There is a variety of portable ventilators on the market, each with its' own features. A clinician needs to understand the unique characteristics of the ventilators available in his or her region, as well as the nuances of primary and secondary settings for these portable home ventilators in order to create a comfortable breath that allows for adequate gas exchange for the patient. Understanding the interplay of the portable home ventilator and the ventilator circuit is also a key component of transitioning a patient to a portable home ventilator. This review details characteristics of some of the more commonly used machines in the United States, as well as the settings to be considered in supporting a child with chronic respiratory failure outside of the hospital. As more patients are being discharged from the hospital with mechanical home ventilation, new ventilators are being developed that expand upon features of current machines.