How much does it really cost to charge your electric car? If you're thinking about going electric, one of the biggest questions is whether to charge at home or rely on public stations. The answer isn't simple-it depends on your driving habits, where you live, and how much you're willing to pay for convenience. Let’s break down the real numbers behind home charging versus public charging in 2026, especially in the UK.
Home Charging: The Quiet Winner
Most EV owners in the UK charge at home, and for good reason. If you’ve got a driveway or garage, installing a dedicated 7kW home charger is the most cost-effective way to fuel your car. The upfront cost? Around £800 to £1,200 after the UK government’s OZEV grant (which still applies in 2026 for eligible homes). That’s a one-time hit.
Once installed, the cost per mile is dirt cheap. Electricity rates vary, but if you’re on a standard tariff, you’re looking at roughly 28p per kWh. A typical EV like the Nissan Leaf or Volkswagen ID.3 uses about 4.5 miles per kWh. That means every mile costs you just over 6p. For a 100-mile trip, you’re paying around £6.
But here’s the real trick: smart charging. Most home chargers let you schedule charging during off-peak hours. If you’re on an EV-specific tariff-like Octopus Go (12p/kWh) or Agile (as low as 5p/kWh at night)-you can slash your cost to under 3p per mile. That’s cheaper than refuelling a petrol car by more than 70%.
And let’s not forget convenience. You plug in at night. Wake up with a full tank. No detours. No waiting. No fumbling with payment apps. In Bristol, where nearly 40% of households have off-street parking, home charging isn’t just smart-it’s the norm.
Public Charging: Convenience Comes at a Price
Public chargers are essential for road trips, apartment dwellers, or those without home access. But they’re not cheap. There are three main types: rapid (50kW+), ultra-rapid (150kW+), and slow (3-7kW). Most public charging you’ll use is rapid or ultra-rapid.
Here’s what you’re paying in 2026:
- Rapid chargers (50-100kW): 45p to 65p per kWh
- Ultra-rapid chargers (150kW+): 55p to 85p per kWh
- Slow chargers (3-7kW): 35p to 50p per kWh (rarely used for quick top-ups)
That’s 2 to 3 times more expensive than home charging on a standard tariff-and up to 15 times more than off-peak home charging.
Take a 30-minute top-up on an ultra-rapid charger. You get about 100 miles of range. At 75p/kWh, and assuming your car uses 3.5kWh per 10 miles, that’s 30kWh for 100 miles. That’s £22.50. At home? On a night tariff, that same 100 miles would cost you £1.50.
And it gets worse. Many networks add connection fees. ChargePoint, InstaVolt, and Shell Recharge all charge £0.50 to £1.50 just to start the session. Some even charge idle fees if you don’t move your car within 5 minutes after charging finishes. That’s not just expensive-it’s frustrating.
Who Pays What? Real-Life Scenarios
Let’s look at three real drivers in the UK:
- The Commuter (Bristol to Bath): Drives 20 miles each way, 5 days a week. That’s 500 miles a month. At home, on Agile tariff: £15/month. At public chargers: £110/month.
- The Road Tripper (London to Cornwall): Makes one 400-mile trip every 6 weeks. Home charger handles 90% of miles. One public top-up per trip: £25. Total annual public cost: £200. Home cost: £180/year.
- The Apartment Dweller (No driveway): Uses public chargers 80% of the time. Drives 800 miles/month. At 60p/kWh: £192/month. That’s £2,300/year. Even with a 50p/kWh tariff, it’s still £1,600/year.
The pattern is clear: home charging saves hundreds-or even thousands-per year. For those without home access, the cost penalty is massive. That’s why councils in Bristol, Manchester, and Glasgow are now installing on-street chargers for residents without driveways. But even then, public rates are still 2-3x higher than home.
Hidden Costs of Public Charging
It’s not just about the kWh price. Public charging has a lot of friction:
- App overload: You need 3-5 different apps (ChargePoint, Pod Point, InstaVolt, Shell Recharge, Osprey). Some don’t even accept contactless.
- Wait times: In cities, chargers are often occupied. A 2025 survey by Which? found 38% of users waited over 20 minutes for a free spot.
- Reliability: One in five public chargers in the UK are broken or out of service. That’s according to the UK’s National Charge Point Registry.
- Payment delays: Some networks take 3-5 days to charge your card. Others lock your account if you miss a payment.
Home charging? Plug in. Sleep. Wake up. Go. No apps. No waiting. No surprises.
What About Fast Charging for Long Trips?
Yes, you’ll need public chargers for holidays or emergencies. But you don’t need to rely on them daily. Most EVs can do 200-300 miles on a full charge. If you’re driving 1,000 miles a month, you might only need to use a public charger twice. That’s £40-£60 extra a month-not a lifestyle cost, just a travel cost.
Plan ahead. Use apps like Zap-Map to find chargers along your route. Look for ones with 150kW+ speed and no idle fees. And always have a backup plan. Some motorway service stations now offer 350kW chargers that can add 200 miles in 15 minutes. But they cost more-up to 85p/kWh.
The Bottom Line: Home Charging Wins
By 2026, the math is undeniable. Charging at home is faster, cheaper, and more reliable than using public stations. Even with rising electricity prices, home charging remains the most affordable option by far.
If you can install a home charger, do it. The payback period? Less than 18 months if you drive more than 8,000 miles a year. After that, every mile is pure savings.
If you can’t install one, talk to your landlord or local council. Many UK cities now offer grants for on-street chargers. The government still funds the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)-it’s not gone.
Public charging is a lifeline-not a primary fuel source. Treat it like that. Use it for trips, not daily runs. And never assume it’s the cheaper option. It’s not.
Electric vehicles are already cheaper to run than petrol cars. But only if you charge at home.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at a public station in the UK?
It’s almost always cheaper to charge at home. On a standard tariff, home charging costs about 6p per mile. On off-peak tariffs like Octopus Agile, it can drop below 3p per mile. Public rapid chargers cost between 45p and 85p per kWh, which translates to 15-25p per mile. That means home charging can be 5 to 10 times cheaper.
How much does it cost to install a home EV charger in the UK in 2026?
After the government OZEV grant, most home chargers cost between £800 and £1,200 to install. This includes the charger unit, wiring, and a certified electrician. Some energy suppliers offer free or heavily discounted installations if you sign up for their EV tariff. The grant still applies in 2026 for homeowners with off-street parking.
Are public EV chargers reliable in the UK?
No, not always. According to the UK’s National Charge Point Registry, about 20% of public chargers are out of service at any given time. In cities like London and Manchester, wait times can exceed 20 minutes. Some networks have poor app support or charge idle fees. Reliability is improving, but home charging remains far more dependable.
Can I charge my EV for free at public stations?
Rarely. A few supermarkets, car parks, or workplaces offer free charging as a perk, but these are exceptions-not the norm. Most public chargers now charge per kWh or per session. Free charging was common in 2020-2022, but operators now need to cover maintenance and grid costs. Don’t count on it.
What’s the best EV tariff for home charging in 2026?
Octopus Energy’s Agile tariff is still the cheapest for home charging in 2026, with rates as low as 5p/kWh overnight. Other good options include OVO’s So Energy tariff (10p/kWh) and EDF’s EV tariff (12p/kWh). These tariffs use smart technology to charge during the cheapest hours-usually between 12am and 5am. Always pair them with a smart home charger that can auto-schedule.