The short answer
Standby generators start automatically and run on natural gas or propane but are installed permanently by professionals. Portable generators are cheaper and manual. Home batteries are silent and instant but limited by stored energy. All three that connect to a house need licensed installation.
Side by side
| Standby generator | Portable generator | Home battery system | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starts | Automatically | You start it and connect a cord | Instantly, often automatically |
| Runtime | As long as fuel supply lasts | As long as you refuel | Until empty, then solar or grid recharge |
| Fuel | Natural gas or propane line/tank | Gasoline, propane or natural gas | None |
| Install | Permanent; gas and electrical work by professionals | Inlet and transfer switch by an electrician | Panel or transfer hardware by an electrician |
| Noise and exhaust | Outdoors, exhaust and noise | Outdoors, exhaust and noise | Quiet, no exhaust |
| What drives cost | Size, fuel hookup, labor, permits | Watts, fuel type, transfer equipment | kWh of storage, inverter power, install |
Our catalog covers portable generators in depth, plus transfer equipment and home battery systems where we can source figures. We do not publish prices for installer-quoted standby systems because they vary by home.
Choosing
- Frequent, long outages and a gas connection: a standby generator is the conventional choice, installed by a licensed contractor.
- Occasional outages and a tighter budget: a portable generator with a transfer switch or interlock.
- Short outages, noise sensitivity or no fuel: a battery system sized to your essential circuits.
SafetyGas and electrical work must be done by licensed professionals under local permits. Wattstanding gives no installation instructions.
Figures marked as Wattstanding calculations show their working; product figures come from the sources on each product page. How we work