How Much Does an Electric Car Charging Station Cost?

Electric Car Charging Station Costs by Level

Residential homeowners have two options for their home EV charging stations: Level 1 and Level 2. There is also a Level 3 station, but it’s only available for commercial locations and has a price that reflects that. Here are the cost ranges for each type and some background information to help decide on the right installation for your home. 

Level 1 Charging Stations

Level 1 charging stations, or L1 stations, cost around $300, and don’t require professional installation. They’re the slowest but most affordable option. You don’t need a dedicated charging station for a Level 1 setup. In fact, L1 chargers typically ship with your new electric car and plug directly into a standard 120-volt AC outlet. 

However, suppose you want a dedicated Level 1 charging station to lessen power demands from your home’s electrical circuit. In that case, the price to install a Level 1 charging station is between $300 to $600 for the base station and another $1,000 to $1,700 for labor.  

Level 1 stations offer an average power output of 1.3 kilowatts (kW) to 2.4. kW, which is equivalent to three to five miles of EV range per hour. In other words, it will take more than three and a half days for your electric vehicle to fully charge using a Level 1 charger plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet. This makes them great for light use or hybrid vehicles but not as ideal for regular use of a fully electric vehicle.

Level 2 Charging Stations

The price to install an electrical circuit for an L2 EV charging station is between $400 to $1,700 for a single-port station and $800 to $3,400 for a dual-port station. The cost of an L2 charger falls between $500 to $700 for a single-port station and approximately $3,500 for a dual-port station, not including the installation. 

For serious residential charging of 100% electric vehicles, Level 2 charging stations are your best bet. L2 stations offer beefier stats than L1 stations, with a price tag to match. They also come in two options: single-port and dual-port stations.

Level 2 chargers give your EV approximately 12 to 80 miles per hour, meaning an overnight charge typically fills a fully depleted battery. These charging stations require some electrical work. They plug into a 50-amp (minimum), 208-240-V dedicated circuit and need a costly and heavy supply line from the breaker box, accounting for the price increase. 

Level 3 Charging Stations

Level 3 charging stations cost an average of $20,000 for the parts alone and upwards of $50,000 for the installation. L3 stations also offer a massive amount of charging power—three to 20 minutes of range per minute. They also utilize an incredible amount of DC voltage (400V to 900V), which is why you don’t typically see them in residential settings.

Level 3 charging stations are not currently available for residential use, so their exorbitant prices aren’t factored into the average costs for homeowners.

Electric Car Charging Station Additional Cost Factors

Parts and labor account for most of the project price, but additional cost factors may impact certain homeowners.

Permits

Count on spending $100 to $200 on permits, especially if you are installing a Level 2 station with a dedicated circuit. The price of a permit varies by location, so check with local regulatory agencies or ask your contractor for accurate pricing. Always check with your local permitting office before starting work. Below is a breakdown of the most common prices for each section of the request:

• Application: $40–$60

• Electrical Permit: $100–$200

• Additional Handling Charges: $20–$40

Garage Modifications

Most garages don’t come with a 240-volt, 20 -to 100-amp circuit, and installing one costs $500 to $1,500. Many homeowners opt to wrap up this work as part of a complete garage remodel, particularly if they struggle to find room for the charging station. Remodeling a garage costs around $15,000 on average. Of course, many charging stations don’t need a garage, as the rate for both indoor and outdoor use, but you’ll still need the additional circuit for the L2 setup. 

Cabling, Wi-Fi, and Additional Features

The wires that run from the breaker box to the system can raise your overall cost, especially if the system needs new or longer wires. Many modern charging stations have a Wi-Fi receiver, allowing users to check charging stats from their phones, so you’ll need to make sure the charging station connects to Wi-Fi. You can easily run an extender out to a garage at around $40, but if your station is further away from your main wireless Internet hub, you’ll need a whole new router, modem, and account. 

Some chargers also allow for additional features, including an invoicing function and tracking how much energy gets pumped—both being helpful for work vehicles. There are also dedicated cable hangers, at the cost of $7 for ultra-basic designs to $300 for sturdy wall-mounted models. 

Plug-In vs. Hardwired

Plugged-in, 240-volt connectors cost around $1,000 to $2,200 to install and are portable, easy to install, and less costly to repair than hardwired connectors, which cost $850 to $1,800 on average. Hardwired connectors for EV chargers are directly connected to your home’s electrical wiring. Since it’s wired directly into your electrical circuit, you can’t move hardwired connectors like you can with plugged-in connectors.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Indoor installation prices tend to be $50 to $100 less than outdoor installations. Outdoor stations need to be more weather-resistant than indoor stations, and some outdoor locations are farther away from home, requiring customized cable lengths. The extra security typically involves a holster for protecting the cable, though some homeowners might opt for building a roof over their outdoor charging station to further protect it from the elements.

Location

Though costs for an electric vehicle station range from $300 to $50,000, location plays a major role in determining the total price. According to data from the EV Project, a governmental project run by the Department of Energy responsible for deploying more than 12,000 commercial and residential charging stations, the West coast charges just over $1,800 on average for a Level 2 residential charging unit, whereas the Southeast charges just under $800 on average.

Electric Car Charging Station Labor Costs

For Level 1 stations, labor costs anywhere from $0 (if you just use a standard wall outlet) to $1,700 for extremely complex setups. Level 2 stations typically require a dedicated local electrician, with electrician costs ranging from $1,200 to $2,000. Level 3 stations are for commercial and public use but are incredibly labor-intensive and complex, often costing $50,000 or more for labor.

Advantages of Adding an EV Charger at Home

There are a few key advantages to choosing a residential charging station for your electric vehicles.

Save Money by Avoiding Public Charging Stations

Charging at home is always your least expensive option. As demand soars throughout the day, so can the premiums of charging your battery. Installing a dedicated charging station allows you to only use public charging stations only when necessary.

Increased Reliability

An at-home charging station means you won’t need to rely on a public port, as they are quite rare in certain parts of the country. Plus, you’ll be using your own power grid, and so long as the bills remain paid, this should offer a near 100% reliability rate.  

Tax Incentives

The federal government offers incentives of up to $7,500 for those who buy a hybrid or fully electric vehicle. This program was formally discontinued in December 2021, but the credit still applies to many EVs. 

Check FuelEconomy.gov for up-to-date information as to which makes and models still qualify. Some states also offer similar tax credits to help lessen the load of buying a brand-new electric vehicle. These laws are constantly in flux, with more rebates likely to come. 

Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle

Electric vehicles cost anywhere from $0.11 to $0.50 per kWh to charge. This price range varies depending on whether you’re charging at home or a public charging station.

At Home

The average EV battery capacity ranges from 18 kWh to 100 kWh, with most vehicles averaging 40 kWh. Electricity varies depending on your location, but according to the U.S. Energy Information Association, the national average for residential electricity rates falls around $0.14 per kWh. This means you’ll pay approximately $5.60 to fully charge a typical EV or anywhere from $2.50 to $14. 

Public Charging Stations

There are a few common pricing models for public charging stations that can impact how much you’ll pay to fill up your car:

• Pay as you go: These public charging stations charge $0.30–$0.60 per kilowatt-hour or $12–$24 for a complete fill-up for a small car with a battery capacity of 40 kWh. Like those with a max battery capacity of 100 kWh, larger vehicles might cost closer to $24–$60 to fully charge. 

• Monthly subscriptions: Some providers offer a charging network through a mobile app that enables you to sign up and pay monthly to fill up your vehicle. Prices vary from $4–$8 a month.

• Free: As the name suggests, these public stations offer fill-ups for free. You may find one of these options at your workplace as a perk for choosing an EV.

• Public idle fees: Idle fees for leaving your car connected after it’s finished charging can range from $0.50–$1.30 per minute, though not all networks include a fee for idling.