US home charging · Level 2
Home EV charger electricity cost
Turn a utility rate, pack size, and charge efficiency into per-charge and monthly bill numbers. Home charging is usually cheaper than public DC fast charging — the exact figure is on your meter.
Assumptions last updated September 1, 2026. Estimates only — local codes and utility rates vary.
Direct answer. Home EV charger electricity cost is your all-in $/kWh times the kWh drawn from the meter. Grid kWh = pack kWh ÷ efficiency (Level 2 is often 85%–95%; this page defaults to 90%). At 17¢/kWh, filling a 75 kWh pack costs about $14.17 (83.3 kWh from the grid). Monthly bill ≈ miles ÷ mi/kWh ÷ efficiency × rate.
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.
Questions this page answers
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Multiply your all-in residential $/kWh by the kWh drawn from the meter. Grid kWh = pack kWh ÷ efficiency. At $0.17/kWh, 90% efficiency, and a 75 kWh pack, a full charge is about $14.17.
What charge efficiency should I use for Level 2?
Level 2 charging typically delivers about 85%–95% of purchased kWh into the battery. This site defaults to 90%. Cold weather and charging to 100% can be worse; a 120 V Level 1 cord is usually less efficient.
Where do I find my home electricity rate?
Use supply plus delivery ¢/kWh from a recent utility bill, not the generation-only line. On time-of-use, pick the hours when the car actually charges — often overnight.
How do I estimate the monthly charging bill?
Monthly kWh = monthly miles ÷ miles per kWh ÷ efficiency. Multiply by your $/kWh rate. Example: 1,000 miles ÷ 3.3 mi/kWh ÷ 0.90 × $0.17 is about $57 per month.
Is home charging cheaper than gasoline?
Usually, at a typical US residential rate. Compare monthly electricity to miles ÷ MPG × $/gallon. The gap shrinks on expensive coastal tariffs and widens on cheap overnight time-of-use rates.