If you've started shopping for a home standby generator, you've probably noticed that the price on the box and the price on the quote are two very different numbers. The unit is only part of it. Getting it installed means a pad, a transfer switch, electrical work, a fuel connection and usually a permit. This guide walks through what "installed" means, what each part tends to cost according to published sources, and what homeowners on this site have actually paid.
What "installed" includes
When people say a generator cost them a certain amount "installed," they usually mean the whole job: the generator itself plus everything needed to make it start on its own when the power goes out. On this site we split that total into six parts, because that's how most quotes are built and because it makes two quotes much easier to compare:
- Generator unit. The machine itself, sized in kilowatts (kW).
- Labor. The installer's time to set, wire and start up the unit.
- Permit. Whatever your city or county charges, if a permit is required where you live.
- Concrete or pad. The base the generator sits on.
- Gas line. Running natural gas from your meter, or propane from a tank, to the generator.
- Electrical. The transfer switch and any panel or wiring work.
Published cost ranges
Before we have enough homeowner reports for your area, the best public numbers come from established cost publishers. They don't all agree, which is useful in itself: it shows how much installs vary.
HomeGuide puts a typical whole house generator at $6,000 – $11,000 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026) installed, and $9,500 – $24,000 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026) for long distances or units over 20 kW. This Old House gives $7,178 – $13,959 (This Old House, accessed Nov 2026) to install a generator including the unit, installation and transfer switch. Angi's figure for what most homeowners pay on its projects is $1,509 – $8,799 (Angi, accessed Nov 2026).
Those ranges are national. Your local labor rates, permit fees and site conditions can put you well outside them in either direction, which is why we show local homeowner reports as soon as an area has enough of them.
What homeowners on this site paid
We're still collecting reports for a national median (0 of 3 needed).
Every report is email-verified and reviewed by a person before it counts, and we only show numbers for a group once it has at least three approved reports. To see figures for your own area, look up your ZIP.
The six parts, one at a time
The generator unit
Size drives most of the unit price. HomeGuide lists unit-only prices of $3,000 – $4,500 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026) for 13–16 kW, $4,000 – $6,000 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026) for 17–20 kW and $4,500 – $12,000 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026) for 22–25 kW. This Old House puts the generator unit at $1,458 – $8,239 (This Old House, accessed Nov 2026). Brand, enclosure and features like load management also move the price.
Labor
Labor covers setting the unit, connecting fuel and wiring, and starting it up. HomeGuide puts installation labor at $3,000 – $5,000 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026), and Angi at $1,500 – $5,000 (Angi, accessed Nov 2026) for labor and installation. Longer runs, tight access and extra electrical work all add hours.
Permit
Many places require one or more permits for a standby generator. HomeGuide puts permits at $80 – $450 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026) in total, and Angi at $50 – $200 (Angi, accessed Nov 2026). Fees are set locally, so the real number depends on where you live. Our generator permit cost guide lists published fee schedules from specific towns.
Pad
Most standby units sit on a pre-cast or poured base. HomeGuide puts a pre-cast concrete pad at $150 – $400 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026).
Gas line
This is the part that varies the most from house to house. HomeGuide lists gas line installation at $12 – $25 per foot (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026), and This Old House puts a natural gas line hookup at $15 – $20 per foot (This Old House, accessed Nov 2026). Distance matters a lot, which is why we ask how long the run was. See our gas line cost guide for more.
Electrical and transfer switch
The transfer switch is what lets the generator take over automatically. HomeGuide puts automatic transfer switch installation at $600 – $2,500 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026). If the electrical panel needs work, Angi lists an electrical subpanel upgrade at $500 – $2,000 (Angi, accessed Nov 2026) when needed. Our transfer switch guide covers whole-home versus essentials setups.
What drives the total up or down
HomeGuide sums it up well: installation costs depend on the size, fuel source, distance from the electrical panel and gas meter, and the amount of wiring and gas plumbing needed (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026). It also notes that complex jobs may need long trenches, a propane tank, or more labor for larger liquid-cooled units (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026).
In practice, the things that most often surprise homeowners are:
- A long distance between the gas meter and where the generator can sit.
- A gas meter or service that needs an upgrade to feed the generator.
- An older or full electrical panel.
- Propane setups that need a new tank, which HomeGuide puts at $400 – $1,800 (HomeGuide, accessed Nov 2026).
- Local permit and inspection requirements.
How to read your quote
A good quote lists each of the six parts separately. If yours is a single number, ask the installer to break it down. That makes it much easier to see whether a high total comes from the unit, the labor, or site conditions like a long gas run. Our quote breakdown guide lists the line items to look for and questions to ask.
Once you have a number, check your quote against local homeowner reports, or against published ranges if your area doesn't have enough reports yet.
A note on safety
A standby generator connects to your home's wiring and fuel supply. This site doesn't give installation, code or safety advice. Use a licensed installer, and follow your local codes and permit requirements.
Already installed one?
The numbers on this site come from homeowners. If you've had a standby generator installed, report what you paid. It takes about two minutes, we never publish your name, email or address, and it helps the next person in your area know what a fair price looks like.
Sources
- How Much Does a Whole House Generator Cost (2026), HomeGuide. Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- How To Install an Automatic Standby Generator, This Old House. Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- How Much Does a Whole-House Generator Cost? [2026 Data], Angi. Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- Homeowner figures: approved reports on GeneratorCostCheck. How the data works.