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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Electric Vehicle Charger (Home) in the US? (2026)
Charging an EV at home is usually the largest new load a household adds. A Level 1 charger on a standard outlet draws about 1.4 kW; a Level 2 wall unit draws 7 to 11.5 kW. Total energy depends on distance driven, not charger size.
A typical electric vehicle charger (home) (7,200 W) costs $1.30 per hour, or about $77.76 per month at 2 hours a day in United States (average). Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (1,400 W) | $0.25 | $0.50 | $15.12 | $183.96 |
| Typical (7,200 W) | $1.30 | $2.59 | $77.76 | $946.08 |
| High (11,500 W) | $2.07 | $4.14 | $124.20 | $1,511 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 2 h/day ≈ 5,256 kWh per year.
In the US, with electricity at $0.18 per kWh (source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, 2026-06), a typical electric vehicle charger (home) costs $1.30 per hour and about $946.08 per year at 2 hours a day. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 0.8 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a electric vehicle charger (home)
- Charge overnight if your utility offers an off-peak or EV tariff. The saving is often 30 to 50 percent.
- Schedule charging in the car or charger app rather than plugging in at peak evening hours.
- Precondition the cabin while still plugged in so the battery is not used for heating and cooling.
- A faster charger does not use more energy per mile. It just finishes sooner.
In standby it draws about 5 W, which adds roughly 44 kWh ($7.88) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Roughly 0.25 to 0.35 kWh per mile. A 60 kWh battery from empty to full uses about 65 kWh including charging losses.
Is home charging cheaper than public charging?
Almost always, often by a factor of two to four compared with fast chargers.
Does an EV charger use power when the car is not plugged in?
Smart chargers draw 2 to 8 watts in standby to stay connected.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India