Pricing reviewed October 2026
Motors draw several times their running watts at startup; a soft-start kit on A/C can let a smaller generator cope.
Know your size? Price it with the home generator cost calculator · Compare brands: Kohler vs. Generac.
Generator figures marked as from the 2026 cost guide (whole-house generator $6,000–$25,000 installed, typically $10,000–$15,000; unit $3,000–$6,000; installation $3,000–$5,000; 10–14 kW $6k–$10k, 18–26 kW $10k–$15k, 26+ kW $15k–$25k) come from the HomeGeneratorCost 2026 guide. Add-on ranges, load wattages and city factors are editorial estimates. Get written quotes from licensed installers.