What does a whole-house generator cost to install?
A standby generator for most homes runs about $9,080 to $14,350 installed, with the transfer switch, gas hookup and permit. A hookup for a portable generator costs a fraction of that. Set up your install below.
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Estimates include the permit and inspection. Your electrician quotes the real price after seeing the job.
Mecklenburg County, NC issued 543 permits for standby generator installs in the last 12 months. The median declared cost was $11,000; the middle half paid $8,000 to $15,600. Portable generator hookups ran a median of $1,500.
Get a quote from a licensed electrician
For homes in the Charlotte, NC area. We send your request to one licensed electrician who serves your ZIP code, not a list of companies, so you won't get a flood of calls. They'll usually contact you within one business day. No cost to ask.
Common questions
How much does a whole-house generator cost installed?
A standby generator big enough for most homes (18 to 24 kW) usually costs about $9,000 to $14,500 installed, including the generator, automatic transfer switch, pad, wiring, gas hookup and permit. In Mecklenburg County, NC, standby generator permits had a median declared cost of about $11,000 over the last year.
Standby or portable?
A standby generator starts on its own within seconds and can run the whole house, AC included. A portable generator with an inlet and interlock costs far less, but you roll it out, start it and run cords to nothing: it feeds the circuits you pick in the panel.
Natural gas or propane?
Natural gas never runs out and needs no deliveries, but the gas line from the meter adds cost. Propane works anywhere; a tank big enough for several days of outage is the biggest extra.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. A generator needs electrical and usually gas permits and inspections. Your electrician pulls them; the cost is in the estimate.