How much does it cost to run an electric car charger?
Short answer: An electric car charger drawing 7,200 watts costs about $1.32 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 1.5 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $59.32 per month and $711.89 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $41.21 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $155.52.
Electric car charger cost calculator
Hours of actual charging per day. On a 7.2 kW Level 2 charger, 1.5 hours adds roughly 35 miles of range.
Energy used: 324.0 kWh per month. Default price is the U.S. residential average; pick your state or type the price from your own bill.
Charging an electric car at home is billed like any other appliance: by the kilowatt-hour. The charger's power only decides how fast the battery fills. What you pay depends on how many miles you drive and what your utility charges per kWh.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 1.5 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (standard outlet) | 1,400 W | $0.26 | $11.54 |
| Level 2 (32-amp) | 7,200 W | $1.32 | $59.32 |
| Level 2 (48-amp) | 11,500 W | $2.11 | $94.75 |
Think in miles, not hours
Most electric cars travel 3 to 4 miles on one kilowatt-hour. A driver covering 1,000 miles a month therefore needs around 300 kWh, including the roughly 10 percent lost as heat during charging. Multiply that by your electricity price and you have your monthly fuel cost.
The calculator's default of 7,200 watts for 1.5 hours a day works out to about 324 kWh a month, close to that 1,000-mile figure. If you drive more or less, change the hours until the kWh matches your mileage.
Level 1 versus Level 2
A Level 1 cord on a normal 120-volt outlet delivers about 1.4 kW and adds only 4 or 5 miles of range per hour. A 240-volt Level 2 charger delivers 7 to 11.5 kW. Both cost the same per mile, because you pay for energy delivered, not for speed. Level 2 is slightly more efficient because the car's electronics are awake for fewer hours.
How to lower the cost
- Ask your utility about an EV or time-of-use rate. Overnight prices can be half the daytime price.
- Schedule charging in the car's app so it starts after the off-peak window opens.
- Precondition the cabin while still plugged in, so heating or cooling comes from the grid and not the battery.
- Compare with public fast charging, which commonly costs two to three times the home rate.
Cost to run an electric car charger in every state
Based on 7,200 watts for 1.5 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $1.18 | $53.14 | $637.63 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $2.08 | $93.41 | $1,121 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $1.11 | $49.83 | $597.97 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $1.03 | $46.43 | $557.15 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $2.42 | $108.90 | $1,307 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $1.22 | $55.08 | $660.96 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $1.74 | $78.28 | $939.34 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $1.33 | $59.88 | $718.50 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $1.82 | $81.68 | $980.16 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $1.08 | $48.70 | $584.37 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $1.17 | $52.71 | $632.58 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $3.46 | $155.52 | $1,866 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.99 | $44.49 | $533.82 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $1.38 | $62.27 | $747.27 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $1.20 | $54.21 | $650.46 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $1.15 | $51.81 | $621.69 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $1.10 | $49.47 | $593.70 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.99 | $44.74 | $536.93 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.92 | $41.21 | $494.55 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $2.33 | $105.01 | $1,260 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $1.54 | $69.37 | $832.42 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $2.20 | $98.79 | $1,185 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $1.66 | $74.68 | $896.18 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $1.26 | $56.54 | $678.46 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $1.05 | $47.11 | $565.32 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $1.16 | $52.13 | $625.58 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $1.08 | $48.57 | $582.81 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.99 | $44.65 | $535.77 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.92 | $41.37 | $496.50 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $1.92 | $86.18 | $1,034 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $1.81 | $81.62 | $979.39 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $1.16 | $52.13 | $625.58 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $2.15 | $96.88 | $1,163 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $1.09 | $49.12 | $589.42 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.97 | $43.45 | $521.38 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $1.40 | $63.02 | $756.22 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $1.03 | $46.49 | $557.93 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $1.15 | $51.74 | $620.91 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $1.56 | $70.37 | $844.47 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $2.04 | $91.66 | $1,100 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $1.11 | $50.12 | $601.47 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $1.11 | $49.80 | $597.59 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.99 | $44.42 | $533.04 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $1.14 | $51.45 | $617.41 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.94 | $42.51 | $510.11 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $1.71 | $76.95 | $923.40 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $1.26 | $56.86 | $682.34 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $1.06 | $47.66 | $571.92 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $1.14 | $51.13 | $613.53 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $1.37 | $61.75 | $741.05 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $1.03 | $46.53 | $558.32 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home per month?
For about 1,000 miles of driving, roughly 324 kWh, or about $59.32 at the U.S. average residential price. Use the state table for your local cost.
Is charging an EV cheaper than buying gas?
In most states, yes, when you charge at home. At the U.S. average electricity price, 1,000 miles costs around $59.32; a 30 mpg gasoline car needs about 33 gallons for the same distance. The gap narrows in states with very expensive electricity.
Does a faster charger cost more to use?
No. A faster charger delivers the same energy in less time. You pay for kilowatt-hours, so the cost per mile is essentially the same.