How Much Does A Small Diesel Generator for Home Cost?

Mar. 08, 2024

If you usually suffer power outages at home due to extreme weather conditions or other issues, a small diesel generator is essential to you. It can provide the electricity you need to keep your home and family safe and protected. The high price marks of diesel generators online may scare you away,  but there are affordable and cost-effective options. Here we'll explore what the price of residential diesel generators is and help you find the right one.

 

Why are small diesel generators popular with homeowners?

 

Nowadays, small diesel generators are widely used for homes, offices, small shops, factories, and so on. These generator sets with different additional function work properly in variety fields and ooze charm. In addition to this, they have two most common advantages when compared to the large generators:

1.Lower price

Since large power generators are expensive, the price of small ones are more affordable. Of course, the electricity capacity provided will also be less. Some small potable generators can power your room or essential systems throughout your home at a cost that may better fit your budget.

2.Less space occupation

Medium and large diesel generators may fail to operate when the working position is not enough. However, small diesel generators are flexible and can be adapted for narrow space.

The technical requirements of small diesel gensets include simple operation, low failure rate, self startup, timely power supply, safe and reliable operation, low fuel consumption, low noise and enough power supply voltage and frequency which can meet the load of electrical equipment. If the gensets can't meet the requirements mentioned above, the electrical equipment might be affected and can't work properly.  

 

How Much Does A Small Diesel Generator for Home Cost

What size diesel generator would you need to run a house?

Before choosing a home diesel generator, you need to determine what size diesel generator you need. Measured in watts (or kilowatts), a generator's power output is directly related to the size and energy usage of your home. You should be well aware of your home's square footage and what essential items and appliances in your home needed to be powered.

 

For example, if there is only one appliance and several lights in your house, 2 to 5 kW generators can meet your power needs. A house with 1,500 - 3,000 sq ft would need 17 to 20 kW diesel generators to power up during power outages. A large house with more than 5000 sq ft will need 30 to 48 kW generators to power the whole home.

 

It is worth noting that most models over about 30 kilowatts (kW) require liquid cooling, which adds a few thousand dollars to the base unit price. Therefore, calculate your power needs carefully to help you choose the right size for your home generator. If you merely want to back up essential systems like electricity or appliances or have a generator for one or two key rooms within your home, it is unnecessary to purchase a generator with excessive power capacity. Opting for the right generator size can help you avoid spending more than is necessary on a too-large unit.


How Much Does A Small Diesel Generator for Home Cost

 

Factors that affect home diesel generator costs

In general, prices of home diesel generators vary due to many factors, such as capacity, fuel source, features and other variables. When it comes to choosing the right diesel generator for your home, you need a clear understanding of the factors involved so that you can find the right size and cheapest price.  

 

Generally speaking, factors that affect home diesel generator costs include the fuel type and size of generator, concrete pad, installation, location, transfer switch, running the generator, maintenance and enhancements and improvements.

 

Take the fuel type as an example, small diesel generators for home are usually designed to run on diesel fuel, but some types are adapted for other liquid fuels or natural gas. Generators running on different fuels have their respective advantages and disadvantages and the costs vary.

 


Fuel TypeAdvantagesDisadvantagesCost
Gasoline
  1.  Usually the most affordable

  2. Power essential appliances during brief outages

  1. Noisy

  2. Require storage space for the generator and gas

  3. A shorter shelf-life than other fuels

  4. Typically only come as portable generators

Portable:

$500 to $3,200 

Natural Gas
  1. Can be installed to a home's existing gas line

  2. Require no fuel storage

  3. Cheaper than diesel or propane

  1. Have no portable options

  2. Often impractical during natural disasters

 $2,200 to $25,000
Liquid Propane
  1. Common fuel source for portable generators

  2. Lasts longer

  3. Relatively clean-burning 

  1. Not quite fit whole-home options

  2. Requires a large storage tank

  3. More expensive

Portable:

 $600 to $2,800

Whole house: 

$2,200 to $21,000

Diesel
  1. Considered to be the most efficient generator fuel

  2. Require less upkeep than natural gas or propane genset


  1. Less effective in cold climates 

  2. Prohibitively expensive

  3. Require manual refueling


$3,200 to $24,000


All in all, you have various options to choose from, including standby, portable, whole-house, partial, and backup generators. Usually, a backup generator costs around $5,000 on average. The cost of standby whole-house generators is higher than the portable generators.

 

It's not easy to find a perfect diesel generator for home. If you are planing to purchase a generator, no matter how specific your needs, Dingbo Power will have a product for you. We can offer different diesel generator options which can meet your power needs perfectly. To discuss your requirement, contact us now.


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