Generators range from under $300 for a small portable unit to well over $20,000 for large whole‑home or commercial systems, depending on size, fuel type, and whether installation is included.

Quick Scoop

Typical price ranges

  • Small portable generators (camping, a few essentials): roughly $300–$1,000 for 1–3 kW units.
  • Mid-size portable/backup units for fridges, lights, some outlets: about $500–$2,000 for 3–7.5 kW.
  • Standby “partial home” systems (9–20 kW) that auto-start and power key circuits: around $2,000–$6,500 for the generator alone.
  • Whole‑house standby generators (22–48 kW) that can run most or all appliances: roughly $5,000–$18,000+ for the unit, often $10,000–$25,000+ once installation, transfer switch, and permits are included.

Fuel type and cost

  • Gasoline and diesel portables are usually the cheapest to buy up front but noisier and need regular refueling.
  • Natural gas and propane standby generators cost more initially (often around $4,000–$9,000 for an 18–26 kW unit) but can run automatically and tie into your existing gas line or tank.
  • Solar “generators” (battery plus panels) can vary widely, from a couple thousand dollars for small kits to $10,000–$25,000+ for whole‑home systems.

What drives the price up

  • Higher wattage (kW) to run more appliances or full HVAC.
  • Automatic transfer switch and professional installation, which can add several thousand dollars.
  • Local permitting, concrete pads, gas line upgrades, and electrical panel work, which vary a lot by city and state.

Quick examples

  • Powering a fridge, lights, phone chargers during outages: many households choose a 3–7.5 kW portable for under $1,000–$2,000.
  • Keeping most of a medium home running, including AC: a 14–22 kW standby often ends up in the $8,000–$20,000 total installed range, depending on brand and local labor.

TL;DR:
If you just need emergency basics, plan on a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars; if you want a fully automatic whole‑home backup system, expect somewhere in the low five figures after installation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.