With no end in sight to the problem of erratic power supply in Nigeria, it’s obvious that web searches for information on current generator prices in Nigeria won’t stop anytime soon.

If you’re looking for information on the current prices of generators in Nigeria, you’re just on the right page. Here, we’ll be revealing the present costs (in Naira, of course) of various generator brands available in the country. And more, importantly, we’ll be enlightening you on how to choose the right generator. Read on to learn more.


generator prices in nigeria

Best generator brands in Nigeria

As with any other product, some brands are not just popular for no reason. Many factors including product quality and durability, customer support, fuel economy, easy of maintenance, and availability of spare parts explain why popular brands have good reputations. So, when you want to buy a good generator in Nigeria, brand is one of the most important things you need to keep in mind. You won’t go wrong with any of the major, popular brands. Some of them include:

  • Honda
  • Elepaq
  • Elemax
  • Lutian
  • Thermocool (TEC)
  • Sumec Firman
  • Mikano
  • Tiger

These names have been around in Nigeria and have been trusted for years. So, you can bank on them. We are not saying that little-known brands offer poor quality products. But buying generators by little-known brands is quite risky.

Current prices of generators in Nigeria

Buying a generator in Nigeria: Factors to consider

We understand that you’ve landed on this page while looking for prices of generators, but the truth is that there’s much more to buying a good and reliable generator than price. Aside the brand, which is very important, there are a number of other factors that you must consider when looking to buy a generator. Here are some of those other important factors.


Power output

This is arguably the most important factor to consider when buying a new generator for your home or office. Of what use is a generator that can’t power all or most of your gadgets and appliances at a go? Only few things can be more cumbersome and frustrating than having to power off your TV before pluggin in your standing fan, all because your generator isn’t strong enough to power both together.

So, you have to really figure the total amount of power consumed by your appliances and gadgets. You can easily do this by checking the body casing of each unit, and then adding up the power rating of all of them to get your total. So, for example, if all your electrically-powered devices will consume a total of 4,500 Watts, you’ll need a generator of at least 4,500Watts (4.5KVA) power rating. In fact, it’s highly recommended that you go a bit higher to 5KVA or 6KVA to be on the safer side. It doesn’t hurt to have a generator that provides more power than you need.

However, we can give general recommendations. If you’re looking to power a small home or office that contains just basic electronics like TV, fan, computer, and light-bulb, then you’d be fine with a 900VA to 1.5KVA generator. So, if you opt for one of those small generators (“I better pass my neighbour”), you’d be just fine. But if you’re looking to power a bigger apartment such as a 2 or 3-bedroom flat, you’ll need to go a bit higher to between 2.5KVA and 5KVA depending on the gadgets and appliances you want to power, which will most likely include refrigerators and air conditioners. And if you’re looking to power a bigger house, such as duplex apartment, more than one flat apartment, or a large office, you’ll need to go higher to between 6KVA and 10KVA. And if you need the generator for industrial or power-heavy uses, you might need to go higher than that. No matter your power requirements, you’ll always get a suitable generator. It’s just a matter of having the right budget.

If you’re not so sure of your power requirements, here is a list of electrical gadget/appliances and their typical wattage requirements


  • Television: 300 watts
  • Refrigerator: 700 – 1200 watts
  • Freezer: 500 – 1200 watts
  • Washing machine: 1000 – 1200 watts
  • Laptop computer: 250 watts
  • Air conditioner: 1000 – 2000 watts
  • Microwave oven: 600 – 1200 watts

Start option: Recoil vs. key-start vs. push-button start

Another factor worth considering when buying a generator is the start option. The options you have would depend on your power requirements. For example, if all you need is a small generator, you won’t have the option of the key-start type because most models of that size come with the  recoil start system (which requires pulling a rope-and-grip). Similarly, if you’re going for a generator above 10KVA, you’d hardly find a model that comes with the recoil start system.

For medium-power generators, some models come with recoil start only, some with recoil start and key systems, and some with electrical push-button start systems. Generators with only recoil start systems typically cost less than those with key-start or push-button start generators. The difference in price can be sometimes significant.

Most importantly, your choice should be based on your capabilities. If you have no problems pulling a rope-and-grip, then you should be fine with a generator that comes with just that. But if you’re a stickler for convenience, then you’ll have to go with a generator that comes with the easier start options. Note, however, that most generators with rope-and-grip are no longer as difficult as they used to be in the past, especially in those medium-sized generators. Just a simple and gentle pull, and the generator would start off.

Fuel: Petrol vs. diesel

Although most small and medium-sized generators typically run on petrol and large ones run on diesel, there are few exceptions. So, you’ll find some medium-sized generators running on diesel and there are largere generators running on petrol. Most Nigerians use petrol-powered generators, but you don’t necessarily have to go with the crowd. If you have a reason to choose a diesel generator, feel free to do just that.


Petrol- and diesel-powered generators each have their pros and cons, so deciding which is better would be down to user preferences and needs. Diesel generators use half as much quantity of fuel than petrol generators, but they emit more poisonous gases and CO2 per litre of fuel. Over time, diesel engines become more cost effective than petrol generators, as they use less fuel. They also last longer than petrol generators if they are well maintained. But petrol generators cost considerably cheaper than diesel generators and are much easier and cheaper to fix.

Mobility

This isn’t much of a consideration if you’re going for largere generators, since they usually take up space and require being installed at a dedicated point. But for mediem sized and small generators, you have the option to choose between the mobile and not-so-mobile ones, depending on your needs.

If you’ll be moving the generator from one point to the other on a frequent basis, then you’d be better off with a generator that comes with mobility features such as firm, ergonomic handles and rubber tyres. But if you’ll be having your generator placed on a fixed point, then you’d be able to save some money by going for models that lack these features.