How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?
For most US drivers, charging an electric car at home costs somewhere between $8 and $18 for a full charge, which works out to roughly 3 to 6 cents per mile. The exact figure depends on two things: what your utility charges per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and how big your car's battery is.
The good news is that you can calculate your own number in about two minutes with nothing more than your electric bill.
The simple formula
Cost to charge = kWh added to the battery ÷ 0.9 × your price per kWh
The "÷ 0.9" accounts for charging losses. When you charge at home, roughly 10% of the energy is lost as heat in the charger and the car, so you pay for a little more electricity than actually ends up in the battery. On a standard 120-volt outlet the losses can be a bit higher.
Example
Say you drive a car with a 75 kWh battery and you charge it from 20% to 80% — the most common daily routine.
- Energy added: 75 kWh × 60% = 45 kWh
- Energy from the grid: 45 ÷ 0.9 = 50 kWh
- At 17¢ per kWh: 50 × $0.17 = $8.50
That charge adds roughly 150–170 miles of range, depending on the car.
Want to skip the math? Plug your own numbers into our EV charging cost calculator.
How to find your price per kWh
Your electricity price is the single biggest variable, and it differs enormously from state to state. Some states pay close to 12¢ per kWh while others — especially California, Hawaii and much of New England — often pay 30¢ or more.
To find your real rate:
- Open your latest electric bill.
- Find the total kWh you used that month.
- Divide the total amount due (minus fixed monthly fees) by the kWh used.
This "all-in" number includes delivery and generation charges, which is what you'll actually pay for every extra kWh your car uses. For current state averages, check the U.S. Energy Information Administration (eia.gov).
Typical cost per full charge
The table below shows the approximate cost to charge from 10% to 100% at different electricity prices, including about 10% charging losses. These are estimates — your car and your rate will change the result.
| Battery size | At 12¢/kWh | At 17¢/kWh | At 25¢/kWh | At 35¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kWh (compact EV) | $7.20 | $10.20 | $15.00 | $21.00 |
| 75 kWh (midsize EV) | $9.00 | $12.75 | $18.75 | $26.25 |
| 100 kWh (large SUV/truck) | $12.00 | $17.00 | $25.00 | $35.00 |
In practice, most owners rarely charge from nearly empty to full. They plug in overnight and top up what they used that day, so the typical nightly cost is often just a few dollars.
What it costs per month
Monthly cost matters more than cost per charge. A quick way to estimate it:
Monthly cost = miles driven ÷ miles per kWh ÷ 0.9 × price per kWh
Most EVs manage between 3 and 4 miles per kWh in mixed driving (larger trucks and SUVs are often closer to 2–2.5). If you drive 1,100 miles a month in a car that does 3.5 miles per kWh, at 17¢:
1,100 ÷ 3.5 = 314 kWh → ÷ 0.9 = 349 kWh → × $0.17 = about $59 per month.
A gas car getting 30 MPG covering the same distance would burn about 37 gallons. At around $3.30 per gallon that's roughly $121, so in this example home charging costs about half as much. The gap shrinks where electricity is expensive and grows where it's cheap.
Ways to cut your charging cost
Switch to a time-of-use plan
Many utilities offer time-of-use (TOU) or EV-specific rates where electricity is much cheaper overnight. Some plans cut the off-peak price by half or more. Schedule charging to start after the off-peak period begins — almost every EV and smart charger has a setting for this.
Check for utility rebates
Utilities in many states offer rebates on Level 2 chargers or credits for charging off-peak. Search your utility's website for "EV" or check the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center (afdc.energy.gov) for programs in your area. Programs change often, so confirm current terms before you buy.
Use solar if you have it
If you already have rooftop solar, charging during the day when your panels are producing can make the marginal cost of charging very low. The payback math depends on your net metering rules.
Don't pay for fast charging you don't need
DC fast chargers typically cost 40¢–60¢ per kWh, often two to four times the home rate. They're great on road trips but an expensive habit for daily driving.
Home vs public charging at a glance
| Where you charge | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Home, standard rate | 12¢–35¢/kWh | Daily driving |
| Home, off-peak TOU rate | Often under 15¢/kWh | Overnight charging |
| Public Level 2 | Free to ~30¢/kWh, or hourly | Work, shopping |
| DC fast charging | 40¢–60¢/kWh | Road trips |
FAQ
Is it cheaper to charge an EV than to buy gas? In most of the US, yes — often by 40–60% when you charge at home. The main exceptions are areas with very expensive electricity or drivers who rely mostly on DC fast chargers.
Does a Level 2 charger cost less per charge than a regular outlet? Slightly. Level 2 charging is a bit more efficient, so less energy is wasted, but the main benefit is speed rather than price.
How much will my electric bill go up? It depends on how much you drive. For an average driver it's commonly in the $40–$80 per month range at typical rates, less on a cheap off-peak plan.
Where can I see my car's efficiency? Your car's trip computer shows miles per kWh (or kWh per 100 miles). You can also look up official ratings at fueleconomy.gov.