EV Charging Cost Calculator
See what a single charge, a month of driving, or a road trip really costs — at home, at public chargers, and side by side with gas.
Charging power curve
🔧 Home charger payback
Uses the driving distance and charging mix from the Monthly tab. Price premium = what the EV cost you over a comparable gas car after incentives (enter a negative number if the EV was cheaper).
Cumulative cost of driving (fuel + maintenance)
Trip plan
Fast-charge cost uses your DC fast price per kWh. Times use a typical DC charging curve (fastest from 10–50%, tapering after 80%). Real stops depend on charger locations.
Every EV below is costed with your driving distance, electricity rates and charging mix. Click a column to sort; click a row to switch to that car.
| Vehicle | Efficiency | Range | Per 100 | Per month | Per year |
|---|
Efficiency and battery figures are approximate EPA-style estimates for common trims. Your real-world numbers vary with weather, speed and tires.
💡 Smart tips for your numbers
Estimates for planning only. Charging losses, taper curves and average rates are approximations — check your utility bill and charging network for exact prices.
EV Charging Cost: How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car in 2026?
Real costs per charge, per mile and per month — at home, at public chargers and on DC fast chargers — plus how it all stacks up against gas.
Charging an EV at home costs about $12–$26 for a full charge and roughly 4–6 cents per mile for most cars, based on the 2026 U.S. average electricity price of about 18¢ per kWh. Public DC fast charging usually costs 2–3 times more — around 13–16 cents per mile. For a typical driver covering 1,000 miles a month, home charging runs about $50–$65 a month, versus roughly $107 for a 30 MPG gas car at $3.20 a gallon.
How to Calculate EV Charging Cost
Every EV charging cost comes down to three numbers: how much energy goes into the battery, how much is lost along the way, and what you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Cost = (kWh added ÷ charging efficiency) × price per kWh
kWh added = battery size × (target % − starting %). Charging efficiency is about 80% for Level 1, 90% for Level 2 and 92–95% for DC fast charging.
The efficiency part is what most quick calculators skip. When you charge, some electricity turns into heat in the charger, cables and battery. If your car adds 45 kWh to its battery on a Level 2 charger, your meter actually records about 50 kWh. At 18¢ per kWh, that’s $9.00, not $8.10.
- Energy added: 75 kWh × 60% = 45 kWh
- Pulled from the grid on Level 2: 45 ÷ 0.90 = 50 kWh
- Cost at 18¢/kWh: 50 × $0.18 = $9.00
- Range added: about 180 miles → about 5¢ per mile
To work out cost per mile directly, use your car’s efficiency rating: cost per mile = (kWh per 100 miles ÷ 100 ÷ efficiency) × price per kWh. A car using 28 kWh/100 mi on 18¢ power costs about 5.6¢ per mile.
How Much Does It Cost to Fully Charge Popular EVs?
Here’s what a full charge (0–100%) and a typical daily top-up (20–80%) cost at home on a Level 2 charger, using the 2026 national average of about 18¢ per kWh.
| EV | Usable battery | Full charge | 20% → 80% | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf SV Plus | 60 kWh | $7.20 | 6.2¢ | |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 75 kWh | $9.00 | 5.0¢ | |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range | 75 kWh | $9.00 | 5.6¢ | |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range | 84 kWh | $10.08 | 6.0¢ | |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | 85 kWh | $10.20 | 6.2¢ | |
| Ford F-150 Lightning (Ext. Range) | 131 kWh | $15.72 | 9.6¢ |
Assumes 90% Level 2 charging efficiency and 18¢/kWh. Battery and efficiency figures are approximate EPA-style estimates for common trims.
Notice the last column. Two cars with the same battery can cost very different amounts per mile because efficiency matters more than battery size. A big electric truck can cost nearly twice as much per mile as an efficient sedan.
Home vs Public vs DC Fast Charging: Cost Compared
Where you plug in changes the price far more than which car you drive. Here’s the cost to drive 100 miles in a Tesla Model Y (28 kWh/100 mi) depending on where the electricity comes from.
| Charging method | Typical price | Cost per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Home, off-peak TOU plan | ~12¢/kWh | |
| Home, Level 2 (240V) | ~18¢/kWh | |
| Home, Level 1 (120V outlet) | ~18¢/kWh | |
| Public Level 2 | ~30¢/kWh | |
| Gas car, 30 MPG | $3.20/gal | |
| DC fast charging | ~48¢/kWh |
Public prices vary widely by network, state and time of day. Bars are scaled to cost.
Home charging
The cheapest way to charge by far. Most owners do 80–90% of their charging overnight in the garage or driveway.
Public Level 2
Found at shopping centers, hotels and workplaces. Handy while parked for hours — and some are free.
DC fast charging
Built for road trips: 10% to 80% in 20–40 minutes. You pay a big premium for the speed.
Why does fast charging cost so much more?
DC fast stations are expensive to build and pay steep “demand charges” to the utility for delivering huge bursts of power. Networks pass that cost on. Some stations also bill by the minute instead of by the kWh, which means slower-charging cars — or charging past 80%, when the car slows itself down — can cost much more per kWh than the posted rate suggests.
Monthly and Yearly EV Charging Costs
The average American drives roughly 1,000 miles a month. Here’s what that costs in a Tesla Model Y with different charging habits.
| Charging habit | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 100% home, off-peak TOU plan | $448 | |
| 100% home Level 2 | $672 | |
| 80% home · 10% public L2 · 10% fast | $823 | |
| 50% home · 50% fast charging | $1,203 | |
| 100% DC fast charging (no home charger) | $1,734 |
The pattern is clear: every 10% of your miles you move from fast charging to home charging saves roughly $9 a month in this example. Drivers who rely entirely on fast chargers can end up paying more than they would for gas.
EV Charging Cost by State
Electricity prices vary more than three to one across the U.S., so the same car can be cheap to run in one state and pricey in another. Here’s the monthly home-charging cost for 1,000 miles in a Model Y.
| State | Approx. home rate | Monthly cost (1,000 mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | ~41¢/kWh | |
| California | ~32¢/kWh | |
| Massachusetts | ~30¢/kWh | |
| New York | ~25¢/kWh | |
| U.S. average | ~18¢/kWh | |
| Texas | ~15.5¢/kWh | |
| Florida | ~15.5¢/kWh | |
| Washington | ~13¢/kWh | |
| Idaho | ~11.5¢/kWh |
State rates are approximate residential averages and change often. Your bill’s total cost per kWh — including delivery charges — is the number to use.
EV vs Gas: How Much Do You Really Save?
For 1,000 miles a month, a 30 MPG gas car burns about 33 gallons — roughly $107 a month at $3.20 a gallon. Charging a Model Y at home for the same distance costs about $56. That’s around $51 a month, or $600+ a year, in fuel alone.
Maintenance widens the gap. EVs have no oil changes, spark plugs or transmission fluid, and regenerative braking saves brake pads. Many estimates put EV maintenance at around 6¢ a mile versus about 10¢ for gas cars — another $40 or so a month at 1,000 miles.
| 1,000 miles per month | Gas car (30 MPG) | EV (home charging) |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel / electricity | $107 | $56 |
| Maintenance (est.) | $100 | $60 |
| Monthly total | $207 | $116 |
| Yearly total | $2,484 | $1,392 |
The “eGallon”: an easy way to compare
An eGallon is the cost of electricity needed to drive as far as a gas car goes on one gallon. For a Model Y on home power at 18¢/kWh, driving 30 miles costs about $1.68. If gas is above that price, the EV is cheaper to fuel. Our calculator shows your eGallon price automatically.
How Long Does It Take to Charge?
Time matters for cost too — the faster the charger, the higher the price per kWh. Here’s roughly how long it takes to add 45 kWh (20% → 80% on a 75 kWh battery):
| Charger | Power | Time for 20% → 80% | Miles added per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (120V outlet) | ~1.4 kW | 3–5 mi | |
| Level 2 (240V, 32A) | ~7.7 kW | 25–30 mi | |
| Level 2 (240V, 48A) | ~11.5 kW | 40–45 mi | |
| DC fast (150–250 kW) | Varies by car | 400+ mi |
DC fast charging is fastest between about 10% and 50%, then slows as the battery fills. Above 80%, charging can slow to a crawl — which is why road-trippers usually unplug at 80% and drive to the next charger.
Is a Home Charger Worth It?
A Level 2 home charger typically costs $1,000–$2,000 installed, depending on the charger and how far your panel is from where you park. Here’s how that pays off.
- 800 miles a month charged at home in a Model Y (224 kWh into the battery)
- On DC fast chargers at 48¢: about $116 a month
- At home on Level 2 at 18¢: about $45 a month
- Savings: about $71 a month → a $1,400 install pays for itself in about 20 months
If you only drive 20–30 miles a day, a standard 120V outlet (Level 1) may be all you need. It adds roughly 40–50 miles overnight, and costs nothing to install. Just remember it loses more energy as heat, so each mile costs about 10% more than with Level 2.
10 Ways to Cut Your EV Charging Costs
- Charge at home whenever you canHome electricity is usually a third or less of what DC fast chargers charge.
- Switch to an EV or time-of-use rate planOff-peak overnight rates can be 30–60% below standard rates. Ask your utility what it offers.
- Schedule charging for off-peak hoursSet a start time in your car or charger app so it only charges when power is cheapest.
- Stop fast charging at 80%The last 20% takes as long as the first 60%. On per-minute pricing, it can also cost far more.
- Upgrade from Level 1 to Level 2Level 2 wastes less power as heat and charges 5–8× faster.
- Precondition while plugged inHeat or cool the cabin before you leave, so grid power — not your battery — does the work.
- Check how the station billsPer-kWh pricing is fairer for slow-charging cars; per-minute pricing favors fast chargers.
- Consider a network membership if you fast charge oftenA $5–$15 monthly plan can lower your per-kWh rate enough to pay for itself.
- Use free and workplace chargingMany employers, hotels and stores offer free Level 2 charging while you’re parked anyway.
- Drive efficientlyKeep tires inflated and ease off at highway speeds — efficiency drops quickly above 70 mph.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
At the 2026 U.S. average of about 18¢ per kWh, a full home charge costs roughly $12 for a 60 kWh battery and $15 for a 75 kWh battery. Most drivers spend about $40–$70 a month charging at home, depending on how far they drive and their local electricity rate.
Is charging an EV cheaper than buying gas?
Yes, in almost every case when you charge at home. An efficient EV costs about 5–6¢ per mile at home versus about 10–11¢ per mile for a 30 MPG gas car at $3.20 a gallon. If you rely only on DC fast chargers, though, the cost can match or exceed gas.
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?
Charging a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y with a 75 kWh battery from empty to full at home costs about $15 at 18¢ per kWh. At a Supercharger, prices vary by location and time of day, so the same charge often costs two to three times more.
How do I calculate my EV charging cost?
Multiply the kWh you add by your price per kWh, then divide by the charging efficiency (about 0.9 for Level 2). For example, adding 45 kWh at 18¢ costs 45 ÷ 0.9 × $0.18 = $9.00. Our EV Charging Cost Calculator does this for you, including fast-charge time and road trips.
Why is DC fast charging so expensive?
Fast chargers cost a lot to build and pay high utility demand charges for delivering large amounts of power at once. You’re paying for speed and convenience. It’s ideal for road trips, but expensive as a daily habit.
Does Level 1 charging cost more than Level 2?
The electricity price is the same, but Level 1 loses more energy as heat — about 20% compared with about 10% for Level 2. That makes each mile roughly 10% more expensive on a standard 120V outlet.
How many kWh does an EV use per month?
Most EVs use 25–35 kWh per 100 miles. For 1,000 miles a month, that’s about 250–350 kWh in the battery, or 280–390 kWh from the wall once charging losses are included. Trucks and large SUVs can use 450 kWh or more.
Can I still get a tax credit for a home EV charger?
The federal 30C charger credit ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026. However, many states and utilities still offer rebates, special EV rates or installation incentives, so check with your local utility.
Does cold weather increase charging costs?
Yes. Heating the cabin and battery can raise energy use by 15–40% in freezing weather, so you’ll charge more often. Preconditioning while plugged in and using seat heaters instead of cabin heat help limit the increase.
Figures are estimates for planning. Electricity rates are based on the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2026 residential forecast (about 18.2¢/kWh) and approximate state averages. Gas comparisons assume $3.20 per gallon. Your actual costs depend on your utility plan, charging habits, vehicle and weather.
