What a standby generator really costs in Texas
The number that matters is installed cost — the generator itself is often only half the bill. Typical Texas whole-home standby projects in 2026 land between $10,000 and $20,000 installed, with smaller essentials-only setups from around $8,000 and large or complex homes above $25,000.
What's in an installed price
- The generator unit (10–26 kW air-cooled standby for most homes): roughly $3,000–$7,500 at retail.
- Automatic transfer switch: $800–$2,500 including the electrical work to integrate it with your panel — this is what switches your home to generator power automatically.
- Gas line work: often the biggest variable. A short run to an existing meter with adequate capacity may be cheap; a long trench, upsized meter, or added regulator can add thousands.
- Concrete pad or composite base, placement, code clearances: several hundred to over a thousand.
- Permits and inspection: varies by city; your installer handles these.
What moves the price most
- Distance from the gas meter and electrical panel to where the unit can legally sit.
- Panel condition — older panels may need upgrades before a transfer switch can be added.
- Coverage ambition — "essentials only" with a smaller unit and load-managed circuits costs meaningfully less than true whole-home.
- Demand timing — prices and lead times jump after major storms. Buying in the calm season is genuinely cheaper.
Ongoing costs people forget
- Annual maintenance (oil, filters, battery): ~$200–$400/yr DIY-adjacent, or a service plan.
- Fuel during outages: natural gas usage is metered like any appliance; propane draws down your tank.
- Weekly self-test runs use a small amount of fuel.