A whole-house standby generator in Texas costs about $5,500–$12,500 installed for most homes — a 14 kW runs $5,500–$8,000, an 18 kW $6,000–$9,000, a 22 kW $6,500–$11,000, and a 26 kW $7,800–$12,500 — including the unit, automatic transfer switch, gas line connection, concrete pad, permits, and startup.
2026 installed prices by generator size
| Generator size | Installed price | What it runs |
|---|---|---|
| 14 kW (air-cooled) | $5,500 – $8,000 | Essentials — fridge, lights, furnace, one AC unit |
| 18 kW (air-cooled) | $6,000 – $9,000 | Most of a 1,500–2,500 sq ft home + one AC |
| 22 kW (air-cooled) | $6,500 – $11,000 | Whole home to ~3,500 sq ft, two AC units on load management |
| 26 kW (air-cooled) | $7,800 – $12,500 | Whole home + pool pump, electric water heater, two AC units |
| 30–48 kW (liquid-cooled) | $12,000 – $28,000 | Estates, three AC units, guest house, workshop |
Most Dallas–Fort Worth homes land in the 22 kW or 26 kW range. The generator itself is only part of the price — the automatic transfer switch, the gas line run from your meter, the concrete pad, the electrical connection, the permits, and the startup all get bundled into that installed figure. An online price for the bare unit leaves out $2,000–$4,000 of work that is not optional.
What's in the installed price that online unit prices leave out
A generator listed for $4,000 online does not install itself. Here is everything your money is actually buying:
- Automatic transfer switch (ATS) — the box that senses an outage and switches your home from grid to generator power in seconds. This alone is $800–$1,500 of the job, and online unit prices never include it.
- Gas line and plumbing — a licensed gas tech runs a new line from your meter to the generator, sized for the unit's full-load demand. Natural gas is the norm in DFW; propane adds a tank installation and different line sizing.
- Concrete pad and mounting — the generator sits on a leveled pad so it stays put through storms, vibration, and shifting Texas soil.
- Electrical connection and permits — a licensed electrician lands the transfer switch at your panel, and every DFW city requires a permit and inspection for both the electrical and gas work.
- Startup and commissioning — the installer runs the generator under load, verifies the transfer sequence, and sets the exercise schedule. A unit that is dropped off but never commissioned is not actually protecting your home.
Sizing: what kW does a typical DFW home need to run the AC?
Texas summers decide your generator size. The single biggest load in a DFW home is the air conditioner — a 3-ton unit draws a starting surge of 10,000+ watts even though it runs at far less. If you want the AC to keep running during a July outage, the generator has to clear that starting surge, not just the running watts.
Here is the practical rule of thumb we use on every estimate: a 14 kW handles essentials plus one smaller AC unit with load management; a 22 kW or 26 kW runs the whole home, including two AC units, which is why it is the sweet spot for most DFW suburbs. Load management modules let a 22 kW run two units by staggering their starts, so you are not forced up to 30 kW just because your house has two systems.
If you are deciding on a budget, the brand choice matters almost as much as the size — a Generac 22 kW and a Kohler 26 kW can both run the same house but land at different price points. Once you have a price range in mind, here is how the two brands compare.
Get an exact installed price for your home.
Written flat-rate quote, permit and startup included.
Whole-house generator cost FAQs
$6,500–$11,000 installed for a 22 kW or 26 kW Generac Guardian with a 200-amp transfer switch, including the gas line, pad, permits, and startup. Smaller 14–18 kW units run $5,500–$9,000; liquid-cooled 30 kW+ models start around $12,000.
Yes — if it is sized for it. The AC's starting surge, not its running watts, determines the requirement. A 22–26 kW unit runs most DFW homes' central air; a 14–18 kW unit typically needs load management or runs one smaller unit. We perform a load calculation before recommending a size so you are not guessing.
Nothing when it is just sitting there — standby generators use no natural gas while idle. During an outage, a 22 kW unit burns roughly 2.8–3.5 therms per hour at full load. A multi-day outage is the only time the fuel cost is noticeable, and it is far cheaper than spoiled food, burst pipes, or a hotel.
Yes. Every DFW municipality requires permits for the electrical connection and gas line, plus a final inspection. Some cities also enforce noise and setback requirements. Clements Electric pulls all permits and schedules inspections as part of the install.
Yes — real estate agents in storm-prone DFW suburbs put the lift at roughly 3–5% of home value, and a standby generator is increasingly expected by buyers after Winter Storm Uri. It is one of the few upgrades that is both a selling point and everyday peace of mind.
