How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
What a charge costs at home, on your own tariff or at a public charger, and what that works out to per mile.
Uses Ofgem's price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Prices checked 13 November 2026.
Result
Charging a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80% costs £9.48 at the price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh.
for this charge, to the nearest penny
| Electricity added | 36 kWh |
|---|
Show the workings
| Step | Sum | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity added | 60 kWh battery × 60% | 36 kWh |
| Cost of this charge | 36 kWh × 26.32p per kWh | £9.48 |
What this leaves out or assumes
- Charging losses are left out. Some electricity turns to heat between the socket and the battery, so you will pay for a little more than the battery stores.
- The battery size is the usable size, which is a little less than the size on the badge for most cars.
Where the figures come from
- Electricity unit rate, price cap, Great Britain average, Direct Debit: 26.32p per kWh. Source: Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges. Checked 13 November 2026.
Cost to charge by battery size
At the price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh, the average for Great Britain when paying by Direct Debit.
| Battery | Empty to full | 20% to 80% |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh | £10.53 | £6.32 |
| 50 kWh | £13.16 | £7.90 |
| 60 kWh | £15.79 | £9.48 |
| 75 kWh | £19.74 | £11.84 |
| 90 kWh | £23.69 | £14.21 |
| 100 kWh | £26.32 | £15.79 |
Cost per mile
Divide the price of a kWh by the miles your car travels on one. At 26.32p per kWh:
| Car's efficiency | A mile | 100 miles |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 miles per kWh | 10.5p | £10.53 |
| 3 miles per kWh | 8.8p | £8.77 |
| 3.5 miles per kWh | 7.5p | £7.52 |
| 4 miles per kWh | 6.6p | £6.58 |
| 4.5 miles per kWh | 5.8p | £5.85 |
Your car shows its miles per kWh on the trip screen. It changes with speed, weather and how you drive.
Charging on a cheaper rate
The price cap is the rate for a standard variable tariff. Many suppliers sell tariffs for electric car drivers with a cheaper rate overnight. If you have one, choose "My own rate" and type in your off-peak price to see what a charge really costs you.
At a public charger, type in the price per kWh shown on the charger or in its app.
What this leaves out
Some electricity is lost as heat between the socket and the battery, so you pay for a little more than the battery stores. The calculator does not add anything for that, because the amount depends on the car and the charger.
Source for the price: Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges. Checked 13 November 2026.