Charging an electric car at home in the UK costs about 26p for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity on a standard tariff. That works out at roughly £10 to £20 for a full charge of a typical battery, and about 7.5p a mile. Public rapid chargers cost around three times as much. This guide answers how much does it cost to charge an electric car at home in the UK, with the sums shown. For information only, not financial advice.
The rate to use: Ofgem’s price cap
Ofgem sets a cap on the unit rate that suppliers can charge on standard (default) tariffs. For 1 October to 31 December 2026, the average electricity cap for Direct Debit customers across England, Scotland and Wales is 26.32p per kWh, plus a standing charge of 54.83p a day (Ofgem figures, read on 5 November 2026).
Ofgem says these electricity figures do not include VAT, because VAT on electricity is set to zero from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. So 26.32p is the figure to use for now. Your own rate depends on your region and payment method, so check your bill. The cap changes every three months, and the zero VAT period is due to end on 31 March 2027.
The standing charge is paid whether or not you own an EV, so it is not part of the cost of charging.
Worked examples: cost per full charge
The sum is simple: battery size in kWh multiplied by the price per kWh. These examples assume a full charge from empty to 100% and ignore small energy losses while charging, so real bills will be slightly higher. Battery sizes are examples, not specific models.
| Battery size | Home, at 26.32p/kWh | Public slow/fast, at 54p/kWh | Public rapid, at 82p/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh | £10.53 | £21.60 | £32.80 |
| 60 kWh | £15.79 | £32.40 | £49.20 |
| 75 kWh | £19.74 | £40.50 | £61.50 |
The public figures are Zapmap’s weighted average pay-as-you-go prices for October 2026: 54p/kWh on chargers up to 49kW and 82p/kWh on rapid chargers of 50kW and above. Zapmap notes that memberships and promotions can lower what you pay.
Cost per mile (with the maths)
Efficiency varies by car, driving style and weather. These examples assume 3.5 miles per kWh. This is an assumption for illustration, not a published figure. Check your own car’s figure and swap it in.
- Home: 26.32p ÷ 3.5 = about 7.5p per mile.
- Public 54p tariff: 54p ÷ 3.5 = about 15.4p per mile.
- Public rapid: 82p ÷ 3.5 = about 23.4p per mile.
- A 60 kWh battery at 3.5 miles per kWh gives about 210 miles (60 × 3.5).
- 1,000 miles at home: 1,000 ÷ 3.5 = 285.7 kWh, times £0.2632 = about £75. The same miles on rapid chargers cost about £234.
Price-cap rate vs off-peak vs public charging
| Option | Price per kWh | Cost per mile (3.5 mi/kWh) | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home, price-cap rate | 26.32p | about 7.5p | Ofgem, Oct-Dec 2026 |
| Home, EV off-peak tariff | Varies by supplier; check the current rate | Usually lower than the above for overnight charging | Supplier tariff pages |
| Public slow/fast (up to 49kW) | 54p average | about 15.4p | Zapmap, October 2026 |
| Public rapid (50kW+) | 82p average | about 23.4p | Zapmap, October 2026 |
EV off-peak tariffs
Some suppliers sell tariffs designed for EVs, with a cheaper rate during a set overnight window. As an example of how they work, Octopus Energy’s Go tariff page describes a low-price window from 00:30 to 05:30 each night. Its page did not show rates without a postcode check, so no price is quoted here. Rates differ by supplier and region and change often, so compare current offers before switching.
Check two things before you switch. First, the daytime rate: it can be higher than the price cap, which matters if you use plenty of power outside the cheap window. Second, whether your car or charger can be scheduled to start charging at the cheap time.
Home charger vs 3-pin plug
Per kWh, the electricity costs the same either way. The difference is speed and safety. Insurer Ageas says a three-pin socket delivers about 2.3kW and takes around 18 hours for a full charge. It says three-pin sockets are not designed for high charging loads and advises against regular use because of the fire risk. A 7kW home charger fully charges in roughly 4 to 8 hours, about three times faster, according to the same guide. Ageas gives just under eight hours for a 60kWh battery.
| Feature | 3-pin plug | 7kW home charger |
|---|---|---|
| Power | about 2.3kW | up to 7kW |
| Full charge | about 18 hours | about 4 to 8 hours |
| Upfront cost | None, but a cable may be needed | Installation needed |
| Safety | Advised against for regular use | Built for the job |
Charger installation and the government grant
Ageas puts the average cost of a home charge point at about £1,000. That is a third-party figure, and quotes vary. On gov.uk, the grant situation as of 5 November 2026 is:
- Flat owners and renters: up to £500 towards a chargepoint. You must own and live in a flat, or rent and live in any residential property, and you must have private off-street parking.
- Homes with only on-street parking: up to £500, with a cross-pavement solution such as a charging gully.
- Owners of houses with off-street parking: the gov.uk page lists no grant for this group.
- Gov.uk says the chargepoint grant schemes are available until 31 March 2027.
Some older guides still quote a £350 grant. Use the gov.uk figure, and confirm eligibility before you book an installer.
The coming pay-per-mile charge (eVED)
Gov.uk says Electric Vehicle Excise Duty is planned from 1 April 2028 at 3p per mile for battery electric cars, rising with inflation from 2029 to 2030. The DVLA would run it. The page says primary legislation is still to be introduced, so it is proposed, not yet law. At 3p a mile, 1,000 miles would add £30. Keep this in mind for long-term costs.
What to do now
- Find your unit rate on your latest bill and use it in the sums above.
- Find your car’s real efficiency, in miles per kWh, from the dashboard.
- Compare EV tariffs and check the daytime rate, not just the overnight rate.
- Get quotes from authorised installers, and check grant eligibility first.
- Use public rapid chargers for trips, and charge at home for daily use.
If you are still weighing up car types, see our hydrogen vs electric cars comparison. Smart chargers usually need Wi-Fi, so our guide to securing your home Wi-Fi is a useful read.
FAQ
Is charging at home cheaper than petrol?
Often, but this guide does not compare against petrol prices. Home charging is about 7.5p per mile under our assumption. Work out your petrol or diesel cost per mile from your own fuel spend and compare.
Does a home charger cost more per kWh than a 3-pin plug?
No. You pay the same electricity price. A charger is faster and designed for regular use, and a three-pin socket is not.
Can I get a grant for a home charger?
Possibly. Flat owners and renters with off-street parking, and homes with only on-street parking, can claim up to £500 on gov.uk. The page lists none for houses with off-street parking.
Bottom line
At the current Ofgem cap, home charging costs about 7.5p a mile on our assumption, against about 23p on a rapid charger. An overnight EV tariff may cut the home cost further. Prices change every quarter, so recheck before you decide. For information only, not financial advice.
Sources
- Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
- Ofgem: Changes to the energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026
- Zapmap: Charging price index
- GOV.UK: Electric vehicle chargepoint grants
- GOV.UK: Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED)
- Ageas: Guide to electric car charging
- Octopus Energy: Go tariff page
