How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
At the Ofgem cap rate of 26.32p/kWh, adding 40 kWh to a car's battery (for example 20% to 80% of a 67 kWh pack) costs about £11.70, once you allow for about 10% lost in charging. For a car doing 3.5 miles per kWh, that is about 8.4p per mile. On an off-peak EV tariff, enter your night rate below and the cost usually drops a lot.
Prices last checked: 26 September 2026 · Source: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 · Great Britain average, standard variable tariff, paid by Direct Debit
Home charging cost per 100 miles
Efficiency in miles per kWh is shown on most EV dashboards. It changes with speed, temperature and heating. The table uses the cap unit rate, so it is the cost on a standard tariff. An EV tariff will be cheaper for the hours it covers.
| Car efficiency | kWh from the wall per 100 miles | Cost per 100 miles | Cost per mile | 7,000 miles a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mi/kWh (large SUV, winter) | 44.4 | £11.70 | 12p | £819 |
| 3.0 mi/kWh | 37.0 | £9.75 | 9.7p | £682 |
| 3.5 mi/kWh | 31.7 | £8.36 | 8.4p | £585 |
| 4.0 mi/kWh (small car, mild weather) | 27.8 | £7.31 | 7.3p | £512 |
What changes the cost of charging at home
- Your tariff. The biggest factor. Standard variable tariffs charge the same rate day and night. EV and smart tariffs offer a much cheaper rate for a few overnight hours. If you can do almost all your charging in that window, use that rate.
- The season. Cold weather reduces range, and heating the cabin uses battery energy. Your winter miles per kWh will be lower.
- How you drive. Motorway speeds use noticeably more energy per mile than town driving.
- Charger type. A 7kW wallbox and a 2.3kW 3-pin plug deliver the same energy to the battery for the same cost per kWh. The wallbox is faster and often a little more efficient.
Mistakes when estimating EV costs
- Using battery capacity as a per-charge cost. Most people rarely charge from 0% to 100%. Price the kWh you actually add.
- Forgetting charging losses. Your bill counts energy at the wall, which is more than what reaches the battery.
- Using the official range for miles per kWh. Your dashboard's average over a few weeks is more realistic.
- Mixing tariffs. If some charging happens at the day rate, a weighted average of the two rates is more accurate than the night rate alone. The time-of-use calculator helps with this.
Limits of this estimate
The default rate is the Ofgem cap average (Great Britain, Direct Debit, standard variable tariff), which most EV drivers can beat with an EV tariff. Charging efficiency and miles per kWh are assumptions you should replace with your own figures.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a full charge cost at home?
Multiply the kWh you add by your rate and divide by about 0.9 for losses. Adding 60 kWh at the cap rate costs about £17.55. At an off-peak EV rate it will be much less.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at night?
Only if your tariff has a cheaper night rate. On a standard single-rate tariff, the price per kWh is the same at any time.
Does a 7kW charger cost more to run than a 3-pin plug?
No. You pay per kWh, not per kW. The 7kW charger just delivers the same energy faster.