What a Full Charge Costs, by Battery Size
At the US average electricity rate, a full charge costs roughly 20¢ for every kWh of battery. A 75 kWh battery is about $15. A 100 kWh battery is about $20.
That rule of thumb is worth understanding, because it’s the whole calculation in one line.
Where the number comes from
Two inputs, and one adjustment:
Battery size × your electricity rate ÷ charging efficiency
You always draw more from the wall than reaches the battery — roughly 10% is lost as heat. So a 75 kWh battery needs about 83 kWh of billed electricity to fill.
At the US residential average of about 18¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, checked August 2026), that division works out neatly: battery size × 20¢.
The table
| Battery | Electricity billed | Cost at 18¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kWh | ~67 kWh | $12 |
| 75 kWh | ~83 kWh | $15 |
| 85 kWh | ~94 kWh | $17 |
| 100 kWh | ~111 kWh | $20 |
| 130 kWh | ~144 kWh | $26 |
Assumes 90% charging efficiency, typical for Level 2 home charging.
Which cars sit where
Roughly, and it varies by trim and model year:
- 60–65 kWh — smaller crossovers and standard-range trims
- 75–85 kWh — the bulk of the market: mid-size crossovers and long-range sedans
- 95–110 kWh — large SUVs and premium sedans
- 130 kWh+ — electric pickups with extended-range packs
Check your own car’s spec sheet rather than trusting a category. Manufacturers quote both gross and usable capacity, and usable is the number that matters — it’s often 4–8% smaller, because a buffer is held back to protect the battery.
Why your number will be different
Three reasons the table won’t match your bill.
Your rate isn’t the average. This is the big one. Residential rates vary by more than three to one across the US, so the same 75 kWh battery is $9 in one state and $30 in another.
You rarely charge from empty. Full-charge figures are useful for comparison, but most charging tops up from 30% or 50%. Cost scales with what you actually add, not the battery’s size.
Fast charging is a different price entirely. Public DC fast charging typically runs two to three times the home rate. The table above is home charging only.
Work out your own
Take your battery size, multiply by your marginal electricity rate, then divide by 0.9. Or skip the arithmetic and use the EV charging cost calculator, which does it per mile and compares it against a gas car.
Either way, the number that changes the answer most is your electricity rate — and it’s usually not the one printed on your bill. Here’s how to find your real rate.
Electricity rate: US residential average, EIA Electric Power Monthly, checked August 2026. Charging efficiency of 90% is an estimate for Level 2 home charging; real losses vary with temperature and charge rate.