How to Compare Generator Quotes (Without Getting Played)
Comparing generator quotes: the line items that hide, apples-to-apples checklists, and red flags that predict change orders.
Three quotes for 'a 22kW generator' can differ by $6,000 and all be telling the truth: the game is in what's included. Here's the line-item checklist that forces quotes into comparison shape, and the red flags that predict change orders later.
Force the apples-to-apples
Every real quote itemizes: equipment model number (not just kilowatts), transfer switch amperage and type, concrete pad, gas line run with footage, electrical work, permits and inspection fees, startup/commissioning, and warranty registration. Missing line items aren't savings: they're invoices you haven't met yet.
The classic hides
'Equipment price' quotes that gesture at installation. Gas runs 'estimated' without footage (the #1 change-order generator). Permit fees 'not included.' Off-brand transfer switches under a brand-name generator. And the trade-in of warranty length for price: a $500 cheaper quote with two fewer warranty years is not cheaper.
Use the multi-brand lever
Ask each dealer to quote a competing brand alongside their lead brand and watch what happens: single-brand dealers can't, and their discomfort is informative. Our standard quote format is exactly this comparison: comparable models across brands, installed, itemized, with warranty terms in writing, because when everything's visible, fair pricing wins.
Quick Answers
Why do generator quotes vary so much?
Mostly scope: gas-line footage, panel work, permit inclusion, and transfer-switch class. Equipment price differences across dealers for the same model are smaller than people assume: unless commissions are involved.
What's a fair price for a 22kW installed?
$11,000 to $15,000 covers most homes at fair pricing; meaningfully below that, audit the line items; meaningfully above, ask what's special about your site: sometimes something genuinely is.
Will you review a competitor's quote?
Yes, we do it weekly: send it over and we'll annotate what's included, what's missing, and quote the comparison honestly. (816) 461-9751.