How Much Does EV Charger Installation Cost in the UK?

Quick EV Charger Cost Overview

Before diving into the full breakdown, here's a quick look at what most homeowners pay in 2026:

• A standard 7kW installation is around £800-£1,200, with the unit and labour included.
• If required, a consumer unit upgrade is £400-£800 extra depending on work needed.
• OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant (from April 2026) covers 75% of the purchase and installation cost, up to a maximum of £500.

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A Guide to EV Charger Installation Costs

Whether you're budgeting for a first install, or trying to work out if you qualify for the updated 2026 grant, jump to what's most useful here.

In this guide, we cover:

1. EV Charging Unit Installation Costs at a Glance
2. Home EV Charger Costs by Type
3. Factors That Affect the Cost of Electric Car Charging Points
4. What Grants are Available to Reduce EV Charger Installation Costs?
5. How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?
6. Find an EV Charger Installer with MyBuilder
7. FAQs: EV Charger Installation

From the cost of installing a unit to finding an installer, read on to find all the details you need below.

EV Charging Unit Installation Costs at a Glance

The table below covers the most common home EV charger setups in 2026, from a basic 3kW trickle charger to a three-phase 22kW unit.

The 7kW smart charger is by far the most popular choice for UK homes. This is because it delivers a full overnight charge on a standard single-phase supply and hits the right balance of speed and cost.

Different units and their installation costs:

Charger type	Fully installed
3kW (trickle charger)	£500-£800
7kW smart charger (standard)	£800-£1,200
22kW (three-phase supply required)	£2,500-£5,000+
Cross-pavement / on-street solution	£1,200–£2,000+

All prices on the table include VAT.

The 7kW column assumes a straightforward installation with a cable run under 10 metres, no groundworks, and a modern consumer unit in good order. The 22kW figure includes the cost of upgrading to a three-phase supply, which most UK homes do not have.

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Home EV Charger Costs by Type

The charger type you end up with is largely dictated by your home's electricity supply, but knowing the cost differences helps you plan the budget before an electrician even sets foot on site.

3kW Charger

At the cheaper end, a 3kW charger is the simplest and cheapest to install. The catch is speed: a 60kWh battery takes over 20 hours from near-empty. That's workable for drivers covering fewer than 30-40 miles a day who can plug in every evening, but it leaves little margin if you miss a night or need a longer trip.

7kW Smart Charger

The 7kW smart charger is what the majority of UK homeowners install, and for good reason. It's the maximum output on a standard single-phase supply - which is what almost all domestic properties have - and adds roughly 30 miles of range per hour.

Most EV batteries go from 20% to full overnight. Since 2022, all new home chargers are also required to be smart by law, so timed off-peak charging comes as standard rather than as an optional extra.

22kW Chargers

22kW chargers are a different proposition. They can only deliver full power on a three-phase supply, which most UK homes don't have. Upgrading from single-phase typically costs £1,500-£3,500 through your Distribution Network Operator.

For most households charging overnight, a 7kW charger already does the job without that expense. The 22kW route tends to make more sense for commercial premises or for households running multiple EVs with high daily mileage.

If you're also looking at charging solutions for a business or fleet, see our commercial EV charger installation cost guide.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Electric Car Charging Points

Two quotes for what looks like the same job can differ by £500 or more. The charger unit itself is usually the most predictable part - it's everything that gets the power from your fusebox to the wall that introduces the variability.

• Cable run length is where most surprises come from. A standard quote assumes roughly 10 metres of cable between your consumer unit and the charger. Beyond that, most electricians charge £10-£20 per metre for additional cabling.

• Underground cable runs add another layer of cost. Getting a cable to a detached garage or across a garden usually means trenching, which adds £200-£500 depending on the distance and what's covering the ground.

• Your fusebox can also change the picture. Older consumer units that lack RCD protection, or those running close to capacity, may need upgrading before a charger circuit can safely be added. A consumer unit replacement costs £400-£800 and is priced separately, though some installers will bundle it into a single quote if the work is straightforward.

• Location matters too. Electricians in London and the South East typically charge 10-20% more than elsewhere. It's worth getting two or three quotes regardless of location.

Additionally, bear in mind that before any 7kW charger is installed, your electrician must notify your Distribution Network Operator.

They handle this on your behalf, but it can add 2-10 working days of lead time before the installation date.

What Grants are Available to Reduce EV Charger Installation Costs?

The government's approach to home EV charger grants has changed twice in recent years - first in April 2022, and again from April 2026.

Whether you can claim anything depends entirely on your living situation, so it's worth understanding what's on offer before you get quotes.

From 1 April 2026, the OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant covers 75% of the purchase and installation cost, up to a maximum of £500 per socket (increased from £350 per socket). The scheme runs until March 2027. For most standard installations costing £800-£1,200, you'll hit the £500 cap. On smaller installations (under around £667), the 75% mechanism means you'd receive less than the full £500.

Eligibility is more limited than many people assume. Renters, flat owners, and leaseholders with access to dedicated off-street parking can apply, as can residential landlords (up to 200 sockets per year across their properties).

Households without a driveway may also qualify under the on-street charging scheme, which covers cross-pavement cable solutions. What changed in 2022 - and hasn't changed back - is that owner-occupiers of freehold houses with a driveway can no longer claim.

So, if you own your home outright and have off-street parking, the grant isn't available to you.

• Who can claim: You need to be the registered keeper of an eligible EV, assigned a company car, leasing an eligible vehicle, named by an employer as the primary user, or have ordered an eligible EV due within three months. Ownership of the vehicle isn't required.
• How the process works from April 2026: You apply for the grant yourself via the government's Find a Grant portal before any work begins. OZEV takes up to 10 working days to assess your application. You must not have the chargepoint installed until OZEV confirms you're eligible as doing so makes you ineligible. Once approved, your OZEV-authorised installer carries out the work and submits the claim afterwards, deducting the £500 (or the 75% cap) from your invoice. The charger must be on the OZEV-approved chargepoint model list.
• You'll need: a signed tenancy agreement (renters) or utility bill less than 3 months old (flat owners); written permission from your landlord, freeholder, or managing agent; a dated installation quote from an OZEV-authorised installer; and a vehicle order form if your EV is on order.
• Already applied before 1 April 2026? If your application was approved under the old £350 rate but your chargepoint hasn't been installed yet, you can re-apply for the new £500 rate. Your existing application will be cancelled when the new one is submitted. Tell your installer before you re-apply.

When you're getting quotes, it's worth asking upfront whether the electrician is authorised.

Landlords should also be aware of a separate Landlord EV Chargepoint Grant - the same £500 per socket, available for residential rental properties.

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How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?

The installation cost is a one-off. The running cost is what you'll live with for the lifetime of the vehicle - and for most drivers, it's where the financial case for home charging actually gets interesting.

On a standard electricity tariff, you're paying roughly 25-30p per kWh in 2026. Charging a 60kWh battery from 20% to 80% puts in around 36kWh, so each session costs approximately £9-£11. That's already significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel - but it's not the full picture.

The bigger saving comes from switching to an EV-specific off-peak tariff. Several suppliers offer overnight rates of 7-10p per kWh for smart charger customers who schedule charging between midnight and 6am. The difference adds up fast:

• Standard tariff: ~£9-£11 per 36kWh session
• Off-peak EV tariff: ~£2.50-£5.40 per 36kWh session
• Annual saving (10,000 miles): £300-£500 compared to standard rate charging

Smart chargers, required on all new UK home installations, handle the scheduling automatically. Most connect via an app and can be set to top up overnight without any manual input. For a full breakdown of what home charging costs day-to-day, see our guide to EV running costs.

Find an EV Charger Installer with MyBuilder

EV charger installation is notifiable electrical work. It has to be carried out by a qualified electrician.

Post your job on MyBuilder for free and receive responses from verified electricians near you in your area who are available and eager to take on the job. You can then check their profiles, read reviews from previous jobs, and compare quotes before making your decision.

All tradespeople on MyBuilder undergo checks at registration, such as ID documents, company details, certifications for regulated jobs and skill assessments, allowing you to hire with confidence.

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FAQs: EV Charger Installation

How Long Does It Take to Install a Home EV Charger?

A standard 7kW smart charger installation takes 2-4 hours for the physical work on the day. More complex jobs, underground cable to a detached garage, consumer unit upgrades, or challenging cable routes, can take a full day. Allow an extra 2-10 working days for DNO pre-notification, which must be completed before your installation date.

Do I Need Planning Permission for a Home EV Charger?

In most cases, no. Home EV charger installations are classed as permitted development in England, Wales, and Scotland, so planning permission is not required. Exceptions include listed buildings and some properties in conservation areas, check with your local planning authority if you're unsure.

Can I Install an EV Charger in a Rented Property?

Yes, but you need written permission from your landlord before any installation work begins - and the permission must be in place before you apply for the OZEV grant, not just before the work itself.. Most landlords are receptive given the growing demand from EV-owning tenants. If cabling needs to pass through shared areas in a block of flats, the building management company may also need to approve the work.

What's the Difference Between a Tethered and Untethered EV Charger?

A tethered charger has a fixed cable attached to the unit, convenient for everyday use since the cable is always ready to plug in. An untethered charger has a socket only; you use your own cable.

Untethered units are more versatile if you plan to change EVs, but you need to remember to carry your charging cable. Both types are available at the 7kW level and cost similarly to install.

How Can I Find an EV Charger Installer Near Me?

Asking neighbours or checking local trade forums for recommendations is also worth doing - and once you have a shortlist, always compare at least two or three quotes before deciding.

You can also browse photos of completed EV charger installations on MyBuilder to get a sense of the standard of work from local tradespeople before committing to anyone.