How much does electric car charger installation cost?

With the rise in popularity of electric vehicles, it’s no surprise that homeowners are increasingly interested in car charger installation costs and how much it costs to install electric car chargers in the UK.

Electric car charger installation cost

The average cost of installing an electric car charger is £1,000 (or £650 if eligible for a government grant). However, the entirety of this cost may not come out of your pocket.

Electric vehicle owners can apply for an EV chargepoint grant. The EV chargepoint grant provides funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle smart chargepoints at domestic properties across the UK. It replaced the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) on 1 April 2022 (Gov.UK).

Average car charger installation cost in the UK

Here are the average prices as a guide to how much it costs to install an electric car charger in the UK:

Additional costs to consider include trenching, which will be around £30 per metre, assuming it is soft ground (soil), with no hard breakout (concrete) and access for a mini digger.

So how much does it cost to install a charger for electric cars or hybrids at home?

The cost to of a charger for an electric car or hybrid at home range from:

• 3kW electric car charger: £250 - £500 
• 7kW electric car charger: £450 - £800 

The EVC prices above are supply only and do not include installation. 

Take a look at our Tesla home charger cost guide. 

How much does it cost to install an electric car charger at work?

The average cost for installing a commercial electric car charger at a workplace is around £1,000 to £1,500.

The cost of the electric car charger installation will depend on a number of factors, including the make and model of car charger, the number of chargers installed and the specification of cables and fixtures needed.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that the UK government’s Workplace Charging Scheme for Electric Vehicles scheme offers eligible businesses up to £350 per charger (for up to 40 chargers).

Electric car charger installation cost calculator

If you’re trying to calculate your electric car charger installation costs, you would need to consider more than just the cost of the charging point and labour. There are other factors that could increase your total expense. These include:

• Fuse box: You may need to replace or upgrade your fuse box to take into account the additional electricity usage. This could cost you £350 or more.
• A new isolator switch: this is often required and can cost between £100 – £200.
• Rapid charging cable: You might need a CHAdeMO or a European CSS cable if you want rapid charging while on the road. These cost between £150 – £500 depending on the cable and the length you want.
• Cost to build a new driveway: In case you don’t have off-road parking, you’d need to create a new driveway so you can park your car near the charging point.
• Lighting: EVs cost a fair bit and you may want to make the parking area well-lit for extra security.

In order to plan your electric car charger installation properly, you need to include these potential expenses in your cost calculation.

Electric car charger installation quotes

If you’re looking for a reliable electric car charger installer in your area, we can help you find one. Simply enter your postcode in the search bar below.

To get accurate EV charger installation quotes, we recommend including all relevant details, like the type of charger you want and any electrical adjustments you might need in your house.

If you’re planning to install an electric car charger in your home, we can help you find the best local EV charger fitters in your area – including those who come highly recommended by your neighbours.

You can either use our quick and easy online search to find and contact local cat flap fitters yourself. Or, alternatively, request a quote and we’ll do the legwork for you by reaching out to the best local tradespeople near you and we’ll get them to contact you directly.

Factors affecting the cost of installing electric car chargers

Your electric vehicle will have a Type 1 or a Type 2 connector, so make sure you pick the right home charger for your car. Once you know that, you’ll need to decide between slow and fast chargers:

Slow chargers: These chargers are rated at 3kW to 6kW. They can take up to 12 hours to charge a long-range vehicle and 6-8 hours for a smaller one.

Fast chargers: With 7kW to 22kW of power, these chargers are much quicker, able to charge an electric vehicle in anything from 2-4 hours.

Please note, the figures in our table reflect the cost of high specification chargers, i.e. full SMART options, controlled via an app.

Let’s take the Nissan Leaf, as an example.

If you have a 3kW slow charger you can expect a full charge in around 6-8 hours, whilst a 7kW fast charger will only take 3-4 hours. If you’re planning on doing all of your charging overnight, or you drive a hybrid with lower power demands, then the 3kW option is the more cost-effective choice. But, if you need faster charging then 7kW is the way to go.

Brand: Not all electric car charging stations cost the same. From brands you may have heard of, like Siemens and Bosch, to those you might not like Juicebox and ClipperCreek, there are already a lot of players in the market. Each brand has their own specialities and charging capabilities. It’s recommended you contact a specialist, who can advise the right one for your needs.

Smart home chargers: We also recommend choosing a smart charger, which is connected to the internet and gives you much more control over the charging process. They’re eligible for grants so will save you money too.

Green energy: If you already have solar panels or access to wind power you can make use of this green energy to power your car. To do so you’ll need battery storage, as well as an inverter between your panels and charging point, or you can purchase a specialist car charger for this purpose. This way you’ll save even more money and ensure you have a 100% green supply.

Cost of charging an electric car

Home charger cost

Once you’ve had the charger installed then you’ll only need to pay for the electricity that’s used. There’s no additional monthly cost for access to the grid. As such, charging an electric vehicle at home is the cheapest option for the vast majority of owners.

If you’re wondering how often to charge your electric vehicle, well the best analogy is to think of how you charge your mobile phone. If you do regular charging on a set schedule (usually overnight), with Adhoc charging following heavy use you’ll ensure your car is always ready to go when you need it.

Depending on your energy tariff, you could pay around £17  to fully charge your car at home. Or, if using solar panels, you won’t pay anything for the energy.

Charging outside the home

Although you could charge your electric vehicle outside the home, you will have to sign up with a public charging company, many of which have tariffs. You also run the risk of not finding a charger when you need it or finding a charger that isn’t compatible with your car.

Rapid chargers outside the home can charge the car to 80% in 45 minutes, considerably quicker than the 4-8 hours for home chargers. The last 20% of a charge takes longer than the initial 80% so if you’re cost-conscious you should set your car or the charger to stop recharging at 80%.

Rapid chargers are above 22kW, whilst Tesla’s superchargers are 145kW, so your mileage may vary (literally!).

Costs vary based on location, so you can expect to pay £22 to charge your car up to 80% and over £39 for a full charge outside the home. In fact, a What Car? study found some charging stations cost more per mile than petrol or diesel!

Why install an electric car charger at home?

Installing an electric car charging station at home gives you the convenience of being able to charge your PHEV or full-electric vehicle whenever you want, at rates cheaper than using outside the home chargers.

How is an electric car charger installed?

The process of installing an electric car charger is pretty straightforward and should take no more than half a day to complete.

Here’s a quick summary of the electric car charger installation process:

1. A qualified electric car charger engineer or qualified electrician will install the charger in the location of your choice
2. The car charger will be connected to the main power supply of the property
3. The charger is then tested to ensure that it’s working correctly

Choosing where to install your electric car charger

It’s important to choose the right location for your electric car charger. Here are some of the things you should consider:

• The charger needs to be accessible so that you can easily plug in your electric vehicle
• You might want to locate your electric car charger out of sight so that it’s not visible from the street
• It’s sensible to position your charger where you can avoid having the charging cable laid across your whole driveway (which can be a major trip hazard)
• Ideally you want your charger to have good access to your home’s wifi signal so that you can take advantage of smart tools, such as remote charging

What do you need to install an electric car charger?

Before you crack on with installing an electric car charger at home, you’ll need to make sure that:

• You have access to off-street parking
• The electric car charger can be installed at least 0.9 metres above floor level
• You can install the charger in a sheltered position
• The charging cable should be able to safely reach your electric vehicle without being pulled taut
• A reliable wifi connection reaches the electric car charger (for smart wallbox chargers)

Charging station installation

EV car charger installation consists of connecting the charge point to your electricity supply and installing it on your wall. For convenience, this will be located as close as possible to where you usually park your car.

In total, this process takes around three hours. Although you won’t always need to be on the premises, it does mean you can be shown how to use the charger and given a chance to ask any questions.

Tip: Don’t rule out installing an electric charge point if you live in a flat. You will need to have a parking spot at your residence, access to the electricity supply, and an agreement for the installation from the landlord/freeholder.

How long does an electric car charger installation take?

On average, electric car charger installations will take up to about half a day to install – depending on the specification of the EV charger that you’re having installed and the access to your property.

The professional installation of an electric car charger will include a site survey before installation and material supply. When we say material, we mean the electric cable from the consumer unit to the charge point, which would be armoured.

Key takeaways for electric car charger installation costs

• If you don’t mind slower charging times or are happy to charge overnight, you can reduce the cost of a home charger for your electric car
• Take advantage of government grants to bring down the cost even more
• The cost of installing a home charger for an electric car is offset by the saving in energy compared to outside the home charging
• Make sure you have an energy tariff with off-peak pricing for discounted charging costs overnight

FAQs

Can I install an electric car charger myself?

In almost all cases installing an electric car charger yourself will cost more than hiring a specialist. That’s because you won’t be eligible for the grant unless you use an OZEV-approved installer.

Even if the grants were to stop, electric car chargers use a considerable about of power, with the risk of damage to your home or car if they are not properly installed. We highly recommend a certified and OZEV-approved charging provider be used for this work. Find out more here.

We spoke to our Checkatrade members, who said:

You need to inform the DNO (electricity grid operator in the region) to ensure the main fuse and supply is adequate, if you get it wrong, it will blow the fuse or cause a fire. You also need to notify it to building control under Part P as it is a new circuit, if you don’t, you may run into problems with insurance, remortgaging or selling. There are a lot of safety considerations such as earthing and RCD selection, again if you get it wrong and there is a fault, it could prove fatal or damage a very expensive new electric car.

We would strongly recommend hiring a professional for this job. To find a local, reputable tradesperson in your area and get your own personalised electric car charger installation cost use our free search feature.

Can I charge my car through a regular plug socket?

You may be wondering why you can’t just use a standard UK plug socket. Well, they’re not recommended because they are not designed for such high loads over a long duration. Charging points are also 30-60% quicker than using a wall socket.

If you charge your car through a regular home plug socket, you’d have to deal with:

• Slower charging
• Strain on your electrical circuitry as they aren’t designed for this type of load
• Possible damage to your wiring, if it’s old
• Higher risk of electrical fires, if your wiring and circuitry are not able to manage the load
• Potentially higher electricity bills, as a dedicated smart meter will charge your car during off-peak hours, which cost less

Are there any government grants for electric car chargers?

For house owners in the UK, there are no longer government grants available for installing electric car chargers. But, if you own and live in a flat or rent a residential property in the UK, you might be eligible for the EV Chargepoint Grant.

If that’s you and have private off-street parking and own an eligible vehicle, you could receive up to £350 towards the cost of buying and installing an electric car charger.

If you live in Scotland and you meet the below requirements, you could be eligible for a £300 wallbox grant:

• You own an electric vehicle and live in a rural or remote location in Scotland
• You bought a used electric vehicle through the Scottish government’s Used Electric Vehicle Loan Scheme

If you’re planning to install an electric car charger in a workplace then you could apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme for Electric Vehicles. This grant will pay up to £350 per charger (maximum 40 sockets per business) to businesses, charities and local authorities in the UK that have off-street parking and install chargers to be used by their employees.

Is it worth getting an electric car charger installed?

If you have a hybrid or electric vehicle, there are a number of reasons why installing an electric car charger at home is a good idea:

• An electric car charger is up to three times faster than charging off a standard plug (and safer over time)
• It’s cheaper to charge your electric vehicle using a home charger compared to public charging stations
• You don’t have to wait for a public charger to be free
• You’re in control of choosing your home energy supplier so you can ensure that you’re using an eco-friendly energy source

Can any electrician install a car charger?

When choosing who to install your electric car charger, we always recommend hiring an experienced electric car charger engineer or a qualified electrician.

The majority of domestic electric car chargers will require an Electric Installation Certificate (EIC) from a competent electrician in order to validate their warranty.

With that in mind, you’ll want to make sure that your electric car charger installer is registered with the NICEIC and/or the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). And if you’re applying for a government grant, it’s likely that you’ll need to hire an OZEV-approved tradesperson to install your electric car charger.

Does an EV charger increase home value?

By 2030, you will no longer be able to buy a car with a combustion engine, which means electric vehicles are here to stay. And the demand for homes with an EV charger is only going to increase in the future.

With an increasing number of people already having switched to hybrid and electric vehicles, having an EV charger is already considered to be an increasingly desirable feature of a home.

It might not directly add a huge amount of value to your property, but having an EV charger will certainly increase its appeal to potential buyers who already have or are looking to buy an electric vehicle.

Do I need permission to install an EV charger?

Planning permission is not usually required to install an EV charger for properties with off-street parking. Although you do have the regular restrictions for listed buildings or properties located in a conservation area, which means you would need to obtain planning permission.

If in doubt, we always recommend checking with your local authority before going ahead with installing an EV charger at home – just to be sure.