How Much Does a Whole-House Generator Cost, and Should You Get One?
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A generator can keep a home up and running during a power outage. A typical whole-house generator costs between $1,524 and $8,658, with the average consumer spending about $5,090.
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Power outages are inconvenient no matter how brief they are, but they can be expensive or even dangerous in some circumstances, especially if the outage is prolonged. According to Kyle Raabe, executive vice president of consumer power at Generac Power Systems, a generator manufacturer, “During an outage, a home standby generator can help power critical medical devices, maintain access to Wi-Fi and cellular networks, and keep residents safe and comfortable during severe weather.” The best home generators protect families and their homes by automatically sensing the power loss and triggering a backup power system. According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, the typical cost of a whole-home generator is $1,524 to $8,658, with homeowners paying around $5,090 on average.
While the best portable generators work for emergency use during storms or time spent in a camper, a whole-house generator is a different kind of appliance. They are able to support major systems such as electrical and HVAC in the event that the home loses power. Home generators are safe and beneficial instruments, but as with portable generators, it’s vital to ensure proper ventilation and air exchange in order to keep a home warm and bright while also protecting the people living in it. Homeowners will want to familiarize themselves with common generator features and terminology before shopping in order to develop a realistic budget and decide which whole-house generator is the best fit for them.
Factors in Calculating Whole-House Generator Cost
The demand for generators for whole-house use varies based on weather conditions, market, and region. Homeowners will want to note the size of their house and electrical panel so they don’t buy more power than is necessary.
Generator Type
How much does a generator cost? The answer depends on the type of generator. Home backup generators may be standby, manual, or portable, and costs can vary greatly.
There are many uses for portable generators. Costing about $500 to $2,000 on average, they can support one or more important systems such as air conditioning in the event of a power outage. However, they are not powerful enough to support an entire home.
Partial and whole-house generators (also called standby generators) are larger, permanent installations that sit outside of the home and are hardwired into the electrical system. According to Raabe, standby generators are particularly convenient because they “turn on automatically during a power outage event by using a transfer switch wired into the home’s electrical system, meaning homeowners don’t have to deal with fueling and starting a portable generator as well as running electrical cords from the generator into a home.”
Partial generators run from $2,000 to $6,300, and most whole-house generators cost between $5,000 and $18,000. Whole-house generator installation costs are the highest because this type of generator can power an entire home.
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Generator Size
One of the most crucial considerations when choosing a generator is ensuring that the unit will provide sufficient power. Standby generators come in sizes ranging in power from 9 to 48 kilowatts (kW) and cost from $500 to $18,000. One of the best standby generators with about 20 to 24 kW can power most of a home’s appliances and costs $5,000 to $6,500. Another option is the portable generator, which can range in power from about 1 to 7.5 kW. These are less expensive but are limited to powering a couple of lights and appliances—they will keep the most basic electrical items running but won’t power the whole home. These smaller home generators cost between $500 and $2,000. Some common generator sizes and their average costs are below.
| Generator Size | Cost Range (Unit Only) |
| 1 to 6 kW | $500 to $1,800 |
| 7.5 to 10 kW | $2,000 to $3,500 |
| 14 to 18 kW | $4,000 to $5,500 |
| 20 to 24 kW | $5,000 to $6,500 |
| 26 to 32 kW | $6,500 to $15,000 |
| 36 to 38 kW | $14,000 to $16,000 |
| 45 to 48 kW | $16,200 to $21,000 |
Generator Brand
Whether homeowners are browsing Home Depot generators or shopping online, there is a wide variety of brands to choose from. Size options, as well as prices, may vary between these brands, so homeowners will want to find the unit that best fits their needs and budget. The starting costs of the best generator brands on the market are as follows.
| Brand | Starting Cost (Unit Only) |
| Briggs & Stratton | $3,150 |
| Champion | $2,000 |
| Cummins | $3,700 |
| Generac | $6,000 |
| Honda | $1,310 |
Fuel Source
Generators operate on a variety of fuel sources. This won’t affect the purchase price but will affect the cost of purchasing and storing the fuel and the total cost of running the generator. Generators can be powered by gasoline, liquid propane, diesel fuel, and natural gas. Some solar-powered generators have entered the market, but they’re less common.
Start Type
Every generator, whether portable or standby, has a manual start option. Most portable generators have a pull cord, but some have an electrical switch. These manual generators typically cost between $500 and $2,000. Fixed standby generators, wired into the home’s electrical panel, will sense the power interruption to the house and automatically turn on, ensuring minimal loss of power and limited potential damage to the home and its systems. Generators with this added convenience come at a higher price point of $2,000 to $30,000. Automatic generators also include a manual start switch as a backup.
Concrete Pad Installation
Part of a whole-home generator installation is installing a permanent resting spot. The most common installation method is on a poured concrete pad, which offers reduced vibration and increased airflow and prevents pooling water from damaging or rusting the underside of the unit. The pad needs to be strong, solid, and level. Professional installation will run between $50 to $75 per square foot, including site preparation and concrete pouring.
Labor and Permits
A contractor may itemize the whole-house generator installation costs, including the charges for site preparation, labor, fuel storage tank, upgrades to the electrical panel, and any additional materials. Some contractors may have a flat rate for the entire installation. In these cases, it’s essential for a homeowner to fully understand what the installation includes. On average, installation costs between $1,500 and $5,000.
An installed generator hooks into a home’s electrical system, so a permit is required to ensure that the work is done correctly and safely. In addition, most municipalities will require a permit to pour a concrete pad to support the generator. These permits average between $50 and $200 apiece.
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Electrical Work
For a standby generator that will power an entire home, an electrician will need to install a transfer switch, which connects the generator to the circuit board in the home and allows it to run power through existing circuits. These take close to 4 hours to install (around $1,200 in labor costs), and the switches can be manual or automated.
An electrical subpanel redirects power from a home’s main panel to another part of the property, preventing the main panel from overloading. If a home does not already have a subpanel, or it has one that is older than 25 years, an electrician may recommend adding a new subpanel before installing a generator. This can cost between $530 and $2,000. In other cases, a dedicated circuit may need to be installed before the generator. This may be the case if the home’s electrical panel is not easily accessible from the generator’s location. It costs about $500 to $1,000 to put in a dedicated circuit.
Additional Costs and Considerations
Along with the cost of installation, the cost of a whole-house generator itself is high, but buying a generator for a house can save money in the long run by allowing homeowners to remain in their homes during a lengthy power cut. After the purchase and installation, however, there are still some costs for homeowners to keep in mind.
Maintenance and Running Costs
Standby generators automatically run for just a few minutes several times a week to keep the engine oiled and allow the generator to run diagnostics. This means that the generator needs to be continuously fueled. According to Raabe, “Generators should be serviced by a certified dealer. Maintenance is recommended every 200 hours of runtime or 2 years, whichever comes first, and typically includes an inspection of the unit as well as an oil and filter change.”
Generator service costs between $80 and $300 per visit. Homeowners can invest in one of the best generator covers to protect the unit from the elements and extend its lifetime. “It’s a smart idea to test your generator periodically, especially when upcoming weather conditions suggest an outage might be imminent, and as long as the homeowner uses the proper safety procedures when doing so,” Raabe adds.
The generator itself can’t do its job without the appropriate fuel, usually diesel, propane, or natural gas. The daily cost to run a 21 kW generator on natural gas is about $90. Running a 20 kW unit on propane for a day costs about $220. Using diesel for a generator of the same size costs $175 per day on average. Portable units need to be filled as they are used; both gasoline and diesel fuel have short shelf lives and will lose effectiveness if left sitting in a tank. Homeowners will want to price out how much gas to keep on hand and change the tank out periodically to gauge the cost of use.
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Enhancements and Improvements
Several potential upgrades will make a generator more efficient. A wireless monitor provides access to the status of the generator. If the homeowner is away and there’s a power outage, they can make sure that the generator has kicked on. These monitors cost between $200 and $400. A smart load manager can help create different zones in the home and switch the power between them. This option can make an undersize (and less expensive) generator work in a larger house and costs approximately $150 to $300.
Battery Backup Installation
Battery backup is one power source option for standby generators. These units draw power either from the home’s panel or from a solar source to be stored until it is needed. These units can cost $10,000 to $25,000, plus an additional $800 to $1,500 for installation.