Whole-House Generator Installation
Standby and portable generators wired safely — correct sizing, automatic transfer switch, load management and permitted installation.
Typical national range $4,000 – $18,000 · usually 1-3 days
- Every quote itemised — materials, labour, permit fee and anything that could change the scope.
- No obligation: get the number, compare it, and decide on your own schedule.
- Written quotes before work starts, with a flat price per task rather than an open hourly meter.
- Permits pulled where the job requires one, so the work is inspected and documented for resale.
- Insurance and workers’ compensation verified before anyone arrives at your property.
When you need this
- Repeated outages that threaten food, heat, sump pumps or medical equipment
- A portable generator running on extension cords into the house
- Someone in the home depends on powered medical equipment
- A home office, well pump or sump pump that cannot stop
- Planning a generator purchase and unsure what size or switch is needed
Any single item above is a reason to get the circuit inspected. If you are seeing more than one, treat it as a pattern rather than a coincidence.
What generator installation costs in 2026
| Work | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manual transfer switch and inlet box | $800 – $2,500 | For a portable generator |
| Automatic transfer switch installation | $1,800 – $4,500 | Electrical side of a standby system |
| Standby generator electrical install (22-26 kW) | $4,000 – $9,000 | Typically the most requested size |
| Larger standby system (30-48 kW or whole-house) | $7,000 – $18,000 | Large homes, heavy electric load |
| Generator sub-panel and load management | $900 – $3,000 | Keeps the home inside a smaller generator |
Why the price varies
Sizing is where money is won or lost. Over-sizing wastes thousands; under-sizing means the generator stalls when the AC starts, so a proper load analysis with surge values is the whole job.
Fuel connections, pad prep, gas permits and long conduit runs sit outside the electrical scope and usually account for a significant share of the total.
What a proper job includes
- Load analysis and generator sizing, including surge loads from AC and well pumps
- Automatic or manual transfer switch installation
- Dedicated generator sub-panel with managed circuits
- Gas or propane connection coordination with the fuel contractor
- Electrical permit and inspection, plus a documented start-up walkthrough
Timing and urgency
Planned project — free estimates typical. Typical duration on site: 1-3 days. The single biggest timing factor is whether the work is permitted — a permit adds an inspection visit after the work, usually within a few days.
Choose your state
Pricing, permit rules and licensing all vary by state. Each page below covers this service in that state with the cities and ZIP codes where it is most requested.
- Generator Install in California
- Generator Install in Texas
- Generator Install in Pennsylvania
- Generator Install in New York
- Generator Install in Florida
- Generator Install in New Jersey
- Generator Install in Massachusetts
- Generator Install in Illinois
- Generator Install in Ohio
- Generator Install in North Carolina
- Generator Install in Washington
- Generator Install in Iowa
- Generator Install in Georgia
- Generator Install in Maryland
- Generator Install in Indiana
- Generator Install in Minnesota
- Generator Install in Connecticut
- Generator Install in Michigan
- Generator Install in Louisiana
- Generator Install in Alabama
- Generator Install in Colorado
- Generator Install in Kentucky
- Generator Install in Arizona
- Generator Install in Oklahoma
- Generator Install in Virginia
- Generator Install in Missouri
- Generator Install in South Carolina
- Generator Install in Tennessee
- Generator Install in Arkansas
- Generator Install in Oregon
- Generator Install in Wisconsin
- Generator Install in Utah
- Generator Install in Kansas
- Generator Install in Idaho
- Generator Install in West Virginia
- Generator Install in Nebraska
- Generator Install in New Hampshire
- Generator Install in Nevada
- Generator Install in Delaware
- Generator Install in Rhode Island
- Generator Install in Maine
- Generator Install in District of Columbia
- Generator Install in Mississippi
- Generator Install in New Mexico
- Generator Install in Hawaii
- Generator Install in Montana
- Generator Install in North Dakota
Whole-House Generator Installation FAQ
What size generator does my house need?
The answer comes from a load study, not a square-footage rule. Starting an air conditioner or well pump draws several times its running load, so the size is set by the largest surge the system must carry, not just the total wattage on paper.
How long does a standby generator run during an outage?
A well-maintained propane or natural gas unit runs continuously as long as fuel is supplied, which is why natural gas systems are popular in areas with long winter outages. Maintenance intervals are set by run hours, not calendar time.
Do you charge for estimates?
Many contractors give a free estimate on planned work such as a panel replacement, charger install or rewire, while diagnostic visits for an unknown fault usually carry a trip fee that is often credited toward the repair. The exact policy varies by contractor, and it should be confirmed on the phone before anyone travels.
Can the electrician tell me the price over the phone?
For defined jobs — a charger install, a panel replacement, a ceiling fan on a known ceiling height — a ballpark number is reasonable. For a fault that has not been diagnosed, any honest contractor will explain that the cause determines the price, and will quote the diagnostic first.
What payment methods are typical?
Card, cheque and bank transfer are common, with financing available on larger projects through some companies. Be cautious of anyone demanding full payment in cash up front — a deposit for materials is normal on large jobs, full prepayment is not.
Is a permit needed for electrical work?
Permits are commonly required for panel replacements, service upgrades, new circuits, and work in wet locations like kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors. Simple device replacements often do not need one. Because requirements are set locally, the safest approach is to ask the contractor who will pull the permit and confirm the inspection record afterwards.
Can I just plug a portable into a dryer outlet?
No. A suicide cord or a backfed dryer receptacle puts line voltage on the utility conductors and endangers crews working on the outage. The correct, code-compliant method is an inlet and a transfer switch.
How much does an electrician cost per hour?
Licensed residential electricians generally charge in the $50 to $150 per hour range in 2026, plus a service call fee of roughly $75 to $200. Most companies now price common jobs flat-rate rather than hourly, which means the number you are quoted is the number you pay if the scope does not change.
Need generator installation?
Free phone triage: describe what is happening and find out whether it needs a visit today or can be scheduled. No obligation, no charge for the call.
Call (619) 877-0478Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask for the licence number and the trip fee before anyone is dispatched.