Generac Generators
The US market leader in home standby — the widest whole-house line-up and dealer network.
Generac at a glance
| Segment | Home standby + portable |
|---|---|
| Power range | 7.5–26 kW standby · 3,000–8,000 W portable |
| Fuel | Natural gas or liquid propane (standby); gas & dual-fuel (portable) |
| Transfer switch | Air-cooled standby pairs with a Generac automatic transfer switch |
| Warranty | 5-year limited (air-cooled standby) |
| Running noise | ≈60–67 dB(A) at 23 ft (air-cooled standby) |
Notable Generac models
- Guardian 24 kW
- Guardian 18 kW
- Guardian 10 kW
- GP series portable
- PowerPact 7.5 kW
How Generac compares
Where Generac sits against the other major US generator brands:
| Brand | Best for | Power range | Fuel | Transfer switch | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Generac generator cost?
A Generac home standby generator typically runs about $2,000–$6,000 for the unit itself, with a 22–24 kW model in the $4,500–$6,000 range. Installation — pad, transfer switch, gas hookup and electrical — usually adds $3,000–$5,000, so an installed whole-house Generac commonly lands around $7,000–$12,000. Portable Generac units run from a few hundred dollars to about $2,000. Use the sizing calculator to find the kW class you need first, then get local install quotes.
What does a Generac generator run on?
Generac home standby generators run on natural gas or liquid propane, connected permanently to your home’s fuel supply so they start automatically in an outage. Generac portable generators run on gasoline, and several dual-fuel portable models run on either gasoline or propane. Diesel is reserved for Generac’s larger commercial units.
How big of a Generac generator do I need for my house?
For a typical home wanting whole-house backup including central air conditioning, a 22–24 kW Generac Guardian is the common choice; smaller homes or essentials-focused backup can use a 10–18 kW unit. The exact size depends on your total running load and largest motor surge — run your appliances through the sizing calculator, then have an electrician confirm with a load calculation.
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: Kohler, Cummins, Champion, Westinghouse.
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