Cost Guide
Standby Generator Cost Guide
Real Chicago-area installed prices, Generac equipment MSRPs, the site factors that move the total, and dated national ranges — every figure sourced and dated.
Key takeaways
The short version of what a standby generator costs in the Chicago suburbs, and why quotes differ.
- Equipment price is not installed price. Manufacturer MSRP covers the unit alone. The installed total adds the transfer switch, gas line, electrical work, concrete pad, and permits — which is why an MSRP figure and a contractor quote can look nothing alike.
- Regional installed pricing is the figure to anchor on. Chicago-area installed starting prices by unit size are listed below, sourced to a major regional dealer, with permits excluded and standard piping assumed.
- Site conditions move the total more than brand choice. Long gas runs, an undersized panel, difficult pad access, and meter upgrades are the line items that separate a straightforward install from an expensive one. They are site facts, not negotiable markup.
- National online estimates tend to understate the all-in cost. National ranges are dated on this page and generally exclude the permit, transfer switch, gas line, and pad that a real install requires.
- Get the quote in writing, itemised. A quote that does not separate equipment, electrical, gas, pad, and permit cannot be compared against another one. Our quote comparison guide gives the line-by-line matrix.
What Does a Standby Generator Cost in the Chicago Area?
A 22kW Generac Guardian installed in the Chicago suburbs starts at $12,000 from GSHA Services, a major Generac dealer serving Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, and Kane counties. That covers equipment, labor, a 16-circuit transfer switch, and standard site conditions (10 feet of gas and electric piping). Permits are additional.
Generic national aggregators often quote lower ranges that fold in partial and portable installs. Generac's own installation guidance cites an all-in national range of $8,000–$16,000; Illinois labor rates, union market presence, and local permit requirements put Chicago-area totals toward the upper end. Use the Chicago numbers below — and if you plan to spread the cost over payments, see how manufacturer financing actually works.
The installed price is only the entry cost. Maintenance, fuel, and post-warranty repairs run for as long as you own the unit, so the number that decides the purchase is the twenty-year one — which is the case we lay out in whether a whole-house generator is worth it.
Generac Guardian MSRP — Equipment Only
Source: generac.com (verified). Does not include installation, transfer switch unless noted, permit, concrete pad, or gas line work.
| Model | Generator Only | +16-Circuit Switch | +Whole-House Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14kW Guardian | $4,569 | $5,139 | $5,389 |
| 18kW Guardian | $5,379 | — | $6,229 |
| 22kW Guardian | $6,119 | — | $6,979 |
| 24kW Guardian | $6,559 | — | $7,399 |
| 26kW Guardian | $6,989 | — | $7,899 |
| 28kW Guardian | $8,159 | — | — |
Chicago-Area Fully Installed Costs (Generac)
Source: GSHA Services (Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane counties). Starting prices — permits excluded. Standard site: 10 ft gas and electric piping above grade.
| Generator | Size | Starting Installed Price |
|---|---|---|
| 14kW Guardian | 14kW | $10,500 |
| 18kW Guardian | 18kW | $11,900 |
| 22kW Guardian | 22kW | $12,000 |
| 24kW Guardian | 24kW | $12,500 |
| 26kW Guardian | 26kW | $13,000 |
What Drives the Total Cost
Two identical generators can install at very different prices — and almost none of the difference is the generator itself. It's the site. Choosing a brand is a separate question; for that, see our Generac vs. Kohler comparison. Here is what moves the install number:
| Cost driver | Why it moves the price |
|---|---|
| Distance from the gas meter & electrical panel | Longer runs mean more pipe, conduit, trenching, and labor. |
| Transfer-switch scope | Whole-home (every circuit) costs more than a managed-load switch that backs up essential circuits only. |
| Panel upgrade or subpanel | Needed when the existing electrical panel can’t carry the added load. |
| Generator kW size | Drives equipment, gas-line, pad, and labor cost; above roughly 30kW a unit typically needs liquid cooling. |
| Fuel type | Natural gas needs a gas-line extension; propane needs an on-site tank. |
| Foundation | A poured concrete pad costs more than a composite or pea-gravel base; bigger units need bigger pads. |
| Permits & inspection | Vary by jurisdiction; usually at least one electrical permit plus one fuel-line or tank permit. |
| Site prep | Slope, drainage, obstructions, and vegetation clearing all add cost. |
| Labor & local market rates | An install pulls in multiple licensed trades, priced at local rates. |
| HOA, setback & sound rules | Can force a different placement or an enclosure change. |
National Cost Ranges
National ranges, retrieved June 2026 — dated reference points, not fixed quotes. Your local quote sets the final number.
| Item | Range (national, June 2026) |
|---|---|
| Total installed, all-in | $8,000–$16,000 (Generac, most US homes) |
| Transfer switch — manual | $400–$1,300 |
| Transfer switch — automatic | $600–$2,500 |
| Concrete pad | $50–$75/sq ft (~$1,000 for ~18 sq ft) |
| Labor | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Permits (each) | $50–$200 (local authority sets the final fee) |
| Panel / subpanel upgrade | $500–$2,000 |
Two costs we won't put a number on
Gas-line cost per foot and propane-tank installation have no reliable published figure. Both are quoted only at a site assessment, once an installer sees the run length and your fuel setup — so we don't invent a number for either.
Figures are national ranges dated June 2026, from mixed sources — Generac's published cost guidance plus national aggregators, which run wider and sometimes lower because they fold in partial and portable installs. Chicago permit fees come from official municipal sources. All figures are estimates — get itemized quotes from local installers.
How Standby Generator Installation Works
From permit to commissioning, a standard Chicago-area residential install takes 2–8 weeks. Here is what happens at each step.
Get multiple quotes
Three quotes from licensed installers is the minimum. Quotes should itemize equipment, labor, transfer switch, gas line, and pad separately so you can compare apples to apples.
Pull your permits
In Naperville: filed by your licensed ICC electrician through the Civic Access portal. The permit fee is $85 total ($40 permit + $45 inspection). Permits are required before work begins — an unpermitted install can trigger service disconnection from Naperville Electric.
Site prep
Concrete pad poured (or pre-cast pad set). Gas line run by a licensed plumber — must be sized for the generator's full BTU demand. A 22kW Generac needs roughly 327,000 BTU/hr; undersized pipe starves your furnace during an outage.
Installation day
Generator mounted, automatic transfer switch wired, outside disconnect installed. Most residential installs take 1–3 days. Nicor Gas connection completed if new meter work was required.
Inspection and commissioning
Naperville requires electrical inspection before the job is complete. Generator is set to AUTO, weekly exercise cycle programmed, and Mobile Link / OnCue monitoring activated. You're live.
Compare Chicago-area installation quotes
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