Fuel Types
Generator Fuel Types
The fuel a standby generator runs on affects availability, ongoing cost, and how it holds up during an extended outage. Here's what actually differs between natural gas, propane, and diesel.
Generator Fuel Types
Natural Gas
A natural gas generator draws fuel directly from the utility gas line already serving the home, which is the main reason it's the more common choice wherever that service is available — there's no on-site tank to size, monitor, or refill.
Propane
A propane generator draws from an on-site storage tank rather than a utility line, which makes it the practical default anywhere natural gas utility service doesn't reach the property — most rural and many exurban installations run on propane for exactly that reason.
Diesel
Diesel standby generators are more commonly associated with commercial and industrial backup power than typical single-family residential installations — most major residential standby product lines from Generac, Kohler, and Cummins are built around natural gas and propane, not diesel, which is worth knowing upfront if you're comparing options.