Power station vs generator: total cost for your outage
Upfront price plus fuel (gallons per day × days × your fuel price), with the noise and carbon monoxide tradeoffs side by side. Prices as of October 2026.
Defaults: 450 W is an example essentials load; get yours from the calculator (kWh/day × 1,000 ÷ 24). Fuel prices: EIA U.S. average regular gasoline $4.269/gal, week of 10/26/2026 (EIA); residential propane $2.730/gal excluding taxes, 10/26/2026 (EIA). Enter your local prices.
How the math works
- Fuel = gallons per hour at your load × hours per day × days × fuel price. Gallons per hour come from manufacturer runtime specs (Honda EU2200i: 3.2 h at rated load, 8.1 h at 1/4 load on 0.95 gal; Honda EU7000iS: 6.4/8/16 h at rated/half/quarter load on 5.1 gal; Generac 22 kW: 2.53/3.90 gal/h propane at half/full load). Between points we interpolate Estimate.
- Prices: Honda EU2200i $1,199 MSRP and EU7000iS $4,899 MSRP; standby $8,000–$16,000 installed (standby guide); power stations and panels from our October 2026 price data. Prices change often.
- Power station runtime = capacity × 0.85 usable ÷ (daily use − solar). Assumption Solar at 4 peak sun hours and 75% output.
- Not included: oil changes, extension cords, transfer equipment, propane tank rental, tax, or the value of your time refueling.
Generator safety: the 20-foot rule →
FAQ
Is a power station or a generator cheaper for a long outage?
For short outages, a power station often costs less overall and has no fuel. For multi-day outages with heavy loads, a generator usually costs less upfront per kWh delivered, but you pay for fuel every day. The calculator shows both for your load, days, and fuel price.
How much gas does a generator use per day?
It depends on load. Honda rates the EU2200i at 8.1 hours on 0.95 gallons at 1/4 load (about 2.8 gal/day running nonstop) and the EU7000iS at 16 hours on 5.1 gallons at 1/4 load (about 7.7 gal/day).
Which is quieter?
A power station has no engine; its only noise is cooling fans. Honda lists the EU2200i at 48–57 dBA, and Generac lists its 22 kW standby at 67 dBA at 23 feet under normal load.
What about carbon monoxide?
Fuel-burning generators make CO and must run outdoors at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and attached garages (Ready.gov). Battery power stations produce no exhaust.
Backup power, before the next outage
A short email when it matters: outage-season prep checklists before summer storms and winter freezes, state and utility rebates that open, change, or run out of money, and real price drops on the power stations in our data.