UK EV charging calculator
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
Work out your real monthly cost from home, public and rapid charging. It uses the current price cap rate and the cheapest EV tariffs, and you can change every number.
The numbers behind it
Checked 23 October 2026.
How the calculator works
An electric car's running cost comes down to two numbers: how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) it uses, and what you pay for each one.
Your car's efficiency, in miles per kWh, tells you how much energy your mileage needs. 800 miles at 3.5 miles per kWh is about 229 kWh a month. Most electric cars manage between 3 and 4.5 miles per kWh, and less in winter.
The calculator then splits that energy between home charging and public charging, because the price gap is huge. At home on the standard price cap rate you pay around 26p per kWh. On an overnight EV tariff it can be under 8p. A public rapid charger is often 69p or more.
That's why where you charge matters more than which car you drive. Moving most of your charging onto an off-peak tariff is the biggest saving available to most drivers.
Cost to charge at home vs public chargers
| Where you charge | Rate | Cost for 50 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Home, EV tariff off-peak (EDF GoElectric) | 6.66p | £3.33 |
| Home, EV tariff off-peak (Intelligent Octopus Go) | 7.6p | £3.80 |
| Home, standard price cap rate | 26.32p | £13.16 |
| Tesco 7kW charger | 44p | £22.00 |
| Tesco rapid charger | 69p | £34.50 |
Common questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home in the UK?
At the October to December 2026 price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh, adding 50 kWh costs about £13.16. On an EV tariff at 7.6p per kWh off-peak, the same charge costs about £3.80.
Is public charging more expensive than charging at home?
Usually, yes. Public rapid chargers commonly cost around 69p to 79p per kWh, several times the price cap rate and around nine to ten times a cheap overnight EV tariff.
What is the cheapest EV tariff?
In October 2026, EDF GoElectric had the lowest off-peak rate we found at 6.66p per kWh, followed by Intelligent Octopus Go at 7.6p. Rates vary by region, so check your postcode with the supplier. See the full comparison.
How many miles per kWh does an electric car do?
Most do between 3 and 4.5 miles per kWh. Smaller cars are more efficient, and every EV uses more energy in cold weather and at motorway speeds. Your car's trip computer will show your own figure.