Whole-home generators come in many different sizes, and choosing the right one depends on more than the square footage of your house. Your generator needs to provide enough power to keep the appliances and home systems that matter most to you running during an outage.
How Are Generators Sized?
Whole-home generators are measured in kilowatts (kW), which tells you how much electrical power they can provide. The higher the kW rating, the more appliances and systems the generator can support at one time.
What Size Generator Is Right for My Home?
Sizes for whole-home generators typically range from 10 kW to 26 kW or more. Smaller generators may be enough to power essential systems, while larger models can support more of the home.
When determining the right size, consider the systems and appliances you’ll want to keep running when the power is out, such as:
- Heating and cooling systems
- Refrigerator and freezer
- Well or sump pumps
- Water heater
- Lights and outlets
- Internet and home office equipment
- Other major appliances
A 22 kW Generator for a Wayland, MI Home
After living in their Wayland, Michigan, home for more than 40 years without many power outages, Debra and her family experienced eight outages in 2026 alone. They were tired of relying on their old portable generator and wanted an automatic backup power solution.
Keeping their well, refrigerator, heat, and home office running was especially important to them. After evaluating the home and the family’s needs, our team recommended a 22 kW Generac standby generator to provide the whole-home backup power they were looking for.
Why Professional Generator Sizing Matters
A generator that’s too small may not support everything you expect it to when the grid goes down, however, choosing the largest generator isn’t necessarily the right solution either.
During a free in-home generator consultation, Grand Bay Electric’s certified electricians and generator specialists evaluate your electrical system, discuss what you want to keep running, and recommend a generator that’s properly sized for your home’s needs.
Find the Right Generator for Your West Michigan Home
Choosing the right generator starts with understanding your home, your electrical system, and how you want to use backup power during an outage.
Grand Bay Electric installs Generac and Kohler whole-home generators throughout West Michigan. Schedule a generator consultation to find the right backup power solution for your home.