A home standby generator costs about $5,000 to $15,000 fully installed for most homes. Essential circuit setups start around $3,500 to $6,000, while whole home coverage runs about $6,000 to $11,000. The unit is $3,000 to $6,000, and installation adds most of the rest.
For automatic backup power, the figure to understand is how much does a standby generator cost, and it varies with how much of your home you want to power. A standby generator switches on by itself during an outage and runs on natural gas or propane, but it is a permanent installation, so the installed total is what matters. For most homes that falls between $5,000 and $15,000, driven mainly by size. Here is the cost broken down by how much coverage you need.
Cost by How Much You Cover
| Coverage | Installed cost |
|---|
| Essential circuits only | About $3,500 to $6,000 |
| Whole home, medium house | About $6,000 to $11,000 |
| Large or complex home | $12,000 and up |
These assume a natural gas hookup nearby. Propane, new gas lines, or panel upgrades push the total higher.
The Unit Versus the Install
The standby generator itself is roughly $3,000 to $6,000, with brands like Generac offering 7 to 24 kilowatt units in that range. But installation, the transfer switch, pad, electrical and fuel work, and permits, adds several thousand more, and is usually the larger share of the total.
What a Standby Generator Gives You
You pay more than for a portable because a standby offers hands-off backup: it senses the outage, starts itself, powers your circuits through an automatic transfer switch, and shuts down when the grid returns. There is no hauling, refueling, or manual setup during a storm.
What Pushes the Cost Up
Site conditions matter. A new gas line, a propane tank, an electrical panel upgrade, a long conduit run, or difficult placement each add to the bill. Two homes buying the same unit can pay very different installed totals because of their sites.
Maintenance Keeps It Reliable
Factor in yearly service: a standby generator needs an annual check and battery test, typically a couple of hundred dollars, since a dead battery is its most common failure. That upkeep protects a large investment, and we perform it on site.
How much does a standby generator cost?
About $5,000 to $15,000 fully installed for most homes. Powering essential circuits only starts around $3,500 to $6,000, while whole home coverage on a medium house runs about $6,000 to $11,000. The unit is $3,000 to $6,000 and installation adds the rest.
How much is the standby generator unit alone?
Roughly $3,000 to $6,000. Generac, the leading brand, offers 7 to 24 kilowatt units in that range, and Kohler, Cummins, and Briggs and Stratton are comparable. Remember the unit is only part of the cost, since installation usually adds the larger share of the total.
What makes one standby install cost more than another?
Site conditions. A home with natural gas at the meter and a short run to the panel is cheapest. Needing a new gas line, a propane tank, a panel upgrade, a long conduit run, or difficult placement each adds cost, which is why installed prices vary so widely.
Is a standby generator cheaper than a portable overall?
No, a standby costs considerably more because it is a permanently installed system with automatic operation, while a portable is a standalone unit you set up yourself. You pay for the convenience of hands-off backup and whole home coverage that a portable cannot match.
How long does a standby generator last?
With proper maintenance, a standby generator lasts 15 to 30 years, or roughly 10,000 to 30,000 run hours. That long life is part of what justifies the higher cost. A yearly service, especially battery testing, is key to reaching the top of that range.
