Whole house generator cost
The price of a whole house generator covers the unit, the permit, the transfer switch, the electrician, the gas or propane line plus the pad. Each line listed shows its source.
In Montana, a 22 kW on natural gas at half load costs $2.14 an hour. In Hawaii the same kind of run costs $13.74 an hour. Residential gas prices from EIA, March to August 2026.
Unsure which size to pick? Find your size in three questions. Your state's prices: price by state.
Cost by size
| Size | Generac unit with switch | Installed, natural gas | Installed, propane |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW generator | $4,619 | $8,419 to $13,319 | $8,719 to $13,819 |
| 14 kW generator | $5,949 | $9,749 to $14,649 | $10,049 to $15,149 |
| 18 kW generator | $6,769 | $10,569 to $15,469 | $10,869 to $15,969 |
| 22 kW generator | $7,369 | $11,169 to $16,069 | $11,469 to $16,569 |
| 24 kW generator | $7,789 | $11,589 to $16,489 | $11,889 to $16,989 |
| 26 kW generator | $8,219 | $12,019 to $16,919 | $12,319 to $17,419 |
| 32 kW generator, liquid-cooled | $16,600 est. | $21,600 to $27,500 | $21,900 to $28,000 |
| 38 kW generator, liquid-cooled | $18,500 est. | $23,500 to $29,400 | $23,800 to $29,900 |
| 48 kW generator, liquid-cooled | $21,800 est. | $26,800 to $32,700 | $27,100 to $33,200 |
Generac publishes these list prices for the Guardian series. Each unit price includes a transfer switch when one is shown. For liquid-cooled sizes, these are estimates ($6,000 + $330 per kW), and the manufacturer sells them only through dealers. The propane price leaves out the tank.
What the price covers
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | The 22 kW bundle price Generac lists, minus the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | the difference between Generac's price with the switch and the one without |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $3,000 to $5,500 | $3,000 to $5,500 | install ranges as published, using the US average hourly wage of $34.37 (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $500 to $2,000 | $800 to $2,500 | gas line running from the meter; propane line running from the tank |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $11,169 to $16,069 | $11,469 to $16,569 | propane leaves out the tank |
The electrician ranges start from the install ranges that Home Depot, Angi and PowerOutage.us publish, and they track the BLS wage for that state. Homes with 400 A service add $1,800 to cover a second or service-rated switch.
Cost by brand
| Brand | Model at 22 kW or next up | List price | Installed, natural gas | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Generac | Guardian 22 kW, with switch | $7,369 | $11,169 to $16,069 | Generac cost |
 Kohler | 26 kW 26RCA, with switch | $7,546 | $11,346 to $16,246 | Kohler cost |
For each unit, the installed price adds four items: the permit, the pad, the gas line and the electrician. When no switch comes with a unit, Generac's price for a switch in the size nearest it is added as well. List prices come from Generac and from Kohler's own pages. Cummins, Briggs & Stratton sell through dealers, and so does Champion, with dealers quoting the unit: cost of a Cummins generator, cost of a Briggs & Stratton generator, cost of a Champion generator.
Cost by state
Electrician wages differ by state, which shifts the labor line, and every state page also shows gas and propane prices plus outage minutes.
Every one of the 51 state pages
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Cost questions
How much does a whole house generator cost installed?
On natural gas, a 22 kW air-cooled unit plus its transfer switch comes to about $11,169 to $16,069 installed, using the US average wage an electrician earns. The smaller units of 10 to 14 kW start near $8,419, while liquid-cooled units of 32 to 48 kW pass $27,500.
Which part is the cheapest to save on?
Every part is required, though gas line and electrical work are the ones that vary most. When a unit sits near the main panel and near the gas meter, you need shorter runs and less labor.
Do you need a permit for a whole house generator?
Nearly everywhere, yes. You'll need an electrical permit for the transfer switch, and the fuel line often calls for a gas or mechanical permit. The permit and the pad together run $300 to $1,200.