RealCost Tool
EV Charging Cost Calculator UK
Use this EV charging cost calculator to estimate how much it costs to charge an electric car in the UK.
Enter your electricity price, battery size, EV efficiency, yearly mileage, battery charge added and charging loss allowance to estimate charge cost, range, cost per mile and yearly charging spend.
Price a charge
Estimate the cost of a full battery charge or the percentage of battery you actually add.
Include charging losses
Add a realistic charging loss allowance so the result is not too optimistic.
Budget yearly costs
See estimated monthly and yearly charging costs based on your annual mileage.
Calculate your EV charging cost
Enter your electricity price, battery size, miles per kWh, yearly mileage, battery charge added and charging loss allowance. The calculator will estimate charging cost, range and yearly electricity use.
This calculator estimates charging electricity costs only. It does not include insurance, road tax, finance, depreciation, servicing, tyres, public charger idle fees or home charger installation.
Charging cost is not the full cost of owning an EV
EV charging can be cheap, especially at home, but it is only one part of the ownership cost. Insurance, depreciation, tyres, servicing, road tax, finance and charger installation can change the real decision.
RealCost note: Battery size affects the cost of a full charge. Efficiency affects the cost per mile. For a wider comparison, use the Electric vs Petrol Running Cost Calculator, then use the Car Cost Calculator UK before deciding which car is cheaper to own.
What the calculator includes
The calculator uses six practical inputs that most EV owners or buyers can estimate.
Electricity price per kWh
Enter the price you pay for electricity when charging.
Battery size
Enter the EV battery size in kWh.
Miles per kWh
Enter how efficiently the EV uses electricity. Higher miles per kWh means lower cost per mile.
Miles driven per year
Enter your estimated annual mileage to calculate monthly and yearly charging cost.
Battery charge added
Enter the amount of battery you are adding, such as 80% or 100%.
Charging loss allowance
Add an allowance for electricity lost during charging. 10% is a sensible starting estimate.
What the results tell you
The results show charge cost, range, cost per mile and estimated charging spend over time.
Full charge cost
Estimated cost to charge the full battery, including charging loss allowance.
Selected charge cost
Estimated cost for the amount of battery charge you entered, such as an 80% charge.
Full battery range
Estimated range from a full battery based on battery size and miles per kWh.
Miles added
Estimated miles added from the charging percentage entered.
Charging cost per mile
Estimated electricity cost for each mile driven.
Monthly and yearly cost
Estimated charging cost based on your yearly mileage and EV efficiency.
Example EV charging result
This example uses a 60 kWh battery, £0.25/kWh electricity, 3.5 miles per kWh, 10,000 miles per year, an 80% charge added and 10% charging loss.
Battery size
60 kWh
Electricity price
£0.25/kWh
EV efficiency
3.5 mi/kWh
Full charge cost
£16.50
Selected charge cost
£13.20
Miles added
168 miles
Yearly charging cost
£785.71
What this means: Charging cost can look low per charge, but annual mileage decides how much it matters across the year.
Home charging vs public charging
The electricity price you enter is one of the biggest drivers of the result.
Home charging may suit you if
- You can charge overnight
- You have off-street parking
- You drive regular mileage
- You can access a suitable electricity tariff
Public charging needs more care if
- You rely on rapid chargers
- You cannot charge at home
- You do frequent long trips
- Prices vary heavily on your route
Practical tip: Run the calculator more than once if needed: once using your home charging price, once using a workplace charging price and once using a public charging price. If you split charging between home, workplace and public chargers, run separate estimates or use a realistic average electricity price.
Battery size vs efficiency
A bigger battery does not automatically mean a cheaper EV to run.
Battery size affects charge cost
A larger battery usually costs more to fill from empty, because it stores more electricity.
Efficiency affects cost per mile
Miles per kWh tells you how far the EV goes for each unit of electricity. This is the key number for running cost.
What changes EV charging cost?
Small changes in electricity price, efficiency or mileage can make a noticeable yearly difference.
Home, off-peak, workplace and rapid public charging can all produce different results.
A more efficient EV travels further per kWh and costs less per mile.
Higher mileage makes charging cost more important across the year.
Some electricity can be lost during charging, so a loss allowance helps avoid underestimating.
Speed, acceleration, weather and route type can affect real-world miles per kWh.
Large, heavy EVs may use more electricity per mile than smaller efficient models.
When this calculator is most useful
Use it when you want to understand EV charging cost before budgeting, buying or comparing cars.
What to calculate next
Use these calculators to connect charging cost to the wider car decision.
Electric vs Petrol Running Cost Calculator
Compare EV charging costs with petrol fuel costs.
Car Insurance Cost Calculator UK
Check insurance cost because it can change the EV ownership picture.
Car Maintenance Cost Calculator UK
Add servicing, MOT, tyres and repair allowance into the EV comparison.
Commute Calculator UK
Estimate daily, weekly, monthly and yearly work travel costs.
Car Depreciation Calculator UK
Check whether value loss changes the EV ownership picture.
Fuel Cost Per Mile Calculator UK
Compare against petrol or diesel fuel cost per mile.
Related EV, petrol and hybrid guides
Use these guides if charging cost is part of a wider car-buying decision.
Cheapest Hybrid Cars to Run UK
Compare efficient hybrid options if full electric is not right.