Calculate the cost to charge your electric vehicle at home
With the growing number of electric vehicles on UK roads, understanding the cost of home charging is essential for budgeting and comparing running costs against petrol or diesel alternatives. The cost to charge an EV depends on your battery size, how much charge you need to add, and your electricity tariff rate. Under the Ofgem energy price cap, the standard electricity rate in the UK is 24.5p per kWh. However, many EV owners take advantage of off-peak tariffs that offer significantly cheaper rates during overnight hours, making home charging even more economical. The type of charger you use also determines how long the charging session takes. Our EV charging cost calculator estimates the energy required, the total cost in pounds, the charging time for your chosen charger type, and the cost per mile. This helps you plan charging sessions and understand the true running costs of your electric vehicle.
To calculate EV charging costs: 1. Enter your vehicle's battery capacity in kWh. Common sizes range from 40 kWh for city cars to 100 kWh for premium EVs. The default 60 kWh covers popular models like the Hyundai Ioniq and MG4. 2. Set the current charge percentage. This is how much charge your battery currently has. 3. Set the target charge percentage. Charging to 80% is recommended for daily use as it reduces battery degradation. Use 100% only for long journeys. 4. Enter your electricity rate in pence per kWh. The default 24.5p reflects the Ofgem cap. Check your bill or tariff for your actual rate. 5. Select your charger type. A 7kW home wallbox is the most common choice. The 3kW option uses a standard 3-pin plug, while 22kW and 50kW chargers are typically found at public locations. 6. Review results showing energy needed, cost, charging time, and cost per mile.
The EV charging cost formula calculates the energy gap and applies your tariff rate: Energy Needed (kWh) = Battery Capacity x (Target Charge - Current Charge) / 100 Cost (GBP) = Energy Needed x Electricity Rate / 100 Charging Time (hours) = Energy Needed / Charger Power (kW) Cost per Mile = (Electricity Rate / 100) / Efficiency The calculator assumes an average EV efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh, which is typical for UK driving conditions including a mix of urban and motorway driving. For example, a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80%: Energy = 60 x (80 - 20) / 100 = 36 kWh. Cost = 36 x 24.5 / 100 = GBP 8.82. Time on 7kW = 36 / 7 = 5.1 hours. Cost per mile = 24.5 / 100 / 3.5 = 7.0p.
Inputs: Battery: 60 kWh. Current: 20%. Target: 80%. Rate: 24.5 p/kWh. Charger: 7kW.
Inputs: Battery: 40 kWh. Current: 10%. Target: 100%. Rate: 7.5 p/kWh. Charger: 3kW.
Inputs: Battery: 75 kWh. Current: 30%. Target: 80%. Rate: 65 p/kWh. Charger: 50kW.