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How much does whole-home standby generator installation cost in 2026?

Updated September 2026 · national figures from 4 published cost guides

Across the U.S., a licensed electrician typically charges $5,500 to $16,000 to install a whole-home standby generator (about 20 kW, unit plus installation), with most jobs landing near $9,500. Prices run higher in high-wage states and metros and lower in rural areas — pick your state below for a local range.

Low end

$5,500

Most jobs

$9,500

High end

$16,000

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What a quote means (national)

Quote for this job	What it means
Under $3,300	Suspiciously low — ask what is excluded, and check licensing and insurance
$3,300 – $17,600	Fair price — inside the typical range (up to 10% over the top is still normal)
$17,600 – $28,000	Running high — get the quote itemized, and get a second one
Over $28,000	Ripoff territory — more than 1.75× the high end of the typical range

Same rules the QuoteJury checker uses on every quote.

What you're paying for

What is usually included: The generator, an automatic transfer switch, concrete pad, gas line and electrical connections, permits and startup.

What moves the price:

Generator size: a 22–26 kW unit costs thousands more than a 14–18 kW unit
Gas supply: extending a natural-gas line or adding a propane tank is often the biggest variable
Distance from the gas meter and electrical panel to the generator pad
Local permit, setback and noise requirements that dictate placement
Whole-home versus managed-load coverage

Generator kW size, fuel type (natural gas line vs. propane tank), gas/electrical trenching distance, automatic transfer switch, concrete pad and permits.

Whole-home standby generator installation cost by state

Typical range for each state, adjusted with BLS wage data for electricians. Index 1.00 = national average.

State	Typical range	Most jobs	Index
Alabama	$5,000 – $14,500	$8,600	0.91
Alaska	$7,000 – $20,400	$12,100	1.28
Arizona	$5,400 – $15,600	$9,300	0.98
Arkansas	$4,650 – $13,500	$8,000	0.84
California	$6,300 – $18,400	$10,900	1.15
Colorado	$5,700 – $16,600	$9,800	1.03
Connecticut	$6,400 – $18,700	$11,100	1.17
Delaware	$5,600 – $16,200	$9,600	1.01
District of Columbia	$7,300 – $21,400	$12,700	1.34
Florida	$5,100 – $14,900	$8,900	0.93
Georgia	$5,200 – $15,100	$9,000	0.94
Hawaii	$7,200 – $21,100	$12,500	1.32
Idaho	$5,400 – $15,700	$9,300	0.98
Illinois	$7,300 – $21,100	$12,500	1.32
Indiana	$5,700 – $16,500	$9,800	1.03
Iowa	$5,300 – $15,500	$9,200	0.97
Kansas	$5,500 – $16,100	$9,600	1.01
Kentucky	$5,200 – $15,200	$9,000	0.95
Louisiana	$5,300 – $15,300	$9,100	0.96
Maine	$6,100 – $17,700	$10,500	1.11
Maryland	$6,200 – $18,100	$10,700	1.13
Massachusetts	$6,600 – $19,200	$11,400	1.20
Michigan	$6,100 – $17,700	$10,500	1.11
Minnesota	$6,400 – $18,500	$11,000	1.16
Mississippi	$5,100 – $14,800	$8,800	0.93
Missouri	$5,500 – $16,100	$9,500	1.00
Montana	$6,100 – $17,700	$10,500	1.11
Nebraska	$5,300 – $15,500	$9,200	0.97
Nevada	$5,900 – $17,200	$10,200	1.07
New Hampshire	$5,600 – $16,300	$9,700	1.02
New Jersey	$6,400 – $18,600	$11,000	1.16
New Mexico	$5,200 – $15,000	$8,900	0.94
New York	$6,500 – $18,800	$11,200	1.18
North Carolina	$5,100 – $14,900	$8,800	0.93
North Dakota	$5,700 – $16,500	$9,800	1.03
Ohio	$5,500 – $16,100	$9,500	1.00
Oklahoma	$5,300 – $15,300	$9,100	0.95
Oregon	$7,500 – $21,800	$12,900	1.36
Pennsylvania	$5,700 – $16,500	$9,800	1.03
Rhode Island	$6,200 – $18,000	$10,700	1.12
South Carolina	$5,200 – $15,000	$8,900	0.94
South Dakota	$5,300 – $15,400	$9,200	0.96
Tennessee	$5,300 – $15,400	$9,200	0.96
Texas	$5,200 – $15,200	$9,000	0.95
Utah	$5,400 – $15,800	$9,400	0.98
Vermont	$5,700 – $16,500	$9,800	1.03
Virginia	$5,600 – $16,300	$9,700	1.02
Washington	$7,400 – $21,400	$12,700	1.34
West Virginia	$5,400 – $15,800	$9,400	0.99
Wisconsin	$6,100 – $17,800	$10,600	1.11
Wyoming	$6,100 – $17,700	$10,500	1.11

Frequently asked

Is $9,500 a fair price for whole-home standby generator installation in the U.S.?

Yes. $9,500 is right around what most homeowners in the U.S. pay. Anything from $3,300 to $17,600 is inside the normal range for a licensed electrician; above $17,600 it is worth getting a second quote.

Why do quotes for the same job vary so much?

Generator size: a 22–26 kW unit costs thousands more than a 14–18 kW unit. Gas supply: extending a natural-gas line or adding a propane tank is often the biggest variable. Company overhead matters too: a large company with trucks, dispatchers and a warranty department charges more than a one-person shop, and both can be honest prices.

When should I get a second quote?

Any time a quote lands above $17,600, or when the contractor cannot break it into parts, labor and fees. Ask for the itemized version, ask what would change the price, and confirm licensing and insurance. You can also paste the quote into the free QuoteJury checker for an instant second opinion.

Other electrical jobs

Sources

Angi (2026): $1,512–$8,803 nationally
HomeGuide (2025): $6,000–$11,000 nationally
HomeAdvisor (2026): $1,512–$8,803 nationally
Bob Vila (2024): $1,524–$8,658 nationally
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — median hourly wages by state and metro area

About these numbers. Ranges are typical market rates for a licensed, insured contractor, blended from published U.S. cost guides and adjusted with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data (OEWS, May 2025) for each state and metro area. They are estimates, not a bid, appraisal or inspection. Real prices move with parts, access, permits and code requirements. The quote checker is AI-powered and labeled as such.