A whole‑house generator can keep your essential circuits or your entire home powered automatically during outages, usually running on natural gas or propane and sized between about 10–30 kW for most houses. Choosing the right generator comes down to how much of the home you want to run, your fuel source, budget, and how often your area loses power.

Key types for a house

  • Standby (permanent) generators sit outside like an AC unit, start automatically during an outage, and can power essential loads or the whole house.
  • Portable generators are cheaper, manually started, and usually power a few circuits or appliances via transfer switch or extension cords.
  • Most residential standby units use natural gas or propane, so they can run for days without refueling as long as fuel supply continues.

Typical sizing guidance

  • Many average homes that only back up essentials (fridge, lights, sump pump, gas furnace blower, Wi‑Fi, maybe a small AC) use roughly 10–14 kW standby units.
  • Larger homes or those running multiple central AC units, electric ranges, or well pumps often look at 18–26 kW or more for comfortable “near‑normal” operation.
  • Forums often mention that whole‑house coverage is commonly in the 25–30 kW range if you want to run “anything anytime” without carefully managing loads.

Rough cost expectations

  • Standby generator hardware for typical homes (around 14–22 kW) often starts around the mid‑$4,000s to high‑$5,000s for the unit alone, with higher kW models rising into the $7,000+ range.
  • Installed, including transfer switch, pad, gas work, and electrical labor, total projects frequently run into the low‑five‑figure range, depending on distance to gas, permits, and local labor.
  • Portable generators are far cheaper upfront, but require manual setup, fueling, and usually cannot power everything at once.

Key features to look for

  • Automatic transfer switch (ATS) so the system senses an outage and switches over without you doing anything.
  • Fuel type compatibility with your property: natural gas line vs. propane tank size and placement.
  • Weather‑resistant enclosure and local code compliance for clearance to windows, doors, and property lines.
  • Noise rating, Wi‑Fi monitoring, and brand support network (service technicians, parts availability) for easier long‑term ownership.

How to narrow it down

  • Make a list of must‑run items (heat/cooling type, well/sump pump, medical equipment, fridge, internet gear) and note if they are gas or electric.
  • Check your main breaker size and any big 240‑V loads (AC, oven, dryer, EV charger) to decide if you want full‑house power or just critical circuits.
  • Get a licensed electrician or generator dealer to do a load calculation and quote both “essential circuits only” and “whole‑house” options so you can compare cost vs. comfort.

If you share your house size (square footage), major appliances (electric vs gas), and whether you have natural gas or only propane/diesel, a more tailored kW suggestion and setup outline can be given.