EV Charging Cost Calculator

Want to know how much it’ll cost to charge your electric vehicle? Use this EV Charging Cost Calculator to estimate your EV charging expenses based on your local electricity rate, battery size, and charge level. Just enter a few details below, and get an instant estimate of how much energy you’ll need and what it will cost. Perfect for planning trips, budgeting, or comparing home vs. public charging costs!

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How to Use This EV Charging Cost Calculator?

1. Enter the Electricity Cost (per kWh)

Start by entering the cost of electricity in your area, measured in USD per kilowatt-hour (kWh). You can usually find this rate on your electricity bill or the charging station’s pricing. For example, if your utility company charges 13 cents per kWh, you would enter 0.13.

If you’re using a public charger, input the rate they charge — this may vary significantly from home charging.

2. Enter Your Vehicle’s Battery Capacity

Next, input the total capacity of your EV’s battery in kWh. This value represents the full energy storage of your battery when it’s 100% charged. For example, a Tesla Model 3 Standard has around 60 kWh capacity, while a Nissan Leaf may have around 40 kWh.

If you’re unsure of your battery size, check your car’s specifications or owner’s manual.

3. Enter Your Current Charge Level

Now, enter your current battery charge level as a percentage. For example, if your battery is at 25%, just type 25. This value tells the calculator how much energy is already stored in your battery.

Make sure this number is lower than your target charge level — otherwise, the calculator won’t be able to process your input correctly.

4. Enter Your Target Charge Level

This is the desired charge level you want to reach. For example, if you plan to charge your EV to 80%, just enter 80. Many EV owners don’t always charge to 100% for daily use, especially if the manufacturer recommends a lower target for battery longevity.

The tool will calculate how much energy is needed to go from your current level to this target.

5. Click “Calculate” to See Results

Once all fields are filled out, click the “Calculate” button. The tool will display two key pieces of information:

• Energy Needed (kWh): How many kilowatt-hours of electricity are required to reach your target charge.
• Estimated Cost (USD): How much you’ll pay for the charge, based on the electricity rate you entered.

6. Interpret the Results

Use the results to understand your charging cost at home vs. public stations, plan your charging expenses for road trips, or simply monitor your EV running costs more accurately. If you change any values, you can hit “Calculate” again to update the estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is an EV Charging Cost Calculator?

An EV Charging Cost Calculator is a simple tool that helps electric vehicle (EV) owners estimate how much it will cost to charge their car based on a few key inputs: electricity rate, battery size, and charge level. It calculates both the energy required in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and the estimated cost in dollars. This is useful for budgeting, planning road trips, or comparing home and public charging rates.

How accurate is this calculator?

The calculator provides a good estimate based on the information you enter. However, actual costs may vary slightly depending on charging efficiency (usually around 85–95%), charging losses, and additional fees from public chargers (like session or idle fees). For home charging, your exact electricity rate and time-of-use pricing (if applicable) may also affect the final cost.

Where can I find my electricity rate?

You can find your electricity rate on your monthly electric utility bill. It’s usually listed as the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh). In the U.S., this often ranges from $0.10 to $0.25 per kWh depending on location and time of day. For public chargers, look for pricing on the provider’s app or display screen at the station.

What if I don’t know my EV’s battery capacity?

If you’re unsure of your battery size, check your vehicle’s manual, manufacturer website, or a trusted EV database. You can also search online for your EV make and model followed by “battery capacity.” Most modern EVs fall in the 30–100 kWh range. For example, a Hyundai Kona EV has a 64 kWh battery, while a Nissan Leaf may have a 40 kWh or 62 kWh battery depending on the year and trim.

Why do I need to enter the current and target charge levels?

The calculator needs your current and desired charge percentage to determine how much energy (in kWh) your EV will consume during charging. For example, going from 30% to 80% on a 60 kWh battery means charging 50% of that battery (i.e., 30 kWh). This allows the tool to estimate both energy use and cost more accurately.

Can I use this calculator for fast charging or public charging stations?

Yes, you can. Just make sure to enter the correct per-kWh rate charged by the public fast charger, which may be higher than home rates. If the station charges a flat fee or uses time-based pricing, this calculator may not provide an accurate estimate — but it’s still useful for ballpark comparisons.

Does this calculator include charging efficiency or losses?

By default, this calculator does not include efficiency losses. Most EVs lose about 5–15% of energy during charging, depending on temperature, cable condition, and charger type. If you want a more precise estimate, you can adjust the electricity cost slightly higher or multiply the final result by 1.1 to account for ~10% energy loss.

Check out our EV charger reviews below.

• Best Home EV Charger
• Best Level 1 EV Charger
• Best Level 2 EV Charger