EV Charging Cost Calculator

See exactly what it costs to charge an electric car at home, on an off-peak tariff or at a public rapid charger.

Free, no sign-up
Runs in your browser
Updated 4 Nov 2026

Usable battery capacity

kWh

Charge now

Charge to

Where are you charging?

Price

p/kWh

Charging losses

Efficiency (optional)

mi/kWh

Charger power (optional)

Home default: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (GB average, Direct Debit). Public defaults: Zapmap Price Index, September 2026 (pay-as-you-go averages). Off-peak is an example rate; enter your own tariff.

Cost of this charge

Miles added
Cost per mile
Cost per 100 miles
Full charge (0–100%)
Rough charging time

Same charge elsewhere

Excludes standing charges, subscriptions and overstay fees. Rapid chargers slow down above about 80%.

How to use the ev charging cost calculator

1 Enter the battery's usable capacity in kWh (it is in the handbook or the manufacturer's spec sheet).
2 Set the charge level now and the level you want to charge to.
3 Pick where you are charging. Each option fills in a typical price you can change to your own tariff.
4 Add your car's efficiency in miles per kWh to see miles added, cost per mile and cost per 100 miles.

Worked example

Charging a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80%

Energy into the battery: 36 kWh
Home, 10% losses: 40 kWh from the wall
Price: 26.32p per kWh

40 kWh × £0.2632 at home; 37.9 kWh × £0.79 at a rapid charger

= £10.53 at home, £29.94 at a rapid charger, for about 126 miles at 3.5 mi/kWh

Assumptions and limitations

Home rate default: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (GB average, Direct Debit). Public defaults: Zapmap Price Index, September 2026 (pay-as-you-go averages). Your tariff will differ.
The off-peak rate is an example only. EV tariffs vary widely, so enter your own.
Charging losses are estimates (10% for home and slow AC charging, 5% for DC rapid). Real losses depend on the charger, cable, temperature and car.
Excludes standing charges, network subscriptions, connection or overstay fees and parking.
Rapid chargers slow down a lot above about 80%, so the time estimate is a rough guide only.

How the cost of a charge is worked out

The battery needs a set amount of energy: its usable capacity multiplied by the percentage you are adding. Some energy is lost as heat in the charger, cable and battery, so you pay for a little more than ends up in the battery. The calculator divides by (1 − losses) and multiplies by the price per kWh.

That is why the same 36 kWh top-up can cost around £10 on a standard home tariff, a few pounds on an off-peak EV tariff, and nearly £30 at a rapid charger.

Home, off-peak and public: why the gap is so big

Most home tariffs sit at or near the Ofgem price cap. Specialist EV tariffs offer a much cheaper overnight rate for a few hours, which is enough to fill most batteries. Public chargers add the cost of the hardware, grid connection and site, and rapid charging carries the highest prices.

If you mostly charge overnight at home and only use rapid chargers on long trips, your average cost per mile is close to the home figure. The EV vs petrol calculator lets you set that home and public mix.

Miles per kWh: the number that decides your cost per mile

Efficiency matters as much as price. A small hatchback might manage 4 miles per kWh in mild weather while a large SUV manages under 3, and every car does worse in winter and at motorway speeds. Use your car's own trip data where you can.

Official guidance and sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Multiply the energy you add by your unit rate, then allow for charging losses. Adding 36 kWh to a 60 kWh battery draws about 40 kWh from the wall, which is £10.53 at the Ofgem cap rate of 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026). On an off-peak EV tariff the same charge costs far less.

Zapmap's Price Index put average pay-as-you-go prices at 79p per kWh for rapid and ultra-rapid chargers and 54p per kWh for standard public chargers in September 2026. Individual networks charge more or less than that, and some offer cheaper rates with a subscription.

Energy lost as heat between the supply and the battery. Losses are usually higher on slow AC charging than on DC rapid charging, and higher in cold weather. The calculator assumes 10% for home charging and 5% for rapid charging by default, and you can change both.

Charging speed drops sharply as the battery fills, so the last 20% can take as long as the first 60%. Many drivers stop at around 80% on longer trips to save time. At home, follow your manufacturer's advice on the everyday charge limit.

Not in this calculator. You pay the standing charge whether or not you own an EV, so it is not an extra cost of charging. If you are on a separate EV meter, add it yourself.

Check the handbook or the manufacturer's specification sheet. Many list a gross figure and a slightly smaller usable or net figure. Use the usable figure, because that is the energy you can actually put in.

Figures and guidance last checked 4 November 2026. An independent free tool from Free Car Tax MOT Check; not affiliated with DVLA, DVSA or GOV.UK. Results are estimates to help you plan, not financial, legal or mechanical advice.