EV Charging Cost Calculator
Find out exactly what it costs to charge your electric vehicle — per mile, per session, and per month. Compare Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging costs, and see how EV charging stacks up against the per-mile cost of running a gas vehicle at your local gas price.
Recommended Level 2 Home Chargers
A Level 2 charger adds 20–30 miles of range per hour — enough to top off overnight. These are Amazon's top-rated options for home installation.
WattMath earns a small commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you. Prices are approximate and may vary. Professional installation is recommended for all Level 2 chargers.
How This Calculator Works
Charger Power Output
Each charging type has a rated power output in kilowatts (kW), which determines how fast energy flows into your battery:
- Level 1 (120V outlet): 1.4 kW — the slowest option, requires no special equipment. Practical only for overnight charging when mileage is low.
- Level 2 (240V home charger): 7.2 kW — the standard home charging setup. Requires a dedicated 240V circuit, typically installed for $500–$1,500. Fully charges most EVs overnight.
- DC Fast (public): 50 kW average — this is a conservative average across the public network. Modern fast chargers range from 50 kW to 350 kW. Actual charge speed also depends on the vehicle's onboard charger limit.
Cost Calculation
Charging cost is calculated as: kWh used × electricity rate. The kWh used per session is determined by your vehicle's efficiency (kWh/100mi) multiplied by the miles driven per session. Your monthly cost is then total monthly miles × cost per mile.
DC Fast Charging Rate
Public DC fast charging networks typically charge 2–3× more per kWh than residential electricity rates. This calculator applies a 2.5× multiplier to your home electricity rate as a representative estimate. Actual public charging rates vary by network, location, and membership status — always verify pricing on the network's app or website before charging.
Gas Cost Comparison
The equivalent gas cost per mile uses a 28 MPG baseline — close to the average new vehicle fuel economy — combined with your local gas price. This gives a fair apples-to-apples comparison between EV and gas running costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home? ⌄
At the US average of about 17 cents per kWh, a typical EV at 30 kWh/100 miles costs roughly $0.051 per mile to charge at home — or about $5.10 per 100 miles. A full charge for a 60 kWh battery costs around $10. Most drivers pay $30–60 per month to charge at home, compared to $100–200 per month in gas for a 28 MPG vehicle. Check your utility bill for your exact rate — it varies significantly by state and can be even lower if you charge on a time-of-use plan during off-peak hours.
How long does it take to charge an EV? ⌄
Charge time depends entirely on the charger type:
- Level 1 (120V, 1.4 kW): Adds about 4–5 miles of range per hour. Charging from 20% to full on a 60 kWh battery takes 30+ hours. Only practical for low-mileage drivers or emergency backup.
- Level 2 (240V, 7.2 kW): Adds roughly 20–30 miles of range per hour. A full overnight charge (8 hours) adds 160–240 miles. The right solution for most home charging.
- DC Fast (50 kW avg): Can add 100+ miles in about 30–40 minutes. Best reserved for road trips — repeated fast charging can cause mild battery degradation over years.
Is charging an EV cheaper than buying gas? ⌄
At home charging rates, yes — in most US states by a wide margin. At the national average of $3.40/gallon and 28 MPG, gas costs about $0.121/mile. An efficient EV at 25 kWh/100mi and 17¢/kWh costs about $0.043/mile — roughly 65% cheaper. High-electricity states like Hawaii and California with high electricity rates narrow the gap, but EV home charging is still generally cheaper than gas nationwide. DC fast charging is a different story: at 2–3× home rates, it often approaches or matches gas costs on a per-mile basis.
How much more does DC fast charging cost than home charging? ⌄
Public DC fast charging typically costs 2–3× more per kWh than home electricity. Some networks charge by the minute rather than by the kWh, which can be even more expensive at lower charge speeds. This calculator uses a 2.5× multiplier as a reasonable average estimate. Always check your specific charging network's rates — Tesla Supercharger, Electrify America, ChargePoint, and EVgo all have different pricing that varies by location and membership status. For daily driving, home Level 2 charging is almost always the most economical option.
Related Calculators
- EV vs. Gas Total Cost of Ownership Calculator — Compare the full 5–10 year cost of an EV vs. a gas vehicle including maintenance.
- Home Battery Sizing Calculator — Find out how much battery storage you need to power your home during an outage.