EV home charging: electricity cost calculator

Quick answer: charging at home for 1,000 miles a month costs about $58/month at the U.S. average electricity price (18.34¢/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, excluding charging losses (kWh / 100 mi)

Efficiency source

Battery / trip computerTypical ~22–31 kWh/100 mi — then add 10–15% charging lossesEPA / wall-to-wheelTypical ~25–35 kWh/100 mi — losses already included, set to 0%

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, June 2026 — includes delivery and taxes, but is not your utility's exact tariff.

Per mile

5.8¢

Per 100 miles

$5.84

Per month

$58.35

Per year

$700.25

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.

Battery consumption vs wall consumption — which number do I enter?

Battery / trip-computer consumption is typically about 22–31 kWh/100 mi — enter that and keep charging losses around 12%. Wall consumption including charging losses is typically about 25–35 kWh/100 mi (EPA label) — switch Efficiency source to EPA / wall-to-wheel so losses stay at 0% and you do not double-count.

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.

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 (June 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: August 27, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.