Home › Comparisons › Generac 26 kW vs. Kohler 26RCA
On natural gas, the KOHLER 26RCA and Generac NextGen 26 kW (7327) are both rated 24 kW, ahead of the older Generac Guardian 26 kW at 22.5 kW. All three are 26 kW on propane[1, 2, 3]. The Generac models list lower (7290 at $6,989 and 7327 at $7,159, vs $7,546 for the 26RCA), and the Kohler has the longer full-coverage warranty[4, 5, 6, 7, 1].
| KOHLER 26RCA / 26RCAL | Generac Guardian 26 kW (7290/7291) | Generac NextGen 26 kW (7327) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rated output, propane | 26 kW[1] | 26 kW[3] | 26 kW[2] |
| Rated output, natural gas | 24 kW | 22.5 kW | 24 kW |
| Amps at 240 V (LP / NG) | 109 A / 100 A | 108.3 A / 93.8 A | 108 A / 100 A |
| Main breaker | 110 A | 110 A | — |
| Peak motor starting | 39 kVA | not listed | not listed |
| Sound, full/normal load @ 23 ft | 67 dB(A) | 67 dB(A) | 67 dB(A) |
| Sound, exercise | 56 dB(A), 90-second EcoExercise | 57 dB(A) Quiet-Test, 5 min | 55 dB(A) Quiet-Test, 5 min default |
| Fuel, full load NG / LP | 290 / 129 ft³/hr | 333 / 132 ft³/hr | 316 / 144 ft³/hr |
| Fuel, half load NG / LP | 180 / 85 ft³/hr | 188 / 75 ft³/hr | 182 / 74 ft³/hr |
| Weight | 670 lb shipping; 681.7 lb with RXT ATS | 518 lb | 524 lb |
| Wind rating | 181 mph | 150 mph | 150 mph |
| Connectivity | KOHLER Energy Management System (Ethernet) | Mobile Link Wi-Fi | Cellular standard, plus Wi-Fi & Bluetooth |
| MSRP, generator only | $7,546[6] | $6,989[4] | $7,159[5] |
| MSRP, with transfer switch | $8,515 (26RCAL)[8] | $7,899 (7291)[9] | — |
| Standard warranty | 5 yr/2,000 hr parts, labor & travel; 7- and 10-yr optional | 5 yr/2,000 hr; labor in yrs 1–2 only[7] | 5-year limited |
A dash means the figure is not stated clearly on the source document we used. Kohler gives shipping weight (with packaging); Generac gives unit weight.
Cost per kilowatt
| Model | Package | MSRP “starting at” | kW LP / NG | $ per LP kW* | $ per NG kW* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generac 7290 Guardian 26 kW[4] | generator only | $6,989 | 26 / 22.5 | $268.81 | $310.62 |
| Generac 7327 NextGen 26 kW[5] | generator only | $7,159 | 26 / 24 | $275.35 | $298.29 |
| KOHLER 26RCA[6] | generator only | $7,546 | 26 / 24 | $290.23 | $314.42 |
| Generac 7291 Guardian 26 kW[9] | with whole-house transfer switch | $7,899 | 26 / 22.5 | $303.81 | $351.07 |
| KOHLER 26RCAL[8] | with RXT automatic transfer switch | $8,515 | 26 / 24 | $327.50 | $354.79 |
* Calculated by us: MSRP ÷ rated kW. MSRPs are the manufacturers’ published “starting at” prices for the equipment only; they exclude installation, gas piping, electrical work, pad and permits, and dealers set final prices.
For large homes: which 26 kW?
- Natural gas, lowest price per natural gas kW: the Generac NextGen 26 kW gives 24 kW for $7,159[5, 2].
- Lowest list price overall: the Generac Guardian 7290 at $6,989, but it delivers 1.5 kW less on natural gas[4, 3].
- Heavy motor loads (central A/C, well pump): Kohler is the only one of the three to publish a motor-starting figure (39 kVA)[1]. Ask a Generac dealer for the equivalent.
- Lowest natural gas use at full load: the KOHLER 26RCA, at 290 ft³/hr vs 316–333 for Generac[1, 3, 2].
- Longest full-coverage warranty: KOHLER[1].
If you need more than 26 kW, Generac’s NextGen line goes to 28 kW (25 kW on natural gas)[2]. Above that you are into liquid-cooled units, which this site does not cover. Size any air-cooled unit against your real loads; run your numbers through the generator sizing calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kohler 26RCA better than the Generac 26kW?
It depends on what you value. The 26RCA matches the Generac NextGen 26 kW at 24 kW on natural gas, beats the Guardian 26 kW (22.5 kW), and has the longer full-coverage warranty. Its list price is higher: $7,546 vs $6,989 (Guardian 7290) and $7,159 (NextGen 7327), per manufacturer pages checked October 27, 2026.
How many kW does a Generac 26kW produce on natural gas?
22.5 kW for the Guardian 26 kW (7290/7291) and 24 kW for the NextGen 26 kW (7327), per Generac's spec sheets.
How much natural gas does a Kohler 26RCA use?
Kohler's spec sheet lists 290 cubic feet per hour at 100% load, 180 at 50% load and 67 during exercise.
Sources
Every figure on this page was taken from the documents below, all opened on October 27, 2026. Manufacturers revise spec sheets and prices; check the linked document before you buy.
- 1. KOHLER 26RCA/26RCAL spec sheet G4-315 (rev. 4/26g), Discovery Energy, LLC (accessed October 27, 2026)
- 2. Generac NextGen 22/24/26/28 kW spec sheet, Part A0005151077 Rev. B (07/11/2025). Generac document, copy hosted by retailer Global Industrial (the generac.com link did not resolve on Oct 27, 2026) (accessed October 27, 2026)
- 3. Generac Guardian 26 kW spec sheet, Part A0002026894 Rev. D (09/19/2022) (accessed October 27, 2026)
- 4. Generac 7290 (26 kW Guardian) product page, MSRP (accessed October 27, 2026)
- 5. Generac 7327 (26 kW NextGen) product page, MSRP (accessed October 27, 2026)
- 6. KOHLER 26RCA product page (Rehlko), MSRP (accessed October 27, 2026)
- 7. Generac 5 Year Limited Warranty for Residential and Commercial Standby Generators, Part 10000039087 Rev A (accessed October 27, 2026)
- 8. KOHLER 26RCAL product page (Rehlko), MSRP (accessed October 27, 2026)
- 9. Generac 7291 (26 kW Guardian + whole-house switch) product page, MSRP (accessed October 27, 2026)