Home standby generators are the ultimate insurance policy against power outages. These permanently installed units automatically ensure the power stays on at your house when the rest of the block goes dark.
I've spent years around these backup power juggernauts and have compiled my picks for the best standby generators of the year. Take a moment to read through the various categories below and find my picks and criteria for the best in each.
You can check out my process for evaluating generators below. These picks do not include transfer switches, which are required accessories and can be found on the respective product page.
| Best Home Standby Generator | Best Budget Standby Generator | Best Standby Generator for Essentials | Best Whole House Generator | Best Off-Grid Generator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | |
Built in the United States, the Generac Guardian 7209 is the gold standard for home standby generators. Boasting up to 24kW of power, the Guardian can be set up to run on either natural gas or liquid propane as a fuel source (but you must decide this at installation time).
Once installed, this unit is more than capable of quickly and automatically powering all your home's essentials plus extras during a power grid failure. Pair it with a service disconnect automatic transfer switch to get AC shedding for up to four HVAC systems. That means you'll be able to prioritize which circuits get power. The transfer switch can automatically cut power to an HVAC system if there's too much load on the generator from your priority appliances.
The Guardian works with Generac's Mobile Link™ Wi-Fi remote monitoring application, which monitors the generator's status on a smartphone, tablet, or PC. This is extremely useful if you're at work or out of town during a power outage and want to make sure everything is working properly. Simple on-unit digital controls, including a programmable exerciser, let you set how often and at what time the generator will self-test.
You can count on the Guardian to last with Generac's G-Force engine and a full-pressure lubrication system that keeps the parts moving smoothly. Its durable, all-aluminum sound-reducing enclosure shields internal components from the elements and significantly reduces noise. Finally, a 5-year Generac limited manufacturer's warranty protects your investment from defects. All-in-all, virtually no one can go wrong by choosing this home generator.
| Power |
| Natural Gas: 21 kW Propane: 24 kW |
| Application Readiness |
| -Great for whole-home backup -Runs on propane or natural gas -Durable, sound attenuated enclosure |
| Usability |
| -Works w/ WiFi remote monitoring -Can be installed 18-in from a structure -Quiet self-test mode -Automatic digital voltage regulation |
| Warranty |
| -5-year limited warranty -Built in the USA |
| Overall Value |
| The best home standby generator for the price. |
If you're new to home standby generators, are on a budget, or only care about powering a few basic items during a power outage, the Briggs & Stratton Power Protect PP13 is your best bet.
It provides 13kW of power on propane, which is as much as some larger portable generators. The obvious difference is that you're getting the benefit of automatic backup power with the Power Protect, so you don't have to run outside at night to manually refuel like you would with a portable unit.
The Power Protect runs on either gasoline or liquid propane, but you must decide during installation. Compact yet sturdy, this entry-level standby unit is 39% smaller than competitive generators in its class and has a corrosion-resistant aluminum enclosure. Its weekly test cycle is much shorter than similar models, resulting in less noise and disruption to your neighborhood. It also includes a 3-stage charger designed to improve its battery's life.
Despite its small size, the Power Protect has a best-in-class warranty of seven years, covering parts, labor, and travel. It's also assembled and engineered in the United States. Overall, I recommend the 13kW Power Protect PP13 for anyone with basic backup needs or a smaller budget.
| Power |
| -Natural Gas: 11.5 kW -Propane: 13 kW |
| Application Readiness |
| -Effectively backs up home essentials -Runs on propane or natural gas -Can be installed 18-in from a structure -Can withstand 186 MPH winds |
| Usability |
| -Compact, space-saving size -3-stage battery charger -Remote Monitoring |
| Warranty |
| 7-year best-in-class warranty |
| Overall Value |
| One of the most affordable standby generators that will back up your basics. |
For smaller homes or those where you only need to power essentials like the sump pump, fridge, or furnace system, the Kohler 14RCA home standby generator is the best solution. When connected to a load center transfer switch, this generator will power only the circuits you want or need. Plus, you can set it to run on propane or natural gas during installation.
I especially like the unit's reliable construction. A Kohler Command PRO engine, protected by a 100% corrosion-proof aluminum enclosure, keeps it running. Kohler PowerBoost™ technology easily handles starting large electrical loads like a 5-ton air conditioner, and you can count on the generator restoring power in around 10 seconds. Its streamlined design also speeds up initial installation.
If you're into tech, the 14RCA works with Kohler's OnCue® Plus remote monitoring system, which lets you access the generator from your computer or smart device. Use it to monitor your generator's status, get alerts, and even control power to household items connected to Kohler's programmable interface module (PIM), which is sold separately.
The 14RCA comes with a premium 5-year, 2,000-hour warranty covering parts, labor, and travel. It's also priced very fairly for the level of power, reliability, and features you're getting. I highly recommend it for essential home backup.
| Power |
| Natural Gas: 12kW Propane: 14kW |
| Application Readiness |
| -Effectively backs up essential home circuits -Runs on propane or natural gas -Corrosion-proof enclosure -Can be installed 18-in from a structure -Can handle 181 MPH winds |
| Usability |
| -Works with OnCue® Plus remote monitoring app -Streamlined design speeds up installation -Only 67 dB of noise at 7m |
| Warranty |
| -5-year/2,000-hour limited warranty |
| Overall Value |
| Priced fairly based on capability and features. |
If you crave absolute power and want to live like a blackout never happened, then I recommend the Generac Protector Series liquid-cooled standby generator. This is considered a whole-house standby generator because, at 48kW, it will power everything you want in your home. In fact, it’s explicitly designed for luxury homes and small commercial buildings.
Built in the United States and offering a 5-year limited warranty, the Protector includes all the reliable features you would expect from the Generac name. It’s guarded by an aluminum enclosure with a special RhinoCoat ™ powder-coated finish. A low-RPM engine reduces wear and tear, and automatic digital voltage regulation boosts responsiveness and motor starting ability.
Designed for safe installation within 18 inches of a building, the Protector allows for installation flexibility when you have space limitations. Once installed, pair it with the Mobile Link Wi-Fi remote app for monitoring via wireless device—great if you're away from home often like me.
Overall, this generator is a beast and will handle everything you need it to. Keep in mind that the price reflects the amount of power you’re getting.
| Power |
| -Natural Gas/LP: 48 kW -Liquid-cooled |
| Application Readiness |
| -Designed for luxury homes & small commercial buildings -Runs on propane or natural gas -Can be installed 18-in from a structure -Corrosion-resistant design |
| Usability |
| -Works w/ WiFi remote monitoring -Smart battery charger -Automatic digital voltage regulation |
| Warranty |
| -5-year limited warranty -Built in the USA |
| Overall Value |
| Ultimate backup power. Period. |
Looking to power your remote winter cabin or summer lake house? The Kohler 14RCA is my pick for the best off-grid generator, off-grid meaning not connected to any utility power. What separates this unit from other standby generators is its special off-grid warranty. Upon purchasing, you'll get an 18-month or 1,000-hour limited warranty for off-grid (non-standby) applications. It's also fully certified by the EPA for this purpose.
The other major benefit for remote applications is the unit's two starting control wires, which are compatible with most solar inverters. That's huge because, if you're off the grid, you'll probably use solar power to charge the battery and control the generator. You can use propane or natural gas to run the engine.
Besides this, the Kohler 14RCA offers 14kW of power, which should be plenty for your remote application. The enclosure is 100% corrosion-proof and rated for 181 MPH winds, so it can take a beating in the wilderness. Its OnCue Plus capability lets you monitor your generator via a wireless app, which is perfect when you're not physically at your off-grid site. The 14RCA is truly designed to run independently of utility power, and there's no other generator I would recommend for this use.
[NOTE: If you're looking to live PERMANENTLY off the grid, this is not the right power source for you. It's designed for seasonal off-grid use.]
| Power |
| Natural Gas: 12kW Propane: 14kW |
| Application Readiness |
| -Effectively backs up essential home circuits -Runs on propane or natural gas -Corrosion-proof enclosure -Can be installed 18-in from a structure -Can handle 181 MPH winds |
| Usability |
| -Compatible with OnCue® Plus remote monitoring app -Streamlined design speeds up installation -Only 67 dB of noise at 7m -Compatible with most solar inverters |
| Warranty |
| 18-month/1,000-hr. limited warranty for off-grid applications |
| Overall Value |
| Priced fairly based on capability and features. |
When recommending standby generators, we take five features into account.
Power is a critical attribute of any generator, but it's most important for standby units because they protect your home's critical systems. That's why we consider how many kilowatts (kW) a given unit can put out.
You can't look at power alone, though, because it's relative to your needs. If you want to back up your entire home, then you need more power than if you only want a few critical items powered. For those few items, you'll be perfectly happy with a less powerful generator because it will meet your needs. Thus, we consider power together with the application, which is our next criterion.
Application readiness refers to how well a standby generator performs for a given use. Some standby generators are only designed to power a few critical items like a sump pump, furnace, or air conditioner. Others are made to backup critical items plus luxuries like a hot tub or home theater system.
You'll notice that I divided my picks by application (e.g., "best standby generator for essentials") because not everyone wants or needs the biggest, baddest machine. You want the best tool for the job—no more, no less.
While all home standby generators function similarly, they each have their nuances and particular ways of accomplishing their goal. In this digital age, we look at their "smarts" and how smoothly they connect to the network for remote monitoring. Other factors to consider are how quickly they react to a power outage, installation complexity, load-shedding potential, and controls.
After investing thousands in a home standby generator, you want to know your purchase is protected if something goes wrong. That's why I look very closely at standby generator warranties when making my selections. When two standby generators seem exactly the same, that extra year of coverage could make all the difference.
We prioritize performance over price, so you won't necessarily find the cheapest standby generators on our list. That's why, instead of evaluating a generator on price alone, we look at what you're getting for the price to arrive at an overall value rating.
What size standby generator you need depends primarily on how many items you want to keep powered during an outage. While some people are okay with keeping only the bare essentials powered, others want to power everything. Power outage frequency and length are also factors. If you have several multi-day outages per year, you might be more inclined to power more than less.
To size a standby home generator, add up the wattages of every device and appliance you hope to back up and add a little buffer. Our home standby generator sizing calculator makes this easy.
The most important item you need besides the generator is an automatic transfer switch, which connects the generator to your home electrical panel. This switch automatically senses when the power goes out and turns on the generator. It will also turn the generator off once power is restored. Learn more about automatic transfer switches.
Besides that, there are a host of optional accessories that can enhance your standby generator. These include generator pads that keep your unit level, load management modules that help you prioritize electric loads to get more out of your generator, cold weather kits that help it get through winter, and more. Browse our generator accessories.
The owner's manual outlines a minimum distance from the house required for each standby generator. This minimum distance is enforced to prevent harmful exhaust from blowing into the home.
Many of the standby generators I recommended above have an 18-inch minimum clearance, but this can vary. Your installer should consult local building codes for a definite answer.
This depends on the generator and fuel type. Each standby generator manufacturer requires maintenance checks to be done on the unit when it's running continuously, which will require it to turn off. Please look over your owner's manual for these maintenance intervals and how long your generator can stay running.
Jared has decades of technical experience working on generators, cars, and even helicopters. His interest began during childhood, as he watched his mechanical engineer father work on and design machines. These experiences inspired Jared to follow a related course.
He began his career attending the Universal Technical Institute, where he earned a degree in Automotive Technology. He also graduated with honors from the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence as a helicopter technician.
Fusing his love of aircraft and generators, Jared spent time working with towable AGPU generators that are powered by jet engines. He is a certified Generac and Kohler installer and has been the electric generator expert at Power Equipment Direct for more than nine years.
When not around wires and alternators, Jared enjoys working on cars and 3D printing.