The short answer

Most single-family homes land somewhere between $6,000 and $15,000 for a fully installed whole-house standby generator, covering equipment, labor, the transfer switch, fuel connection, pad, and permits. Where you fall in that range depends mainly on generator size and how complex your specific site is to work with.

What actually makes up the price

Equipment cost scales with kW capacity — a 7–10 kW unit for essential circuits costs meaningfully less than a 22–26 kW unit sized to run an entire home, including central air.

Installation labor covers running electrical and fuel lines, mounting the transfer switch, and connecting everything to your panel. This is where site-specific factors matter most: distance from the panel to the generator's pad location, and whether your existing panel needs an upgrade first.

Fuel connection cost differs by fuel type. A natural gas line extension is often cheaper if utility service already reaches your property; a propane setup adds tank cost if you don't already have one.

Smaller line items — the pad, permit fees, and inspection — round out the total, typically a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars combined.

Why quotes vary between contractors

Two contractors quoting the same generator model can land on noticeably different numbers because labor rates, site assessment thoroughness, and what's bundled into the quote (permits, the transfer switch, warranty registration) all differ. Getting a few local quotes for the same scope of work is the most reliable way to sanity-check a number.

Ways to keep the number predictable

Site complexity is the single biggest wildcard in any estimate — a straightforward install near an existing gas line and panel costs meaningfully less than one requiring long trenching, a panel upgrade, or a new propane tank. Asking for a written, itemized quote (rather than a single lump-sum number) makes it easier to see exactly which of those factors are driving your specific price.

It's also reasonable to ask whether optional add-ons — Wi-Fi monitoring, a cold-weather kit, a sound-dampening enclosure — are included or itemized separately, since these can meaningfully shift a quote without changing the core installation scope.