Charging at home is the single biggest reason EVs are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel. Get onto a decent overnight tariff and you can refuel your car for a few pounds while you sleep.
Quick answer: On a cheap off-peak EV tariff (roughly 7-10p/kWh in 2026), filling a typical 60kWh battery from near-empty costs about £4-£6, or around 2-3p per mile. On the standard electricity price cap rate it's nearer £14-£16. Either way, it's well below the cost of a tank of fuel.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
The maths is refreshingly simple. Take your battery size in kWh, multiply it by your electricity rate in pence per kWh, and you have the cost of a full charge.
Cost of a full charge = battery size (kWh) x electricity rate (p/kWh)
A 60kWh battery on a 7.5p/kWh overnight rate works out at 60 x 7.5 = 450p, or £4.50. The same charge on the standard cap rate (call it ~24p/kWh as an illustration) is 60 x 24 = 1,440p, or £14.40.
Your real-world cost sits between those two figures depending on:
- Your tariff. Off-peak EV tariffs are the game-changer.
- Battery size. Bigger batteries cost more to fill but usually go further.
- Charging losses. Expect to pay for roughly 5-10% more energy than lands in the battery.
- State of charge. You rarely charge from 0-100%; most people top up little and often.
You can run your own numbers for any car and any tariff with our fuel cost calculator.
EV home charging cost by battery size
Here's how a full charge stacks up at three illustrative rates. Treat the rates as examples and always check your current tariff.
| Battery size | Off-peak (~7.5p/kWh) | Mid (~15p/kWh) | Standard cap (~24p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh | ~£3.00 | ~£6.00 | ~£9.60 |
| 60 kWh | ~£4.50 | ~£9.00 | ~£14.40 |
| 77 kWh | ~£5.78 | ~£11.55 | ~£18.48 |
| 100 kWh | ~£7.50 | ~£15.00 | ~£24.00 |
The takeaway: the tariff matters far more than the car. A big-battery EV on an off-peak rate can be cheaper to charge than a small one on the standard rate.
EV charging cost per mile at home
Cost per mile is the fairest way to compare EVs with petrol. Divide the cost of a charge by the miles it delivers.
Most EVs in 2026 manage somewhere between 3 and 4 miles per kWh in mixed driving. At 7.5p/kWh that lands at roughly 1.9-2.5p per mile. Even on the standard cap rate you're looking at around 6-8p per mile.
| Charging scenario | Approx. cost per mile |
|---|---|
| Home off-peak (~7.5p/kWh) | ~2-3p |
| Home standard (~24p/kWh) | ~6-8p |
| Public rapid (~75p/kWh) | ~19-25p |
| Petrol car (~45mpg) | ~13-16p |
That single row near the top is why home charging is so often called the cheapest way to charge an EV. To plan a longer trip and see where you'd top up away from home, try the journey planner.
What is the cheapest way to charge an EV?
In order of cost, from cheapest to most expensive:
- Home off-peak charging on a dedicated EV tariff. Set the car or charger to draw power during the cheap window (typically overnight) and you'll barely notice it on the bill.
- Free or subsidised workplace charging, if your employer offers it.
- Home standard-rate charging, still cheaper than public rapids but missing the off-peak savings.
- Slower public chargers (lamp-post and destination units), often priced below rapids.
- Public rapid and ultra-rapid charging, the most convenient but the priciest per kWh.
To squeeze the most out of home charging:
- Get onto a smart off-peak EV tariff and schedule charging in the cheap window.
- Charge to around 80% for daily use to protect the battery and save time.
- Top up little and often rather than waiting for empty.
- If you have solar panels, use surplus generation to charge for next to nothing.
Do you need a home charger?
You don't strictly need a dedicated wallbox. A standard 3-pin plug will charge an EV, just slowly, at around 2.3kW. That's fine for low-mileage drivers or as a backup.
A 7kW home charger is the sweet spot for most people. It adds roughly 25-30 miles of range per hour, so a typical overnight session easily covers a full charge. The charger doesn't make the electricity cheaper on its own, though; the savings come from pairing it with an off-peak tariff so you can reliably charge in the cheap window.
| Charger type | Power | Miles added per hour | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-pin plug | 2.3kW | ~6-8 miles | Occasional top-ups |
| 7kW wallbox | 7kW | ~25-30 miles | Everyday home charging |
| 22kW (3-phase) | 22kW | ~80+ miles | Homes with 3-phase supply |
How home charging compares to filling up with petrol
A 60kWh EV doing 30,000 miles a year at home off-peak rates might cost roughly £600-£750 in electricity. A 45mpg petrol car over the same distance could cost well over £4,000 in fuel. The exact gap depends on tariffs and pump prices, both of which you can monitor on our live map.
If you're away from home and need a charge, you can find fuel & EV charging near you or search EV chargers near you to see what's available nearby.
The bottom line
For UK drivers in 2026, charging at home overnight remains the cheapest, most convenient way to run an EV, typically a few pounds for a full charge and around 2-3p per mile. The single biggest lever is your electricity tariff, so getting onto a good off-peak EV deal is the first thing worth sorting.
Ready to plan a charge on the road? Open the live map to find fuel & EV charging near you and check live prices before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home in the UK?
On a cheap overnight EV tariff (around 7-10p/kWh), a typical 60kWh battery costs roughly £4-£6 for a full charge. On the standard price cap rate it's closer to £14-£16.
What is the cheapest way to charge an EV?
Charging at home overnight on a dedicated off-peak EV tariff is almost always the cheapest option, often a fraction of the cost of public rapid charging.
How much does it cost per mile to charge an EV at home?
On an off-peak tariff most EVs cost around 2-3p per mile at home, compared with roughly 13-16p per mile for a petrol car.
Do I need a home charger to charge an EV cheaply?
A 7kW home charger makes off-peak charging far easier, but you can use a standard 3-pin plug in a pinch. The cheap rates come from the tariff, not the charger itself.
How long does it take to charge an EV at home?
A 7kW home charger adds roughly 25-30 miles of range per hour, so most overnight charges from low to full take around 6-10 hours.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at work?
Free or subsidised workplace charging can beat home charging, but if you pay standard daytime rates at work, a home off-peak tariff usually wins.