Generator decibel chart
How loud is a Generac generator? The Generac Guardian 22 kW gives you 67 dB(A) at 23 ft on normal load, dropping to 57 dB(A) for its weekly Quiet-Test, close to the sound of a regular conversation.
Decibels for each model
| Brand | Model | Output | Exercise | Running | Measured at | Spec sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generac | Guardian 10 kW | 10,000 W LP / 9,000 W NG | 57 dB(A) | 61 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Generac |
| Generac | Guardian 14 kW | 14,000 W LP / 14,000 W NG | 55 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Generac |
| Generac | Guardian 18 kW | 18,000 W LP / 17,000 W NG | 55 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Generac |
| Generac | Guardian 20 kW | 20,000 W LP / 18,000 W NG | 55 dB(A) | 67 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Generac |
| Generac | Guardian 22 kW | 22,000 W LP / 19,500 W NG | 57 dB(A) | 67 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Generac |
| Generac | Guardian 24 kW | 24,000 W LP / 21,000 W NG | 57 dB(A) | 67 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Generac |
| Generac | Guardian 26 kW | 26,000 W LP / 22,500 W NG | 57 dB(A) | 67 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Generac |
| Kohler (Rehlko) | 14RCA | 14 kW LP / 12 kW NG | 63 dB(A) | 69 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Kohler |
| Kohler (Rehlko) | 26RCA | 26 kW LP / 24 kW NG | 56 dB(A) | 67 dB(A) | 23 ft (7 m) | Kohler |
| Kohler (Rehlko) | 14RESAL | 14 kW LP / 12 kW NG | 63 dB(A) | 67 dB(A) | 7 m (23 ft) | Kohler |
| Cummins | Quiet Connect RS20A | 20 kW output: 75 A NG and 83.3 A LP, both at 240 V | not published | 65 dB(A), the one published level | 23 ft (7 m) | Cummins |
| Cummins | Quiet Connect RS30 | 30 kW, single phase, 125 A NG/LP, 120/240 V | not published | 60 dB(A), the one published level | 23 ft (7 m) | Cummins |
| Briggs & Stratton | PowerProtect 20 kW (PP20) | 20 kW LP / 20 kW NG | 65 dB(A) | 68 dB(A) | 7 m (23 ft) | Briggs & Stratton |
| Champion | 14 kW aXis Home Standby (100837) | 14,000 W LP / 12,500 W NG | not published | 62 dB(A), the one published level | 23 ft (7 m) | Champion |
| Kohler (Rehlko) | 20RCA | 20 kW LP / 18 kW NG | 64 dB(A) | 69 dB(A) | not stated, so not comparable | Kohler |
| Briggs & Stratton | PowerProtect 26 kW (040806) | 26 kW LP / 24 kW NG | not published | 65 dB(A), the one published level | not stated, so not comparable | Briggs & Stratton |
| Briggs & Stratton | PowerProtect+ 26 kW | 26 kW LP / 24 kW NG | not published | 67 dB(A), the one published level | not stated, so not comparable | Briggs & Stratton |
| Briggs & Stratton | PowerProtect DX 22 kW (040780) | 22 kW LP / 22 kW NG | not published | 68 dB(A), the one published level | not stated, so not comparable | Briggs & Stratton |
Download the CSV file. You can reuse it free of charge if you link to this page.
How loud is a Generac generator from your house
| Generac model, running | 23 ft | 30 ft | 50 ft | 100 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian 10 kW | 61 dB(A) | 59 dB(A) | 54 dB(A) | 48 dB(A) |
| Guardian 14 kW | 65 dB(A) | 63 dB(A) | 58 dB(A) | 52 dB(A) |
| Guardian 18 kW | 65 dB(A) | 63 dB(A) | 58 dB(A) | 52 dB(A) |
| Guardian 20 kW | 67 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) | 60 dB(A) | 54 dB(A) |
| Guardian 22 kW | 67 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) | 60 dB(A) | 54 dB(A) |
| Guardian 24 kW | 67 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) | 60 dB(A) | 54 dB(A) |
| Guardian 26 kW | 67 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) | 60 dB(A) | 54 dB(A) |
Outdoors, the noise drops 6 dB every time you double the distance. A wall or fence may cut the noise even more, or reflect it back toward the house.
Full load and exercise mode
A standby generator runs a short self-test by itself, every week or every month. That test runs at a lower engine speed on most models, and the chart lists that lower number. When the power goes out, the engine runs at full speed, so the higher number applies. Models are ranked by their running figure on the quietest generator page.