EV charging cost & time calculator

Calculate how much it costs and how long it takes to charge an electric car at home, including charging losses, and compare cost per mile with a gas car.

Results

Cost of this charge	$9
Charging time	6 h 57 min
Energy from the wall	50 kWh
Range added	158 mi
EV cost per mile	5.7 ¢/mi
Gas car cost per mile	11.7 ¢/mi
Savings per 1,000 miles	$60

Above about 80% charge, charging slows. This matters most at DC fast chargers and very little on Level 2.

About this calculator

Charging at home is usually the cheapest way to fuel an EV, but the cost isn't just battery kWh × your rate. Charging loses roughly 10-15% of the energy as heat in the onboard charger and battery, so you pay for more kWh than end up in the pack. Charge time depends on the slower of your wall charger and the car's onboard charger.

Enter your battery size, charge window, charger and rates to see the cost and time of a typical session, the miles it adds and how your per-mile cost compares with a gas car.

How to use it

Enter your EV's usable battery capacity.
Set the starting and target charge for a typical session, e.g. 20% → 80%.
Enter the charging power. Use the lower of the wall unit's rating and the car's onboard charger limit.
Enter your electricity rate (the off-peak rate if you charge overnight on time-of-use) and your car's efficiency.

The formula

Energy added = battery kWh × (target % − start %).

Energy from the wall = energy added ÷ charging efficiency.

Time = energy from the wall ÷ charger kW. Cost = energy from the wall × $/kWh.

Cost per mile = cost ÷ (energy added × mi/kWh). Gas: price ÷ mpg.

Worked example (default values)

Inputs

Usable battery capacity	75 kWh
Starting charge	20 %
Target charge	80 %
Charger power	7.2 kW
Charging efficiency	90 %
Electricity price	0.18 $/kWh
EV efficiency	3.5 mi/kWh
Comparable gas car	30 mpg
Gas price	3.5 $/gal

Results

Cost of this charge	$9
Charging time	6 h 57 min
Energy from the wall	50 kWh
Range added	158 mi
EV cost per mile	5.7 ¢/mi
Gas car cost per mile	11.7 ¢/mi
Savings per 1,000 miles	$60

Tips and common mistakes

Level 1 vs Level 2: a standard 120 V outlet adds roughly 3-5 miles of range per hour, enough for about 30-50 miles overnight. A 240 V Level 2 charger adds about 20-35 miles per hour. If a Level 2 install needs a new circuit, have an electrician check your panel's capacity.

Time-of-use plans can cut charging costs by 30-60% when you schedule charging overnight. Most EVs and smart chargers handle the scheduling automatically.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

A typical 20→80% charge on a 75 kWh battery adds 45 kWh and draws about 50 kWh from the wall, about $9 at $0.18/kWh. That's around 5-6¢ per mile versus about 12¢ for a 30 mpg car at $3.50 gas.

How long does it take to charge on Level 2?

At 7.2 kW, 20→80% on a 75 kWh pack takes about 7 hours. At 11.5 kW it's about 4.5 hours.

Is public fast charging cheaper?

Usually not. DC fast charging often costs $0.35-$0.60/kWh, which can approach gas cost per mile.

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Estimates for planning only, based on the assumptions shown. Real-world performance varies with equipment, temperature and installation. Updated October 19, 2026. See our methodology.