Whole house generator cost quotes scare people for good reason. The machine is only part of the check. I’m Mike – lineman. I don’t sell generators. I restore power after storms and watch which homes stay comfortable and which ones fight extension-cord spaghetti. Cost buckets (ballpark, US residential) Portable + manual inlet/interlock: lowest entry, more human work Standby automatic (whole house or partial): often many thousands installed – equipment + pad + gas line + transfer switch + permits