# Best Standby Generators (2026) — ranked by value, every figure sourced and dated

10 standby generators on the record, median price $7129. Each price links to the page it came from and the day we captured it — no guesses, no affiliate spin. Current as of 2026-07-11.

Lowest-priced: Champion 8.5kW Home Standby (100174) — $2299.

Full comparison: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/standby-generators/

| # | Product | Brand | Price (US) | Deskmark | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Champion 8.5kW Home Standby (100174)](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/champion-8-5kw-100174/) | Champion | $2299 | Silver Deskmark 70/100 | amazon.com |
| 2 | [Champion 14kW aXis (100837)](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/champion-14kw-axis-100837/) | Champion | $4999 | Platinum Deskmark 82/100 | championpowerequipment.com |
| 3 | [Cummins QuietConnect RS20A](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/cummins-quietconnect-rs20a/) | Cummins | $5747.5 | Bronze Deskmark 34/100 | apelectric.com |
| 4 | [Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect DX 26kW](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/briggs-stratton-powerprotect-dx-26kw/) | Briggs & Stratton | $6833 | Gold Deskmark 80/100 | energy.briggsandstratton.com |
| 5 | [Generac Guardian 22kW (7043)](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/generac-guardian-22kw-7043/) | Generac | $6999 | Bronze Deskmark 49/100 | generac.com |
| 6 | [Generac Guardian 24kW (7210)](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/generac-guardian-24kw-7210/) | Generac | $7259 | Silver Deskmark 67/100 | generac.com |
| 7 | [Generac Guardian 26kW (7291)](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/generac-guardian-26kw-7291/) | Generac | $7749 | Bronze Deskmark 65/100 | generac.com |
| 8 | [Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 26kW](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/briggs-stratton-powerprotect-26kw/) | Briggs & Stratton | $8312 | Silver Deskmark 78/100 | energy.briggsandstratton.com |
| 9 | [Kohler 26RCAL](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/kohler-26rcal/) | Kohler | $8414 | Bronze Deskmark 64/100 | kohlerhomeenergy.rehlko.com |
| 10 | [Kohler 24RCLA](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/standby-generators/kohler-24rcla/) | Kohler | $17549 | Bronze Deskmark 23/100 | kohlerhomeenergy.rehlko.com |

Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, the best-value standby generators ranked by sourced, dated price — https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/standby-generators/

Method: Covers permanently-installed automatic home standby generators (whole-house/backup units that are hard-wired to an automatic transfer switch and run on natural gas or liquid propane). Excludes portable and inverter generators (see portable-generators), portable power stations, and battery backup systems. Price is typical US MSRP for the generator unit in USD; note whether an automatic transfer switch is bundled. ratedOutputLpKw is the manufacturer rated continuous output running on liquid propane, in kilowatts. ratedOutputNgKw is the rated continuous output running on natural gas, in kilowatts. fuelType is an enum: 'dual-fuel' (accepts both natural gas and liquid propane), 'natural-gas', or 'propane'. coolingType is an enum: 'air-cooled' or 'liquid-cooled'. transferSwitchAmps is the current rating in amps of the automatic transfer switch shipped with the unit; null if no switch is included in the base package. engineDisplacementCc is engine displacement in cubic centimeters. thdPercent is total harmonic distortion at rated load in percent (lower is cleaner power). noiseLevelDbA is the manufacturer-published operating sound level in A-weighted decibels, measured at 23 ft (7 m) at normal/exercise load unless otherwise noted. phase is an enum: 'single-phase' or 'three-phase'. enclosureMaterial is an enum describing the housing: 'aluminum', 'steel', or 'composite'. warrantyYears is the limited warranty length in years. weightLbs is unit weight in pounds.

License: CC BY 4.0. Every row is dated and links to its source. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl