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This beginner's guide covers charging an electric car at home. Over 80% of EV charging happens at home. The guide walks through choosing a charger, installation, getting the right electricity tariff and setting up smart charging. Prices use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 and tariff pages read on 1 November 2026.
- Over 80% of EV charging happens at home.
- Step 1: understand your charging options. Step 2: choose a home charger.
- Step 3: installation. Step 4: get the right electricity tariff.
- Step 5: set up smart charging.
- The page uses 3.2 miles per kWh as real-world efficiency.
Most people charge their electric car at home. You need a charger fitted and, ideally, an electricity tariff that is cheap overnight. This guide takes you through each step.
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Just bought an electric car and wondering how to charge it at home? You're not alone: over 80% of EV charging happens at home. This guide walks you through everything from choosing a charger to slashing your running costs with the right electricity tariff.
Step 1: understand your charging options
| Where you charge | Speed | Price per kWh | A 60kWh charge | Per mile at 3.2 miles/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-pin plug, standard rate | 2.3kW: 12 to 24 hours | 26.32p (cap) | £15.79 | 8.2p |
| Home wallbox, standard rate | 7.4kW: 4 to 8 hours | 26.32p (cap) | £15.79 | 8.2p |
| Home wallbox, OVO Charge Anytime add-on | 7.4kW | 13.33p | £8.00 | 4.2p |
| Home wallbox, Intelligent Octopus Go | 7.4kW | 6.5p | £3.90 | 2.0p |
| Public slow or fast (3 to 49kW) | 2 to 6 hours | 54p (Zapmap average) | £32.40 | 16.9p |
| Public rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above) | 20 to 45 minutes | 79p (Zapmap average) | £47.40 | 24.7p |
Prices: Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 (GB average, Direct Debit); Octopus and OVO tariff pages, read 1 November 2026; Zapmap price index, pay-as-you-go weighted averages for September 2026. A 60kWh battery is an example size. 3.2 miles per kWh is the real-world efficiency used in our EV charging cost tracker. Charging losses are not counted.
Home or public charging: what a year costs, and when a home charger pays back
The gap between home and public charging is large enough that a home charger usually earns its cost back within a year of ordinary driving, but only if you charge on a cheap overnight rate. Charging at the 26.32p standard rate shrinks the saving per mile from 14.8p to 8.7p against public fast chargers.
Charger break-even miles = installed cost ÷ (public price − home price) ÷ miles per kWh. At 6.5p at home against Zapmap’s 54p public fast average, every mile charged at home instead saves 14.8p. The installed prices below are illustrations, not quotes: Look Into has not surveyed installation prices.
| Charger installed for | Pays back against public fast charging (54p) | Against public rapid (79p) |
|---|---|---|
| £500 | 3,368 miles | 2,207 miles |
| £750 | 5,053 miles | 3,310 miles |
| £1,000 | 6,737 miles | 4,414 miles |
On the 26.32p standard rate instead of an EV tariff, a £1,000 charger takes 11,561 miles to pay back against public fast charging and 6,074 against rapid. Grants: renters and flat owners may qualify for the EV chargepoint grant.
Your home and public charging cost
The calculator needs JavaScript. The method above gives the formula.
Defaults: 8,000 miles and 3.2 miles per kWh, as in our cost tracker; 6.5p is Intelligent Octopus Go (eligible cars and chargers); 17.6p a mile is unleaded at 174.1p a litre (DESNZ, w/c 26 October 2026) at 45mpg. Standing charges and charging losses are not counted.
Step 2: choose a home charger
All home chargers sold in the UK since June 2022 must be "smart" by law. That means they can schedule charging, respond to grid signals, and connect to an app. Here's what to consider:
- Power: Almost all home chargers are 7.4kW (single-phase). Some homes have three-phase supply allowing 22kW, but this is rare in the UK
- Tethered vs untethered: Tethered has a cable attached (more convenient). Untethered uses your own Type 2 cable (more flexible if you have multiple EVs)
- Solar compatibility: If you have solar panels, choose a charger with solar diversion (Zappi or Ohme)
- Smart tariff support: The Ohme Home Pro automatically charges at the cheapest times on variable tariffs
Step 3: Installation (What to Expect)
| Stage | What Happens | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Survey | Installer checks your electrics, consumer unit, and preferred location | 30 mins (often remote) |
| 2. Quote | You receive an itemised quote including charger, installation, and any extras | 1–3 days |
| 3. Installation | Charger mounted, wired to consumer unit, tested | 2–4 hours |
| 4. DNO notification | Installer notifies your electricity distributor (required by law) | Included |
| 5. App setup | Connect charger to Wi-Fi, create account, set schedule | 10 mins |
Step 4: get the right electricity tariff
This is where the real savings are. Intelligent Octopus Go’s 6.5p is 75% below the 26.32p cap rate. OVO’s Charge Anytime add-on, at 13.33p, is 49% below it.
| Tariff | Rate for EV charging | When | A 60kWh charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Octopus Go | 6.5p/kWh | Smart charging for eligible cars and chargers; home off-peak 23:30 to 05:30 | £3.90 |
| OVO Charge Anytime (pay-as-you-go add-on) | 13.33p/kWh | Smart charging | £8.00 |
| Standard variable (Ofgem cap, GB average) | 26.32p/kWh | All day | £15.79 |
Rates read on each supplier’s page on 1 November 2026 (OVO states its rate from 1 October 2026). We could not confirm current Octopus Go or EDF GoElectric rates on the day, so they are not listed. Check your region: rates vary.
Step 5: set up smart charging
Once your charger and tariff are sorted, set up scheduled charging so your car charges automatically during the cheapest hours. Most charger apps let you set a schedule (e.g., charge between midnight and 5am). Some, like the Ohme, read your tariff automatically and optimise without you doing anything.
Electricity for 10,000 miles a year
| How you charge | Cost a year (3,125 kWh at 3.2 miles per kWh) |
|---|---|
| Home, Intelligent Octopus Go (6.5p) | £203.13 |
| Home, OVO Charge Anytime add-on (13.33p) | £416.56 |
| Home, standard rate (26.32p) | £822.50 |
| Public slow or fast only (54p) | £1,687.50 |
| Public rapid only (79p) | £2,468.75 |
Compare petrol: 10,000 miles at 45mpg and 174.1p a litre (DESNZ weekly average, w/c 26 October 2026) costs about £1,759 in fuel. Add your charger quote to the first year.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the granny charger long-term: it's slow, inefficient, and can overload old wiring
- Not switching to an EV tariff: you're paying 3–4x more than you need to
- Charging to 100% every night: most manufacturers recommend keeping between 20–80% for battery longevity
- Ignoring solar: if you have panels, a solar-diverting charger gives you free miles
- Not checking your consumer unit first: an old fuse board can add £300–£600 to installation
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge an EV if I don't have a driveway?
It's harder but not impossible. Options include pavement charging cables with protective covers, on-street chargepoints (increasingly common through council schemes), and workplace charging. Some councils are trialling lamppost chargers and pop-up kerb chargers for terraced streets.
Will charging an EV increase my electricity bill a lot?
At 8,000 miles a year and 3.2 miles per kWh (2,500 kWh), charging at the 26.32p standard rate adds about £54.83 a month; on a 6.5p EV rate it is about £13.54 a month. Standing charges are paid either way.
Can I install a charger myself?
No. EV charger installation must be done by a qualified electrician and notified to your DNO (Distribution Network Operator). DIY installation is illegal and dangerous, and would void your charger warranty and home insurance.
Sources
- Ofgem, energy price cap unit rates, 1 October to 31 December 2026: 26.32p per kWh, Direct Debit, GB average. Read 1 November 2026.
- Octopus Energy, Intelligent Octopus Go: 6.5p per kWh smart charging. Read 1 November 2026.
- OVO Energy, Charge Anytime add-on: 13.33p per kWh from 1 October 2026. Read 1 November 2026.
- Zapmap price index, September 2026: 54p (slow and fast) and 79p (rapid and ultra-rapid) per kWh, pay-as-you-go weighted averages.
- DESNZ weekly road fuel prices, w/c 26 October 2026: unleaded 174.1p a litre, as used in the Look Into EV charging cost tracker.
Prices and figures checked 1 November 2026 by Look Into (desk research; we have not tested any charger or tariff).
Explore EV Charging
Our complete EV charger guide covers brands, installation, and tariff comparisons.
Read the Full EV Charger Guide →This page is part of Look Into's UK household cost research. For the costed figures behind it, with capture date, method and sources, see the EV charging cost tracker.
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