What's My Generator Really Costing Me?
Most contractors know gas is expensive. But fuel is only part of the story. Let's calculate the true monthly cost of running a jobsite generator.
The Average Jobsite Generator Costs
Based on a 5-7kW portable gas generator running ~8 hours/day, 20 days/month. See sources
Calculate Your Generator Costs
Adjust the numbers to match your actual situation.
Fuel Costs
Maintenance & Labor
Most contractors buy and run generators until they die, then replace. Check this if that's you.
Oil, filters, spark plugs, service calls
Filling, starting, monitoring, moving
Your Generator Costs
That's $ over 5 years. What if you could cut that by 80% or more?
See Solar Trailer OptionsOr get a custom quote for your specific needs.
Costs You Haven't Counted
Altitude Power Loss
At Colorado elevations (7,000-10,000 ft), generators lose 15-20% of their rated power. That 5kW generator? It's actually putting out 4kW.
Noise & Neighbor Complaints
Generators run 70-85 decibels. That's jackhammer territory. One complaint can shut down your site or cost you the job.
Downtime & Delays
Generator won't start? Ran out of gas mid-cut? Every delay costs you money and pushes your timeline back.
Theft Risk
Generators are prime theft targets on jobsites. Replacement cost plus the project delay can exceed $2,000+.
Our Research Sources
These numbers come from real-world data, not marketing fluff.
- • Fuel consumption: A 5,000–7,500W generator consumes 0.4–0.9 gal/hour at load. Source: Elan Fuels
- • Oil change frequency: Every 50-100 hours of runtime. Source: Manufacturer guidelines, Angi
- • Labor burden: Refueling and maintenance requires dedicated manpower. Source: SiteFuel
- • Altitude power loss: Internal combustion engines lose ~3-4% power per 1,000 ft above sea level.
Ready to Stop Burning Money?
Solar-powered jobsite trailers eliminate fuel costs, maintenance headaches, and noise complaints. Get a quote and see the difference.