EV Charging Time Calculator: Level 1 and Level 2 at Home

Find out how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle at home on Level 1 or Level 2. Enter the energy to add, your circuit voltage and charging current, and your car’s onboard charger limit.

How to use this tool

1. Enter the energy to add: battery size times the share you are adding.
2. Enter 120 volts for Level 1 or 240 volts for Level 2.
3. Enter the charging current. A 40-amp circuit supports 32 amps, a 50-amp circuit 40 amps and a 60-amp circuit 48 amps.
4. Enter your car’s onboard charger limit from its specifications.

Worked example

Adding 40 kWh on a 240-volt, 32-amp charger delivers 7.7 kW, below an 11.5 kW onboard limit. With 10 percent losses that takes about 5.8 hours and adds about 24 miles of range per hour at 3.5 miles per kWh.

Understanding your results

Charging power is the lower of the circuit’s power and the car’s onboard charger limit. Doubling the current only helps if your car can accept it. Charging slows near full and in cold weather, so treat the result as a minimum.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the breaker size is the charging current. Continuous charging is limited to 80 percent of the breaker.
• Ignoring the onboard charger limit.
• Calculating from 0 to 100 percent when daily charging is usually much less.
• Forgetting that Level 1 adds only a few miles per hour.

Next steps

Read the EV Charging hub for circuits, outlets and installation.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to charge an EV on Level 2?

Commonly about 4 to 10 hours for a typical daily top-up or a large charge, depending on the charger’s current, the car’s onboard charger and how much energy you add.

Is Level 1 charging enough?

For short commutes and plug-in hybrids it can be. Level 1 adds only a few miles of range per hour, so it suits drivers who cover modest daily distances and can plug in for long periods.

Why does my car charge slower than the charger rating?

The car’s onboard charger may accept less power than the charger can supply, and charging slows as the battery fills or when it is cold.

This tool is for planning and education only. It does not store your entries. Work on home wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. Read our disclaimer.