Updated
How Long Does It Take to Charge an EV at Home? UK 2026
How Fast Is Home EV Charging?
Home charging speed depends on the charger and your home’s electricity supply. Four main power levels:
| Charger Type | Power | Range Added per Hour | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-pin plug (granny charger) | 2.3 kW | ~8 miles | Emergency backup |
| Single-phase home charger | 7 kW | ~25–30 miles | Most UK homes |
| Three-phase home charger | 11 kW | ~40 miles | Three-phase properties |
| Three-phase (max) | 22 kW | ~75–80 miles | Three-phase + compatible charger |
95% of UK homes have a single-phase supply, which maxes out at 7.4 kW — the most common home charging speed and enough for overnight charging.
How Charging Speed Is Calculated
The formula:
Battery size (kWh) ÷ Charger power (kW) = Hours to charge
For example, a 77 kWh battery on a 7 kW charger: 77 ÷ 7 = 11 hours from empty to full. In practice, you’ll rarely charge from 0–100% — most people charge from 20–80% (60% of the battery), which takes roughly 6.5 hours at 7 kW.
Charging Times for 10 Popular UK EVs
Here’s how long each car takes to charge at home at different power levels. Times shown are for a 20% to 80% charge (the daily driving sweet spot):
| EV | Battery | 2.3kW (3-pin) | 7kW (wallbox) | 11kW (3-phase) | 22kW (3-phase) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 LR | 75 kWh | ~20 hrs | ~6.5 hrs | ~4 hrs | ~2 hrs |
| Tesla Model Y LR | 75 kWh | ~20 hrs | ~6.5 hrs | ~4 hrs | ~2 hrs |
| VW ID.4 (77 kWh) | 77 kWh | ~20 hrs | ~6.5 hrs | ~4 hrs | ~2 hrs |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 77.4 kWh | ~20 hrs | ~6.5 hrs | ~4 hrs | ~2 hrs |
| MG4 Extended Range | 64 kWh | ~17 hrs | ~5.5 hrs | ~3.5 hrs | ~1.8 hrs |
| Kia EV6 LR | 77.4 kWh | ~20 hrs | ~6.5 hrs | ~4 hrs | ~2 hrs |
| BMW iX1 | 66.5 kWh | ~17 hrs | ~5.5 hrs | ~3.5 hrs | ~1.8 hrs |
| BYD Dolphin | 60.4 kWh | ~16 hrs | ~5 hrs | ~3.5 hrs | ~1.6 hrs |
| Polestar 2 LR | 82 kWh | ~21 hrs | ~7 hrs | ~4.5 hrs | ~2.2 hrs |
| Cupra Born (77 kWh) | 77 kWh | ~20 hrs | ~6.5 hrs | ~4 hrs | ~2 hrs |
Times are approximate and assume a consistent charge rate. In practice, charging slows above ~80% as the battery management system protects the cells.
On a standard 7 kW home charger, every car on this list charges from 20–80% in 5–7 hours — easily done overnight. Even a 6-hour window gets you 150+ miles.
For model-specific guides with full cost breakdowns, see our Tesla Model 3 guide, Tesla Model Y guide, Hyundai Ioniq 5 guide, VW ID.4 guide, MG4 guide, or Kia EV6 guide.
7kW vs 22kW: Is Three-Phase Worth It?
One of the most common questions we get. The honest answer, for most UK drivers:
| Factor | 7 kW (Single-Phase) | 22 kW (Three-Phase) |
|---|---|---|
| Available in your home? | Yes (95% of UK homes) | Only if you have three-phase supply |
| Upgrade cost | None — uses existing supply | £3,000–5,000+ for three-phase upgrade |
| Overnight charge (8 hrs) | ~200 miles | ~280 miles |
| Daily top-up (30 miles) | ~1 hour | ~20 minutes |
| Charger options | All 21 chargers on our site | 6 three-phase capable chargers |
For 95% of UK drivers, 7 kW is enough. The average daily drive is 20–30 miles, which takes about an hour to replenish at 7 kW. Even a flat battery charges to 80% overnight.
Three-phase only makes sense if you already have a three-phase supply AND you drive high mileage AND you need rapid turnaround. For a deeper analysis, see our single-phase vs three-phase guide.
Which Chargers Support 22 kW Three-Phase?
If you do have three-phase power, these chargers can take advantage of it:
| Charger | Price | Max Power | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Wall Connector | £425 | 22 kW | Full review → |
| myenergi Zappi GLO | £599 | 22 kW | Full review → |
| Wallbox Pulsar Max | £496 | 22 kW | Full review → |
| Zaptec Go 2 | £707 | 22 kW | Full review → |
| Simpson & Partners Home 7 | £649 | 22 kW | Full review → |
| EcoFlow PowerPulse 2 | £545 | 22 kW | Full review → |
Real-World Factors That Affect Charging Speed
The times in the table above are theoretical maximums. In practice, several factors can slow things down:
1. Cold Weather
Lithium-ion batteries charge slower when cold. In a UK winter, you might see 10–20% slower charging compared to summer. Most EVs precondition the battery automatically when you schedule charging, which helps significantly.
2. State of Charge (SoC) Curve
Charging from 0–80% is much faster than 80–100%. Above 80%, the battery management system deliberately slows the charge rate to protect cell longevity. This is why most EV manufacturers recommend charging to 80% for daily use.
3. Onboard Charger Limit
Your car has an onboard AC charger that converts AC from the wall into DC for the battery. This has a maximum power rating — for example, a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range maxes out at 7.4 kW AC regardless of what charger you plug into. If the onboard charger is rated at 7 kW, a 22 kW charger won’t help.
4. Home Electrical Supply
Your home’s main fuse and supply cable have a maximum capacity. If you’re using other high-draw appliances (oven, shower, tumble dryer) while charging, the charger may reduce its power to avoid overloading your supply. Many smart chargers have dynamic load balancing to manage this automatically.
5. Cable Length and Quality
On a 3-pin plug, long extension leads can reduce the voltage and therefore the charge rate. This is one reason why extension leads shouldn’t be used for EV charging. Dedicated charger cables are designed for sustained high loads.
How Much Range Do You Actually Need Overnight?
The stat worth knowing: the average UK daily drive is 20–30 miles. At 7 kW, that's roughly 1–1.5 hours of charging.
| Daily Driving | Charge Time at 7 kW | Charge Time at 3-pin |
|---|---|---|
| 20 miles (light commute) | ~45 minutes | ~2.5 hours |
| 30 miles (average UK) | ~1 hour | ~3.5 hours |
| 50 miles (long commute) | ~1.5 hours | ~6 hours |
| 100 miles (high mileage) | ~3.5 hours | ~12 hours |
Even a 50-mile daily commute only uses 1.5 hours of a 7 kW charger’s capacity overnight. You have hours of headroom every night for unexpected trips, weekend drives, or days when you forget to plug in.
A standard 7 kW charger handles every realistic daily driving scenario with ease. No cause to stress over charging speed.
Getting Started
- Choose a charger — compare all 21 options or take our 30-second quiz
- Switch to an off-peak tariff — charge at 7p/kWh instead of 24.5p (compare tariffs →)
- Get installation quotes — we’ll match you with certified installers
For more on installation, see our complete installation guide. And if you’re comparing specific chargers, check our head-to-head comparisons.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
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