Generator Cost Calculator
Calculate how much you spend on generator fuel monthly. Enter your generator size, fuel type, and daily usage hours.
Generator Details
kVA
hrs/day
L/hr
Monthly Fuel Cost
₦101,250
Fuel Consumption Rate
0.63 L/hr
Daily Fuel Usage
3.8 litres/day
Daily Fuel Cost
₦3,375
Monthly Fuel (30 days)
113 litres
Monthly Cost
₦101,250
Annual Cost
₦1,215,000
Extended
Size Comparison & Solar Analysis
Generator size comparison chart, solar vs generator cost comparison, fuel price sensitivity
Monthly fuel cost at 6h/day for different generator sizes (petrol)
1 kVA (small)
Phone/laptop charging, small lights
₦40,500/mo
₦1,350/day
2.5 kVA
Fan, TV, fridge, lighting
₦101,250/mo
₦3,375/day
5 kVA
AC (1HP), appliances, home office
₦202,500/mo
₦6,750/day
7.5 kVA
Multiple ACs, workshop
₦303,750/mo
₦10,125/day
10 kVA
Small business, multiple ACs
₦405,000/mo
₦13,500/day
Professional
Total Cost of Ownership & Hybrid Analysis
5-year TCO, maintenance schedule, fuel consumption modeling, grid+solar+generator hybrid
Total cost of ownership: generator vs solar over time
₦
₦
yrs
5-Year TCO Comparison
Generator TCO
₦6,475,000
Solar TCO
₦3,650,000
Solar break-even
2.7 years
Year 1
Fuel: ₦1,215,000Cumulative: ₦1,415,000
Year 2
Fuel: ₦1,215,000Cumulative: ₦2,680,000
Year 3
Fuel: ₦1,215,000Cumulative: ₦3,945,000
Year 4
Fuel: ₦1,215,000Cumulative: ₦5,210,000
Year 5
Fuel: ₦1,215,000Cumulative: ₦6,475,000
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your generator size in kVA, select the fuel type, and enter how many hours per day you run it. The fuel consumption rate is estimated automatically at 0.25 L/hr per kVA, but you can enter your actual measured rate for more accuracy. Results show daily, monthly, and annual costs.
The Formula
Fuel Rate (auto) = Generator kVA × 0.25 L/hr
Daily Litres = Fuel Rate × Hours/Day
Daily Cost = Daily Litres × Fuel Price (₦/L)
Monthly Cost = Daily Cost × 30
Annual Cost = Monthly Cost × 12
Petrol: ≈₦900/L | Diesel: ≈₦1,100/L (2024-2025)
Common Generator Sizes in Nigeria
1 kVA (I-Pass-My-Neighbour)~0.25 L/hr = ₦202.50/hr
2.5 kVA (household)~0.63 L/hr = ₦506.25/hr
5 kVA (medium household)~1.25 L/hr = ₦1,125/hr
10 kVA (small business)~2.5 L/hr = ₦2,750/hr
20 kVA (large business)~5 L/hr = ₦5,500/hr
FAQ
For a typical Lagos household with a 2.5 kVA petrol generator running 8 hours/day: 2.5 × 0.25 × 8 × ₦900 × 30 = ₦135,000/month on fuel alone. This excludes maintenance, engine oil changes, and generator depreciation. Lagos residents average 6–10 hours of PHCN supply per day (often less), making generator spending a major household expense.
Solar is significantly cheaper per kWh over 5+ years. A typical 3kW solar system costs ₦2.5M–₦4M installed with batteries. At ₦100,000/month generator fuel savings, payback is 25–40 months (2–3 years). After payback, solar provides near-free power for 20+ years. Diesel generators have ongoing fuel, maintenance, and depreciation costs that never stop. Use our Solar Panel Calculator to compare.
Common brands: Thermocool 2.8kVA uses approximately 0.7–0.9 L/hr on petrol. Elemax 2.6kVA Honda: ~0.5–0.7 L/hr. Firman 2.8kVA: ~0.8–1.0 L/hr. Actual consumption varies with load — a generator at 50% load uses significantly less than at 100% load. Check your generator's specification sheet for the rated fuel consumption, typically given in L/hr at rated load.