Published November 2026.
How long an electric car takes to charge depends on three things: the size of its battery, the power of the charger, and the fastest rate the car itself can accept. It can be anything from about 20 minutes on an ultra-rapid charger to more than a day on a three-pin plug. Here’s how to work it out, with worked examples and what each kind of charging costs.
How long does it take to charge an electric car? The short answer
| Charger | Power | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Three-pin plug | About 2.3kW | More than a day for a full charge of a typical battery |
| Home wallbox or slow public charger | 3kW to 7kW | 6 to 12+ hours to 80% or more |
| Fast public charger (AC) | 7kW to 22kW | Around 3 to 4 hours, if the car can accept the power |
| Rapid charger (DC) | About 50kW | Around 30 minutes to an hour to 80% |
| Ultra-rapid charger (DC) | 150kW and above | About 20 to 30 minutes from 20% to 80% in many newer cars |
These ranges come from Zapmap’s charging guide and are approximate: the exact time depends on your car.
How to work out your charging time
A rough rule: energy needed (kWh) ÷ charging power (kW) = hours. Then allow a little extra, because some energy is lost as heat and charging slows as the battery fills.
The charging power is the lower of what the charger supplies and what the car can accept:
- On AC chargers (home and most street chargers), the car’s on-board charger sets the limit. Many cars accept 7kW or 11kW, so a 22kW post won’t charge them any faster than that.
- On DC rapid chargers, each car has a maximum rate, often somewhere between 50kW and 250kW, and it only reaches that peak when the battery is fairly empty and warm.
Our free electric vehicle check shows a car’s battery size and estimated slow and fast charging times from its registration.
Worked examples
Take a car with a 60kWh usable battery, charged from 10% to 80%. That’s about 42kWh:
| Charger | Rough time for 10% to 80% |
|---|---|
| Three-pin plug, 2.3kW | About 18 hours |
| Home wallbox, 7kW | About 6 hours |
| Rapid charger, 50kW | About 1 hour |
| Ultra-rapid, 150kW (if the car can take it) | About 20 to 30 minutes |
These are estimates for illustration. Charging slows as the battery fills, so real rapid-charging times are usually longer than the simple sum suggests.
Why stop at 80% on a rapid charger?
Rapid charging is fastest when the battery is low. As it fills, the car cuts the power to protect the battery, and the last 20% can take almost as long as the first 80%. On a journey, it’s usually quicker to charge from about 10% to 80% and stop again later than to wait for 100%. At home, many makers suggest setting a daily limit of around 80% and charging to 100% only before a long trip: check your handbook.
Does cold weather slow charging?
Yes. A cold battery charges more slowly, especially on rapid chargers, and the car uses energy to warm it. Many electric cars can precondition the battery: if you set the rapid charger as your destination in the car’s navigation, it warms the battery on the way so it charges faster when you arrive.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
At home: under Ofgem’s price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, the average electricity unit rate is 26.32p per kWh for direct debit customers, with no VAT on household electricity at the moment. The Autumn Budget 2026 kept VAT on home electricity at 0% until 30 June 2027: see our Budget 2026 guide. Smart EV tariffs with a cheap overnight rate can cut the cost considerably, so compare them if you charge at home.
On public chargers: Zapmap’s price index put the average pay-as-you-go price in September 2026 at 54p per kWh on slow and fast chargers and 79p per kWh on rapid and ultra-rapid ones. Public charging includes 20% VAT.
| Where you charge | Price per kWh | Cost to add 42kWh (10% to 80% of a 60kWh battery) |
|---|---|---|
| Home, standard price cap rate | 26.32p | About £11 |
| Public slow or fast charger (average) | 54p | About £23 |
| Public rapid or ultra-rapid charger (average) | 79p | About £33 |
Costs are before charging losses, which add a little. From April 2028 electric cars will also pay 3p a mile in pay-per-mile tax, on top of car tax: see our electric car tax guide.
More charging guides
- EV charger types: the plugs and connectors you’ll find in the UK.
- How to use a car charger: step by step, at home and in public.
- The ultimate guide to buying a used electric car: battery health and range checks.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?
On a 7kW wallbox, a typical 60kWh battery takes around 8 hours from nearly empty to full, or about 6 hours from 10% to 80%. A three-pin plug is much slower.
How long does a rapid charger take?
On a 50kW rapid charger, around 30 minutes to an hour to reach 80%. On an ultra-rapid charger, many newer cars go from 20% to 80% in 20 to 30 minutes.
Why does my electric car charge slowly on a 22kW charger?
Most cars can only accept 7kW or 11kW on AC charging, so a 22kW charger won’t go any faster than the car’s on-board charger allows.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
At the October to December 2026 price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh, adding 42kWh at home costs about £11. On public rapid chargers, averaging 79p per kWh in September 2026, the same charge costs about £33.
Is it bad to charge an electric car to 100%?
Not occasionally. Many makers recommend a daily limit of around 80% and charging to 100% before long trips. Check your car’s handbook.
- Zapmap: how long does it take to charge an electric car? (updated April 2026)
- Zapmap: charging price index (September 2026 figures)
- Ofgem: energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (published 26 August 2026)
- Autumn Budget 2026: what it means for drivers
- EV charger types: a complete guide for UK drivers
- How to use a car charger
See a car’s battery size, range and charging times, free, with our electric vehicle check.
