If you just bought an electric car, one of the first things you might want to know is: How much does a home EV charger cost? Public charging stations are helpful, but there is nothing like plugging in your electric vehicle at home overnight. You can wake up every morning to a fully charged car with a home EV charger UK setup! Doesn’t it sound so convenient?
But, how much does it cost to install an electric car charger at home?
Let’s talk about the EV charger installation cost, compare 7kW and 3kW chargers, and know the answer to the most common questions that you may have as an EV owner before you fit a charger at your home.
How Much Does a Home EV Charger Cost in the UK? Unit Price, Installation fees & Grants
Before we know the cost of an electric car charger home installation UK, let’s be clear about what government grants are available here and if you are eligible or not. If you know it beforehand, you will get a precise idea of your home EV charger installation cost.
What Government Grants Are Available for EV Chargers?
The government grant for individual homeowners is no longer available. The original Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which helped homeowners by paying for 75% of the cost (up to £350) of installing home chargers, ended in March 2022.
The new EV Chargepoint Grant has been available since April 1, 2022. It still offers up to 75% funding (up to £350), but it is only meant for tenants, flat owners, and landlords who need off-street parking, not for private homeowners.
This change shows that the focus is now on making it easier for those who rent or live in apartments to charge their devices, rather than for people who own their homes. If you’ve already used the EVHS or are upgrading or moving an existing charger, you can’t claim the grant.
An additional grant is now available for households with on-street parking if they install a permanent, council-approved cross-pavement charging solution. All grants will be available until March 2026, and you can only get them through an installation that has been approved by OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles).
How Much Does It Cost to Install an Electric Car Charger at Home?
For a standard 7kW electric car charger home installation cost in the UK, you have to pay around £800 to £1,200 with installation. A 7kW EV charger is the standard size for most UK homes. This price usually includes the charging unit, standard installation with up to 10 meters of cable, a link to the fuse box in your home, and testing and getting a certificate. However, the amount can be reduced to around £760 with applicable government grants.
If you want more advanced or quicker charging choices, like 22kW units, or if the installation is not standard (for example, if you need to run long cables or modify your fuse box), the cost might go up to £1,500 or more.
You can get faster 22kW chargers, but they need three-phase power, which most UK houses don’t have. Depending on where you live and how the grid is set up, upgrading your power supply can cost somewhere between £3,000 and over £15,000.
EV Charger Cost Comparison Table: 3kW vs 7kW vs 22kW
Now, let’s have a quick overview of the average cost of home EV charger installation in the UK.
| Charger Type | Equipment Cost (Supply Only) | Full Installation Package | With Grant (if eligible) |
| 3kW | £250-£500 | £700-£900 | £350-£550 |
| 7kW | £450-£800 | £800-£1,200 | £450-£850 |
| 22kW | £700-£1,200 | £1,200-£2,200 | £850-£1,850 |
These are the average estimates, but the cost may vary with several factors. Let’s look into the details.
Factors Affecting Electric Car Charger Home Installation Costs
The following factors determine how much to install EV charger at home UK.
- Charger Type and Power Rating
The power output of a charger has a great impact on the electric car charger installation cost.
• 3kW Chargers: 3kW EV charger costs around £700-£900 including installation. It is the simplest option, with a range of 8 to 15 miles per hour. If you are a low-mileage driver, this is the most suitable option for overnight charging. It has a slower charging speed, and approximately takes 10 to 12 hours for a full charge.
• 7kW charger: 7kW EV charger costs around £800-£1,200 with installation. Most UK households choose the 7kW EV charger, as it’s the perfect balance between cost and charging time. This charging unit gives you 25–30 miles of range per hour. It works with single-phase power in homes and can charge your EV overnight in 6 to 8 hours.
• Chargers from 11kW to 22kW: This faster charger needs three-phase electricity, which most homes in the UK don’t have unless they spend a lot of money to make changes. Installation costs escalate if you need to upgrade your electrical system. You can expect the price range to be between £1,200 and £2,200.
- Cable Distance
A longer distance between your internal electricity distribution board and the desired location for the chargepoint requires more equipment and labour. For each additional metre, you have to spend an extra £10 to £20.
- Groundworks Requirement
Digging up walkways or driveways to run wires can cost an extra £200 to £500.
- Wall Type
Some types of wall construction may need particular mounting solutions.
- Upgrades for Consumer Units
If you need to upgrade your fuse box to use the charger, it will cost you an extra £300 to £600.
- Electrical System Upgrades
If your home needs electrical improvement, replacing the consumer unit might cost £300–£600. Adding three-phase power to your home to charge devices faster will cost £2,000 to £5,000. You may also need to let your DNO know so that they can make sure there is enough capacity on the grid.
If your house requires further earthing, an earth rod costs £150–£300.
- Smart Features
Smart chargers cost between £100 and £300 more than basic models, but they let you charge your phone at scheduled times during off-peak hours, control it from an app, and keep track of how much energy you are using. These features help you save money by allowing you to use less expensive energy over time. When picking a solution, think about whether these features will make up for the extra expense of these charges.
Besides, some chargers come with advanced features, including compatibility with household energy systems or solar panels and the capability of dynamic load balancing to prevent overloading. These elements really stand out in homes that use renewable energy.
When used with EV-specific electricity tariffs, these features will save a lot of money on long-term charging costs.
- Brand and Model
Premium brands with advanced features will increase the price of installing electric car charger. For example:
• Affordable Options (£500 to £700 installed): Project EV, Rolec
• Options in the middle range (£700 to £900 installed): Ohme Home Pro and Smart Home Charge
• High end choices (£900 to £1,200+ installed): Wallbox Pulsar Plus and Zappi with solar integration
- Regional Variations
The electric car charger home installation UK price will vary with your location. For instance, in London and the Southeast, the cost is usually 10 to 15% more than the national average. For northern regions, it is usually 5–10% lower than the national average.
If you are in a remote location, the installer may charge extra for travel to these areas.
- Aesthetics
If you want your charger to look exceptionally sleek or have a certain colour, it can cost you more.
When you buy a charger, it’s usually best to have the company install it, because their specialists will know how to work with that model. You should still receive at least two quotes from independent installers.
If you are wondering, “How much would an electrician charge to install an EV charger?”, then I can give you an average idea about it.
Home EV Charger Installation Cost in the UK (only installation cost)
So, how much does it cost to have an EV charger fitted at home?
An electrician generally charges between £300 and £500 for installing a home EV charger in the UK for a standard installation, but the cost can change depending on how hard the task is and where you live.
Most of the time, the whole package that EV charger installers offer includes the labour cost. But if you buy the charger separately, then you will have to pay the electrician directly.
Are Home EV Chargers Worth It?
Yes, it’s a good idea to buy a home charger. Here I am mentioning the main reasons in short:
• A 7kW charger can fully charge your EV in 6 to 8 hours, while it may take 20+ hours on a 3-pin plug.
• You should be able to save enough to cover your £1,000 cost in about two years.
• It costs 77% more to charge in public than to charge at home.
• If you buy a home charging point, you’ll save about £467 a year.
• You can enjoy cheaper charging with off-peak electricity tariffs, where a full charge can cost as little as £5 to £7 overnight.
• Over a year, it costs twice as much to fill up a gas-powered car as it does to charge an electric car at home.
• 47% of Brits have bought low-carbon technology in the last twelve months.
And if you are asking: Do EV chargers add value to a house?
The answer will be Yes! EV chargers add value to a house, as more buyers are looking for EV-ready properties.
So, are home EV chargers worth it? The answer is a big yes.
Which Is Better: 3kW or 7kW Home Charger?
Most drivers would choose the 7kW home charger over the 3kW one without a doubt.
A 3kW charger costs less but takes more than 12 hours to charge. It is suitable for plug-in hybrids or when you don’t need to use them much.
7kW EV chargers are faster, more efficient, and the right size for most UK homes. It’s the best choice if you drive electric cars every day.
If you don’t drive short distances very often, it makes more sense to buy a 7kW EV charger UK.
Can I Get a Free EV Home Charger?
The UK government used to offer grants that made home chargers free or very cheap. Even though those programs have changed, you can still apply for the OZEV grant, which can help you get up to £350 off the EV charger installation cost. This is open for flat owners, renters, and landlords, like I said earlier at the start of our discussion.
So, you can’t get a fully free EV home charger today, but there are still ways to reduce your costs.
How to Choose the Best Home EV Charger UK?
You will find a lot of companies in the UK that install EV chargers, which makes it hard for you to pick the proper one. Different vendors charge different amounts for installation. That’s why I would suggest you consider the following facts.
- Do their electric vehicle chargers have smart features?
- Do they have EV chargers with different charging rates?
- How safe are their charging stations?
- Do their chargers work with all types and brands of devices?
- Do their charging stations follow the rules and standards?
- Does the price include basic installation?
- Lastly, do they follow the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021?
Anyway, you can choose Future Co to get top-quality EV charger solutions for both your home and business across the UK. From choosing top-rated EV chargers and the best home EV chargers to getting dependable EV charger installers, you will find it all in one place.
Final Thoughts
So, how much does a home EV charger cost in the UK?
Well, now you know that the costs range from £800 to £1200 and sometimes over 1,500, including installation. Even though this may seem like a lot of money up front, the savings and convenience make it worth it in the long run.
No matter which you select, a 3kW or a 7kW charger, if you invest in a home EV charger UK, it will make owning an electric car more practical. Besides, it will even raise the value of your home.
FAQ
What is the cheapest home EV charger in the UK?
Basic models of home EV chargers in the UK start from around £500–£600 without installation, but prices vary by brand and features.
Can I get a smart EV charger?
Yes, you can get a smart EV charger, which will let you schedule charging at off-peak times and monitor usage via an app. They typically cost slightly more but save money in the long run.
Is it cheaper to charge at home?
Yes. You can typically save £467 per year by charging your electric car at home instead of in a public charging station. If you charge your electric vehicle at home using off-peak tariffs such as Octopus Go or EDF GoElectric, it will save you money.
Can I plug my EV into a normal socket?
While you can charge your electric vehicle at home using a 3-pin plug, it’s not the best way to do so. A regular 3-pin plug will charge at roughly 2.3kW, which means it can take more than 24 hours to fully charge.