HomeMatchup
21 sections · Backup Generators

Backup Generators, an outage you sleep through

It usually starts with a freezer you had to empty after the last outage. The hard part is not the work — it is that every generator company sounds equally sure of itself, and you get one guess. We check licence and insurance before we introduce anyone, and we record the date we checked.

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Backup Generators in short

Backup generator services cover four separate jobs: sizing and selling the unit, the electrical work (transfer switch, wiring, sometimes a panel change), the fuel work (natural gas or propane piping), and ongoing maintenance. A whole-house standby install averages about $5,090 nationally and commonly lands between roughly $1,524 and $8,658 depending on size and site, per Bob Vila's 2026 cost data. Installation labor alone typically runs $1,500 to $5,000.

A whole-house standby generator averages about $5,090 installed nationally, with a typical range of roughly $1,524 to $8,658, per Bob Vila's 2026 cost data. The generator itself runs about $2,000–$3,500 at 7.5–10 kW, $4,000–$5,500 at 14–18 kW and $5,000–$6,500 at 20–24 kW. Installation labor adds $1,500–$5,000, transfer switch labor about $1,200, and permits $50–$200 each.

HomeMatchup Shield

Why a pro gets to be on this list

Most sites sell your number to whoever pays the most for it. We check the generator companies we match you with, and we publish the date we checked so you can hold us to it.

Licence checked

We look up the licence with the issuing state or local authority and record the date we checked it.

Insurance confirmed

General liability and, where it applies, workers’ compensation — confirmed with the carrier, not taken on trust.

Reviews read, not counted

We read the recent negatives as well as the average, and we look at how the pro answered them.

Re-checked, not set and forgotten

A licence that lapses drops the pro out of matching. Every record carries the date it was last verified.

Read the full vetting method

No verified backup generators price ranges published yet.
We don’t publish a cost until we can show the data behind it. If you need a number today, the quote form gives you real prices from local companies.

Honest comparison

HomeMatchup vs. a lead site vs. doing it yourself

Three ways to get this work done. Here’s what each one actually gives you.

Getting backup generators work done — three routes compared
HomeMatchup Typical lead site DIY
How many companies call youA short, named shortlist you agreed toOften 4–5+ at once, sold to whoever buys the leadNone — the work is on you
Licence & insuranceChecked against the issuing authority, with a date on the recordUsually self-reported by the contractorYour own permits and liability
What it costs youFree — pros pay us, and only for a real matchFree, but your number is resoldMaterials plus your time
Price guidance before you talkPublished ranges with the data behind themRarely shown before you hand over detailsYou research it yourself
If it goes wrongYou have a named, verified company and a record of the checksHard to trace which site sold the leadNo recourse

Describes how HomeMatchup operates and the common lead-generation model. Not a claim about any named competitor.

Homeowners

What people say after they’ve hired

Zero reviews. On purpose.

We’d rather show you nothing than show you someone else’s reviews.

Plenty of sites fill this space with reviews scraped from elsewhere, or written for them. We don’t. The first backup generators review on this page will come from a homeowner we matched, after their work was finished and paid for.

  • Only from homeowners we actually matched
  • Only after the job is complete
  • Published unedited, including the bad ones
  1. 1You get matchedA few checked pros, free
  2. 2Work gets doneBy a licensed, insured company
  3. 3We ask youOnce, after completion
  4. 4It appears hereExactly as you wrote it
FAQ

Backup Generators questions, answered

The questions homeowners ask us most about backup generators.

A whole-house standby install averages about $5,090 nationally, typically $1,524 to $8,658. The unit alone runs roughly $2,000–$3,500 at 7.5–10 kW and $5,000–$6,500 at 20–24 kW, with labor adding $1,500–$5,000.
It depends on your outage exposure. In 2024 the average U.S. customer lost about 663 minutes of power including major events but only about 132 minutes excluding them — so it's largely insurance against storms. Wells, sump pumps and medical equipment strengthen the case considerably.
At least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, and always outdoors, per Ready.gov.
A well-maintained standby unit is generally expected to last at least 20 years, with service at $80–$300 per visit along the way.
For a permanently installed standby generator, usually an electrical permit and a gas permit, commonly $50–$200 each. Confirm the specifics with your local building department — the rules are set locally.
See all 1 backup generators question

The wrong generator hire costs more than the right one.

A generator is bought for a day that has not happened yet. Undersized or badly installed, it fails on exactly that day. Getting matched takes about a minute, costs nothing, and you can walk away from every quote you receive.

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