Quick answer: At the current U.S. average residential electricity rate of 18.83¢/kWh, fully charging a typical 75 kWh EV at home costs about $15.53, or roughly 5.9¢ per mile — compared with about 13.6¢ per mile for a 28-MPG gas car at today’s $3.81/gallon national average. For an average driver (13,500 miles/year), that’s about $799 a year in electricity versus $1,837 in gas — a saving of roughly $1,038 a year.
Last verified: July 5, 2026. Electricity rates are the latest state-level EIA data (April 2026); gas price is the AAA national average for July 4, 2026. Full sources in the methodology section.
Calculate your exact cost
Your real number depends on your state’s electricity rate, your car’s efficiency, and how much you drive. Use the calculator — it’s pre-loaded with the current rate for every state, and every field is editable:
EV Home Charging Cost & Savings Calculator
Live July 2026 data: state electricity rates (EIA) & national average gas price (AAA). Every field is editable.
Assumes 10% home-charging losses (typical for Level 2: 5–15%). Electricity rates are statewide residential averages — many utilities offer off-peak EV plans that cut the effective rate 30–50%, so your real cost may be lower. Rates: EIA data (April 2026, latest state-level), retrieved July 5, 2026. Gas default: AAA national average July 4, 2026 — set your local price. Estimates only, not a quote.
The math, shown plainly
Home charging cost comes down to one formula:
Cost = (kWh of charge) × (your electricity rate) × (charging losses)
- A typical mid-size EV battery holds 75 kWh and covers ~260 miles.
- Home Level 2 charging wastes about 10% of the electricity as heat and conversion losses (typical range: 5–15%), so you buy ~82.5 kWh to fill a 75 kWh battery.
- At the U.S. average of 18.83¢/kWh: 82.5 × $0.1883 ≈ $15.53 for a full charge, or ~6¢ per mile of range.
Three things move that number most:
- Your state. The same full charge costs $10.19 in North Dakota and $38.46 in Hawaii — a nearly 4× spread.
- Off-peak EV rates. Many utilities offer time-of-use plans that cut the effective overnight rate 30–50%. If you can charge on one, your real cost may be a third lower than the statewide averages below.
- Recent rate inflation. U.S. residential electricity is up ~7.3% year-over-year — but gas has been more volatile (the national average jumped roughly a dollar in a single month this year), so the EV advantage has held or widened.
EV charging cost by state (July 2026)
Cost per mile assumes a typical 3.5 mi/kWh EV with 10% charging losses; full charge assumes a 75 kWh battery; annual cost assumes 13,500 miles/year (the average U.S. driver).
| State | Electricity rate | Cost per mile | Full charge (75 kWh) | Annual charging cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17.41¢ | 5.5¢ | $14.36 | $739 |
| Alaska | 27.35¢ | 8.6¢ | $22.56 | $1,160 |
| Arizona | 15.48¢ | 4.9¢ | $12.77 | $657 |
| Arkansas | 14.16¢ | 4.5¢ | $11.68 | $601 |
| California | 35.25¢ | 11.1¢ | $29.08 | $1,496 |
| Colorado | 16.54¢ | 5.2¢ | $13.65 | $702 |
| Connecticut | 32.24¢ | 10.1¢ | $26.60 | $1,368 |
| Delaware | 18.79¢ | 5.9¢ | $15.50 | $797 |
| District of Columbia | 25.41¢ | 8.0¢ | $20.96 | $1,078 |
| Florida | 15.38¢ | 4.8¢ | $12.69 | $653 |
| Georgia | 15.37¢ | 4.8¢ | $12.68 | $652 |
| Hawaii | 46.62¢ | 14.7¢ | $38.46 | $1,978 |
| Idaho | 12.70¢ | 4.0¢ | $10.48 | $539 |
| Illinois | 20.47¢ | 6.4¢ | $16.89 | $869 |
| Indiana | 17.90¢ | 5.6¢ | $14.77 | $759 |
| Iowa | 13.86¢ | 4.4¢ | $11.43 | $588 |
| Kansas | 15.78¢ | 5.0¢ | $13.02 | $670 |
| Kentucky | 15.02¢ | 4.7¢ | $12.39 | $637 |
| Louisiana | 14.44¢ | 4.5¢ | $11.91 | $613 |
| Maine | 28.42¢ | 8.9¢ | $23.45 | $1,206 |
| Maryland | 22.07¢ | 6.9¢ | $18.21 | $936 |
| Massachusetts | 29.45¢ | 9.3¢ | $24.30 | $1,250 |
| Michigan | 21.39¢ | 6.7¢ | $17.65 | $908 |
| Minnesota | 16.39¢ | 5.2¢ | $13.52 | $695 |
| Mississippi | 16.76¢ | 5.3¢ | $13.83 | $711 |
| Missouri | 14.01¢ | 4.4¢ | $11.56 | $594 |
| Montana | 13.90¢ | 4.4¢ | $11.47 | $590 |
| Nebraska | 13.28¢ | 4.2¢ | $10.96 | $563 |
| Nevada | 14.29¢ | 4.5¢ | $11.79 | $606 |
| New Hampshire | 27.24¢ | 8.6¢ | $22.47 | $1,156 |
| New Jersey | 23.53¢ | 7.4¢ | $19.41 | $998 |
| New Mexico | 15.15¢ | 4.8¢ | $12.50 | $643 |
| New York | 29.45¢ | 9.3¢ | $24.30 | $1,250 |
| North Carolina | 16.25¢ | 5.1¢ | $13.41 | $689 |
| North Dakota | 12.35¢ | 3.9¢ | $10.19 | $524 |
| Ohio | 19.49¢ | 6.1¢ | $16.08 | $827 |
| Oklahoma | 13.31¢ | 4.2¢ | $10.98 | $565 |
| Oregon | 15.78¢ | 5.0¢ | $13.02 | $670 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.47¢ | 6.7¢ | $17.71 | $911 |
| Rhode Island | 28.30¢ | 8.9¢ | $23.35 | $1,201 |
| South Carolina | 17.06¢ | 5.4¢ | $14.07 | $724 |
| South Dakota | 14.52¢ | 4.6¢ | $11.98 | $616 |
| Tennessee | 14.94¢ | 4.7¢ | $12.33 | $634 |
| Texas | 16.99¢ | 5.3¢ | $14.02 | $721 |
| Utah | 13.29¢ | 4.2¢ | $10.96 | $564 |
| Vermont | 24.56¢ | 7.7¢ | $20.26 | $1,042 |
| Virginia | 17.38¢ | 5.5¢ | $14.34 | $737 |
| Washington | 14.36¢ | 4.5¢ | $11.85 | $609 |
| West Virginia | 16.06¢ | 5.0¢ | $13.25 | $681 |
| Wisconsin | 19.21¢ | 6.0¢ | $15.85 | $815 |
| Wyoming | 14.68¢ | 4.6¢ | $12.11 | $623 |
| U.S. Average | 18.83¢ | 5.9¢ | $15.53 | $799 |
Cheapest states to charge: North Dakota (3.9¢/mile), Idaho (4.0¢), Nebraska and Utah (4.2¢). Most expensive: Hawaii (14.7¢/mile), California (11.1¢), Connecticut (10.1¢) — though even in Hawaii, home charging beats the state’s gas prices per mile.
Level 1 vs Level 2: does the charger change the cost?
The electricity cost is nearly the same — what changes is speed and convenience:
- Level 1 (standard 120V outlet): no install cost, but adds only ~3–5 miles of range per hour. Slightly higher losses. Fine for short commutes.
- Level 2 (240V, hardwired or plug): adds ~25–40 miles of range per hour; a full overnight charge is easy. This is what most EV owners install.
What a Level 2 installation costs in 2026
Most U.S. homeowners pay $800–$3,000 all-in for a professionally installed Level 2 charger:
| Scenario | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Basic: 40A unit, short wire run, spare panel capacity | $900–$1,300 |
| Mid-range: 40–50A unit, 25–40 ft run | $1,400–$2,000 |
| Complex: 48–60A unit, panel upgrade or trenching | $2,000–$3,500 |
At the national-average savings of ~$1,038/year vs gas, a $1,600 mid-range install pays for itself in about 18 months — the calculator above computes your exact payback. For the full component-by-component breakdown, see our Level 2 charger installation cost guide.
The federal charger tax credit is gone (as of last week)
The federal Section 30C credit — 30% of hardware + installation up to $1,000 — expired June 30, 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and no extension is pending. Chargers had to be operational by that date to qualify. If you installed before the deadline, you can still claim it on your 2026 return. Going forward, check your state and utility rebates — many utilities still offer $250–$500+ toward Level 2 chargers or discounted EV rate plans.
Home vs public charging
Home charging is the cheap option. DC fast charging typically runs 40–60¢/kWh — three times the average home rate, and at that price a “full tank” of electrons can approach gas cost per mile. The rule of thumb: charge at home for daily driving, use fast charging for road trips. If you can’t charge at home (apartment, street parking), your economics change substantially and are worth a separate calculation.
Methodology & sources
All figures verified July 5, 2026:
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (April 2026, the latest state-level data), retrieved via electricchoice.com’s July 2026 compilation. U.S. average: 18.83¢/kWh residential, +7.3% YoY.
- Gas price: AAA national average, $3.81/gallon regular (July 4, 2026).
- Charger installation costs: cross-referenced 2026 ranges from EnergySage, Qmerit, and independent installer guides.
- 30C credit expiration: confirmed against Rewiring America, Plug In America, and the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center (post-OBBBA guidance).
- Assumptions: 3.5 mi/kWh EV efficiency (typical for current mid-size EVs), 28 MPG comparison car (EPA real-world average for new gas vehicles), 13,500 miles/year (FHWA average driver), 10% Level 2 charging losses (typical range 5–15%).
Rates change. This page is re-verified on a scheduled basis; the “verified” date above always reflects the most recent check.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car at home?
About $15.53 for a typical 75 kWh battery at the July 2026 U.S. average residential rate of 18.83¢/kWh, including ~10% charging losses. State costs range from ~$10 (North Dakota) to ~$38 (Hawaii).
Is charging an EV at home cheaper than gas?
Yes, in every state. At national averages, home charging costs ~5.9¢ per mile versus ~13.6¢ per mile for a 28-MPG gas car — about 57% less. The gap narrows in high-electricity states like Hawaii and California but doesn't close, especially on off-peak EV rate plans.
How much does home charging add to your electric bill?
For an average driver (13,500 miles/year), about $67/month at the U.S. average rate — from roughly $44/month in the cheapest states to $165/month in Hawaii.
Does the EV charger tax credit still exist in 2026?
No — the federal Section 30C credit (30% up to $1,000) expired June 30, 2026, and no extension is pending. Installations completed before that date can still be claimed. State and utility rebates remain available in many areas.
How much does it cost to install a Level 2 home charger?
Typically $800–$3,000 all-in: about $900–$1,300 for a simple installation with spare panel capacity, up to $2,000–$3,500 if you need a panel upgrade or a long wire run.