How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home in the UK?

Charging at home is where most of the saving from an electric car comes from. What you pay depends on three things: your electricity price, how much energy you put in, and how efficient your car is. This guide works through each one with current figures, so you can check your own numbers.

The simple formula

Cost of a charge = kWh taken from the socket × your price per kWh.

Some energy is lost as heat while charging, so you take a little more from the socket than ends up in the battery. In our examples we add 10% for this. Real losses vary by car, charger and temperature.

What electricity costs right now

If you are on a standard variable tariff in England, Scotland or Wales, your price is limited by the Ofgem price cap. From 1 October to 31 December 2026, the average capped unit rate for Direct Debit customers is 26.32p per kWh, with a daily standing charge of 54.83p. Ofgem says there is no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, so this is the price you pay.

Your region changes the figure. Ofgem's regional table runs from 25.36p per kWh in the East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales (Direct Debit, single rate).

EV tariffs give you a much lower rate for some hours each night. On the supplier pages we checked on 9 October 2026, EDF GoElectric charges 6.66p per kWh from 11pm to 6am, and Intelligent Octopus Go charges 7.6p per kWh for up to six hours of smart charging with a compatible car or charger. Day rates on these tariffs are different, and both are fixed tariffs with exit fees, so look at the full quote. Our off-peak EV tariff guide compares more of them.

You pay the standing charge whether or not you own an EV, so we leave it out of the cost of charging.

Cost per full charge

This table shows the cost of charging from empty to full for three common usable battery sizes, including 10% losses. Most people rarely charge from empty, so a typical top-up costs less.

Many drivers charge from about 20% to 80% day to day. For a 60 kWh battery that is 36 kWh into the battery, or 40 kWh from the socket: about £10.53 at the price cap, or £3.04 at 7.6p.

Cost per mile

Cost per mile is the fairest way to compare with petrol. Divide your price per kWh by your car's miles per kWh, then add the losses.

Take a car that averages 3.5 miles per kWh across the year. For reference, Octopus Energy uses a UK average of 0.301 kWh per mile, which is about 3.3 miles per kWh. Allowing 10% losses, each mile at 3.5 miles per kWh takes about 0.32 kWh from the socket. That gives:

• At the 26.32p price cap: about 8.4p a mile.
• At 7.6p (Intelligent Octopus Go): about 2.4p a mile.
• At 6.66p (EDF GoElectric): about 2.1p a mile.

For comparison, a petrol car doing 48 mpg costs about 16.5p a mile at the RAC's average unleaded price of 174.71p a litre on 2 October 2026. Public rapid and ultra-rapid charging averaged 79p per kWh in September 2026 on Zapmap's price index, which works out at about 25p a mile with the same assumptions.

What it adds up to over a year

At 8,000 miles a year and 3.5 miles per kWh, you would take about 2,540 kWh from the socket. That costs roughly:

• £669 at the price cap average
• £193 at 7.6p
• £169 at 6.66p
• about £1,324 in fuel for the 48 mpg petrol car

These are energy costs only. Insurance, servicing, vehicle tax and depreciation can change the overall answer, which is why our EV vs petrol cost calculator includes them.

Things that push your cost up

• Charging at the day rate. On an EV tariff, a top-up outside the cheap window is billed at the day rate, which can be higher than the price cap.
• Cold weather. Cars use more energy in winter, so the cost per mile rises. See EV winter range.
• Slow charging. A 3-pin cable fits fewer kWh into a short off-peak window. See our granny charger guide.
• Public charging. Every mile you charge on a rapid charger costs several times more than a mile charged at home. See the public charging reality check.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car at home?

For a 60 kWh battery charged from empty, about £17.55 at the October to December 2026 price cap average of 26.32p per kWh, or about £4.44 to £5.07 on an EV tariff at 6.66p to 7.6p per kWh. These figures include 10% charging losses.

Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home than to fill up with petrol?

Usually, yes. At the price cap, a car doing 3.5 miles per kWh costs about 8.4p a mile, against about 16.5p a mile for a 48 mpg petrol car at 174.71p a litre. On an EV tariff the gap is wider. If you mostly use public rapid chargers, it can be much closer.

Do I need a smart meter to get a cheap EV rate?

For most EV tariffs, yes. Suppliers need half-hourly readings to know when you used electricity. EDF, for example, says you need a fully connected smart meter for GoElectric.

Does the standing charge count as a charging cost?

Not really. You pay the daily standing charge whether or not you charge a car, so it does not change the extra cost of charging. It does matter when you compare tariffs.

Related guides

• Cheapest off-peak EV tariffs in the UK: rates and how to choose.
• Granny charger (3-pin plug) charging: time and cost.
• EV vs petrol: what actually drives cost

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