EV charging time calculator UK
Find out how long it will take to charge your electric car — at home, at work, or at a public rapid charger. Select your EV, your charger type, and your starting charge level to get an instant estimated result.
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.