US home charging · Level 2
Home EV charger electricity cost
Home charging is almost always cheaper than public DC fast charging. The exact number is your utility rate times the kWh that actually leave the meter — including the slice lost as heat.
Assumptions last updated September 1, 2026. Estimates only — local codes and utility rates vary.
Estimated first-year total
$2,287
Hardware + install + 12 mo electricity
The formula
Grid energy for a full charge = pack kWh ÷ efficiency. Cost = that energy × $/kWh. Defaults here are a 75 kWh pack, 90% efficiency, and 17¢/kWh — a national-style residential average, not your tariff.
Example: 75 kWh ÷ 0.90 = 83.3 kWh from the meter. At $0.17/kWh that is about $14.17 to refill an empty pack. If you only replace 60% of the pack after a commute, scale the result.
Why efficiency is not 100%
The car’s onboard charger converts AC to DC. The pack, coolant pumps, and EVSE all dissipate heat. fueleconomy.gov (DOE/EPA) notes battery charging efficiency is often about 84%–93%. Level 2 is usually better than a 120 V Level 1 cord. This tool defaults to 90% and lets you type what you measure.
Monthly bill vs gasoline
Enter monthly miles and a realistic mi/kWh from the car (not the window sticker). Electricity cost = miles ÷ mi/kWh ÷ efficiency × rate. Gasoline cost = miles ÷ MPG × $/gallon. The difference is fuel only. Time-of-use overnight rates can cut the electric side further; a high-cost coastal tariff can shrink the gap.
How to read your utility bill
- Add supply and delivery. Ignore a generation-only line.
- If you have tiers, use the tier you actually sit in.
- If you have time-of-use, use the hours when the car actually charges.
Hardware and electrician costs live on the main calculator and the installation calculator.