This free EV charging calculator shows how much it costs to charge an electric car and how long it takes, on a Level 1 outlet, a Level 2 home charger or a DC fast charger. Pick your car — Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Ioniq 5, Mustang Mach-E and more — or enter any battery size. It also compares the cost per mile with a gas car.
How charging time and cost are calculated
Energy into battery (kWh) = capacity × (target % − current %)
Energy from grid (kWh) = energy into battery ÷ efficiency
Time (hours) = energy from grid ÷ charger kW
Cost = energy from grid × price per kWh
Worked example
A 75 kWh battery charged from 20% to 80% needs 75 × 0.6 = 45 kWh. At 90% efficiency the car draws 50 kWh from the wall. On a 7.2 kW Level 2 charger that takes 50 ÷ 7.2 ≈ 6 h 57 min, and at $0.17/kWh it costs about $8.50 — adding roughly 158 miles of range at 3.5 mi/kWh.
Cost to charge popular electric cars
Home charging at $0.17 per kWh with 90% charging efficiency. Battery sizes are approximate usable capacities and vary by model year.
| Car | Usable battery | Empty to full | 20–80% top-up | 20–80% on 7.2 kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 (RWD) | ~57 kWh | $10.77 | $6.46 | 5 h 17 min |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | ~75 kWh | $14.17 | $8.50 | 6 h 57 min |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range | ~75 kWh | $14.17 | $8.50 | 6 h 57 min |
| Chevrolet Bolt EV | ~65 kWh | $12.28 | $7.37 | 6 h 1 min |
| Nissan Leaf (40 kWh) | ~39 kWh | $7.37 | $4.42 | 3 h 37 min |
| Nissan Leaf Plus (62 kWh) | ~59 kWh | $11.14 | $6.69 | 5 h 28 min |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range | ~77 kWh | $14.54 | $8.73 | 7 h 8 min |
| Kia EV6 Long Range | ~77 kWh | $14.54 | $8.73 | 7 h 8 min |
| Volkswagen ID.4 Pro | ~77 kWh | $14.54 | $8.73 | 7 h 8 min |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range | ~91 kWh | $17.19 | $10.31 | 8 h 26 min |
| Ford F-150 Lightning Extended Range | ~131 kWh | $24.74 | $14.85 | 12 h 8 min |
EV vs gas: cost per mile
EV cost per mile = electricity price ÷ charging efficiency ÷ miles per kWh
Gas cost per mile = gas price ÷ miles per gallon
At $0.17/kWh, 90% efficiency and 3.5 mi/kWh, an EV costs about $5.40 per 100 miles. A 30 mpg car at $3.50 a gallon costs about $11.67 per 100 miles. Over 12,000 miles a year that is a saving of about $752.38 on fuel alone.
Charging levels compared
| Charger | Typical power | Range added per hour* |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (120 V outlet) | 1.2–1.9 kW | 3–6 miles |
| Level 2 (240 V / 230 V) | 3.7–11 kW (up to 19 kW) | 12–35 miles |
| DC fast charging | 50–350 kW | 150–1000 miles (until tapering) |
*At 3.5 mi/kWh and 90% efficiency.
Related calculations
- See what charging adds to your monthly bill next to your other appliances with the electricity cost calculator.
- Want to charge from your own roof? The solar panel calculator sizes a system for your driving.