Whole House Generator Cost: What Homeowners Pay Installed
A whole-house standby generator typically costs $9,000 – $18,000 fully installed: $4,000 – $8,000 for the unit, plus transfer switch, gas line, pad, electrical work, and permits. Size, fuel hookup distance, and panel condition decide where you land in that band.
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| Home | Generator size | Installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 sq ft, gas heat | $7,500 – $11,500 | 10–14 kW |
| 1,500 – 2,500 sq ft, one AC | $9,000 – $14,000 | 18–22 kW |
| 2,500 – 3,500 sq ft | $10,500 – $17,000 | 22–26 kW |
| 3,500+ sq ft or all-electric | $14,000 – $35,000+ | 26 kW air-cooled to liquid-cooled |
| Brand | Installed range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Generac (Guardian) | $10,500 – $16,000 | Largest dealer/service network |
| Kohler | $11,000 – $17,000 | Longer standard warranty on many units |
| Cummins | $10,500 – $16,500 | Quiet enclosures |
| Briggs & Stratton / Champion | $9,000 – $14,500 | Lower equipment price point |
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What "whole house" actually means on a quote
Contractors use "whole house" two ways, and the price difference is thousands. A true whole-home setup sizes the generator to run every circuit simultaneously: both AC units, the dryer, the EV charger. Working through what size generator you actually need keeps you from overbuying. A managed whole-home setup uses a smaller unit plus load-shedding modules that briefly defer heavy, non-critical loads when demand peaks. Most homes are quoted the managed version, and for daily outage reality it behaves identically.
When you compare quotes, check which version each contractor priced. A 26 kW true-whole-home quote against a 22 kW managed quote is not an apples-to-apples comparison; the lower one may simply be engineered smarter.
The installed price, line by line
The unit is roughly half the project. A typical 22 kW class install stacks up as: generator $4,500 – $7,000; automatic transfer switch $800 – $2,500; electrical labor and materials $1,500 – $4,000; gas line work $500 – $2,500; pad and placement $300 – $1,000; permits and inspection $100 – $500.
The two site variables that blow up budgets are gas line distance, where every foot past roughly 20 feet from the meter adds trench and pipe, and panel condition. If your home still runs a 100 A panel, plan for the upgrade conversation; the generator install is often the moment that work finally happens.
Portable + interlock: the budget alternative
If the standby budget is out of reach, a large portable generator (8 – 12 kW) feeding the panel through a manual interlock or transfer switch covers essentials for a fraction of the cost: $1,500 – $4,500 all-in including the electrical work. A quiet, indoor-safe portable power station is another middle option for shorter outages. The trade-offs are real, including manual start in bad weather, refueling every few hours, and no automatic operation while you travel, but it is the pragmatic middle step, and the interlock wiring is reusable if you upgrade to standby later.
When the math favors a standby unit
Standby generators earn their price where outages are frequent or long: hurricane and ice-storm regions, rural feeders, homes with sump pumps, well pumps, medical equipment, or home offices where a dark day is a lost day. One spoiled freezer, one burst pipe, or one week in a hotel closes a surprising share of the gap to the installed price.
If your area loses power twice a year for an hour, the honest answer is that a standby system is a comfort purchase: a portable with an interlock covers the risk profile at a fifth of the cost.
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