The cost of the generator is a very important component in the buying process of a generator. The cost depends on various factors such as the brand, performance and build quality, type of generator, and advanced features such as remote start, CO sensor, and economy mode.
In this article, we have done our best to estimate the cost of a 10000-watt generator in terms of both upfront and running costs. For our analysis, we chose the best 10000-watt generator available in the market.
The upfront cost of a 10000-watt generator, which includes the generator, transfer switch, inlet box, cord, and labour installation, will cost you around $3704 for a single fuel, $3534 for dual fuel, and $7142 for a standby generator. The running cost will be $9.6 per day and $288 per month if you run it daily for three hours at half load.
Related Article: How much does a 12000-watt generator cost
Upfront Cost
The upfront cost is the cost of the generator, related accessories, and installation that you have to bear. We calculated the cost of each component involved in the installation process and then summed it up for a total estimated cost.
Generator Cost
The cost of a generator also varies due to various factors, such as single or dual fuel, standby or portable generator, and build quality or extra features such as CO sensor, remote start, etc.
Single Fuel
| Generators | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Westinghouse wgen7500 | $1049 |
| Firman H08051 Generator | $1139 |
| DuroMax XP10000E | $1099 |
| Generac GP8000E | $1149 |
From the above table, the average cost of a generator will be $1109, ranging between $1049 and $1149.
Dual Fuel
| Generators | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| DuroMax XP10000EH | $849 |
| Green-Power America 10000 | $999 |
| DuroMax XP12000EH | $879 |
| Pulsar PG10000B16 | $1029 |
| Duromax XP9000iH | $1999 |
From the above table, the average cost of a traditional generator will be $939, ranging between $840 and $1029, and the inverter generator will cost you $1999.
Tri Fuel
| Generators | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Champion Power Equipment 100416 | $1249 |
Trifuel 10000-watt generator will be $1249.
Standby
| Generators | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Generac Guardian Wi-Fi Enabled Standby Generator | $6279 |
| Briggs & Stratton 10kW Standby Generator | $3455 |
| Honeywell 10kW Air Cooled Home Standby Generator | $3909 |
From the above table, the average cost of a generator will be $4547, ranging between $3455 and $6279.
Installation Cost
The installation cost of a generator can vary from one location to another, but on average, it costs around $2000.
Inlet box
| Inlet Box | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Connecticut Electric EGSPI50 50A | $68 |
| Reliance Controls PB50 50-Amp | $89 |
| Rophor 50 Amp | $49 |
| ETL listed 50 Amp | $49 |
The inlet box costs an average of $63, which we estimated from the table above. It ranges between $49 and $68.
Transfer Switch
| Transfer Switch | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Progressive dynamics pd52v 50A | $170 |
| Gaeyaele w2r-3p 100A | $80 |
| Reliance Controls Pro/Tran 2 – 50-Amp | $385 |
| Homelink™ 50A Manual Transfer Switch | $619 |
The best available transfer switch costs an average of almost $313, which we calculated from the table above. It ranges between $80 and $619.
High Rated Cord
| Cord | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Best brose 50Ft 50 Amp | $210 |
| CircleCord 5pft 50A | $229 |
| Rvingpro 50Amp | $219 |
The best cord will cost you around $219, which ranges between $210 and $229.
So, the total upfront cost of a 10000-watt generator will be, on average, $7142 for a standby generator, $3534 for a traditional dual-fuel generator, $4594 for a dual-fuel inverter generator, $3844 for a tri-fuel generator, and $3704 for a single-fuel generator.
Running Cost
If we assume that you will run the generator for 3 hours on a daily basis at half load, then what will be the fuel cost? Let’s suppose the price of gasoline is $3.84 per gallon.
Fuel Cost
| Generator | Gasoline Runtime | Propane Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Champion Power Equipment 100416 | 1.4 hrs/gal at half load | 0.25 hrs/pound at half load |
| DuroMax XP10000EH | 0.96 hrs/g at half load | 0.25 hrs/pound at half load |
| Generac GP8000E | 1.39 hrs/gallon at half load | |
| DuroStar DS10000EH | 1.2 hrs/g at half load | 0.25 hrs/pound at half load |
| Westinghouse wgen7500 | 1.4 hrs/g at half load | |
| Firman H08051 | 1.5 hrs/g at half load | |
| Pulsar PG10000B16 | 1.6 hrs/g at half load | 0.27 hrs/pound at half load |
| Duromax XP9000iH | 1.59 hrs/gallon at half load | 0.27 hrs/pound at half load |
According to the table above, on average, a generator will consume 1.2 hrs/gallon at half load. Therefore, the generator will consume 2.5 gallons of fuel per day, which will cost you $9.6 per day and $288 per month if you run the generator for 3 hours daily at half load.
Maintenance Cost
| Generator | Air Filter Cost | Oil Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Champion Power Equipment 100416 | $19 | 38.4 fl oz |
| DuroMax XP10000EH | $23 | 37.2 fl oz |
| Generac GP8000E | $15 | 37.12 fl oz |
| DuroStar DS10000EH | $23 | 37.2 fl oz |
| Westinghouse wgen7500 | $14 | 37.2 fl oz |
| Firman H08051 | $15 | 37 fl oz |
| Pulsar PG10000B16 | $10 | 37 fl oz |
| Duromax XP9000iH | $23 | 34 fl oz |
Air Filter Cost
On average, air filters cost around $15.7, ranging between $10-$23, whenever you reach the maintenance requirement after a certain number of usage hours recommended by the manufacturer.
Oil Cost
| Engine Oil | Approximate Cost /fl oz |
|---|---|
| Honda Motor Oil | $0.37 |
| Shell ROTELLA | $0.16 |
| Generac FS Oil | $0.59 |
| Husqvarna XP+ | $1.02 |
| Briggs & Stratton | $0.18 |
On average, the engine oil capacity of a 10k-watt generator is 36.89 fl oz, ranging between 37-38.4 fl oz. The average cost of oil is $0.46/fl oz, so the cost of an oil change will be $16.9 when you reach the recommended usage hours threshold set by the manufacturer.
Conclusion
The upfront cost of a 10000-watt generator, which includes the generator, transfer switch, inlet box, cord, and labour installation, will cost you around $3704 for a single fuel, $3534 for dual fuel traditional generator, $4594 for dual fuel inverter generator, $3844 for tri-fuel generator and $7142 for a standby generator.
The running cost will be $9.6 per day and $288 per month if you run it daily for three hours at half load. The cost of an oil change will be $16.9, and On average, air filters cost around $15.7.
