Cost guide · EV chargers
What a home EV charger costs to install.
A standard 7.4 kW smart charger on a modern consumer unit with a cable run under ten metres costs £900 to £1,250 fitted — charger included. Here is what is in that number, what moves it, and why the £600 you saw online is not the same job.
Figures last reviewed
£900–£1,250
Standard 7.4 kW install, charger included
Half a day
Typical time on site
~30 miles
Range added per hour, versus ~5 from a 3-pin plug
£4 vs £48
A 60 kWh charge at 7p off-peak versus 80p at a public rapid
What the standard price includes
The charger itself — a 7.4 kW smart unit from Zappi, Ohme, Easee or Hypervolt — mounted where you park, up to ten metres of cable from your consumer unit, the protective devices the regulations require, the DNO notification to SP Energy Networks, testing and certification, and pairing with your phone and your tariff before we leave. Most installs are done in half a day.
What moves the price
Fixed after a 15-minute video walkthrough or a site visit. The usual reasons a quote sits above the standard band:
| Item | Effect | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Cable run over 10 m | Up | Detached garages, parking away from the house, meters at the wrong end |
| External cable route | Up slightly | Clipped and protected outside rather than run through the house |
| Consumer-unit upgrade or Type A RCD | Up | Common on pre-2008 boards; quoted as its own fixed line before you commit |
| Earthing arrangement | Up slightly | Some supplies need an additional protective device for a charger |
| Groundworks | Up | Trenching to a detached garage or driveway post |
| Untethered instead of tethered | Down slightly | Socket only; you use the car’s cable |
| Second charger or dual unit | Up | Two regular drivers — load-balanced so both can charge |
| Charger brand | A little either way | Zappi tends to be dearest; all four are 7.4 kW and OCPP-compatible |
Why the online price is lower
“From £600” adverts are usually the unit plus a minimal install: short cable, modern board assumed, no earthing work, nothing for the DNO notification or the fault-finding if the house is not as simple as the form said. If your house is that simple, we will tell you and price accordingly. If it is not, the cheap quote becomes an expensive day.
Grants: who may qualify
Homeowners with off-street parking do not currently get a grant. Support may be available for eligible renters, flat owners, landlords, workplaces and some households installing a cross-pavement charging solution. The rules, amounts and closing dates change, so we check the live GOV.UK guidance for your situation rather than quoting an old figure. Your installation price is clear whether or not a grant applies.
Running costs: where the real saving is
The install price is a one-off. The running cost is where an EV pays back, and it depends almost entirely on where you charge. On an off-peak home tariff at around 7p a unit, a 60 kWh charge costs about £4. At a public rapid charger at a typical 80p a unit, the same charge is around £48. A smart charger scheduled to your tariff does the arithmetic for you every night.
If you have solar, a Zappi or Ohme can prioritise your own surplus before pulling from the grid — free miles on a sunny day, off-peak on a grey one.
Solar-aware charging →FAQ
Frequently asked
Do I need a fuse-board upgrade?
Most consumer units fitted after about 2008 are fine. Older boards, or ones without Type A RCD protection, often need an upgrade before a 7 kW charger goes on. We flag it at the site check and quote it as a fixed line — before you commit, not on the day.
Tethered or untethered — which is cheaper?
Untethered (socket only) is slightly cheaper and future-proofs against cable changes. Tethered is more convenient day to day. For one car you charge daily, tethered usually wins; for multiple drivers or cars, untethered.
Can you fit a charger I have already bought?
Usually, if it is a recognised 7.4 kW unit with UK certification. We check it first and tell you if there is a reason not to.
How long does the install take?
Typically half a day: mount the unit, run the cable, fit the protection, file the DNO notification, commission, pair with your app and walk you through the tariff settings.
I live in a flat or rent — can I have one?
Often, yes. Landlord, freeholder or factor permission and the cable route are the first checks, and some renters and flat owners qualify for current OZEV support. We verify the live rules rather than promise a grant.
Do you charge a call-out if something goes wrong?
Not in the first month. If the charger misbehaves we come back and sort it. It rarely happens, but that is the deal.
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Want a fixed price for your driveway?
A 15-minute video walkthrough is usually enough. Tell us your car, your tariff and where you park.