EV Charging Time Calculator
Use this UK EV charging time calculator to estimate how long an electric car will take to charge. Enter the usable battery capacity, current charge, target charge, charger power and — if you know it — the vehicle’s maximum AC or DC charging rate.
Calculate your EV charge time
Choose AC for home, workplace and most destination charging. Choose DC for rapid and ultra-rapid public charging.
Want to understand the result?
Compare electric car charging times for 3-pin, 7kW, 11kW, 22kW, 50kW, 100kW and 150kW charging.
How the EV charging time calculator works
The calculator first works out how much usable battery energy must be added between your current battery percentage and your target percentage.
It then compares that energy requirement with the effective charging power. If you enter the vehicle’s maximum charging rate, the calculator uses whichever is lower: the charger output or the vehicle limit.
usable battery capacity × percentage of battery being added
lower of charger output and vehicle maximum charging rate
battery energy required ÷ (effective charging power × charging efficiency)
battery energy required ÷ effective charging power
EV charging time by battery size and charger power
Battery size and charger speed work together. A larger battery generally needs more time when the same percentage is being added, while a more powerful charger can reduce the theoretical charging time.
The table below shows example 20% to 80% charging times. AC figures use the calculator’s default 90% efficiency assumption. DC figures are mathematical best-case estimates.
| Usable battery | 7kW AC | 11kW AC | 50kW DC | 150kW DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40kWh | ~3 hr 49 min | ~2 hr 25 min | Best-case ~29 min | Best-case ~10 min |
| 50kWh | ~4 hr 46 min | ~3 hr 2 min | Best-case ~36 min | Best-case ~12 min |
| 60kWh | ~5 hr 43 min | ~3 hr 38 min | Best-case ~43 min | Best-case ~14 min |
| 70kWh | ~6 hr 40 min | ~4 hr 15 min | Best-case ~50 min | Best-case ~17 min |
| 80kWh | ~7 hr 37 min | ~4 hr 51 min | Best-case ~58 min | Best-case ~19 min |
| 100kWh | ~9 hr 31 min | ~6 hr 4 min | Best-case ~1 hr 12 min | Best-case ~24 min |
Calculate charging from 20% to 80%
One of the advantages of a charging-time calculator is that you do not have to assume every charging session starts at 0% and ends at 100%.
Charging from 20% to 80% means adding 60% of the usable battery capacity. For a 60kWh battery, that means adding:
60kWh × 60% = 36kWh.
The calculator then works out how long that amount of energy takes to add using your selected charger power and vehicle charging limit.
AC and DC charging are calculated differently
Why enter the vehicle maximum charging rate?
A charger cannot force an electric car to accept more power than the vehicle supports.
For example, connecting an EV with an 11kW maximum AC charging rate to a 22kW AC chargepoint does not make the vehicle charge at 22kW.
In that example, the calculator uses 11kW as the effective maximum charging power.
The same principle applies to rapid charging. If an EV has a 100kW maximum DC rate and is connected to a 150kW charger, the calculation begins with a maximum of 100kW.
Worked example: 60kWh battery on a 7kW charger
A 60kWh usable battery charging from 20% to 80% needs 36kWh added to the battery.
At 90% AC charging efficiency, a 7kW charger supplies useful battery energy at an assumed rate of:
7kW × 90% = 6.3kW.
The estimated charging time is therefore:
36kWh ÷ 6.3kW = approximately 5 hours 43 minutes.
Approximately 40kWh would be drawn from the electricity supply under the same 90% efficiency assumption.
7kW EV charging time
A 7kW to 7.4kW wallbox is a common charging-power range for UK home EV charging. It is normally used while the vehicle remains parked for several hours or overnight.
As an example, the calculator estimates approximately 5 hours 43 minutes for a 60kWh usable battery charging from 20% to 80% at 7kW using the default 90% efficiency assumption.
For a complete comparison of 7kW charging times across different battery sizes, see our electric car charging-time guide .
Rapid EV charging time
Select DC charging when estimating time on a rapid or ultra-rapid charger. Preset charger powers include 50kW, 80kW, 100kW, 150kW, 250kW and 350kW, and a custom figure can also be entered.
For rapid charging, entering the vehicle’s maximum DC rate is particularly useful. A car capable of accepting only 100kW will not charge at 150kW simply because it is plugged into a 150kW charger.
What charging efficiency should I use?
The calculator defaults to 90% for AC charging. This is an assumption rather than a fixed characteristic of every electric car.
Actual charging losses vary with the vehicle, charging power, battery temperature, supporting electronics and other conditions.
- 85%: test a scenario with higher charging losses.
- 90%: our default illustrative AC assumption.
- 95%: test a scenario with lower charging losses.
Why your real EV charging time may be different
This calculator is designed to provide a useful estimate rather than an exact prediction.
Real charging time can be affected by:
- the vehicle’s maximum AC or DC charging rate
- battery temperature
- the battery’s current state of charge
- the vehicle’s DC charging curve
- household load balancing
- available electrical supply capacity
- charger power sharing
- vehicle battery-management software
Rapid DC charging is particularly difficult to predict using one fixed power figure because charging power changes during the session.
Can your charging session fit into cheap overnight hours?
Charging time becomes especially useful when you use an EV electricity tariff. Once you know approximately how many hours your car needs, you can compare that with the tariff’s cheaper charging window.
For example, if your normal session takes around five hours and your tariff provides six cheap overnight hours, the complete session may fit inside that period.
Charging time and charging cost are different questions
This calculator concentrates on how long charging takes. Electricity prices, standing charges, off-peak rates and annual charging costs belong in the separate charging-cost tools.
Keeping the calculations separate also means electricity-price changes cannot make the underlying charging-time calculation obsolete.
EV charging time calculator FAQs
How do I calculate EV charging time?
Work out how much usable battery energy needs to be added, then divide it by the effective charging power. For AC charging, this calculator also applies the selected charging-efficiency assumption.
What information do I need for the EV charging time calculator?
Enter the usable battery capacity, current battery percentage, target percentage and charger power. If you know the vehicle’s maximum AC or DC charge rate, enter that too for a more useful estimate.
Should I enter the charger power or the car’s charging rate?
Enter the charger power in the charger field. If you know your vehicle’s maximum charging rate, enter that separately. The calculator automatically uses whichever figure is lower.
Can I calculate charging from 20% to 80%?
Yes. Select 20% as the current charge and 80% as the target. The calculator works out the actual battery energy required rather than assuming every session is a full 0% to 100% charge.
Can I calculate 7kW charging time?
Yes. Select 7kW AC and enter the battery size and charge range. For example, a 60kWh usable battery charging from 20% to 80% takes approximately 5 hours 43 minutes using the calculator’s default 90% AC efficiency assumption.
Can I enter an 80kW or 150kW rapid charger?
Yes. The DC presets include 50kW, 80kW, 100kW, 150kW, 250kW and 350kW. You can also select Custom power and enter another charger rating.
Why is there an AC/DC selector?
AC charging uses the vehicle’s onboard charger and involves conversion losses before energy reaches the battery. DC rapid charging supplies DC through the vehicle’s rapid charging system and is strongly affected by the vehicle’s charging curve.
Are rapid charging times exact?
No. DC results are idealised constant-power estimates. Real rapid charging can take longer because an EV’s charging power varies with state of charge, temperature and battery management.
Why does the calculator default to 90% AC efficiency?
The 90% figure is an illustrative assumption allowing for charging losses. You can select 85% or 95% to see how a different efficiency assumption changes the estimated time.
Does this calculator estimate charging cost?
No. This calculator focuses on charging time. Use the Home EV Charging Cost Calculator for electricity-price and charging-cost estimates.
Sources and methodology
Calculator formulas and worked examples are EVChargerCost.co.uk calculations. AC examples use a selectable charging-efficiency assumption. DC results are idealised constant-power calculations and are not guaranteed rapid-charging session times.
General UK charging guidance checked against Energy Saving Trust and SMMT information.
Energy Saving Trust — Charging electric vehicles
SMMT — Electric vehicle charging guide
How long does it take to charge an electric car in the UK?
Charging time depends on the size of your car’s battery, the power available from the charger, how much charge you are adding, and charging efficiency. A 7 kW home wallbox charging a typical 60 kWh EV from 20% to 80% takes around 5–6 hours using a 90% AC charging efficiency estimate — making overnight charging practical for most drivers.
Charging speeds by charger type
| Charger type | Power | Typical location | 60 kWh from 20–80% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-pin plug | 2.3 kW | Home | ~17 hr 23 min |
| Slow wallbox | 3.6 kW | Home / workplace | ~11 hr 7 min |
| 7 kW wallbox | 7 kW | Home / workplace | ~5 hr 43 min |
| 11 kW wallbox | 11 kW | Home / workplace | ~3 hr 38 min |
| 22 kW fast AC | 22 kW | Public / workplace | ~1 hr 49 min* |
| 50 kW rapid DC | 50 kW | Public rapid charger | ~43 min* |
| 100 kW rapid DC | 100 kW | Public rapid charger | ~22 min* |
| 150 kW ultra-rapid | 150 kW | Public ultra-rapid charger | ~14 min* |
*Idealised estimates. Your EV may have a lower maximum AC or DC charge rate, and rapid charging speeds vary during a charging session.
Why do many drivers charge to around 80%?
Many EV drivers use around 80% as a normal daily charge target, particularly when they do not need the vehicle’s full range. Charging behaviour and recommended limits vary by vehicle and battery type, so follow the guidance provided by your vehicle manufacturer. Charging to 100% can still be useful when you need maximum range for a longer journey.
Does cold weather affect charging time?
It can. Battery temperature affects how quickly an EV can accept charge, particularly at rapid DC chargers. Cold conditions may therefore make real charging times longer than a simple power-based calculation suggests. Some EVs use battery preconditioning to improve rapid-charging performance in cold weather.
What is charging efficiency?
Not all electricity drawn from the grid is stored in the battery. During AC charging, some energy is used by the vehicle’s charging electronics, battery management and thermal systems or is lost as heat. The calculator therefore defaults to a 90% AC efficiency estimate and lets you select 85% or 95% if you want to test different assumptions.
For rapid DC charging, the calculator uses an idealised 100% battery-side estimate. Actual DC charging time can be longer because the vehicle may not accept the charger’s full rated power continuously, particularly as the battery reaches a high state of charge.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to charge a Nissan Leaf at home?
Using a 90% AC charging efficiency estimate, a Nissan Leaf 40 kWh charged from 20% to 80% on a 7 kW home wallbox takes approximately 3 hours 49 minutes. On a 3-pin plug at 2.3 kW, the same charge takes around 11 hours 36 minutes. A 62 kWh Leaf e+ takes approximately 5 hours 54 minutes on a 7 kW charger for the same 20% to 80% charge.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model 3 at home?
Using a 90% AC charging efficiency estimate, a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range with 57.5 kWh usable capacity charged from 20% to 80% on a 7 kW home charger takes approximately 5 hours 29 minutes. A 75 kWh version takes approximately 7 hours 9 minutes for the same charge.
How long does it take to charge a VW ID.4 at home?
Using a 90% AC charging efficiency estimate, a VW ID.4 with 77 kWh usable capacity charged from 20% to 80% on a 7 kW home wallbox takes approximately 7 hours 20 minutes. On an 11 kW supply, the same calculation gives approximately 4 hours 40 minutes, provided the vehicle and electrical supply can use that charging power.
Can I charge my EV overnight on a 3-pin plug?
A 3-pin plug can provide a slow EV charge, but charging times are long. Using a 90% efficiency estimate, charging a 60 kWh battery from 0% to 80% at 2.3 kW takes approximately 23 hours 11 minutes. It can be useful for occasional top-ups, but a dedicated home chargepoint is considerably faster and generally more practical for regular charging.
How long does a rapid charger take?
Rapid-charging time depends on the vehicle as well as the charger. A charger advertised at 150 kW does not mean every EV will continuously charge at 150 kW. Each vehicle has its own maximum DC charge rate and charging curve, and charging power commonly reduces as the battery reaches a higher state of charge. Treat rapid-charging results from this calculator as idealised estimates.
Does my EV’s maximum charge rate affect the result?
Yes. Every EV has a maximum AC and DC charging rate. For example, a car with a 7.4 kW onboard AC charger will not charge at 11 kW simply because it is connected to an 11 kW chargepoint. If your vehicle’s maximum charging rate is lower than the charger you are using, enter the lower power figure for a more realistic estimate. Check your vehicle manual or manufacturer’s specifications.
How much does it cost to charge at home?
At an illustrative electricity rate of 26.11p/kWh, putting 36 kWh into an EV battery at 90% charging efficiency requires approximately 40 kWh from the grid and costs around £10.44. At an off-peak rate of 8p/kWh, the same amount of grid electricity would cost around £3.20. Your actual cost depends on your electricity tariff and charging efficiency. Use our home charging cost calculator to enter your own figures.