Whole-House Generator Cost Calculator

How to use this calculator

Choose a generator size and your fuel. A 22 kW unit is the usual choice to run a typical home, including central air conditioning; 14 kW covers essential circuits in a smaller home, and 26 kW suits larger homes. An installer will size yours from the loads you want to run.

How this is calculated

The calculator starts from Generac's list price for a Guardian standby generator of that size with a whole-house automatic transfer switch, then adds national ranges for installation labor, a concrete pad, and permits, plus a propane tank if you need one.

Example

A 22 kW generator on an existing natural gas line comes to about $10,200–$12,800 installed. The same generator on propane with a new tank is about $10,600–$14,600.

Resale value

In Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, a defined backup generator project averaged $13,534 and recovered about 95% of its cost at resale, one of the highest returns of any project in the report.

Estimate only. Equipment prices are manufacturer list prices and dealer prices vary; installation figures are published 2026 national ranges. A long gas line or electrical run, or a liquid-cooled generator, costs more.