 451–650 cc, with engines in the 101–450 cc band holding close to 50 % of installed units and dominating applications like lawnmowers, chainsaws, and portable generators .

Fuel-wise, gasoline-powered units comprise nearly 80 % of all small gas engines sold in 2023–2024, dwarfing alternatives like LPG or CNG . In 2024, North America accounted for approximately 61.4 % of the market’s volume, followed by Asia-Pacific at 48.4 % unit share . By equipment type, lawnmowers constituted roughly 37.5 % of total small-engine units, with chainsaws representing around 18.4 % .

Breakdown by application shows that garden equipment, construction tools, and industrial units are key end-users, with over 50 % of volume linked to gardening machinery . In 2023, the installed base of small gas engines had reached over 300 million units globally, with annual production averaging around 35 million units. Displacement bands under 100 cc comprised roughly 15 % of units, while 451–650 cc engines formed about 10 %. These precise unit counts set the stage for deeper analysis.

Key Findings

Top Driver reason: Rising demand for outdoor power equipment, especially lawnmowers and chainsaws used in residential maintenance and landscaping.

Top Country/Region: North America leads, representing approximately 61.4 % of global unit volume in 2024.

Top Segment: The 101–450 cc engine displacement segment dominates consumer adoption, accounting for nearly 50 % of all units in 2023–2024.

Small Gas Engines Market Trends

The small gas engines market exhibits several defining trends. Firstly, lawnmower engines alone accounted for around 1,318.3 million USD in sales-equivalent value in 2024, reflecting approximately 37.5 % of total unit usage across equipment segments . Chainsaws follow as the second largest equipment category with about 18.4 % share . Portable generators, leaf blowers, and pressure washers hold smaller shares ranging from 10 % to 15 % each . These figures show a clear tilt toward gardening and landscaping appliances, which together command nearly 55 % of small-engine unit demand.

Geographically, North America’s 61.4 % share of market volume in 2024 positions it well ahead of other regions . Asia-Pacific accounted for 48.4 % in unit volumes, with China and India key contributors . Specifically, Asia-Pacific’s share likely correlates to its hefty population and rising investment in garden-use and construction tools. Canada is projected to attain a market of 390.6 million USD by 2030, reinforcing North American dominance . In the U.S. alone, the installed base and annual consumption exceed 120 million units, with approximately 45 % used in lawn-care. European nations collectively report about 60 million units installed, with Germany and the UK contributing more than 25 million combined .

The engine displacement trend shows the 101–450 cc category capturing about 49.5 % of units globally . This prevalence is due to torque requirements for versatile applications like chainsaws and generators. Sub-100 cc engines hold about 15 %, while larger 451–650 cc engines represent around 10 % . In terms of fuel type, gasoline remains dominant at 79.5 %, with LPG and CNG splitting roughly 20.5 % . This fuel choice reflects infrastructure availability and cost-effectiveness.

By application segment, garden and landscaping tools account for over half of unit demand; construction and industrial applications make up about 25 %, and agricultural applications fill the remaining 25 % . These figures indicate a broad reliance on small-gas engine–powered tools across multiple sectors. Regionally, the U.S. stands as the single largest country, with over 100 million small gas engines in use. Canada and China each host 20–30 million units, while India has approximately 15 million units in circulation, mainly for pumps and generators.

The accelerating trends toward replacement of manual power tools with engine-powered equivalents in developing regions, along with expanding residential landscaping markets in developed nations, underline a steady upward pattern in unit demand. Moreover, the 101–450 cc segment continues to enjoy approximately 50 % volume share due to its high-torque versatility across applications.

Small Gas Engines Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for outdoor power equipment

Annual production of small gas engines hits around 35 million units, with over 50 % tied to gardening and landscaping tools. Lawn-care trends in North America alone support installation of about 120 million engines, while Asia-Pacific regions deploy tens of millions more . Demand is especially strong in the 101–450 cc displacement range, which comprises nearly half of global volume due to its suitability for high-torque applications. In 2024, lawnmower engines generated 1,318.3 million USD equivalent, making them the most critical end-use segment . Additionally, chainsaws alone contribute nearly 18.4 % of overall unit volume . These figures illustrate sustained consumer and commercial uptake driven by residential landscaping, forestry work, and auxiliary power equipment.

RESTRAINT

Strict emissions regulations and noise control standards

Globally, emissions regulations now limit engine output to below 50 g CO2 per kWh in certain regions. North America mandates sound levels under 70 dB at 7 m for residential use; Europe enforces similar thresholds. Compliance increases manufacturing costs by up to 15 % per unit and has triggered a shift away from two-stroke designs to four-stroke systems, raising average engine weight by 10 % and unit cost by approximately 12 %. As of 2023, nearly 60 % of all small gas engines sold in the EU featured advanced after-treatment or electronic fuel injection systems, up from 30 % in 2020 . These changes have slowed smaller manufacturers from entering major markets and have constrained the sub‑100 cc displacement band, which is most affected by compliance upgrades.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion into emerging rural and off-grid regions

Asia-Pacific holds 48.4 % of global unit volume, with India alone installing approximately 15 million engines in 2024, largely for pumps and power applications . China and Southeast Asia add another 30–40 million units due to growing demand in agriculture and small-scale construction. Urbanization trends combined with lack of reliable grid infrastructure in rural areas mean portable generators and pump sets become key end-uses. By 2024, agricultural and construction tools accounted for roughly 25 % each of engine applications . Manufacturers supplying engines in the 101–450 cc range can capture up to 50 % of new unit deployment in these regions due to affordability and ease of maintenance. Some countries are reporting more than 20 % year-on-year increase in imports of portable generators.

CHALLENGE

Technological shift toward electric alternatives

Battery-powered alternatives captured over 10 % of market share in lawn-care tools by volume in North America and Europe, and accounted for 5 million units in 2024. Electric chainsaws and leaf blowers saw 15 % unit growth in 2024 compared to 2023. This shift pressures small-gas engine units with high torque requirements such as chainsaws and lawnmowers. Traditional engine manufacturers reported a 7 % drop in unit sales of sub-100 cc two-stroke engines in 2024 due to rising electric options and consumer preference for low-maintenance equipment . The trend is most pronounced in urban residential areas where noise and emissions regulations are most stringent, reducing average per-unit usage hours by roughly 20 %. Engine design adaptation is needed to meet declining demand in urban zones, requiring investments that smaller producers may struggle to fund.

Small Gas Engines Market Segmentation

Small gas engines are segmented by power source—Gas Power, Electric Power, Others—and by application—Garden & Agricultural Machine, Motorcycle, Generator, Others—with unit volumes and usage share detailed below.

By Type

Gas Power: Gas-based engines represent roughly 79.5 % of all units globally, totaling over 240 million units in 2024. The dominant displacement band for gas engines is 101–450 cc, capturing about 49.5 % of installed units. Sub‑100 cc gas engines account for 15 %, while larger 451–650 cc gas engines make up around 10 %. Gas engines power the majority of lawnmowers (~37.5 % of units), chainsaws (~18.4 %), and portable generators (10–15 %). Over 78 % of these units are air-cooled, and 67.4 % use carburetors, reflecting prevalence of basic mechanical designs over advanced EFI systems .
Electric Power: Electric-powered alternatives still represent a smaller share—though growing—from roughly 5 million units in 2024, capturing about 10 % of lawn-care tool sales in North America and Europe. Electric chainsaws and leaf blowers saw 15 % year‑on‑year growth in 2024. Despite these gains, electric units remain under 10 % of total installed base of small gas engine–powered equipment globally. Most electric units are in the sub-100 cc equivalent power class, used mainly in residential settings where emissions and noise rules are strict .
Others: “Others” comprises small engines powered by LPG, CNG, biogas, or hybrid configurations. These account for approximately 20.5 % of unit volumes in 2024. LPG and CNG operate around 65 % in South Asia for pump sets, while biogas and landfill-gas units make up 35 % in Europe. Overall, “other” fuel types power a global installed base of approximately 60 million engines—and feature in equipment like dual-fuel generators and rural agricultural pumps .

By Application

Garden & Agricultural Machine: Garden and agricultural equipment account for over 50 % of small-engine unit demand—over 175 million units. Lawn-care implements (lawnmowers, trimmers, blowers) represent 37.5 % of total units; chainsaws add 18.4 %. Agricultural pump sets, rotary tillers, and cultivators contribute roughly 12–15 %, totaling some 20–30 million units. North America leads with over 120 million garden units, while Europe contributes 60 million and Asia‑Pacific another 50 million .
Motorcycle: While less dominant, small-engine motorcycles, ATVs, and scooters represent approximately 10 % of the global small engine installed base—around 30 million units. Motorcycles typically involve 101–450 cc displacement; scooters are mostly sub-100  Asia‑Pacific accounts for nearly 70 % of these units, with India hosting ~10 million and China ~12 million in 2024 .
Generator: Portable and standby gas-powered generators make up about 12 % of total installations—approximately 42 million units in 2024. North America uses around 15 million, Europe 8 million, and Asia‑Pacific 18 million units. Growth in off-grid regions and power outages drove a 20 % increase in generator imports in several developing markets in 2023–2024 .
Others: This category includes construction equipment (concrete mixers, compactors), recreational vehicles (go-karts, snowblowers), and industrial tools. They represent about 18 % of units—roughly 63 million globally. Construction tools count approximately 25 % of small-engine applications, while recreation and industrial maintenance make up the remaining 13 % combined .

Small Gas Engines Market Regional Outlook

Global small engine markets show varied performance, with North America leading in unit share, Asia‑Pacific dominating in growth volume, Europe maintaining mid-tier adoption, and Middle East & Africa emerging with rural deployments. Europe contributes roughly 60 million units with gardening tools, portable generators, and construction equipment. Germany and the UK together represent over 25 million units, and 60 % of European engines sold in 2023 feature advanced emissions controls or EFI systems .

North America

North America leads the global small engine market with approximately 210 million installed units by end‑2024. Lawn-care tools alone represent 120 million units, chainsaws 20 million, portable generators 15 million, and recreational engines another 20 million. Canada accounts for 20 million units, with U.S. comprising the balance. Notably, 61.4 % of all global units reside here. Approximately 40 % of manufacturing occurs in North America, including output from 5 major plants that together produce over 8 million engines annually. Canada’s planned deployment of 390.6 million USD equivalent in engine-generated equipment further emphasizes regional dominance .

Europe

Europe holds roughly 60 million small-engine units, including 25 million across Germany and the UK. Garden tools, chainsaws, pressure washers, and portable generators dominate applications. By 2023, 60 % of units incorporated EFI or emissions after-treatment due to EU regulation. Noise standards force sub-70 dB output at 7 m, pushing manufacturers to redesign approximately 15 million engines to meet standards. European consumers purchased 5 million small-engine replacements in 2023 alone, signifying ongoing demand .

Asia‑Pacific

Asia‑Pacific's installed base reached approximately 165 million in 2024, representing 48.4 % of world volume. India installed around 15 million units—mostly pumps and generators—while China and Southeast Asia added 70 million units across agriculture and construction. The region also imported over 20 % more portable generators year-on-year, with 30–40 million units deployed locally. Approximately 50 % of these units fall in the 101–450 cc category .

Middle East & Africa

MEA hosts over 10 million small-engine units—mostly dual‑fuel generators, water pumps, and construction tools. Nigeria and South Africa lead, with 2–3 million units each. In 2023, engine imports rose 18 % across this region, driven by off-grid power needs and irrigation projects. Average engine displacement is 101–450 cc, and roughly 30 % of units are dual‑fuel capable. Rural applications account for 70 % of demand .

List of Top Small Gas Engines Market Companies

Briggs & Straton
Honda Motor
Zongshen Power
Yamaha
Kohler
Kawasaki
Loncin Industries
Lifan Power
Generac
Subaru
Chongqing Rato Technology
Champion Power Equipment
Liquid Combustion Technology

Top Two Companies with Highest Share

Yamaha Golf Cars: As of 2024, Yamaha produced over 50,000 small-engine golf and utility vehicles, with 75 % powered by 101–450 cc engines. Yamaha’s small engine output reached approximately 200,000 units across gardening and recreational tools.

Textron (E‑Z‑Go and Cushman): Textron's combined brands manufactured about 45,000 units in 2024, focused on 101–450 cc displacement. Cushman supplies ~20 % of U.S.-market fleet vehicles and generators using small-gas engines.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment prospects in the small gas engine sector center on rural deployment, retrofit technologies, manufacturing footprint shifts, and strategic partnerships by global OEMs.

Asia‑Pacific (48.4 % unit share) and MEA regions show strong demand for engine-powered pumps and generators. India alone saw ~15 million pump-engine installations in 2024; Nigeria and South Africa added at least 5 million pump sets. Investment in localized assembly by manufacturers could reduce import tariffs (up to 18 %) and lead times—each 20 % production cost drop can translate into a 10 % volume increase. Joint ventures with local parts suppliers in SE Asia can tap into the extra 20–30 million annual generator imports.

In Europe, 60 % of small engines sold in 2023 use EFI or after-treatment systems. Adopting low-emission technologies across replacement markets (60 million units base) opens aftermarket retrofit channels. Just retrofitting 10 % of the installed European base (~6 million engines) could generate significant parts and service sales—each retrofit averaging €100–150 for EFI kits and exhaust upgrades. With U.S. noise regulations affecting ~70 % of lawn engine users, similar opportunities emerge in North America.

Electric tools captured ~5 million units in 2024, especially in lawn care and maintenance equipment. Small engine producers can invest in hybrid powertrain R&D to retain market share—blended systems that combine small gas engines (101–450 cc) with 48 V battery support for lower emission zones. A hybrid prototype, if priced within 10 % of existing gas units, could claim attention across U.S./EU urban zones with emissions limitations. Innovation in this field addresses challenge caused by the 7 % drop in sub‑100 cc two-stroke sales in 2024.

Aftermarket service market—comprising carburetors, EFI kits, exhaust systems—estimated at 80 million parts/year globally. Companies focusing on acoustics, telematics, and IoT diagnostics can also attract OEM partnerships; OEMs need systems to meet noise regulations and remote fault detection. A $5 million startup providing retrofit telematics could partner with established OEMs to gain volumes of 100,000 kits annually.

In summary, significant investments can be directed toward rural infrastructure, retrofit systems, hybrid R&D, manufacturing optimization, and aftermarket-smart collaborations—all backed by quantifiable unit counts and emerging regulations.

New Product Development

Manufacturers are advancing new engine designs, emission controls, smart integration, and hybrid platforms. Three OEMs launched engines focused on 101–450 cc displacement with mass around 20 kg, offering 10–15 % fuel-saving. Over 12 million units were shipped in 2024, targeting garden and generator applications. EFI-enabled products boost fuel efficiency and help meet 60 % compliance prevalence in EU unit sales for 2023.

In 2024, a prototype hybrid lawnmower engine combining a 300‑cc gas engine with a 48‑V battery system was tested in North America and Europe. The hybrid prototype clocked a 25 % noise reduction and output drop only 5 % versus traditional gas-only engines. Field trials included 2,000 units across lawn‑care fleets in Canada and Germany.

LPG–gasoline convertible engines targeting India and MEA account for ~20 % of engine types and approximately 60 million units. Key models deliver 10–15 kW continuous output and accept LPG with minimal power loss (~5 %). Over 500,000 dual-fuel generators shipped in 2023–2024.

Telematics-enabled small engines launched in late 2023. Around 30,000 smart EFI generators were deployed for rental fleets in the U.S., providing GPS location, idle-duration tracking (over 10 hours/day), and maintenance alerts. Data shows ~20 % drop in fuel costs and ~15 % reduction in unscheduled downtime.

Five Recent Developments

EFI Roll‑Out in Europe : 60 % of small-engine units sold in EU in 2023 featured EFI or emissions control systems, up from 30 % in 2020 .
Electric Tool Penetration : Over 5 million electric lawn-care units sold in 2024; electric chainsaws/leaves saw 15 % Y‑o‑Y growth .
Hybrid Mower Prototype : 2,000 hybrid units tested in North America & Europe in 2024, offering 25 % noise reduction.
Dual‑Fuel Generators Export :500,000 LPG–gasoline dual-fuel generator units shipped to Asia‑Pacific and MEA in 2023–2024.
Smart Generator Telemetry :30,000 engines deployed with GPS and maintenance alerts, cutting fuel costs 20 % in U.S. rental fleets (initiated late 2023).

Report Coverage of Small Gas Engines Market

The report covers market segmentation, end‑use applications, regional performance, competitive profiles, and emerging product development, all underpinned by quantifiable figures and unit-based insights.

Analyses span Gas Power, Electric Power, and Others categories. Gas engines dominate—with 79.5 % unit share (~240 million units in 2024), 49.5 % concentrated in 101–450 cc. Electric options comprise ~5 million units, ~10 % share in lawn-care. ""Others"" fuel types total ~60 million units. Segments assess displacement bands (Sub‑100 cc, 101–450 cc, 451–650 cc), fuel systems (carburetor vs EFI), and cooling types (air vs liquid).

The report details Garden & Agricultural (50 % share), Motorcycle (10 %), Generator (12 %), and Others fields (18 %). Each category includes specific tools: lawnmowers, chainsaws, pumps, ATVs, concrete mixers. Quantitative data includes unit volumes: 175 million garden units, 30 million motorcycles, 42 million generators, and 63 million other equipment.

Regional analysis covers North America (~210 million units, 61.4 % share), Europe (~60 million units), Asia‑Pacific (~165 million units, 48.4 %), Middle East & Africa (>10 million units), and Latin America. Focuses include import trends (20 % Y‑o‑Y in generator imports in Asia), compliance retrofit needs (60 % EFI in EU), and displacement distribution (India’s ~15 million pump units).

Top OEMs profiled include Yamaha and Textron brands (E‑Z‑Go, Cushman), producing 50,000 and 45,000 units respectively in 2024. Additional market participants, aftermarket suppliers, and smart-tech startups are assessed. Market share estimates and production numbers are provided.