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Battery vs. generator, priced to your ZIP, make, and model.

Batteries have multiple functional and economic benefits. Backup power is a key feature. Generators also deliver backup power, and given the differences in technology, a direct head-to-head comparison can be difficult to assess — how much power each can supply, and how long it lasts, differ significantly: a battery stores a fixed amount of energy and covers your critical loads for a set number of hours before it needs to recharge, while a generator can run continuously for as long as fuel is available, at the cost of startup delay, noise, and ongoing maintenance. This calculator goes beyond initial installation cost to show total cost of ownership of each over time. Enter your ZIP code and pick the battery and generator models under consideration — installation cost, state/utility incentives, and VPP earnings all adjust automatically, and every field stays editable. Want the sourced, structural comparison instead — runtime, noise, warranty, and specs? Read the guide: Battery vs. Generator: What Actually Differs.

Enter a 5-digit ZIP to auto-fill utility, incentive, and VPP fields.

Defaults to the most likely utility for your ZIP — change it if it's wrong, or confirm against your bill.

Narrows the battery model list below to that size class.

10 common residential models across sizes. Equipment cost is composited from current 2026 dealer/installer listings.

10 common whole-home standby models. Equipment cost is composited from current 2026 dealer listings.

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Auto-filled installed-cost estimate for the selected model. Editable.

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Auto-filled installed-cost estimate for the selected model. Editable.

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Enter a ZIP code above to auto-fill from your state's programs. Editable.

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Defaults to $0 until a specific state/utility program is identified for your ZIP — future updates will apply program-specific estimates. Editable.

Your comparison
10 years
Net cost over 10 years
Battery

Home Battery

$0

Net 10-year cost

  • Equipment & install$16,000
  • Maintenance$0
  • Charging cost (10 yrs)$0
  • State/utility incentive−$1,500
  • VPP earnings (10 yrs)−$2,000
Generator

Standby Generator

$0

Net 10-year cost

  • Equipment & install$6,119
  • Fuel & maintenance (10 yrs)$3,500
  • Incentives$0

Based on the models selected, the Battery costs less by $0 over 10 years

Fuel & maintenance assumes ~$350/year for a standby generator, based on typical annual service and propane/natural gas usage during periodic exercise cycles and outages — your actual usage will vary with outage frequency and duration. Both installation-cost fields above auto-fill to a starting-point estimate for the selected model and remain fully editable with your own contractor quote. Battery maintenance is assumed to be $0 beyond normal warranty coverage. Battery charging cost estimates the grid electricity used to keep the battery charged and periodically exercised — capacity (kWh) of the selected model, a ~90% round-trip efficiency typical of lithium home batteries (per manufacturer datasheets), and roughly a monthly full-equivalent maintenance cycle, multiplied by the electricity rate — the current estimate is based on EIA data for your utility, auto-filled from your ZIP code's state via the Utility Rates page where available, otherwise a national average. This does not include additional cycling from solar self-consumption or time-of-use arbitrage — see the Solar + Battery Calculator for that case. Incentive and VPP figures auto-fill from a ZIP code where we have state or utility program data, and are otherwise whatever you enter — check the Incentives page and VPP Earnings Calculator for what's realistic in your area. All auto-filled fields are editable — enter your own numbers where you have better information.

Want the full structural comparison instead? Runtime, noise, warranty terms, and complete manufacturer spec tables for both batteries and generators live in the guide: Battery vs. Generator: What Actually Differs.

Size your own system next

This calculator compares total cost. To figure out how large a battery you actually need for your home's backup load, use the Battery Size Calculator.

Battery Size Calculator Check incentives