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) |
| 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 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, Predator, DuroMax, Briggs & Stratton, Honda, FIRMAN, WEN.
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