EV charging cost calculator
Cost to charge an electric car at home or a public charger, from battery size, charge level and price per kWh.
- ๐บ๐ธ US federal & state rules
- EIA U.S. average residential electricity price, July 2026
- See sources
Charging cost
$9.16
20% to 80% at 18.31ยข per kWh, home
- Energy added to the battery
- 45 kWh
- Energy drawn from the charger
- 50 kWh
- Full charge, 0 to 100%
- $15.26
- Miles added
- about 158
- Cost per mile
- $0.06
This is an example. Enter your numbers above and press the button to see your own result.
Same charge at other prices
| 12ยข per kWh | $6.00 |
|---|---|
| 18ยข per kWh | $9.00 |
| 25ยข per kWh | $12.50 |
| 35ยข per kWh | $17.50 |
| 45ยข per kWh | $22.50 |
| 55ยข per kWh | $27.50 |
- The default home price is the EIA U.S. average residential rate, 18.31ยข per kWh for July 2026. Many utilities offer a cheaper overnight EV rate.
- Charging loses some energy as heat. Fueleconomy.gov puts battery charging efficiency at about 84% to 93%.
Show the math
| kWh into the battery | 75 ร (80% minus 20%) = 45 |
|---|---|
| kWh from the wall at 90% efficiency | 45 รท 0.9 = 50 |
| Cost | 50 ร $0.18 = $9.16 |
What to do next
How it works
Energy added = battery size ร (target percent minus starting percent). Because some energy is lost as heat while charging, the charger delivers more than the battery stores: energy drawn = energy added รท efficiency. Cost = energy drawn ร price per kWh.
Things to keep in mind
Use the usable battery size, which is a little smaller than the gross figure some brands advertise. Cold weather lowers both charging efficiency and range.
Time of use plans can cut home charging costs a lot. If your utility has a cheaper overnight rate, enter that rate instead of the average.
Sources
Rules applied as of 2026-07-01. See the sources below for details.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Multiply the kWh you add by your rate, then allow for charging losses. Adding 45 kWh at 18.31ยข per kWh and 90% efficiency costs about $9.16.
Is public fast charging more expensive than home?
Usually. The U.S. average home rate was 18.31ยข per kWh in July 2026, and DC fast chargers set their own, often higher, prices. Check the price in the network's app before you plug in.
Why charge to 80% instead of 100%?
Many automakers suggest 80% for daily driving to go easy on the battery, and fast chargers slow down a lot above 80%. Charge to 100% before a long trip if you need the range.