EV Charging Cost Calculator
Per charge, per month, and next to gas, using your car and your electricity rate.
Charging a typical electric car at home costs about $47 a month for 1,000 miles at the 16.5¢/kWh US average, roughly $12 for a full charge, or 4.7¢ per mile. The same miles in a 28-mpg gas car run about $114. Your exact cost depends on your electricity rate and your EV’s efficiency.
This EV charging cost calculator turns three numbers into a real dollar figure: your car’s efficiency, your electricity rate, and the miles you drive. It works for home charging, public charging, or a mix of both, and compares the result to the same miles on gasoline.
Every default here is an editable 2026 example. Electricity rates come from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) residential averages; battery sizes and efficiency come from EPA ratings measured from the wall, so the roughly 10% of energy lost while charging is already counted.
How we calculate this
We take the miles you drive, work out how many kilowatt-hours that takes at your car’s efficiency, and multiply by what you pay for power. A full charge is simply your usable battery size times your rate.
What affects your cost
Your electricity rate
Residential rates run from about 11¢/kWh in the cheapest states to 30¢+ in California and New England. That one number alone can nearly triple your cost.
Time-of-use plans
Many utilities charge less overnight. Scheduling charging for off-peak hours can cut the bill by a third or more on the right rate plan.
Home vs public charging
DC fast charging typically runs 40–50¢/kWh, around three times a home rate. Heavy public charging can erase most of the savings over gas.
Cold weather
Freezing weather means 15–30% more energy per mile from cabin and battery heating. Budget higher if you have real winters.
Common questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?+−
At the 16.5¢/kWh US average, charging a 75 kWh EV from empty to full costs about $12.40, or roughly 4–5¢ per mile. For 1,000 miles a month, home charging adds about $45–$55 to your electric bill. Your exact cost depends on your local rate and your car’s efficiency.
How much does charging an EV add to your monthly electric bill?+−
For a typical driver going 1,000 miles a month at about 3.5 mi/kWh and 16.5¢/kWh, home charging adds roughly $47 to your monthly bill, about the size of a phone plan, replacing a $100+ gas bill. Higher mileage, colder weather, or pricier electricity raises it.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at a public station?+−
Home is almost always cheaper. Home charging averages about 16.5¢/kWh, while public DC fast charging often runs 40–50¢/kWh, so a full charge can cost two to three times more in public. Fast charging is fine for road trips, expensive as a routine.
How much does it cost per mile to charge an electric car?+−
Most EVs cost about 4–6¢ per mile to charge at home, versus roughly 11¢ per mile for a 28-mpg gas car at $3.20 a gallon. Efficient EVs on cheap electricity can dip below 4¢ per mile.
How much electricity does it take to fully charge an EV?+−
Charging from empty uses about as many kWh as your usable battery size, plus 10–15% lost as heat. A 75 kWh EV pulls roughly 82–86 kWh from the wall for a full charge. EPA efficiency ratings already include those charging losses.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at night?+−
On a time-of-use plan, yes. Off-peak overnight rates can be half of peak, so setting your car to charge after the off-peak window starts cuts the same miles’ cost noticeably. On a flat rate, the time of day makes no difference.
How much does it cost to charge an EV per year?+−
A driver covering 12,000 miles a year at about 3.5 mi/kWh and 16.5¢/kWh spends around $565 a year charging at home, often less than half the gasoline cost for the same miles.
Are there still EV incentives in 2026?+−
The federal EV tax credit ended September 30, 2025. Check current state and utility rebates instead. Many utilities still offer discounted overnight EV charging plans or money toward a home Level 2 charger.
Electricity rates: EIA state residential averages (2026 example values). EV efficiency and battery sizes: EPA ratings and manufacturer specs. Gas price: AAA/EIA national average ($3.20/gal, 28 mpg examples). Estimates only, check your utility bill for your exact rate. Full methodology →