EV home charging: electricity cost calculator

Quick answer: charging at home for 1,000 miles a month costs about $59/month at the U.S. average electricity price (18.44¢/kWh), assuming 28 kWh/100 mi and 12% charging losses — roughly 5–6.5¢ per mile. Calculate your exact number below.

Default inputs are battery-side efficiency (what a trip computer reports), plus 12% charging losses to reach wall energy. Switch to “EPA label value” if you are using the EPA kWh/100 mi figure — that number is already measured at the wall, so losses stay at 0%. Charger power only sets charging speed, not cost per mile.

Miles per monthBattery-side efficiency (kWh / 100 mi)

Efficiency source

Battery / trip computerAdd charging losses (typical 10–15%)EPA label valueLosses already included — do not add them again

Charging losses (%)Off-peak share (% of charging)Off-peak price (¢/kWh)Public charging share (% of charging)Public price (¢/kWh)Average residential electricity price

EIA state average, May 2026 — includes delivery and taxes, but is not your utility's exact tariff.

Per mile

5.9¢

Per 100 miles

$5.87

Per month

$58.67

Per year

$704.07

318 kWh/month from the wall (including charging losses) · home charging ≈ 1.5 h/day on Level 2 (7.2 kW) or 7.5 h/day on Level 1 (1.4 kW) · a 30 MPG gas car driving the same miles burns ~$106.67/month at $3.20/gal

Common questions

How much does it cost per mile?

At the default battery-side 28 kWh/100 mi plus 12% charging losses, wall energy is about 32 kWh/100 mi — roughly 5–6¢ per mile at the U.S. average residential price, about a third of a 30 MPG gas car.

Do time-of-use plans help?

Often a lot. Many utilities sell overnight EV power at 30–60% below the standard price; scheduled charging captures it automatically.

Should I add charging losses to the EPA figure?

No. Choose “EPA label value” in the calculator (losses set to 0%). EPA kWh/100 miles is measured at the wall and already includes charging losses. Only add 10–15% when you enter battery-side or trip-computer consumption.

Methodology & sources

Cost = miles × efficiency (kWh/100 mi) ÷ (1 − charging losses) × price per kWh. Electricity prices are average residential prices by state from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (May 2026). EIA averages include delivery charges and taxes but are not any specific utility tariff — for an exact figure, use the rate from your own bill. Wattage presets reflect common product ranges; check your appliance's nameplate or a plug-in power meter for its true draw.

Last verified: July 30, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.