EV Charging Time Calculator
Find out how long it takes to charge an electric car — at home or on a rapid charger. Enter your battery size, charging speed and how full you want the battery.
How EV charging time works
Charging time depends on three things: how big your battery is (kWh), how fast your charger delivers power (kW), and how much charge you need to add. The simple version is energy needed ÷ power = time. In the real world some energy is lost as heat, and rapid chargers slow as the battery fills, so we build a sensible efficiency and taper estimate into the result.
Charging speeds explained
| Charger | Typical power | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard wall plug (Level 1) | 1.4–2.4 kW | Overnight top-ups, plug-in hybrids |
| Home / workplace (Level 2) | 7–22 kW | Daily charging, full overnight charge |
| Rapid DC | 50–150 kW | Road trips, 20–80% in ~30–60 min |
| Ultra-rapid DC | 150–350 kW | Fastest top-ups for cars that support it |
Why rapid charging slows above 80%
To protect the battery, EVs reduce charging speed as they fill up — the last 20% can take as long as the first 60%. That’s why most drivers on a road trip charge to about 80% and move on. For home charging this doesn’t matter, because the speed is steady and you’re usually charging overnight.
How to charge for less
Charging at home overnight is almost always cheapest, especially on an off-peak tariff. Public rapid charging is convenient but costs more per kWh. See what charging actually costs with our EV vs gas calculator, and find chargers on the live charger map.
