Quick Answer
A whole-house standby generator costs $7,000 to $25,000+ fully installed, with most homeowners landing in the $10,000-$18,000 range for a typical home.
The unit itself typically runs $3,000 to $12,000 depending on capacity, with professional installation — including the transfer switch, gas line, electrical work, and concrete pad — adding another $3,000 to $12,000 depending on site complexity.
If you're planning new construction, building generator-ready infrastructure in from the start is significantly more cost-effective than retrofitting it into a finished, landscaped home later.
Generator Cost by Type
From basic portable backup to full whole-house standby systems.
| Type | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Portable generator | $300 – $1,500 | Manual setup, limited to essential appliances. Requires manual refueling and does not connect to home electrical system automatically. |
| Portable power station / battery | $200 – $3,500 | Quiet, no fuel required, but limited capacity compared to whole-house systems. Best for short outages or essential loads. |
| Standby generator unit (10-22 kW) | $3,000 – $12,000 | The unit itself, sized to cover essential circuits up to most of an average home's load. |
| Professional installation | $3,000 – $12,000 | Includes labor, permits, transfer switch, gas line work, and concrete mounting pad — varies significantly by site conditions. |
| Total installed (typical 2,000 sq ft home) | $7,000 – $25,000+ | A practical budget range combining unit and installation for a full standby system sized for most household needs. |
| Hybrid battery + solar backup system | $8,000 – $20,000+ | Combines battery storage with optional solar input — no fuel dependency, quieter operation, but higher upfront cost than gas-fueled standby units. |
Budget Backup Power Into Your New Build
Plan generator infrastructure before construction starts
Gas line, electrical panel, and pad placement are all far easier to plan during construction than to retrofit later.
What Size Generator Does Your Home Actually Need
Sizing is based on electrical load, not just square footage — here's a general guide.
| Home Profile | Typical Sizing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essential circuits only (fridge, lights, some outlets) | 7–10 kW | Covers critical loads but not central air conditioning or large appliance use simultaneously. |
| Average 2,000 sq ft home | 18–22 kW | Most common sizing range — supports HVAC, refrigerator, and lighting running together. |
| Larger home with central A/C and major appliances | 20 kW+ | Required to run multiple large electrical loads (central air, well pump, electric range) simultaneously. |
Why Building It In Beats Retrofitting
Generator infrastructure — gas line, electrical panel configuration, transfer switch, and pad placement — is far simpler and less expensive to plan during new construction than to add to a finished, landscaped home.
- Gas line is already accessible
If your home is being built with natural gas service, running a dedicated line to the generator pad location during construction is far simpler than trenching into a finished yard later.
- Electrical panel sizing accounts for it from day one
A transfer switch and generator-ready panel configuration can be built into your electrical plan from the start, avoiding a panel upgrade or rework later.
- Concrete pad placement is part of the site plan
Deciding generator placement during site planning — away from windows and bedrooms for noise, with proper clearance — is far easier than retrofitting a pad into established landscaping.
- No disruption to a finished, occupied home
Trenching for gas or electrical lines, pouring a concrete pad, and running conduit are all disruptive to lawns, driveways, and landscaping that don't exist yet during construction.
- Potential resale value benefit
Industry data suggests homes with standby generators can sell for 3% to 5% more than comparable homes without one — a meaningful number on higher-value properties, and easier to capture if built in from the start.
Reviewing your electrical bid?
Confirm generator-ready panel configuration is included if you're planning ahead.
Check Electrical Bid →Planning for solar or an EV charger too?
See how to plan all your future electrical upgrades together.
See Pre-Wiring Guide →Plan Generator Capacity Alongside Other Future Upgrades
If you're also considering solar panels or an EV charger down the road, planning your electrical panel capacity and infrastructure for all three together — rather than one at a time — is significantly more cost-effective.
A panel sized only for a generator today may need a costly upgrade later if you add solar or EV charging without planning for the combined load upfront.
Recommended Tools and Reports
Is My Electrical Bid Too High?
Confirm generator-ready panel configuration and transfer switch scope in your electrical bid.
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Planning an EV charger too? Estimate combined electrical upgrade costs.
Calculate EV Charger Cost →Solar Calculator
Considering solar alongside backup power? Plan your electrical capacity together.
Calculate Solar Cost →Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a whole-house generator cost installed?
A whole-house standby generator typically costs $7,000 to $25,000+ fully installed, with the unit itself ranging $3,000 to $12,000 and professional installation adding another $3,000 to $12,000 depending on site conditions, gas line work, and electrical panel requirements.
What size generator do I need for my home?
Most average-sized homes (around 2,000 square feet) need an 18-22 kW standby generator to run HVAC, refrigeration, and lighting simultaneously. Smaller systems (7-10 kW) cover only essential circuits, while larger homes with central air and major electric appliances may need 20 kW or more.
Is it cheaper to install a generator during new construction or after?
Building generator infrastructure into new construction — gas line, electrical panel configuration, and concrete pad placement — is generally more cost-effective and far less disruptive than retrofitting it into a finished, landscaped home, where trenching and pad installation can damage existing yard and hardscaping.
Does a standby generator increase home value?
Industry data and real estate studies suggest homes with standby generators can sell for 3% to 5% more than comparable homes without one, particularly in regions with frequent power outages where buyers view backup power as valuable infrastructure rather than a luxury.
How much does it cost to run a whole-house generator during an outage?
Running a whole-house generator typically costs $2 to $8 per hour, or roughly $25 to $200 per day, depending on generator size, fuel type, and electrical load. Natural gas units are generally the most affordable to run; propane and diesel cost more per hour of operation.
Do whole-house generators qualify for tax credits?
As of 2026, standard whole-house standby generators powered by natural gas, propane, or diesel generally do not qualify for federal tax credits. Some battery storage and solar-paired systems have had limited incentive eligibility in the past, so check current program rules if considering a hybrid battery system.
Plan Ahead, Save Later
Build Backup Power Infrastructure In From the Start
Gas line, electrical capacity, and pad placement are far cheaper to plan now than retrofit after move-in.