Outdoor & Garage · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run a EV Charger?
The short answer
A typical 7,200W Level 2 EV charger costs about $1.32 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $80.21 a month at 2 hours a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $55.72/month in Louisiana to $210/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
EV Charger running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 219.0 | $1.32 | $40.10 | $481 |
| 2 hours/day | 438.0 | $2.64 | $80.21 | $962 |
| 4 hours/day | 876.1 | $5.27 | $160 | $1,925 |
| 8 hours/day | 1,752.2 | $10.55 | $321 | $3,849 |
| 12 hours/day | 2,628.3 | $15.82 | $481 | $5,774 |
| 24 hours/day | 5,256.6 | $31.64 | $962 | $11,548 |
Cost to run a Level 2 EV charger in every state
At 2 hours a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $1.18 | $71.84 | $862 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $2.08 | $126 | $1,515 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $1.11 | $67.37 | $808 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $1.03 | $62.77 | $753 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $2.42 | $147 | $1,767 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $1.22 | $74.47 | $894 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $1.74 | $106 | $1,270 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $1.33 | $80.95 | $971 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $1.82 | $110 | $1,325 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $1.08 | $65.84 | $790 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $1.17 | $71.27 | $855 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $3.46 | $210 | $2,523 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.99 | $60.14 | $722 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $1.38 | $84.19 | $1,010 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $1.20 | $73.29 | $879 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $1.15 | $70.04 | $840 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $1.10 | $66.89 | $803 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.99 | $60.49 | $726 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.92 | $55.72 | $669 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $2.33 | $142 | $1,703 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $1.54 | $93.79 | $1,125 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $2.20 | $134 | $1,603 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $1.66 | $101 | $1,212 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $1.26 | $76.44 | $917 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $1.05 | $63.69 | $764 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $1.16 | $70.48 | $846 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $1.08 | $65.66 | $788 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.99 | $60.36 | $724 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.92 | $55.94 | $671 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $1.92 | $117 | $1,398 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $1.81 | $110 | $1,324 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $1.16 | $70.48 | $846 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $2.15 | $131 | $1,572 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $1.09 | $66.41 | $797 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.97 | $58.74 | $705 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $1.40 | $85.20 | $1,022 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $1.03 | $62.86 | $754 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $1.15 | $69.96 | $839 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $1.56 | $95.14 | $1,142 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $2.04 | $124 | $1,487 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $1.11 | $67.77 | $813 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $1.11 | $67.33 | $808 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.99 | $60.06 | $721 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $1.14 | $69.56 | $835 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.94 | $57.47 | $690 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $1.71 | $104 | $1,248 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $1.26 | $76.88 | $922 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $1.06 | $64.44 | $773 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $1.14 | $69.12 | $829 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $1.37 | $83.49 | $1,002 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $1.03 | $62.90 | $755 |
How much electricity does a Level 2 EV charger use?
A typical Level 2 home EV charger delivers about 7.2 kW — roughly 25–30 miles of range per hour of charging.
Level 2 chargers run on a 240V circuit and typically deliver 7.2 kW on a 40-amp circuit, or up to 11.5 kW on a 60-amp circuit. Your car decides how fast it accepts power. Two hours a day at 7.2 kW is about 14 kWh, enough for roughly 40–50 miles for most EVs. Charging overnight on a time-of-use plan can lower the cost considerably compared with the average rate shown here.
Ways to cut the cost
- Ask your utility about EV or time-of-use rates and schedule charging overnight.
- Charge to 80% for daily driving — it's faster and better for the battery.
- Precondition the car while plugged in during cold weather.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a Level 2 EV charger per month?
At 2 hours a day, a typical Level 2 EV charger costs about $80.21 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $55.72 and $210.
How many watts does a Level 2 EV charger use?
Level 2 EV chargers typically draw 3,300W–11,500W, with 7,200W a common figure. A typical Level 2 home EV charger delivers about 7.2 kW — roughly 25–30 miles of range per hour of charging.
Which state is cheapest to run a Level 2 EV charger in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $669 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $2,523 a year.
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Multiply the kWh you add by your electricity rate. Adding 14 kWh (about 40–50 miles) costs 14 × your rate — for example, about $2.45 at 17.5¢/kWh.
Related appliances
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).