EV charging cost calculator
Find out how much it costs to charge your electric vehicle at home each year. Enter your car details and annual mileage, or use your actual home charging kWh from a recent bill or smart charger app. See what your charging costs at your current rate, at the Ofgem price cap, and at the cheapest EV overnight tariff currently available.
Charging costs are estimates based on the figures you enter. Actual costs depend on your vehicle, charger efficiency, charging habits, and the tariff available at your address. This calculator is for educational purposes only. Utility Matchmaker is an information and referral service.
Your EV and mileage
Typical real-world figure. Your actual efficiency may vary with speed, temperature, and driving style.
UK average is around 7,400 miles per year.
Public charging costs significantly more per kWh than home charging. This calculator shows home charging costs only.
Your electricity rate
From July 2026 the Ofgem price cap rate is 26.11p/kWh for standard variable tariffs. Find your rate on a recent energy bill.
Your estimated annual EV charging cost
Select your EV model and enter your mileage above to see your estimated annual charging costs.
How this calculator works
The mileage route divides your annual mileage by your vehicle's efficiency in miles per kWh to estimate the total electricity needed to charge your car each year. The bill route uses the kWh figure you enter directly. We then multiply the annual kWh by each reference rate to show what that charging would cost on different tariffs.
Annual kWh (mileage) = Annual mileage ÷ Efficiency (mi/kWh)
Annual cost = Annual kWh × Rate (p/kWh) ÷ 100
Efficiency figures are typical real-world values and vary with speed, temperature, payload, and driving style. Charging efficiency losses (typically 10-15%) mean the electricity drawn from the wall is slightly higher than the battery kWh added. Figures shown do not include public charging costs or standing charges. EV tariff overnight rates vary by region. The around-8p/kWh figure reflects the Intelligent Octopus Go overnight rate checked in September 2026and is used here as an illustrative reference. See the comparison table below for other verified overnight tariffs.
Worked example using this page's methodology: a driver covering 8,000 miles a year in a car that averages 4.2 miles per kWh needs about 1,905 kWh of electricity for home charging. At the July 2026 Ofgem price cap rate of 26.11p/kWh that costs about £497 a year. At an 8p/kWh overnight EV tariff the same mileage costs about £152 a year, or roughly 1.9p per mile.
See our green energy tariffs guide for more on EV overnight tariffs, our smart meters guide for how smart meters support time-of-use rates, and the Octopus Energy supplier profile for background on one provider of EV overnight tariffs.
Rates last checked: September 2026. Cap rate source: Ofgem July 2026 price cap (26.11p/kWh national average, direct debit).
Current EV overnight tariffs compared
Dedicated EV tariffs offer a cheaper overnight electricity rate for home charging. The overnight unit rates below were checked directly against each supplier's own published pages in September 2026. Peak rates, standing charges, and eligibility rules vary by region and product, so treat these as illustrative overnight figures rather than a full tariff quote.
| Supplier / tariff | Overnight rate | Overnight window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy Intelligent Octopus Go | 8.0p/kWh | 11:30pm to 5:30am (6 hours) | Whole-home off-peak rate. Smart charging sessions may also apply outside this window, subject to Octopus terms. |
| E.ON Next Next Drive Smart | 8.5p/kWh | 12am to 6am (6 hours) | Whole-home off-peak rate. Requires a compatible EV and charger plus half-hourly smart meter consent. |
| ScottishPower EV Saver | 8.5p/kWh | Midnight to 5am (5 hours, GMT) | Available to eligible ScottishPower customers with a half-hourly smart meter. Window shifts for some SMETS1 meters in BST. |
Rates last checked: September 2026. Sources: Octopus Energy; E.ON Next; ScottishPower. Availability and exact pricing at your postcode can differ. Compare live tariffs before switching.
EV charging vs petrol: how do the costs compare?
One of the most significant financial benefits of switching to an electric vehicle is the reduction in fuel costs. At home charging rates, electricity is substantially cheaper per mile than petrol or diesel, and the gap widens further on a dedicated EV overnight tariff.
| Fuel type | Cost per mile | Annual cost (8,000 miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol (average) | ~14-16p/mile | ~£1,120-£1,280/year |
| EV at price cap (26.11p/kWh, 4.2 mi/kWh) | ~6.2p/mile | ~£497/year |
| EV on overnight tariff (8p/kWh, 4.2 mi/kWh) | ~1.9p/mile | ~£152/year |
Petrol cost assumes approximately 40 mpg at 145p/litre (June 2026 average). EV figures use this page's methodology: mileage ÷ efficiency × rate. Overnight EV figure uses around 8p/kWh (Intelligent Octopus Go, rates last checked September 2026). Actual costs depend on your specific vehicle, driving patterns, and available tariff. Figures are illustrative.
Frequently asked questions about EV charging costs
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in the UK?
At the July 2026 Ofgem price cap rate of 26.11p per kWh, a typical electric car with an efficiency of around 4.2 miles per kWh costs approximately 6.2p per mile to charge at home. For a driver covering 8,000 miles per year that works out to around £497 annually for home charging. On a dedicated EV overnight tariff at around 8p per kWh, the same mileage works out to roughly 1.9p per mile, or about £152 per year.
Is home charging cheaper than public charging?
In most cases, yes. Public rapid chargers commonly charge a higher per-kWh rate than domestic electricity, and some networks also apply connection or idle fees. Home charging at the price cap rate is already cheaper per mile than typical public rapid rates for many journeys, and an EV overnight tariff widens that gap further. Exact public prices vary by network, location, and whether you use a membership plan.
Do I need a smart meter for an EV tariff?
Most dedicated EV overnight tariffs require a smart meter that can send half-hourly readings, so the supplier can bill the cheaper overnight rate accurately. Some tariffs also require a compatible smart charger or an eligible electric vehicle. Check the tariff terms when comparing options at your postcode.
Does an EV overnight tariff affect the rest of my home's electricity price?
It depends on the product. Many popular EV overnight tariffs, including Intelligent Octopus Go and E.ON Next Drive Smart, apply the cheaper overnight rate to the whole home during the off-peak window, not only to the charger. Outside that window, electricity usually costs a higher day rate. Standing charges still apply every day. Always check whether a named tariff is whole-home or charger-only before comparing.
What is an EV overnight tariff and how much can it save?
An EV overnight tariff offers a cheaper electricity rate during an off-peak window, typically overnight when grid demand is lower. In September 2026, verified overnight rates from major suppliers sit around 8p to 8.5p per kWh, compared with the July 2026 Ofgem price cap standard rate of 26.11p per kWh. For a driver using around 1,905 kWh per year for home charging (8,000 miles at 4.2 mi/kWh), moving from the cap rate to an 8p overnight rate reduces the illustrative annual charging cost from about £497 to about £152. A smart meter is usually required.
How do I find out how many kWh I use charging my EV at home?
If you have a dedicated home wallbox or smart charger, its companion app typically logs the kWh delivered to your vehicle each session. If you have a smart meter, your energy supplier may be able to provide a breakdown showing home charging usage separately. You can also estimate by dividing your annual mileage by your vehicle's real-world efficiency in miles per kWh. Use our mileage route above if you know how far you drive each year.
Is charging an electric car cheaper than petrol?
In most scenarios home charging is significantly cheaper per mile than petrol or diesel. At the July 2026 Ofgem price cap rate, home EV charging costs approximately 6.2p per mile for a typical electric vehicle. A typical petrol car costs around 14 to 16p per mile at current fuel prices. On a dedicated EV overnight tariff at around 8p/kWh the cost per mile can fall to about 1.9p.
Could you pay less to charge your EV?
A dedicated EV tariff with a cheap overnight rate could cut your home charging costs significantly compared to a standard variable tariff. Compare tariffs at your postcode to see what EV tariff options are available at your address.