TexasBackup power guidePrices checked Oct 15, 2026
How much does a whole-house generator cost in Texas?
Generac says $8,000 to $16,000 installed, but the box price is only part of the bill.
Every line on a Texas generator quote, what it costs to run when the grid goes down, the permits Houston and Dallas still require, and a no-upfront-cost battery some homes can get instead.
Free tools. No sign-up. List prices checked Oct 15, 2026.
Updated Skim it in 2 minutes · 14-min readBy The Day Company review team · How we make money
Short answer
Most whole-house generators cost $8,000 to $16,000 installed, Generac says. That covers the unit, the transfer switch and the install. A 22 kW Generac with a whole-house switch lists for $6,979 to $7,369 before labor. In Houston, the city permits run about $259. Running it on natural gas costs about $90 to $188 a day at half load, depending on the season.
Paid partner link on this page. The Day Company is an independent Think+ Energy Advisor. If you get the $0-upfront home battery through a Paid link here, Think+ pays us. You don’t pay more. Generator makers and dealers don’t pay us, and we don’t sell generators. We never score companies that pay us. How we make money
Built on public data from Generac’s, Kohler’s, Briggs & Stratton’s and Champion’s own price pages, spec sheets, manuals and warranties, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Texas Legislature, and the cities of Houston and Dallas. We name each document in the sources.
01 · The cost
How much does a whole-house generator cost in Texas?
Generac, the biggest name in home standby generators, says total costs run $8,000 to $16,000. That covers “the Generac Generator, System Equipment & Materials, and Installation.” Here’s how a quote breaks down.
A 22 kW whole-house generator, line by lineOct 15, 2026
The generator and a 200-amp switchGenerac MSRP: $6,979 (Guardian 7043) or $7,369 (new 7325)$6,979–$7,369
Install, pad, wiring and gas lineSet by your dealer. Generac says an upgraded panel, meter or propane tank may be needed too.Quote
City permits, HoustonA gas permit plus an electrical reconnect permit, with admin fees (our math)About $259
City permits, DallasIf every fee on its list appliesUp to $1,013
All in, per GeneracUnit, equipment, materials and installation$8,000–$16,000
Other 20–22 kW list prices
Kohler 20RCAL, with switch$6,984 MSRP
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 22 kW$6,037 MSRP, no switch
Champion 22 kW with 200-amp switchNo price published
Home Depot, Generac 7325$6,506.10 on Oct 15, 2026 (10% off its $7,229 list)
List prices from each maker’s own site on Oct 15, 2026. MSRP is a starting price; your dealer sets the final price. Permit math uses Houston’s 2026 fee schedule and Dallas’s Service First Bulletin #204.
See list prices for 23 models, 10 to 28 kW
Home standby generator list prices by maker, October 15, 2026
“MSRP Starting At” prices from generac.com, Kohler’s home energy site and Briggs & Stratton’s site, Oct 15, 2026. Separate Generac transfer switches list for $579 (100 A) to $1,099 (200 A with surge protection).
Financing can add thousands. Generac’s own example: a $9,266 system at $116 a month for 132 months, at 9.99% APR. By our math, that’s about $15,300 paid in all, or roughly $6,000 in interest, plus a $29 account fee.
02 · Quote check
Is your generator quote fair? Check it in 30 seconds
Type your quote and pick the size. We’ll subtract the maker’s list price and your city’s permit fees, so you can see how much of the quote is labor, materials and dealer margin.
Check my quoteMaker list prices, Oct 15, 2026
$
The generator in your quote
Your city
Type your quote to check itWe compare it with Generac’s own $8,000–$16,000 installed range.
Unit + switch
Permits
Install, parts, margin
An estimate, not an appraisal of any dealer. List prices are “starting at” MSRPs from each maker, Oct 15, 2026, with a 200-amp whole-house switch. Houston fees: our math from the city’s 2026 fee schedule. Dallas: its listed backup-power permit fees, if all apply. Install work varies a lot with gas lines, panels and distance.
Ask for these 7 lines on every quote
1
Model and size
The exact model number and kW, plus a written load calculation for your home.
2
The transfer switch
Whole-house 200-amp or a smaller circuit switch. Generac’s list $579–$1,099.
3
Gas line and meter
Pipe size and run length, and who asks the gas company about a bigger meter.
4
Pad and placement
Where it sits, how far from windows and soffit vents, and what pad it uses.
5
Permits
Who pulls them and passes the inspections before your utility reconnects you.
6
Warranty and upkeep
Who registers the warranty, and the price of yearly service.
7
Licenses
The electrician’s TDLR license number and, for propane, a Railroad Commission license.
03 · Run cost
How much does it cost to run a whole-house generator?
A 22 kW Generac at half load burns about 228 cubic feet of natural gas an hour, or 2.53 gallons of propane. At Texas prices, that’s $3.76 to $7.84 an hour, or $90 to $188 a day.
Price your next outageSpec sheets × EIA prices
Generator
Fuel and season
How hard it works
Outage length
About $563 in gas for a 3-day outage$7.82 an hour, or $188 a day, for a Generac 22 kW at half load on natural gas at July 2026 Texas prices
Our math: each maker’s spec-sheet fuel use times EIA’s Texas home prices: natural gas $16.47 per thousand cubic feet in January 2026 (winter) and $34.30 in July 2026 (summer), and propane $3.100 a gallon (week of Oct 12, 2026). EIA’s figures are average bill prices, so your gas company’s rate for extra use may differ. Half load means about half the rated kW.
What a kWh costs: generator vs. the Texas grid
Gas generator, July prices
80¢
Propane generator
71¢
Gas generator, January prices
38.5¢
Texas grid average
15.88¢
Generac 22 kW at half load (9.75 kW on gas, 11 kW on propane), our math. Grid: EIA’s Texas residential average for July 2026. Bars start at zero.
Paid linkHouston and DFW homeowners only. No fuel to buy. We get a fee if you sign up.
The summer oil change nobody mentions. Generac’s manual says that if the unit runs nonstop above 85°F, change the oil and filter every 100 hours. That’s about every 4 days. in a long July outage, plan for an oil change mid-outage, and check the oil every day.
04 · Permits
Do you need a permit for a standby generator in Texas?
Yes, but the rules changed on Sept. 1, 2025. Two state laws, SB 1252 and SB 1202, limit what cities can review for home backup systems of 50 kW or less. Houston and Dallas now say they won’t inspect the generator itself.
Standby generator permits in Houston, Dallas and other Texas cities after Sept. 1, 2025
City
What the city still does
Fees we found
Houston
A gas permit and an electrical reconnect permit. The city says it “will not inspect the generator, invertor, or batteries themselves,” and won’t release gas service to CenterPoint until the gas inspection passes.
About $259 with admin fees (our math from the 2026 fee schedule)
Dallas
Still enforces zoning and building codes. A separate electrical permit covers transfer switches. Generators can’t sit in a required side yard or an easement.
Up to $1,013 if every listed fee applies
San Antonio and Austin
City-owned utilities (CPS Energy, Austin Energy) keep their own rules. CPS Energy wants its own backup generator application, and Austin Energy approves the switch.
Varies
Anywhere in Texas
A licensed electrician does the wiring. Gas piping counts as plumbing. Propane work needs a Railroad Commission license. A master electrician can do a third-party review, and the city must approve within 3 business days.
—
Your city won’t inspect the generator, so your installer matters more. Ask who pulls the permits, check the electrician’s license with TDLR, and in a Houston floodplain, call the city’s Floodplain Management Office first (832-394-8854).
05 · HOA rules
Can your HOA stop you from installing a generator?
No. Since 2015, Texas law (Property Code §202.019) bars HOAs from banning permanently installed standby generators. They can still set reasonable rules.
What your HOA can require
Install to the maker’s specs and local codes, by licensed pros
Screening if it can be seen from the street or a neighbor
Test runs at reasonable times
Location rules, and no install on common property
Your protections under the law
No ban, outright or in effect
No location rule that adds more than 10% to the install cost, or 20% to the fuel and electric lines
No saying no if your plan meets the rules it’s allowed to set
No application more detailed than for other outside projects
The law covers generators that run on gas, propane, diesel, biodiesel or hydrogen, sit in a maker’s sound-reducing enclosure, connect through a transfer switch, and are rated at least 7 kW. This is general information, not legal advice.
06 · Safety
Can a standby generator leak carbon monoxide into your house?
Yes, it can. A June 2025 report by staff at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found standby generators named as the carbon monoxide source in 105 homes after Hurricane Ida.
153Texas fire-department reports in Beryl’s first 5 days that named a standby generator as the source
25 ft+How far exhaust traveled in the homes CPSC staff studied
18 inHow close to a wall some makers say their units can go
4%Share of engine-driven tool CO deaths (mostly generators) where a CO alarm was known to be in the home
Put a CO alarm on every level. Generac’s manual tells owners to use a battery-operated CO alarm indoors.
Ask for more than the minimum distance. CPSC staff call the 5-foot code clearance from openings “inadequate” and recommend at least 25 feet. Exhaust often got in through attic soffit vents.
Keep it on high ground. Generac’s manual says to install it where water won’t rise.
Read the warranty. Generac’s 5-year warranty excludes damage from windstorm, hail, water, tornadoes and hurricanes, and asks for proof of maintenance.
The CPSC report is a staff report that the Commission itself hasn’t reviewed or approved. It doesn’t name any maker, and neither do we. For portable generators and what to do in an outage, see who to call when the power goes out.
07 · Fuel
Natural gas or propane: which is better in Texas?
Natural gas runs as long as the gas keeps flowing, and in winter it’s cheaper. Propane works where there’s no gas line, but the tank sets your limit.
How long will a propane tank last?Generac 22 kW
Tank size
How hard it works
About 6.6 daysA full 500-gallon tank (about 400 usable gallons) at half load
Generac says a 500-gallon tank is usually filled to about 80%, for about 400 usable gallons. We use the same 80% for every size. Fuel use from Generac’s 22 kW spec sheet. Generac recommends at least a 250-gallon tank.
Refills get hard after storms. Generac says regional fuel demand “tends to spike in the days after major storms.”
Gas usually keeps flowing to homes. In Winter Storm Uri, federal investigators noted Texas rules give homes top priority for gas. They also warned that gas companies cut some retail customers in a 2011 freeze.
Your gas meter may be too small. Generac says the meter must carry the generator and your other gas loads at once.
08 · Is it worth it?
Is a whole-house generator worth it in Texas?
It depends on how often you lose power, for how long, and who at home needs it. Texas outages run longer than the national average.
Hours without power per customer, per year
Texas, 2024
26.9 h
Texas, 2021
24.9 h
Texas, 2023
9.7 h
U.S. average, 2024
11.0 h
EIA reliability data (SAIDI, with major events). 2021 includes Winter Storm Uri; 2024 includes Hurricane Beryl and the May storms.
Hurricane Beryl, 2024CenterPoint’s own filing
Outages peaked at about 2.26 million of CenterPoint’s 2.8 million customers. Just over 1 million got power back in the first 55 hours.
Winter Storm Uri, 2021Federal report and UH survey
More than 4.5 million Texans lost power, some for up to four days. Texans who lost power went 42 hours on average.
Worth a look if
You lose power for a day or more most years
Someone at home relies on medical equipment
You work from home or keep a lot of food cold
You have natural gas at the house
Think twice if
Outages where you live are short and rare
You may move in a few years
Noise is a problem: about 67 dB(A) at 23 feet, like a loud conversation
You’d rather not handle fuel, oil changes and yearly service
09 · vs. a battery
Generator or home battery: which costs less upfront?
A generator wins on long outages and running the whole house. A battery wins on noise, upkeep and the switch-over. And in parts of Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, a battery can cost $0 upfront.
Standby generator compared with a home battery in Texas
Standby generator (22 kW)
Home battery
Upfront
$8,000–$16,000 installed (Generac)
$15,000–$30,000 to buy (Think+), or $0 upfront through Energywell in parts of Houston and DFW
Switch-over
About 10 seconds by default, plus a 5-second warm-up (Generac)
Under 10 milliseconds, Think+ says
How long it runs
As long as fuel lasts; about 6.6 days on a 500-gallon propane tank at half load
Hours to about a day, then it needs a recharge
Fuel and upkeep
Gas or propane; oil changes; yearly service
No fuel; in Energywell’s program, the company maintains it
Noise
About 67–70 dB(A) at 23 feet
Quiet
Carbon monoxide
Yes, keep it well away from openings
None from the battery
Federal tax credit, 2026
None
None for homeowners who buy
Paid partner · Not rated$99 fee waived through Oct 31
Backup without the generator: a home battery for $0 upfrontFrom Energywell, offered through Think+ · Houston and DFW homeowners
$0battery and standard installUp to 40 kWhEcoFlow OCEAN Pro batteries15 yrsbattery agreement
No fuel, no oil changes and no carbon monoxide
24 kW inverter, an 8-circuit smart panel and a generator hookup
You buy your power from Energywell at a fixed rate, plus $19 a month and delivery
For single-family homes with no solar, in 503 ZIP codes
Paid linkWe get a fee if you sign up. We never score companies that pay us.
Good to know: it runs 15 years, Energywell controls the battery, and backup isn’t guaranteed. Switch power companies and a $99 monthly battery fee can start; leaving early costs $500. Think+ is waiving the refundable $99 reservation fee for sign-ups through Oct 31, 2026.
Battery service by Energywell Home, LLC. Electricity by Elevate Energy, LLC d/b/a Energywell, PUCT Certificate No. 10353. Offered through Think Home Solutions, LLC d/b/a Think+. Offers can change, and the agreement you sign is what counts.
Is the $0 battery offered at your home?503 ZIP codes
From Think+’s Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth install ZIP lists, Oct 14, 2026. Your exact address and Think+’s checks decide. We don’t save your ZIP.
Is there a tax credit for a whole-house generator?
No. The federal home energy credit (25D) never listed generators, and it ended for anything placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Texas sales-tax holiday: it covers portable generators under $3,000 and CO detectors under $75, not standby units. The next one runs April 24–26, 2027, under the Tax Code’s formula.
Property tax: Texas’s exemption covers solar and wind devices, not fuel-burning generators.
Labor: Texas doesn’t tax labor to repair or remodel a home, but materials are taxed. Ask your dealer how its quote handles this.
General information, not tax advice.
11 · Questions
Whole-house generator questions, answered
Straight answers, from the makers’ own documents and public records.
How much does a whole-house generator cost installed in Texas?
Generac says total costs run $8,000 to $16,000, including the generator, equipment, materials and installation. A 22 kW Generac with a 200-amp switch lists for $6,979 to $7,369 before labor. Permits add about $259 in Houston and up to $1,013 in Dallas.
What is the average cost to install a Generac generator?
Generac says installation costs for a home standby generator average $8,000 to $16,000, including the generator itself. Your price depends on the fuel type, where it sits, permits, and whether you need a bigger gas meter or panel.
How much does it cost to run a whole-house generator for a day?
A 22 kW Generac at half load costs about $90 a day on natural gas at January 2026 Texas prices, $188 a day at July prices, and $188 a day on propane at $3.10 a gallon. That’s our math from Generac’s spec sheet and EIA prices.
Is it cheaper to run a generator on natural gas or propane?
In winter, natural gas costs about half as much: about $3.76 an hour vs. $7.84 on propane for a 22 kW Generac at half load. At July 2026 gas prices, the two cost about the same, close to $7.80 an hour.
Do I need a permit for a standby generator in Houston?
Yes. Houston requires a gas permit and an electrical reconnect permit, about $259 with admin fees by our math. Since Sept. 1, 2025, the city says it won’t inspect the generator itself, only the gas and service connections.
Can my HOA stop me from installing a standby generator in Texas?
No. Texas Property Code §202.019 bars HOAs from banning permanently installed standby generators. An HOA can require screening, licensed installers and location rules, but not a location rule that raises the install cost by more than 10%.
Can a standby generator cause carbon monoxide poisoning?
Yes. A 2025 CPSC staff report found standby generators named as the CO source in 105 homes after Hurricane Ida, and in 153 Texas fire-department reports in Beryl’s first five days. Put CO alarms on every level and keep the unit well away from windows and vents.
How long can a whole-house generator run in an outage?
On natural gas, as long as gas keeps flowing and you keep up with oil. On propane, a 500-gallon tank lasts about 6.6 days for a 22 kW Generac at half load. In heat above 85°F, Generac says to change the oil every 100 hours.
How loud is a whole-house generator?
Most run at about 67 to 70 dB(A) measured 23 feet away, by the makers’ own spec sheets. That’s like a loud conversation. The weekly self-test is quieter, about 55 to 57 dB(A) on Generac’s units.
Is there a tax credit for a whole-house generator in 2026?
No. The federal home energy credit never covered generators and ended after 2025. Texas’s sales-tax holiday covers only portable generators under $3,000. The next one is April 24–26, 2027.
How much does it cost to finance a Generac generator?
Generac’s own example is $116 a month for 132 months on a $9,266 system, at 9.99% APR. By our math, that totals about $15,300, roughly $6,000 more than the price, plus a $29 account fee.
Can I get backup power for my home with no upfront cost instead?
Some homeowners can. In parts of Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, Energywell installs a home battery for $0 upfront under a 15-year agreement, if you own a single-family home with no solar and buy your power from Energywell.
Generac, 16–22 kW Guardian spec sheet (Rev. L, March 2022) and 2026 22–28 kW spec sheet (Rev. D, Aug. 13, 2026): fuel use, noise, the start delay and the 18-inch clearance listing.
Generac, 10–26 kW owner’s manual: the 100-hour hot-weather oil change, daily oil checks, the propane tank minimum, flood siting and the CO alarm warning.
Generac, 5-year limited warranty: coverage by year, the storm exclusions and the maintenance proof rule.
Generac, What fuel do generators use? (Oct. 15, 2026): 400 usable gallons in a 500-gallon tank, post-storm fuel demand and gas meter sizing.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, SB 1252 notice (Aug. 14, 2025); Occupations Code chapters 1305 and 1301; Railroad Commission of Texas, LP-gas rules.
Changelog · last updated October 16, 2026 · 2 updates
October 16, 2026: Clarified that the 4% carbon monoxide alarm figure covers engine-driven tools, mostly generators.
October 15, 2026 (v1.0): Page published: makers’ list prices for 23 models, a quote checker, an outage fuel-cost calculator, a propane tank estimator, Texas permit rules after SB 1252 and SB 1202, HOA rules, carbon monoxide findings and a battery comparison.
How to cite:The Day Company review team, “How much does a whole-house generator cost in Texas?,” The Day Company, updated October 16, 2026. https://theday.company/tx/whole-house-generator-cost
Prices, specs and claims come from each company’s own pages and documents as of October 15, 2026, and can change at any time. Fuel and permit figures marked “our math” are our calculations from the named sources. Our tools give estimates only, not quotes, offers or appraisals of any dealer; see our Terms of Service. This page is general information, not legal, financial or tax advice. The Day Company is an independent Think+ Energy Advisor and is paid a commission when you sign up through a Paid link. Generac, Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, Champion, EcoFlow, Energywell and Think+ are trademarks of their owners.