MSRPGuide

How much does a whole-house standby generator cost?

Updated September 2026

Whole-house standby generator installed on a concrete pad beside a suburban home

A whole-house standby generator costs $9,000 to $25,000+ installed in 2026. An entry-level air-cooled system (18–22 kW) runs about $9,000–$15,000; a liquid-cooled unit for a large or all-electric home runs $18,000–$25,000+. Equipment is only 40–50% of the bill — the rest is the automatic transfer switch, electrical work, gas plumbing, site prep, and permits.

Standby generator cost at a glance

SystemUnitInstalledBest for
Entry air-cooled (13–18 kW)$4,000–$5,500$9,000–$13,000Smaller homes, essential circuits
Mid air-cooled (20–22 kW)$5,000–$6,600$10,000–$18,000Most 3–4 bedroom homes
Large air-cooled (24–26 kW)$6,000–$7,700$13,000–$20,000Bigger homes, NG derate headroom
Liquid-cooled (32 kW+)$12,000–$17,000+$18,000–$25,000+All-electric / large homes, long outages
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What drives the cost

The generator itself is the easy number to find. The installed total is where budgets diverge — these are the line items that move it:

  • Automatic transfer switch (ATS) — $800–$2,000. Service-rated switches for whole-house coverage cost more than essential-circuit ones.
  • Electrical work — $1,500–$3,500. New conduit, a dedicated circuit, and sometimes a panel upgrade or load-management module.
  • Gas plumbing — $500–$2,500+. Running a natural-gas or LP line to the pad; long runs and trenching push this up.
  • Site prep — $300–$1,500. Concrete or composite pad and trenching for conduit and gas.
  • Permits and inspection — $200–$1,000 depending on the municipality.
  • Fuel type — air-cooled units derate on natural gas (a 22 kW unit makes about 19.5 kW on NG), which can push buyers to a larger, pricier model.

Cost by model

Equipment figures below are aggregated from dealer and retailer listings — not manufacturer MSRP, which most makers don't publish for dealer-installed equipment.

ModelUnit (est.)Installed (est.)Confidence
Generac Guardian 18 kW Standby Generator$5,319~$6,752low
Generac Guardian 22 kW Standby Generator$5,879~$6,935low
Generac Guardian 24 kW Standby Generator$6,269—low
Kohler 20RCA Standby Generator$5,900~$11,500low
Kohler 26RCA Standby Generator$7,400~$13,500low
Cummins QuietConnect RS20A Standby Generator$6,000~$10,750low
Cummins QuietConnect RS25 Standby Generator$14,750~$21,000low
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 13 kW Standby Generator$4,400—low
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect+ 18 kW Standby Generator$5,200—low
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 22 kW Standby Generator$6,000—low
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 26 kW Standby Generator$7,000—low

Where to buy

Air-cooled units are sold online and delivered; installation is arranged separately through a licensed electrician or the retailer's network.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a 22kW generator enough for a whole house?
For most all-electric homes, yes. A 22kW air-cooled unit covers a typical 3–4 bedroom home with central AC and standard appliances. Homes with multiple AC units, electric heat, or a well pump often need 26kW or a liquid-cooled unit. On natural gas, a 22kW air-cooled unit derates to roughly 19.5kW.
How much does it cost to install a standby generator?
Installation typically runs $4,000–$9,000 on top of the unit price, including the automatic transfer switch, electrical work, gas plumbing, site prep, and permits. Complex installs with panel upgrades or long gas runs can exceed $10,000.
Does a standby generator add value to my home?
It can. Appraisers generally view whole-house backup power as a permanence and quality-of-life feature rather than a dollar-for-dollar return. In outage-prone markets it improves marketability; the resale recapture varies widely by region.
How much does it cost to run a standby generator?
On natural gas, expect roughly $20–$60 per day of continuous operation depending on size and your gas rate. Weekly self-tests cost a few dollars a month. Annual maintenance and a service plan run $200–$500 per year.
Air-cooled vs liquid-cooled — which should I buy?
Air-cooled units (up to 26kW) cost less and suit most homes. Liquid-cooled units (32kW–150kW) cost significantly more but handle larger loads and run cooler for extended multi-day outages. If price is the constraint, size an air-cooled unit carefully; if you need more than 26kW, liquid-cooled is the only option.
Can I finance a standby generator?
Yes. Many homeowners finance through the installer, a manufacturer program (Generac and Kohler both offer financing), or a home-improvement loan. Typical terms run 5–12 years; a $15,000 system at 8% over 10 years is about $182 per month.

Related guides

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