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Daanyaal Mahmood
I write about electric cars, schemes, and how they actually work.
If you drive an electric car, installing an EV charger at home can make charging considerably more convenient. Instead of relying on public charging points, you can plug your car in when you get home and, in many cases, wake up to a charged battery the following morning.
But how much does an EV charger cost to install? What type of charger do you need? And can you install your own?
In this guide, we’ll explain the home EV charger installation process, the factors that affect installation costs and the grants that may be available to help with the cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Install an EV Charger at Home?
The cost of installing an electric car charger varies depending on the charger you choose and your property it’s typically between £700 – £1600.
A straightforward installation will generally be cheaper than one requiring a long cable run, electrical upgrades or significant groundwork.
The overall price can be affected by:
- The charger you choose
- The charger’s power rating
- The distance between your electricity supply and parking space
- Your property’s existing electrical system
- Whether additional cabling or groundwork is required
- The location of the charger
- Installation complexity
- Any electrical upgrades required
For that reason, it’s worth getting an installation quote based on your individual property rather than choosing a charger based on the unit price alone.
What Size Home EV Charger Do I Need?
For many UK homes, a 7kW charger is the standard choice.
A 7kW charger can comfortably replenish most EV batteries overnight and is generally sufficient for everyday driving.
You may also see 22kW chargers advertised. While they can offer considerably faster AC charging, they normally require a three-phase electricity supply. Your car must also support the higher AC charging rate to benefit from it.
As a result, a more powerful charger isn’t automatically the best charger for your home.
An installer can assess your property, electricity supply and vehicle requirements before recommending an appropriate option.
Can I Install an EV Charger Myself?
Although it may be physically possible to mount a charger yourself, installing a dedicated EV charge point involves considerably more than attaching a box to a wall.
The charger needs to be safely connected to your home’s electrical installation, with appropriate protection and testing.
For that reason, EV charger installation should be carried out by a suitably qualified installer.
This is particularly important if you’re applying for a government EV chargepoint grant, as the relevant schemes have specific requirements concerning eligible equipment and installers. You can use the GOV website to find installers.
How Is an EV Charger Installed at Home?
The exact installation process varies between properties, but it will usually involve the following stages. The National Grid has a great guide to help.
1. Assess Your Property
Before installation, an installer will assess where you park your car and where the charger can be positioned.
They’ll also need to consider your existing electricity supply and the route that cabling will take between the supply and your charging point.
A charger mounted close to your consumer unit may be relatively straightforward. A parking space further away from your home could require additional cabling, drilling or groundwork.
3. Choose Your EV Charger
There are numerous home EV chargers available, with differences including:
- Charging speed
- Tethered or untethered cables
- Smartphone apps
- Scheduled charging
- Energy monitoring
- Solar integration
- Load balancing
Private domestic and workplace chargepoints sold in Great Britain are also subject to smart charging regulations, meaning modern chargers provide smart functionality designed to help manage when vehicles draw electricity.
2. Check Your Electrical Supply
Your installer will check whether your electrical installation can safely accommodate EV charging.
Depending on your property, additional electrical work or equipment may be necessary.
This is one reason it’s worth arranging an installation survey or providing detailed information about your property before purchasing a charger.
4. Install the Charger
Once the installation has been planned, the installer can fit the chargepoint and connect it to your electrical supply.
The complexity will depend on your home.
For example, fitting a charger to an exterior wall beside a driveway may be relatively straightforward, whereas installing one further from the property could require a longer cable route or groundwork.
5. Test the Installation
Once everything is connected, the installer will test the charging point and electrical installation.
They should also explain how to operate the charger, including any smart charging or scheduling functions available through its app.
You can then plug in your EV and start charging at home.
What Affects EV Charger Installation Costs?
Charger Type
Different chargers have different purchase prices. Smart functionality, higher charging capabilities and additional features can all affect the price.
Installation Location
A charger fitted next to your electricity supply will generally be simpler to install than one located a significant distance away.
Electrical Work
Some homes may require additional electrical work before a charger can be safely installed.
Cabling and Groundwork
Longer cable runs, underground cabling and installation across more complicated surfaces can increase labour and material costs.
Additional Features
Some charging services may include optional subscriptions, energy management platforms or other paid features. Check any ongoing charges before choosing your charger.
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Are EV Charger Installation Grants Available?
Yes, although eligibility depends on your circumstances.
Check out the government website for all the grants.
Eligible renters and people who own and live in flats can currently receive support towards buying and installing an EV charger. The government grant covers 75% of eligible costs, up to £500.
To qualify, you’ll generally need a private, off-street parking space and must meet the government’s other eligibility requirements.
There is also support for eligible households with on-street parking where an approved cross-pavement charging solution is being installed.
Landlords and eligible workplaces can also access separate EV charging grants.
Because government schemes and eligibility criteria can change, always check the latest GOV.UK guidance before arranging an installation.
Where Should I Install My EV Charger?
Ideally, your charging point should be somewhere that’s convenient to reach from your normal parking position without creating a trip hazard.
Common locations include:
- An exterior wall beside a driveway
- Inside or outside a garage
- A dedicated post close to a parking space
The distance between your electricity supply and charger matters because longer cable runs and more complicated installation work can increase the overall cost.
If you’re unsure where to position the charger, discuss the options with your installer before purchasing the unit.
How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car at Home?
Charging time depends on both your charger’s output and your vehicle’s battery.
As a simplified example, a 7kW charger could theoretically add around 7kWh of energy to a battery each hour.
A 70kWh battery would therefore take roughly 10 hours to charge from completely empty at that rate, although real-world charging speeds and losses mean actual times vary.
Most drivers aren’t charging from 0% every evening, so everyday top-ups can take considerably less time.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?
Your charging cost depends primarily on:
Battery capacity × electricity price = approximate full-charge cost
For example, charging 50kWh at an electricity rate of 25p/kWh would cost approximately:
50 × £0.25 = £12.50
In practice, you won’t usually charge your battery from completely empty to completely full every time.
Some electricity suppliers also offer EV tariffs with cheaper overnight electricity rates, which can reduce the cost of home charging further.
AC vs DC EV Charging: What’s the Difference?
Home chargers generally use AC (alternating current).
Your EV converts that electricity into DC before storing it in its battery.
Public rapid and ultra-rapid chargers can supply DC electricity directly to the battery, allowing significantly higher charging speeds.
That’s why the powerful rapid chargers found at motorway services and charging hubs aren’t normally installed at residential properties.
Is Home Charging Cheaper Than Public Charging?
Home charging can often be one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways of running an electric vehicle, particularly if you can take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity.
Rapid public chargers serve a different purpose. Their high charging speeds can be extremely useful during long journeys, but the price per kWh can be higher than charging at home.
Rather than thinking of the two as direct alternatives, many EV drivers use home charging for everyday journeys and public rapid charging when travelling longer distances.
Do Plug-In Hybrid Cars Need a Home Charger?
It depends on the type of hybrid.
A conventional hybrid does not need to be plugged in. Its relatively small battery is charged through the engine and regenerative braking.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is different. As its name suggests, it can be plugged into an external electricity supply to recharge its battery.
You don’t necessarily need a dedicated home charge point to own a PHEV, but convenient regular charging allows you to make greater use of its electric-only range.
Home EV Charging and Salary Sacrifice
If you’re considering an electric vehicle through your employer, it’s worth looking beyond the car itself and considering how you’ll charge it.
Some electric car salary sacrifice schemes provide additional charging support.
At Fleet Evolution, our EV salary sacrifice scheme can be combined with charging options designed to make switching to electric straightforward. Employees can also benefit from our workplace charging offering where available.
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Fleet Evolution offers innovative salary sacrifice schemes, helping employers and employees save on costs while promoting eco-friendly electric cars. Enjoy easy setup, free maintenance, and swift activation for any company size.
FAQs
A 7kW charger is suitable for many UK households. A 22kW charger normally requires a three-phase electricity supply, and your vehicle must support the higher AC charging rate to benefit from it.
Yes. Eligible renters with private off-street parking can apply for the government's EV chargepoint grant, subject to the scheme's requirements and obtaining the necessary permissions.
Yes. Eligible renters with private off-street parking can apply for the government's EV chargepoint grant, subject to the scheme's requirements and obtaining the necessary permissions.
Yes. Overnight charging is one of the main benefits of having a home charger. Smart chargers can also allow you to schedule charging for particular times.
For drivers with suitable parking, a home charger can make EV ownership much more convenient. Whether it's financially worthwhile for you will depend on your mileage, electricity tariff, access to workplace charging and the installation cost at your property.