Home EV Charging Cost Calculator

Driving 1,000 miles a month in an EV at 3.5 mi/kWh costs about $27.39 if 80% of charging is off-peak at 8¢ — vs $45.54 all-peak and $141.33 in gasoline (30 mpg at $4.24/gal). The overnight habit is worth about $114 a month.

About 1,000 miles a month is typical (12,000 a year).

Most EVs get 3–4 mi/kWh. Check your car's display for your real number.

Daytime rate — 15.94¢ is the Texas average (EIA, Nov 2026).

Typical overnight rate on time-of-use plans — 8¢/kWh default. Check your plan's rate schedule.

80%

What share of your charging happens overnight at the off-peak rate. Slide it to match your habit.

Average gas price $4.24/gal (iSeeCars, Oct 28, 2026).

30 mpg is the typical gas car in our comparison.

Estimate only — not financial advice. The off-peak slider sets the share of charging done off-peak; the off-peak rate itself is 8¢/kWh by default (Nov 2026) and editable. The home charger credit (§30C) runs to June 30, 2026 — after that date there is no federal help with the install cost. Public fast charging costs much more than home charging and is not included here.

How to make home charging cheap

The trick is timing. At 15.94¢ peak and 8¢ off-peak, every kWh you move overnight saves almost 8¢. At 1,000 miles a month (about 286 kWh), shifting 80% of charging off-peak saves about $18.15 a month vs charging whenever — and about $113.94 vs gasoline.

Most EVs let you schedule charging from the car or the app: plug in when you get home, charge after 9 or 10 pm. A Level 2 home charger (about $1,200 installed) makes overnight charging practical — a standard wall outlet adds only 3–4 miles of range per hour.

Time-of-use plans are the other lever. Some Texas retail plans offer free nights or cheap overnight rates — but read the daytime rate carefully, because a plan that is cheap at night can be expensive at 3 pm when the AC is running.

The federal charger credit (§30C) runs to June 30, 2026. If you are installing a home charger, that date matters — after it, the install cost is fully yours. The $7,500 vehicle credit (§30D) already ended for purchases after Sep 30, 2025.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home per month?

At 1,000 miles a month, 3.5 mi/kWh, and 80% off-peak charging at 8¢, about $27.39 a month in Texas. All-peak charging would be about $45.54 — still far below the $141.33 of gasoline for the same miles.

Do I need a Level 2 charger?

For daily driving, yes — a standard outlet adds only 3–4 miles per hour, while Level 2 adds 25–30. Installation runs about $1,200. The §30C credit for it runs to June 30, 2026.

Is charging at home cheaper than public charging?

Much cheaper. Home charging at 8–16¢/kWh works out to about $0.03–$0.05 a mile. Public fast charging at $0.40–$0.50/kWh is about $0.12–$0.14 a mile — close to a hybrid on gasoline.

What is the off-peak rate in Texas?

It depends on your plan — there is no single statewide off-peak rate. 8¢/kWh is a typical overnight figure on time-of-use plans; check your plan's rate schedule and change the default here to match.

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Charge at home

ChargePoint HomeFlex Level 2 EV Charger, 50A (J1772)

Home Level 2 charger — overnight charging at home rates instead of public fast-charging prices.

About 4.3 stars (about 2,300 ratings, Amazon, Nov 2026)

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Kasa Smart Plug HS103P2 (2-pack)

Smart plugs — schedule garage gear to run off-peak.

4.6 stars (about 137,576 ratings, Amazon, Nov 2026)

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