Generac vs Briggs & Stratton Generators

Last updated: March 2026

Generac is the market leader with the most models and the biggest dealer network. Briggs & Stratton is the value-and-warranty play: longer coverage, strong natural gas output, and competitive pricing.

Choose Generac if...

Choose Generac if you want the widest selection, the largest support network, and free monitoring.

Choose Briggs & Stratton if...

Choose B&S if you're on natural gas and want full rated power (NGMax), prefer a longer warranty (6–7 years vs 5), or want the lowest cost per kW at 22kW.

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Head to Head

Spec	Generac 22kW	B&S 22kW
Power (LP/NG)	22 / 19.5 kW	22 / 22 kW
Unit price	$6,119	$6,037
Installed cost	$12,000–$17,000	$12,000–$16,000
Noise	67 dB	68 dB
Warranty	5 years	7 years
NG output	19.5 kW	22 kW (NGMax)
Monitoring	Mobile Link (free)	InfoHub (paid)

NGMax

The B&S 18kW and 22kW produce identical output on both fuels. Generac's 22kW drops to 19.5 kW on NG. For the 61% of American homes on natural gas, B&S delivers more usable power.

Warranty

B&S: 6 years on 13kW, 7 years on 18/22/26kW. Generac: 5 years across the board. Generac's paid 10-year extension ($1,000) exceeds B&S; but the standard coverage gap is 1–2 years in B&S's favor.

Corporate Concerns

B&S filed Chapter 11 in 2020 (now KPS Capital Partners PE-owned). Some owners of 2021–2024 Generac 22/24kW models have reported alternator issues; a class action has been reported but its current status is unverified. Both companies are operational and honoring warranties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Generac or B&S better?▾

Generac is the safer pick: more sizes, more dealers, free monitoring, quieter at most sizes. B&S is the value pick for NG homes: longer warranty, full NG output, and lowest cost per kW at 22kW.

Does B&S make as much power on NG?▾

At 18kW and 22kW, yes. NGMax delivers identical output on both fuels. The 13kW drops to 11.5kW on NG, and the 26kW drops to 24kW: still less derating than most competitors.

Is B&S customer service really that bad?▾

Based on owner reviews, it's a concern: B&S is rated 1.4/5 on PissedConsumer, the lowest among the brands we compared. The generators themselves are generally well-regarded. The support experience when something goes wrong is where owners have reported issues.

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Sources & Citations

Claim / Statistic	Source
Generac ~75% North American residential standby market share	investing.com(accessed 2025-03)
Generac dealer network (9,200+)	generac.com(accessed 2025-03)
Generac owner reviews (1.6/5 from 130+ reviews)	pissedconsumer.com(accessed 2025-03)
Generac 22/24kW alternator issues (reported, class action status unverified)	topclassactions.com(accessed 2025-03)
Briggs & Stratton owner reviews (1.4/5)	pissedconsumer.com(accessed 2025-03)
Briggs & Stratton Chapter 11 filing (2020)	reuters.com(accessed 2025-03)
PissedConsumer generator brand reviews	pissedconsumer.com(accessed 2025-03)
ConsumerAffairs generator reviews	consumeraffairs.com(accessed 2025-03)
U.S. Energy Information Administration (fuel costs)	eia.gov(accessed 2025-03)

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