Whole House Generator Cost 2026: Unit Prices by Size and Brand.
In October 2026 an air-cooled whole house generator cost $3,699 to $7,546 before installation, from the 10 kW Generac 7257 at AP Electric to the 26 kW Kohler 26RCA at its MSRP. Installation is quoted locally on top. Gas-fired generators earn no federal energy credit in 2026.
2026 Generator Prices by Size, Generator Only
| Size | Generac | Kohler | Cummins | Briggs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | 7257$3,699 | 10RESV$3,946 | - | - |
| 13 to 14 kW | 7258$4,799 | 14RCA$5,098 | RS13A$4,286 | 13 kW$4,460 |
| 17 to 18 kW | 7259$5,599 | - | RS17A$5,167 | 18 kW$6,135 |
| 20 to 22 kW | 7260$6,189 | 20RCA$6,016 | RS20A$5,748 | 22 kW$6,532 |
| 26 kW | 7327$7,019 | 26RCA$7,546 | - | 26 kW$7,336 |
| 48 kW | - | 48RCLC$25,703 | - | - |
Checked October 2026, before transfer switch and installation. Kohler: starting MSRP from its home generators listing. Briggs and Stratton: MSRP from its product pages. Generac and Cummins: prices listed at AP Electric. A dash means that maker has no model at that size in the listing we used.
What Installation Adds
The list prices above exclude installation, which the dealer prices. An installed system adds an automatic transfer switch, a pad, the gas or propane connection, the electrical run, the permit and commissioning, and each depends on the house. Generac's 200 A service-rated switch (9929) listed at $919 at AP Electric and Kohler's equivalent at $949 in October 2026.
Few sellers publish an installed price. One that does: Walton EMC, an electric co-op in Georgia, tells members that a Generac 22 kW Response Series averages $9,000 to $10,000 locally for unit and installation at existing homes with natural gas service, and $1,000 to $2,000 more where propane has to be installed (page checked October 2026; Walton EMC does not install generators itself). Treat it as one area's figure, and get two or three itemised quotes for your own house.
No Federal Credit for Gas-Fired Generators in 2026
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 created two residential energy credits, Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit and Section 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit. Neither ever covered standalone gas-fired residential standby generators. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, then ended both credits early: Section 25C no longer applies to property placed in service after December 31, 2025, and Section 25D no longer applies to expenditures made after December 31, 2025. For a 2026 install there is no federal residential energy credit for a gas generator, and none for solar or battery storage either.
Through the end of 2025, Section 25D covered solar electric, solar water heating, geothermal heat pump, small wind, biomass fuel, fuel cell, and battery storage technology (battery was added in the 2022 IRA expansion, with a 3 kWh minimum capacity). Homeowners who completed a qualifying installation on or before December 31, 2025 can still claim the 30 percent credit on their 2025 return. Installations finished in 2026 receive nothing, whether the system is a Tesla Powerwall or a gas generator.
Section 25C covered heat pumps, central air conditioning, water heaters, biomass stoves, insulation, energy efficient windows and doors, and home energy audits through December 31, 2025. Gas-fired standby generators were never on that qualifying list, and the credit itself is no longer available for 2026 work.
For California buyers comparing battery storage against gas-fired standby, the federal math changed at the end of 2025. Through 2025, battery storage earned a 30 percent Section 25D credit (a $20,000 battery system got a $6,000 federal credit) while a gas generator got nothing, a meaningful handicap for the gas option. For installs completed in 2026, neither option earns a federal credit, so that particular gap has closed. California state programs such as SGIP can still reduce battery cost; run the current numbers before deciding.
State and utility programs change often; check your state energy office and your utility for anything current before you sign.
FAQ
How much does a whole house generator cost in 2026?v
The generator alone ran from $3,699 (Generac 7257, 10 kW, at AP Electric) to $7,546 (Kohler 26RCA MSRP) across the air-cooled 10 to 26 kW sizes in October 2026. Installation, the transfer switch, fuel and electrical work and the permit are on top and are quoted locally. One published local figure: Walton EMC, a Georgia electric co-op, says a Generac 22 kW Response Series averages $9,000 to $10,000 for unit and installation at existing homes with natural gas service.
Are there federal tax credits for whole house generators in 2026?v
No. Standalone gas-fired standby generators never qualified, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended the Section 25C and 25D credits for property placed in service or expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so solar and battery storage installed in 2026 no longer earn a federal credit either.
Why do your prices come from different places for different brands?v
Kohler and Briggs and Stratton publish an MSRP for each model on their own sites, so we use those. Generac and Cummins prices here are what one national retailer, AP Electric, listed in October 2026. Retail prices move; check the date and compare quotes on the same model number.