Electric Car Home Charging Costs UK: Complete Cost Breakdown

Summary

• Home charging costs: Roughly £8–£15 for a full charge, or about 4–6p per mile.
• Cheaper than petrol: Home charging costs about one-third of what you'd spend on petrol or diesel.
• Charger installation: A home wallbox costs £800–£1,200 installed. Worth it for the convenience. See our home vs public charging guide.

One of the biggest advantages of an electric car is the running cost. Charging at home is dramatically cheaper than filling up with petrol.

But how much does it actually cost? Let's break it down with real numbers.

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How Much Does It Cost to Charge at Home?

The cost depends on your electricity tariff and your car's battery size.

Car	Battery Size	Range	Home Charge Cost	Cost Per Mile
Nissan Leaf	40 kWh	168 miles	~£10	~6p
Tesla Model 3	60 kWh	270 miles	~£15	~5.5p
MG4	64 kWh	280 miles	~£16	~5.5p
Hyundai Ioniq 5	77 kWh	298 miles	~£19	~6.5p

These costs assume a home electricity rate of about 24p per kWh (typical UK rate). Your actual cost depends on your tariff.

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Home Charging vs Petrol: Cost Comparison

Let's compare the annual fuel costs for 10,000 miles of driving.

	Electric (Home Charging)	Petrol (45 mpg)	Diesel (55 mpg)
Cost per mile	~5p	~15p	~13p
Annual cost (10,000 miles)	~£500	~£1,500	~£1,300
Annual saving vs petrol	—	£1,000	£800

You save roughly £1,000 per year charging at home compared to petrol. Over 5 years, that's £5,000 in fuel savings alone.

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How to Reduce Your Charging Costs Further

1. Switch to an EV tariff: Some energy suppliers offer cheap overnight electricity rates for EV owners. You can charge at 7–10p per kWh instead of 24p+.
2. Charge overnight: Even without a special tariff, off-peak rates (Economy 7) are cheaper. Set your car to charge between midnight and 6am.
3. Use solar panels: If you have solar panels, you can charge your EV essentially for free during the day.
4. Don't always charge to 100%: Charging to 80% is faster and better for battery longevity. Only charge to 100% for long trips.

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Home Charger Types and Costs

You have two main options for charging at home.

Three-Pin Plug (Slow Charge)

• Uses a standard household plug.
• Charges at about 2.3 kW — very slow.
• A full charge takes 12–24 hours depending on battery size.
• Free to use (no installation cost) but slow and not ideal for daily use.

Dedicated Wallbox (Fast Charge)

• A dedicated charger installed on your wall or driveway.
• Charges at 7 kW — about 3x faster than a plug.
• A full charge takes 4–8 hours (perfect for overnight).
• Installation cost: £800–£1,200 including fitting by a qualified electrician.

Popular wallbox brands include Ohme, Pod Point, and Zappi. All offer smart features like scheduling and app control.

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Home vs Public Charging Costs

Charging Location	Cost Per kWh	Cost for 60 kWh Charge
Home (standard tariff)	~24p	~£15
Home (EV night tariff)	~8p	~£5
Public slow charger	~30–40p	~£18–£24
Public rapid charger	~60–80p	~£36–£48

Home charging is always cheapest. Public rapid chargers can cost nearly as much as petrol. Use them only when you need to.

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Do You Need a Wallbox?

If you drive an EV daily, yes. Here's why.

• Speed: A wallbox charges 3x faster than a three-pin plug.
• Safety: A dedicated circuit is safer for regular high-power charging.
• Smart features: Schedule charging for off-peak times to save money.
• Home value: A wallbox can add value to your home — especially as more people switch to EVs.

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Charging at home is the biggest financial advantage of owning an EV. With an EV tariff and overnight charging, you can drive for as little as 2–3p per mile. That's a fraction of what petrol costs.

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