How much does it cost to run a Level 1 EV charger?
A Level 1 EV charger drawing 1,400 watts, used 8 hours a day, uses about 11.20 kWh per day and costs about $2.16 per day, $65.66 per month, and $787.35 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.3¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
Level 1 charging uses a standard 120-volt outlet and draws about 1,400 watts, adding roughly 3-5 miles of range per hour. It costs the same per kWh as Level 2 — energy is energy — but takes far longer, so it runs for many more hours to deliver the same charge. For low-mileage drivers it's often entirely sufficient and requires no installation.
Cost at different daily usage
Same Level 1 EV charger at 1,400 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.3¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h/day | 5.60 kWh | $1.08 | $32.83 | $393.67 |
| 8 h/day | 11.20 kWh | $2.16 | $65.66 | $787.35 |
| 12 h/day | 16.80 kWh | $3.24 | $98.49 | $1,181.02 |
| 16 h/day | 22.40 kWh | $4.31 | $131.33 | $1,574.70 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 8 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 1,000 W | 8.00 kWh | $1.54 | $46.90 |
| Typical | 1,400 W | 11.20 kWh | $2.16 | $65.66 |
| High-draw model | 1,900 W | 15.20 kWh | $2.93 | $89.11 |
Cost by state
A Level 1 EV charger at 1,400 W for 8 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $1.84 | $55.91 | $670.43 |
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $3.23 | $98.29 | $1,178.57 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $1.72 | $52.43 | $628.73 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $1.60 | $48.85 | $585.81 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $3.76 | $114.59 | $1,373.98 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $1.90 | $57.96 | $694.96 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $2.71 | $82.37 | $987.66 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $2.07 | $63.00 | $755.46 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $2.82 | $85.95 | $1,030.58 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $1.68 | $51.24 | $614.43 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $1.82 | $55.47 | $665.12 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $5.38 | $163.65 | $1,962.24 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $1.54 | $46.81 | $561.28 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $2.15 | $65.53 | $785.71 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $1.87 | $57.04 | $683.92 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $1.79 | $54.51 | $653.67 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $1.71 | $52.06 | $624.24 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $1.55 | $47.08 | $564.55 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $1.42 | $43.37 | $519.99 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $3.63 | $110.49 | $1,324.92 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $2.40 | $72.99 | $875.24 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $3.41 | $103.95 | $1,246.43 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $2.58 | $78.58 | $942.28 |
| Minnesota | 17.4¢ | $1.95 | $59.49 | $713.36 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $1.63 | $49.57 | $594.40 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $1.80 | $54.86 | $657.76 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $1.68 | $51.11 | $612.79 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $1.54 | $46.98 | $563.33 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $1.43 | $43.54 | $522.04 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $2.98 | $90.69 | $1,087.41 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $2.82 | $85.88 | $1,029.77 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $1.80 | $54.86 | $657.76 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $3.35 | $101.94 | $1,222.31 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $1.70 | $51.68 | $619.74 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $1.50 | $45.72 | $548.20 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | $2.18 | $66.31 | $795.12 |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $1.61 | $48.92 | $586.63 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $1.79 | $54.45 | $652.85 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $2.43 | $74.05 | $887.91 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $3.17 | $96.45 | $1,156.50 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $1.73 | $52.74 | $632.41 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $1.72 | $52.40 | $628.33 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $1.54 | $46.74 | $560.46 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $1.78 | $54.14 | $649.17 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $1.47 | $44.73 | $536.35 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $2.66 | $80.97 | $970.90 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $1.97 | $59.83 | $717.44 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $1.65 | $50.15 | $601.34 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $1.77 | $53.80 | $645.09 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $2.13 | $64.98 | $779.17 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $1.61 | $48.96 | $587.04 |
How to cut the cost
- Plug in every night rather than waiting for a low battery; slow charging keeps up with typical daily commutes.
- Use a dedicated circuit if possible — sharing with other loads risks nuisance breaker trips.
- Track your actual daily mileage before paying for a Level 2 install; many drivers never need one.
- Schedule charging for off-peak hours if your utility has time-of-use pricing.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.3¢/kWh.
Questions
Does Level 1 charging cost more than Level 2?
No. Both buy electricity at the same rate per kWh. Level 1 simply takes longer to deliver the same energy, so the cost per mile is essentially identical.
How do you calculate what a Level 1 EV charger costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a Level 1 EV charger: 1,400 W × 8 h ÷ 1,000 = 11.20 kWh per day, which at 19.3¢/kWh is $2.16 per day.
How many watts does a Level 1 EV charger use?
Typically 1,400 watts, with most models falling between 1,000 and 1,900 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.