Generator Installation Cost: $6,000 to $11,000 + Permits
A standby generator installation runs $6,000 to $11,000 on average, HomeGuide reports: $3,000 to $6,000 for the unit and $3,000 to $5,000 for labor, rising to $9,500 to $24,000 for units over 20 kW or long runs.
The job needs a licensed electrician for the wiring and the automatic transfer switch ($600 to $2,500 installed), a gas or propane line, a pad set at least 5 feet from opening windows and doors, and, on most jobs, two permits.
Key numbers
- $6,000 to $11,000Standby generator, installed (average)HomeGuide, Dec 2025
- $9,500 to $24,000Over 20 kW or long gas and wire runs, installedHomeGuide, Dec 2025
- $3,000 to $6,000Generator unit onlyHomeGuide, Dec 2025
Generator installation is the work of setting a standby generator on a pad, running natural gas or propane to it, and wiring it through a transfer switch so it powers the house in an outage. HomeGuide puts installation labor at $3,000 to $5,000 on top of the unit.
How much does generator installation cost
Pricing a standby generator, or one that will not start? Call the generator line. A local installer answers and quotes the visit first.
| Item | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standby generator, installed (average) | $6,000 to $11,000 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| Over 20 kW or long gas and wire runs, installed | $9,500 to $24,000 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| Generator unit only | $3,000 to $6,000 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| Installation labor | $3,000 to $5,000 ($5,000 to $12,000+ over 20 kW) | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| Installation labor | $1,500 to $5,000 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Automatic transfer switch, installed | $600 to $2,500 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| Pre-cast pad | $150 to $400 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| Poured concrete pad | $50 to $75 per sq ft (about $1,000 for 18 sq ft) | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Electrical wiring | $6 to $8 per foot | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| Permits | $50 to $200 each; most jobs need two (electrical and fuel) | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Permits, total | $80 to $450 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
National figures. Your quote depends on generator size, the distance to the gas meter or propane tank, the distance to the electrical panel, and local permit fees.
HomeGuide splits the average job into $3,000 to $6,000 for the generator and $3,000 to $5,000 for labor. HomeAdvisor's labor range starts lower, at $1,500. Labor climbs past $5,000 when the unit is over 20 kW or sits far from the gas meter or the panel. The gas or propane piping is priced by the run; the whole house generator cost guide has the fuel line figures and unit prices by kW.
Getting a standby generator installed? Call the generator line with your fuel type, natural gas or propane, and the size you want.
Who does a standby generator installation
A standby install is three trades of work in one job. The electrical side, which includes the transfer switch and the circuit from the generator to the panel, needs licensed electrical work in all six states we cover (table below). The fuel side is a gas or propane line from the meter or tank to the generator, permitted separately in most places. HomeAdvisor says most jobs need two permits, one electrical and one for the fuel line or tank. The site work is the pad and the placement.
Some companies do all three with their own crews. Others are electricians who bring in a gas fitter or plumber for the fuel line. Ask who does each part and who pulls each permit before you sign. If the house also needs a bigger service to carry the load, that is a separate job; see the electrical panel upgrade cost.
Standby generator installation, step by step
- Site visit and sizing. The installer looks at the panel, the fuel source and where the unit can sit, and asks what you need running in an outage: the whole house or selected circuits.
- Quote and permits. A written quote should list the unit, transfer switch, pad, fuel line, wiring and permits as separate lines. The installer files the electrical permit and the fuel permit.
- Pad and placement. A pre-cast pad ($150 to $400, HomeGuide) or a poured slab ($50 to $75 per square foot, HomeAdvisor) set to the clearance rules below.
- Fuel line. Gas or propane piping from the meter or tank to the generator.
- Transfer switch and wiring. The electrician mounts the transfer switch next to the main panel and runs the circuit to the generator.
- Inspection and startup. The local inspector signs off on the permits, and the installer starts the unit, tests a transfer and shows you the controller.
If you smell gas at any point, before or after the install, leave the area and call the gas utility from outside.
Where a generator can go: clearance rules
Generac's clearance rules are based on NFPA 37, and local codes have the final say. Your installer should be able to show you how the spot they pick meets them.
- 5 feet from any window, door or vent that opens.
- 18 inches from the house wall only for units with an SwRI label; otherwise 5 feet from anything combustible.
- 5 feet of open space above the unit.
- 3 feet clear at the front and at both ends for service.
- Never under a wooden deck.
Automatic transfer switch or interlock for a portable generator
| Option | Installed cost (HomeGuide) | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic transfer switch (standby generator) | $600 to $2,500 installed (unit $400 to $2,000; a 200 amp unit $680 to $1,500) | Starts the generator and moves the house to it on its own when grid power drops |
| Manual transfer switch | $400 to $1,300 installed | You start the generator and flip the switch by hand |
| Interlock kit (portable generator) | $400 to $850 installed (kit $50 to $150, supplies $200 to $400, labor $150 to $300) | A plate on the main panel that blocks the main breaker and the generator breaker from being on together |
HomeGuide, April 2023. A standby generator uses an automatic transfer switch. A portable generator connects through a manual transfer switch or an interlock.
A standby generator needs an automatic transfer switch so it can take over without you. For a portable generator, an interlock is the lower cost way to feed the panel through a proper inlet, and a manual transfer switch limits you to the circuits wired into it. Either one keeps generator power from flowing back onto the utility's lines. Run a portable generator outside only, well away from the house; the generator repair and safety guide has CPSC's distance rule.
Generac installer near me: dealer or independent electrician
Brand dealers usually sell, install and service their own brand. An independent electrical contractor will install a unit you bought elsewhere. Either way the electrical work needs the state license for your area. Questions to ask before you book:
- Who pulls the electrical permit and the fuel permit, and who meets the inspector?
- Is the transfer switch automatic, and does it cover the whole house or selected circuits?
- Does the quote list the unit, switch, pad, fuel line, wiring and permits separately?
- Who registers the manufacturer warranty, and who services the unit after the install?
- What does the first year of maintenance cost? The generator maintenance schedule shows what is due and when.
Generator installer licensing by state
| State | Electrical license rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | TDLR licenses electricians. Only a licensed electrical contractor with a designated master electrician may do work that needs a new or upgraded line circuit. | TDLR |
| Florida | A certified electrical contractor (EC) can work statewide. A registered contractor (ER) may contract only in the local jurisdiction its registration covers. | Florida Statutes 489.505 |
| Arizona | The Registrar of Contractors licenses the business, not the individual: R-11 residential electrical, C-11 commercial, CR-11 dual. A license is needed when labor and materials exceed $1,000 or a permit is required. | AZ Registrar of Contractors |
| California | A CSLB C-10 Electrical Contractor license is required for jobs of $500 or more in labor and materials. Electricians working for a C-10 contractor need state DIR certification. | Mike Holt state license summary |
| Nevada | The State Contractors Board issues classification C-2 for electrical contracting, with subclasses such as C-2a wiring and C-2f residential wiring. | NAC 624.200 |
| Colorado | The State Electrical Board licenses master, journeyman and residential wireman electricians and offers an online License Lookup. The state runs permits and inspections where there is no local enforcement. | Colorado DPO |
Electrical licensing only. Gas line work follows local permit rules. Check the license number with the state board before you sign.
Look the license up yourself on the state board's site. Ask the installer for the license number and the name it is issued under, and make sure it matches the company on the quote. The technician or electrician guide covers the same rules for solar work.
Want a licensed installer to quote a standby generator and transfer switch? Call the generator line.
Red flags in a generator installation quote
- No permits, or a plan to skip the fuel permit.
- A single lump sum with no breakdown of unit, switch, pad, fuel line and wiring.
- A spot closer than 5 feet to an opening window or door, or under a deck.
- An offer to plug a portable generator into a dryer outlet or other house outlet with no transfer switch or interlock.
- No license number on the quote, or one that does not match the company name.
For other electrical work around the house, start at electrical repair. If you have solar, a home battery is another way to keep the lights on; see adding a battery to existing solar. How calls work explains where your call goes.
More electrical guides
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to install a whole house generator?
HomeGuide puts the average standby generator at $6,000 to $11,000 installed, and $9,500 to $24,000 for units over 20 kW or long gas and wire runs.
How much is labor to install a generator?
HomeGuide says $3,000 to $5,000 for labor on a typical standby job, and $5,000 to $12,000 or more over 20 kW. HomeAdvisor's labor range is $1,500 to $5,000.
Do I need a permit to install a standby generator?
Usually, yes. HomeAdvisor says permits run $50 to $200 each and most jobs need two, one electrical and one for the fuel line or tank.
How close to the house can a generator be installed?
Generac's rules call for 5 feet from any window, door or vent that opens, and 18 inches from the wall only for SwRI-labeled units; otherwise 5 feet from anything combustible. Never under a wooden deck, and local codes govern.
Do I need a transfer switch for a portable generator?
You need a transfer switch or an interlock to feed the house panel. HomeGuide lists a manual transfer switch at $400 to $1,300 installed and an interlock kit at $400 to $850.
Can any electrician install a Generac generator?
A licensed electrical contractor can do the electrical work on any brand; dealers usually sell, install and service their own brand. Ask who pulls the electrical and fuel permits and who services the unit afterward.
Ready for a quote on a standby generator? Call the generator line with your fuel type and the size you have in mind.
- 1Call the line
- 2It rings a local company
- 3They give you the price
Before you book
- License numberAsk for it, then check it with the state board.
- Written priceGet the visit fee and the job price in writing before work starts.
- Proof of insuranceAsk for the certificate, especially for roof, tree and electrical work.
Sources (10)
- HomeGuide: How much does a whole house generator cost (2025-12-30)
- HomeAdvisor: Install a generator (2026-06-19)
- HomeGuide: Generator transfer switch installation cost (2023-04-05)
- Generac Support: Clearance requirements when installing a generator (checked 2026-10-11)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Electricians (checked 2026-10-11)
- Florida Statutes 489.505: Definitions (electrical contracting) (checked 2026-10-11)
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors: License classifications (checked 2026-10-11)
- Mike Holt: State license requirements, California (checked 2026-10-11)
- Nevada Administrative Code 624.200: Classifications (Justia) (checked 2026-10-11)
- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations: Electrical Board (checked 2026-10-11)
Talk to a generator installer who serves your area
Have the address, whether you have natural gas or propane, the generator brand and model if you have one, and any error code. The company will quote its visit or estimate fee first.
Free call to an independent company in your area that takes this kind of work.