UK Charging Guide
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car in the UK?
Updated March 2026
Home charging costs approximately 25p to 28p per kWh under the Ofgem price cap. Public rapid charging costs 69p to 89p per kWh. That means a typical 60 kWh electric car costs roughly £15 to charge at home, or £29 to £37 at a rapid charger (10% to 80%). This guide breaks down every charging scenario with real 2026 prices so you know what to expect.
All prices are approximate and include 20% VAT. Electricity prices are based on the Ofgem default tariff cap for Q1/Q2 2026. Public charging prices were gathered from official network websites in March 2026 and vary by location, time, and payment method. EVcourse is not affiliated with any energy supplier or charging network.
Quick Answer
- → Home charging: ~25p-28p/kWh (Ofgem cap). Off-peak tariffs as low as 7p-10p/kWh.
- → Public slow/fast (7-22 kW): ~44p-65p/kWh depending on network and location.
- → Public rapid (50+ kW): ~69p-89p/kWh. Off-peak discounts available on some networks. Some networks also charge a session fee on top.
- → Cost per mile: ~5p-8p home, ~12p-20p public rapid, vs ~15p-18p petrol.
How Much Does Home Charging Cost in the UK?
Home charging on the Ofgem price cap costs approximately 25p to 28p per kWh, making it the cheapest way to charge an electric car in the UK. The cap was 27.69p/kWh for Q1 2026, dropping to 24.67p/kWh from April 2026.
| Battery Size | Full Charge Cost (approx.) | 10-80% Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh (e.g. MG4, Dacia Spring) | ~£10-£11 | ~£7-£8 |
| 60 kWh (e.g. Kia EV6, Tesla Model 3) | ~£15-£17 | ~£10-£12 |
| 77 kWh (e.g. VW ID.4, Skoda Enyaq) | ~£19-£21 | ~£13-£15 |
| 100 kWh (e.g. BMW iX, Mercedes EQS) | ~£25-£28 | ~£17-£19 |
You can reduce home charging costs further with an off-peak electricity tariff. Tariffs like Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go offer overnight rates as low as 7p to 10p/kWh. On those tariffs, a full charge of a 60 kWh battery costs roughly £4 to £6.
A dedicated home charger (7 kW wallbox) costs approximately £800 to £1,000 installed. Government grants of up to £500 per socket are available for renters, flat residents, and households without off-street parking (via the OZEV chargepoint grant schemes, extended to March 2027).
How Much Does Public Charging Cost in the UK?
Public rapid charging in the UK costs approximately 69p to 89p per kWh, roughly three times the price of home charging. Slower public chargers (7-22 kW) are cheaper but take longer.
| Charger Type | Price Range (approx.) | 60 kWh 10-80% (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Slow/Fast (7-22 kW) | 44p-65p/kWh | ~£18-£27 |
| Rapid (50-100 kW) | 60p-85p/kWh | ~£25-£36 |
| Ultra-rapid (150-350 kW) | 69p-89p/kWh | ~£29-£37 |
| Tesla Supercharger (Tesla owners) | ~23p-41p/kWh | ~£10-£17 |
Most networks charge more for contactless payment than for in-app payment. bp pulse charges up to 20p/kWh more via contactless. Osprey charges 5p/kWh more. If you charge publicly more than once a week, downloading 2 to 3 network apps will save money.
Some networks offer off-peak pricing. InstaVolt drops to 60p/kWh between 20:00 and 07:00 (app/RFID only). Be.EV offers rates as low as 39p/kWh off-peak for members. Check your regular network for time-of-use pricing.
Electric Car Cost per Mile vs Petrol in the UK
A typical electric car costs approximately 5p to 8p per mile on home electricity, compared to roughly 15p to 18p per mile for a petrol car. Even on expensive public rapid chargers, electric cars are usually cheaper per mile.
| Charging Method | Cost per Mile (approx.) | Annual Cost for 10,000 Miles (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Home (Ofgem cap, ~26p/kWh) | ~6p-8p | ~£600-£800 |
| Home (off-peak tariff, ~8p/kWh) | ~2p-3p | ~£200-£300 |
| Public rapid (~80p/kWh) | ~16p-20p | ~£1,600-£2,000 |
| Petrol car (~140p/litre, 40 mpg) | ~16p-18p | ~£1,600-£1,800 |
The savings are largest for drivers who can charge at home. If you rely entirely on public rapid charging, the running cost advantage over petrol narrows significantly. The ideal setup for most UK drivers is home charging for daily use, with public rapid chargers for longer trips.
Company Electric Car Charging Costs and Tax Benefits
Electric company cars attract a Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate of 4% in the 2026/27 tax year, compared to up to 37% for petrol and diesel cars. That makes an electric company car dramatically cheaper in tax than an equivalent combustion car.
- → BiK tax: 4% for 2026/27, rising to 5% in 2027/28. A £40,000 electric car costs roughly £640 per year in BiK tax for a 40% taxpayer.
- → Home charging reimbursement: HMRC's advisory rate is 26.10p/kWh from March 2026. Employers can reimburse at this rate tax-free for home charging of company electric cars.
- → Capital allowances: 100% first-year allowance for new zero-emission company cars and EV chargepoints, extended to March 2027.
- → Workplace charging: If your employer provides a charger at work, using it is not a taxable benefit. The Workplace Charging Scheme offers employers up to £500 per socket towards installation.
UK Grants for EV Charger Installation (2026)
Several OZEV chargepoint grants have been extended to March 2027. The main grants still available from April 2026 are:
- → Flats and renters: Up to £500 per socket for residents of flats or rented properties.
- → On-street parking (no driveway): Up to £500 per socket for homeowners without off-street parking.
- → Residential landlord: Up to £500 per socket for landlords installing chargers for tenants.
- → Workplace Charging Scheme: Up to £500 per socket for employers. Up to £2,000 per socket for state-funded educational institutions.
Note: the staff and fleets grant, commercial landlord grant, and residential landlord infrastructure grant closed on 31 March 2026. Check the OZEV grant collection page for the latest eligibility requirements.
Not Sure What the Charger Screen Is Telling You?
Pricing, kWh delivered, session time, error codes. Every charger displays this differently. When the screen shows something you do not understand, point your phone at it. The EVcourse app reads the display and explains the numbers, personalized to your car model.
Works with any UK charger network. Free on iOS. Android coming soon.
Switching your company cars to electric?
When your team encounters unfamiliar charger screens, you need answers fast. Use the EVcourse app to analyze any charger photo and send back the answer in seconds. The 4% BiK rate makes electric company cars a no-brainer. The charging itself is the friction EVcourse solves. Free on iOS. Android coming soon.
From Finn, EV engineer: The question we hear most from UK drivers considering an electric car is "how much will charging cost?" The honest answer is: it depends entirely on where you charge. Home charging with an off-peak tariff can cost under 3p per mile. Relying on public rapid chargers brings it closer to petrol costs. The biggest cost difference comes from having a home charger, not from which public network you pick.
EVcourse app provides instant troubleshooting and expert explanations at the charger. Scan any station or car screen for step-by-step help, free to start on iOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car at home in the UK?
A typical electric car with a 60 kWh battery costs approximately £15 to charge from empty to full at home, based on the Ofgem price cap of approximately 25p to 28p/kWh. Most drivers charge from 20% to 80% rather than empty to full, which costs roughly £9 to £10.
How much does it cost to use a rapid charger in the UK?
UK rapid chargers cost approximately 69p to 89p per kWh in 2026. Charging a 60 kWh battery from 10% to 80% at a rapid charger costs roughly £29 to £37. Off-peak rates at networks like Be.EV and InstaVolt can reduce this significantly.
Is it cheaper to charge an electric car than to fill up with petrol?
Yes. A typical electric car costs approximately 5p to 8p per mile to run on home electricity, compared to roughly 15p to 18p per mile for a petrol car. Even using public rapid chargers at 80p/kWh, electric cars cost approximately 12p to 20p per mile, still cheaper than petrol for most cars.
What is the cheapest way to charge an electric car in the UK?
Home charging on an off-peak energy tariff is the cheapest option, sometimes as low as 7p to 10p/kWh on overnight tariffs like Octopus Go or Intelligent Octopus Go. Without a special tariff, home charging on the Ofgem cap costs approximately 25p to 28p/kWh. Public charging is always more expensive than home charging.
Can I claim back electric car charging costs for a company car?
Yes. HMRC's advisory electricity rate from March 2026 is 26.10p/kWh for reimbursing employees who charge company electric cars at home. Employers can reimburse at this rate tax-free. Workplace charging provided by the employer is not a taxable benefit.
What is the Ofgem price cap for electricity in 2026?
The Ofgem price cap for Q1 2026 (January to March) is 27.69p/kWh. From April to June 2026 it drops to 24.67p/kWh. This is the maximum rate suppliers can charge on default tariffs. Fixed deals and off-peak tariffs may be lower.
Stuck at the charger right now?
Point your phone at the charger screen. The EVcourse app reads the display and tells you what to do next. Any charger brand, any language. Free on iOS. Android coming soon.
Don't understand the screen? Scan it.
Point your phone at any charger or car screen for instant help. Any brand, any language. Free to try on iOS.
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