EV charging cost calculator
What a charge costs at home, at a Level 2 station and at a fast charger, and what your driving costs per mile and per month.
| Charging 20% → 80% | kWh | Cost | ¢/mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home (18.3¢) | 59 | $10.86 | 5.5 |
| Public Level 2 | 59 | $17.80 | 9.0 |
| DC fast | 59 | $29.67 | 15.0 |
Home kWh include ~10% charging losses (EPA figures are measured at the wall). Gas price: EIA U.S. regular, week of 09/21/26. Your inputs are remembered in this browser only.
The formula
Cost per charge = kWh added ÷ charging efficiency × price per kWh. Cost per mile = EPA kWh per 100 miles ÷ 100 × price per kWh. Because the EPA figure is measured at the wall, it already includes the energy lost while charging, so it lines up with your electricity bill.
The DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center gives a worked example: at 10.7¢ per kWh, a car using 27 kWh per 100 miles costs about 3¢ a mile. At today's U.S. average residential price of 18.3¢ (EIA, July 2026), the same car costs about 4.9¢ a mile. Look up your own state on the electricity cost per kWh page.
Home vs public charging
Home charging is almost always cheapest, and cheaper still on an overnight time-of-use plan. Public Level 2 is often priced between home and fast charging, and some is free at shops and workplaces. DC fast charging costs the most and is best kept for road trips. Some networks charge per minute instead of per kWh, which penalises cars that charge slowly. For Tesla-specific numbers, see how much it costs to charge a Tesla. To log real sessions and see your running total, try the charging log.
Questions drivers ask
How do I calculate the cost to charge an electric car?
Multiply the energy you put in (kWh) by your price per kWh. For cost per mile, use the EPA consumption figure: kWh per 100 miles × price per kWh ÷ 100. The DOE example: at 10.7¢/kWh and 27 kWh/100 mi, driving costs about 3 cents a mile.
Why use the EPA kWh/100 mi figure?
EPA measures EV consumption from the wall outlet, so it already includes charging losses. That makes it the right number for your electricity bill.
How much does public fast charging cost?
It varies by network, state and time of day. AAA put the national public average at about 37¢/kWh in October 2025, and Paren’s Q2 2025 report found most states average $0.48–$0.54/kWh at fast chargers. Some networks bill per minute instead.
What is the U.S. average electricity price?
The U.S. EIA reports an average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh for July 2026. State prices range widely, from the low teens to over 40¢ in Hawaii.
Do time-of-use rates help?
Often a lot. Many utilities sell overnight electricity at a much lower rate for EV owners. Enter your off-peak rate as the home rate to see the difference.