EV Charging Cost Calculator. Enter your battery size (kWh), electricity rate (per kWh), and current charge level to find out exactly what it costs to fully charge your electric vehicle at home or at a public station. You'll also get the cost to drive a set distance based on your vehicle's efficiency — helping you budget smarter for every mile. Also try the Flight Radiation Calculator.
The cost depends on your battery size and local electricity rate. For a typical 75 kWh battery at $0.16/kWh, a full charge from empty costs about $12. At the US average rate, most EVs cost between $8 and $20 to fully charge at home. See also our MPG Calculator (Fuel Economy).
The formula is simple: Charging Cost = Energy Needed (kWh) × Electricity Rate ($/kWh). Energy needed equals your battery capacity multiplied by the percentage you're charging (e.g., from 20% to 100% = 80% of total capacity). Our calculator handles this automatically.
EVs are typically 3–4x cheaper to fuel than gasoline cars. At $0.16/kWh with an efficiency of 30 kWh/100mi, driving costs roughly $0.05/mile. A comparable gas car at 30 MPG and $3.50/gallon costs about $0.12/mile — more than double.
The US national average is approximately $0.13–$0.16 per kWh for residential electricity. Rates vary by state — Hawaii averages over $0.30/kWh while states like Louisiana are closer to $0.10/kWh. Check your utility bill for your exact rate.
Public DC fast chargers typically cost $0.25–$0.50 per kWh, which is 2–3x more expensive than home charging. Some networks like Tesla Supercharger or Electrify America charge around $0.35/kWh. Home charging remains the most cost-effective option for daily use.
This depends on the battery size and how depleted it is. A fully depleted 75 kWh battery needs about 75 kWh to reach 100% (accounting for small charging losses). Compact EVs may have 40–50 kWh batteries, while larger EVs like the Rivian R1T can have 135+ kWh batteries.
Most modern EVs average 25–35 kWh per 100 miles. The Tesla Model 3 is among the most efficient at about 25 kWh/100mi. Larger SUVs and trucks use more — typically 35–50 kWh/100mi. Lower numbers mean better efficiency and lower per-mile charging costs.
Most EV manufacturers recommend keeping daily charging between 20% and 80–90% to preserve long-term battery health. Charging to 100% is fine for long trips but doing it regularly can degrade lithium-ion battery capacity over time. Check your vehicle's manual for specific recommendations. You might also find our Wheel Horsepower (WHP) — Wheel Horsepower useful.