How Much Does a Home EV Charger Really Cost?

Buying an electric vehicle is just the beginning. Drivers also need to figure out how to charge their new cars.

Alexandre Mouravskiy | 

Oct 31, 2023 | 5 min read

Adobe Stock

Charging your electric vehicle in the peace and convenience of your own home might sound easy and ideal. But the reality of home charging can be more complex — and more expensive — than simply plugging an extension cord into your new car.

If you live in an older house, for example, you might discover only after buying an electric car that your garage outlet doesn't supply enough voltage and/or current.

For some EV shoppers, the true cost of charging an EV at home could be higher than they expected.

Types of Home EV Chargers

Not all EV chargers are made equal, and not all will get you a full tank of juice (so to speak) in time for the morning commute.

• Level 1 charging can typically bring an EV battery to 80% in about 40 to 50 hours. These chargers often come included with an EV purchase, and require only a common household 120-volt outlet to work.
• Level 2 charging setups require having a 240-volt circuit. They can charge a battery electric vehicle to 80% in four to 10 hours and a plug-in hybrid in one to two hours.
• Level 3 — also called direct current fast charging — chargers are usually found in public charging stations, such as Tesla's Supercharger locations, and are used often in commercial applications.

Charging stations and cables also come in a variety of standards, depending on plug type. Because these plugs are not interchangeable, it can be important to make sure your home charger has the correct one.

Costs of Home Charging Stations

Within each level of charging, there's generally a range of prices for home equipment. There can also be differences in installation costs.

• Level 1 charging cables often come with new EVs, but they can also be purchased separately if you want a spare. The equipment for Level 1 chargers typically costs about $300 to about $600. You should also look into the labor costs for installation, which can cost $1,000 or more.
• Level 2 charging stations usually need to be purchased separately, though some automakers might provide rebates for purchase and installation. Level 2 charging equipment ordinarily runs about $500 to $700, although some of it can be more expensive.
• Level 3 chargers can cost tens of thousands of dollars for the equipment alone. Installed, Level 3 chargers generally cost about $12,000 to $45,000.

Less Obvious Costs of Home Charging Stations

While many modern homes can support Level 1 charging without much in the way of renovation, not every EV owner is so lucky. Older homes may not have updated electrical setups that will work with a Level 1 charger. Some hidden costs of installing at-home EV chargers might include:

• Updating your house's electrical capabilities for a Level 1 charger. Although Level 1 chargers will work with standard 120-volt household plugs, some older homes could be wired for 15-amp or lower circuits. Additionally, if the plug is too far from the distribution box, it may lose too much current and need to be updated with higher-gauge wiring.
• Upgrading your home's electrical system for a Level 2 charger. Many homes, even new ones, could need electrical work for Level 2 chargers, as those hookups require 240-volt circuits. Such circuits are not common in homes unless they were specifically installed for large appliances.

The price of installing new circuits into your home will depend on a few factors. These include the state of your breaker box/electrical panel, which can cost anywhere from about $850 to $4,000 to upgrade, depending on how many amps you need. Other factors include the availability of circuits at a high enough amperage, which can cost about $600 to $1,200 to install, and the distance between the electrical panel and the charging station.

If you need to install a commercial-grade Level 3 EV charger, it could set you back tens of thousands of dollars. It likely also will require significant infrastructure setup, the cost for which varies based on your location and property.

The Home EV Charger Extras That Add to Costs

Electrical work isn't the only area in which home-charging-installation expenses might add up. Other extra costs could include:

• Charging pedestals: If you charge multiple cars and want the charger in the middle, a charging pedestal (often a structure that sits on the floor between the vehicles) could increase the price by at least a few hundred dollars.
• Outdoor chargers: These can cost more than indoor chargers, due to the need for weatherproofing and running conduits.
• Trenching: If you have a detached garage, you may need to dig a trench for the power conduit to rest in. The exact cost will depend on the distance to the garage, location, and what kind of soil you have.
• Multiple adapters: Having more than one brand of electric car might affect cost, as you may need to get different adapters for each vehicle. That said, the price isn't likely to be more than a couple hundred dollars. Note that some automakers are adopting Tesla's North American Charging Standard plugs, so adapters could be easier to find in the future.

Charging an electric car at home will inevitably increase your electricity use. But there are a few modern EVs that can also act as generators to power your home. It's possible this could help save you money on a generator if you live in an area prone to blackouts.

Some EV-charging costs can also be offset through government programs and in fuel savings over time. A home-charging station could even increase the value of your property. Some automakers, such as General Motors and Kia, will include installation (or credit toward installation) with the purchase of an EV.

Alexandre Mouravskiy

Alexandre Mouravskiy has worked as a freelance writer for almost 20 years, covering pop culture, politics, and automobiles. He’s written about road tripping across the eastern seaboard, replacing broken wheels in a blizzard as an amateur rally navigator, and once drove from the Gulf to the Hudson Valley in a single day. When he’s not writing, Alexandre can be found wrenching on one of his project cars or teaching people to drive stick, whether they want to learn or not.