Electric car charging at home – how to install a car charging point

Planning electric car charging at home? Explore our 2026 EV charger comparison for Ohme, Andersen, Simpson & Partners, zappi, Hypervolt and Sigenergy features, pros, cons and installation extras.

How Home Charging Fits Your Routine

Home charging can be a convenient option when you have suitable parking. The Energy Saving Trust’s charging guide explains the options at home, at work and on the public network.

Saying goodbye to petrol stations is a key benefit of EV ownership, but you could also minimise the number of times you visit a public charging station. Simply arrive home in your EV, plug it in and wake up to a fully charged battery in the morning.

A professionally installed home charger lets you recharge while parked at home. Costs depend on your electricity tariff and how much energy you use.

Here’s everything you need to know about charging your electric car at home.

Choosing a Home Charge Point

There are two options for charging an electric car at home: using a domestic three-pin (Granny Charger) socket or a dedicated EV charge point.

Charging with a domestic socket should be reserved for emergency or occasional use; fine for an overnight charge when visiting friends or relatives, but not for regular use at home.

By all means keep a standard 3-pin UK plug-compatible charging cable in the boot, but installing a home charger is the recommended solution.

A dedicated home charge point should be specified and installed for your vehicle and property. Smart scheduling can help you use cheaper periods when your tariff offers them.

Electric car charging at home – Get your Home Electric Car Charger quote today.

Going electric? Installing a home charging point makes owning an electric car so much easier and cheaper.

Electric car charging at home – Tethered or untethered home charge point?

Having chosen whether to opt for a 3.6kW, 7kW or 22kW charger, you must also decide whether you want a tethered or untethered charge point. It all comes down to personal preference, but there are a few things you need to consider.

The difference is quite simple: a tethered charger has a cable attached, while an untethered unit doesn’t.

A tethered charger will come with a cable for a Type 1/Type 2 socket, so you don’t need to carry a cable in the boot of your EV.

While that’s convenient, you could be left with an obsolete home charge point should the industry eventually move away from Type 1/Type 2 sockets. You also have to put up with a fixed cable length and the need to tidy it away when not in use.

An untethered charger looks tidier, but you’ll have to supply your own cable. Most EVs will come with a cable included in the purchase price, but you’ll spend around £100 for a replacement.

On the plus side, an untethered charger gives you more flexibility; you won’t have to change the unit should you buy an EV with a different plug requirement.

Electric car charging at home – How to get a home charger installed

Some car manufacturers offer free or discounted home chargers when you buy a new EV or lease an EV. But look closely at these bundles because they may not be right for you, or even a good deal at all.

Electric car charging at home – Where to put a home charge point

Here are some things to consider when you’re choosing a place for your charge point.

Do you want the charge point to be hidden or on view? Whether you have a tethered or untethered charge point will make a difference here, you may not want the tethered cable to look like a coiled garden hose on the front of your house
Where is the charging port on your EV? Some are easy enough – right on the front, but others are on a side, or even further back where you’d normally have a fuel filler cap
Factor in the length of the charging cable. Even on a private drive, a cable can present a very serious trip hazard
The charger will also require access to your home wifi signal to take advantage of the smart tools, such as remote charging and access to off-peak energy tariffs, so it may not want to be at the furthest corner from your router

Electric car charging at home – What speed do I need for a home charge point?

As a simple calculation, adding 40kWh at a constant 3.6kW takes about 11.1 hours; at 7kW it takes about 5.7 hours. These are theoretical times before charging losses or any reduction in charging power. Your car’s AC charging limit and starting charge level also matter.

A 7kW charger supplies roughly three times the power of a 2.3kW domestic plug-in charger. Choose a charger around your daily mileage, parking time and electricity supply.

A 22kW AC charger needs a suitable three-phase supply and a vehicle that can accept that power. Ask your installer to assess the supply, load management and any Distribution Network Operator work before considering an upgrade. A higher-rated charger cannot override your car’s charging limit.

Electric car charging at home – The cost of electric car charging at home

Electric car charging at home – Save money on charging an electric car at home

EV energy tariffs

Compare tariffs using your whole household’s consumption, including daytime prices and standing charges. A cheap overnight rate can help with EV charging, but does not automatically make a tariff the best overall option.

A compatible smart home charge point can schedule charging around the tariff you choose. The charger itself does not supply an electricity tariff; check the supplier’s current rates, supported vehicles and charger compatibility.

To estimate a charging session’s energy cost, multiply the electricity drawn from the supply in kWh by your unit rate. For example, 40kWh at an assumed 25p/kWh costs £10. This is an illustration, not a current tariff quote. Electricity drawn from the supply includes charging losses.

Vehicle-to-grid charging

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) allows a compatible vehicle and bidirectional charger to export electricity. Availability depends on the vehicle, charger, energy supplier and network arrangements. Ordinary smart charging schedules when energy enters the car; it does not by itself provide V2G.

Pre-cooling and pre-heating

A side benefit of home charging is the ability to pre-cool or preheat the car’s cabin before a journey.

Because the energy is drawn from the mains supply rather than the battery, there’s no impact on the estimated driving range. You won’t even have to wait for the windows to demist on a cold morning!

Conclusion

Home charging is the straightforward, sensible and affordable way to charge your electric car. You decide when to charge and, to a certain extent, how much to pay for the electricity.

With a little forward planning, such as choosing the right charge point and energy tariff, you can enjoy the full benefits of charging at home.

For worked examples and public charging advice, read our guide to electric car charging costs.

If you are just thinking of buying an electric car and need some help to understand what would work best for your situation please contact us and our helpful and friendly team will guide you.

Installation costs depend on the charger, cable route and any electrical work required. Check current government chargepoint grant guidance before assuming financial support is available.