When charging is cheapest in the UK
EV tariffs make night charging much cheaper: a few pence a kWh for six or seven hours a night, against the price cap’s rate the rest of the day.
Most need a smart meter, and some charge a little more by day, so count your home’s daytime use as well. Some cap the cheap hours at six a night.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
What a car uses times what you pay per kWh. A typical electric car uses about 18 kWh per 100 km with charging losses (3.5 miles per kWh); a small car less, a big SUV in winter more. The calculator starts there; set your own from the car’s trip computer.
Most charging happens at home, about three quarters of it worldwide. Public fast chargers cost more per kWh, so the share you charge at home decides much of the bill.
How we calculate
kWh a year = distance × consumption × the share charged at home. Cost = kWh × price. The saving is the same kWh at the cheaper price instead of the price at any time. Prices are all taxes included; standing charges are left out, as they do not change with the hours you charge.
Questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
Distance × consumption × your price. For most drivers a few hundred a year; the calculator shows yours at your tariff.
Is it cheaper to charge an electric car at night?
In the UK, on an EV tariff, yes, by far: night rates of a few pence against the price cap’s rate by day.
How many kWh does an electric car use per 100 km?
Most use 15–20 kWh per 100 km in mixed driving, more on the motorway and in winter. Count about 10% more for charging losses.
Do I need a wallbox?
Not to charge, but a wallbox charges faster and safer than a socket, and a smart one starts by itself at the cheapest hours.
More free tools
Sources: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026: 26.32p/kWh · EDF GoElectric: 6.99p/kWh for 7 hours at night (April 2026) · NatCen on the National Travel Survey 2024: 136 miles a week per car · ADAC Ecotest, July 2026: 13.4–29.7 kWh/100 km with charging losses · IEA Global EV Outlook 2026: about 75% of charging is private · Updated 12 November 2026