Honest numbers first: a standby generator is a $10,000-plus home system, not an appliance. Here is where the money goes.
| Size | Covers | Typical installed range* |
|---|---|---|
| 10–14 kW | Essentials: fridge, lights, well/sump, a few circuits, small AC or none | $6,000–$11,000 |
| 18–22 kW | Most of a typical home, including central AC with load management | $10,500–$13,500 |
| 24–26 kW | Whole home for larger houses, multiple AC units | $12,000–$18,000 |
| 32 kW+ / liquid-cooled | Large homes, heavy loads, longer runtime duty | $18,000–$30,000+ |
*Ranges blend national averages ($13,800 average installed; manufacturer range $8,000–$16,000 for common air-cooled units) with coastal SC turnkey package pricing ($9,500–$30,000). Your site work moves you within — or out of — these bands.
| Home size | Common choice |
|---|---|
| Under 1,500 sq ft | 10–18 kW, essentials or most-of-home |
| 1,500–2,500 sq ft | 18–22 kW |
| 2,500–3,500 sq ft | 22–24 kW |
| 3,500+ sq ft / multiple ACs | 24–38 kW, load calculation required |
Bigger kW and liquid-cooled engines cost more. Brand (Generac, Kohler, Cummins) and warranty length matter, but installation quality matters more over 15 years.
The switch that senses the outage and moves your home to generator power. Whole-home (service-entrance) switches cost more than partial-panel setups.
Natural gas line runs, meter upsizing, or a propane tank and regulator. Long runs and meter changes are the most common surprise line item.
Panel upgrades, load-management modules for AC units, and long wire runs between the panel, switch, and generator pad.
Concrete or composite pad, permits and inspections, HOA screening, flood-elevation work on the coast, and distance from the house all add up.
Budget for annual service — oil, filters, battery checks. Dealers commonly sell maintenance plans in the $500–$800 per year range bundled or over time; ask what is actually included. A generator that is not maintained is a generator that fails during the storm you bought it for.