Cummins Generators
The third serious home-standby name, backed by Cummins’ industrial engine heritage.
Cummins at a glance
| Segment | Home standby |
|---|---|
| Power range | 13–20 kW QuietConnect home standby |
| Fuel | Natural gas or propane (home standby); diesel (industrial); Onan (RV) |
| Transfer switch | Pairs with Cummins automatic transfer switches |
| Warranty | 5-year limited (many home standby models) |
| Running noise | QuietConnect series tuned for lower running noise |
Notable Cummins models
- RS20AC (20 kW)
- RS13A (13 kW)
- Onan (RV)
How Cummins compares
Where Cummins sits against the other major US generator brands:
| Brand | Best for | Power range | Fuel | Transfer switch | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cummins | Standby with industrial engine heritage | 13–20 kW QuietConnect home standby | Natural gas or propane (home standby); diesel (industrial); Onan (RV) | Pairs with Cummins automatic transfer switches | 5-year limited (many home standby models) |
| Generac | Whole-house standby (market leader) | 7.5–26 kW standby · 3,000–8,000 W portable | Natural gas or liquid propane (standby); gas & dual-fuel (portable) | Air-cooled standby pairs with a Generac automatic transfer switch | 5-year limited (air-cooled standby) |
| Kohler | Premium whole-house standby | 10–26 kW home standby | Natural gas or liquid propane | Pairs with Kohler RXT/RDT automatic transfer switches | 5-year / 2,000-hour limited (many home models) |
| Champion | Value portable & dual-fuel | 1,200–12,500 W portable · 8.5–14 kW standby | Gas, dual-fuel (gas/propane) and tri-fuel across the portable line | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch; standby line included | 3-year limited (many portables) |
| Westinghouse | Portable & dual-fuel home backup | 2,200–12,500 W portable & inverter | Gas and dual-fuel (gas/propane) across most models | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch | 3-year limited (many models) |
| Predator | Budget portable & inverter (Harbor Freight house brand) | 2,000–13,000 W portable & inverter | Gasoline; tri-fuel (gas/propane/natural gas) on select inverter and portable models | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 90-day limited; 2-year coverage on the emissions control system — shorter than most rivals |
| DuroMax | High-output dual-fuel & inverter portables | 2,200–16,000 W portable & inverter | Dual-fuel (gasoline or propane) across nearly the whole line | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 3-year limited (5-year on select XP/iH inverter and high-output models) |
| Briggs & Stratton | Whole-house standby with the longest warranty in the category | 12–26 kW home standby (PowerProtect / PowerProtect+) | Natural gas or liquid propane | Automatic transfer switch included on most standby packages | 7-year parts/labor/travel (PowerProtect+) — 10-year available through a dealer, longest of any major brand |
| Honda | Premium quiet inverter portables (RV, camping & home essentials) | 2,200–7,000 W portable inverter | Gasoline | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 3-year limited residential (1-year commercial); extended coverage available |
| FIRMAN | Budget dual-fuel and tri-fuel portables sold through big-box retail | 1,200–13,000 W portable & inverter | Gasoline; dual-fuel (gas/propane) on the H-series; tri-fuel on the T-series | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 3-year limited on most portable models |
| WEN | Budget inverter & portable generators with a 2-year warranty | 1,250–12,000 W portable & inverter | Gasoline; dual-fuel (gas/propane) on the DF-series | Portables pair with a manual transfer switch or interlock kit | 2-year limited — twice Predator’s 90 days, at a similar price point |
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Cummins home standby generator?
A Cummins QuietConnect home standby unit typically costs about $3,500–$6,000 for a 13–20 kW model, plus roughly $3,000–$5,000 to install, for an installed total around $7,000–$11,000. Cummins is best known for engines, and its home standby line (the RS series) competes directly with Generac and Kohler. Get local quotes for your kW and site.
What is the difference between Cummins home and Onan generators?
Onan is Cummins’ RV and marine generator brand — compact units built into motorhomes and boats. Cummins home standby generators (the RS series, like the RS20AC) are the whole-house units that sit outside your home and run on natural gas or propane. If you searched “Cummins generator” for home backup, you want the RS home standby line, not Onan.
Next steps
- Not sure what size you need? Use the generator sizing calculator.
- Compare the field: best whole house generators · best portable generators.
- Other brands: Generac, Kohler, Champion, Westinghouse, Predator, DuroMax, Briggs & Stratton, Honda, FIRMAN, WEN.
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