ELECTRICAL
Home Generator Installation Cost: Standby Power in 2026
Estimate whole-home standby generator cost installed — with the free electrical calculator.
Power outages are getting more common — and a standby generator is the fix that turns them into a non-event. Here's the real 2026 installed cost.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Whole-home standby generators run $8,000–$16,000 installed in 2026: the unit runs $4,000–$8,000 and installation (pad, transfer switch, gas line, labor) runs $3,000–$8,000. Small homes (10-14 kW) run $13,000–$15,000 installed.
What it costs
The generator unit runs $4,000–$8,000 depending on size (10-24 kW). Installation runs $3,000–$8,000: concrete pad, automatic transfer switch, gas line and electrician labor. Permits add $200–$600.
- Generator unit (10-24 kW): $4,000–$8,000
- Installation: $3,000–$8,000
- Permits: $200–$600
- Total installed: $8,000–$16,000
What changes the price
Fuel type matters — natural gas is cheapest to run; propane needs a tank. Generator size drives the transfer switch cost. Portable generators with a manual transfer switch run $1,000–$4,000 total — the budget path.
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Enter the circuits and labor to rough out the project.