EV Charging Time Calculator
Use this EV charging time calculator to estimate how long a charge will take. Enter your battery size, the start and target charge percentages, and your charger's power in kilowatts, and it returns the time in hours and minutes — handy for planning an overnight charge or a stop on a longer trip.
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Calculate your charging time
Enter values above and press Calculate to see your result.
Formula used
Charging time is the energy you need divided by the effective power:
Energy to add = Battery × (target% − start%)Time (hours) = Energy ÷ (Power × efficiency)
So a 36 kWh top-up on a 7.4 kW home charger at 90% efficiency takes about 5.4 hours. This is a linear estimate — DC fast charging slows above ~80% to protect the battery, so the real time to a high charge is longer.
Worked examples
Overnight at home. 20→80% on a 60 kWh battery (36 kWh) at 7.4 kW ≈ 5 h 24 min.
Slow trickle. The same charge on a 1.4 kW domestic socket takes about 28 hours.
Fast charger. 36 kWh at 50 kW ≈ 48 minutes (to ~80%, before tapering).
How to use this calculator
- Choose the battery-and-percentage method, or enter kWh directly.
- Enter battery size and the start/target charge (or the kWh to add).
- Enter the charger's power in kW.
- Adjust efficiency if you know it (90% is typical).
- Press Calculate for the estimated time.
Charger power and typical use
| Power | Type | Hours for 36 kWh* |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 kW | Level 1 (domestic socket) | ~28 h |
| 7.4 kW | Level 2 home wallbox | ~5.4 h |
| 11 kW | Level 2 three-phase | ~3.6 h |
| 50 kW | DC rapid | ~0.8 h |
| 150 kW | DC ultra-rapid | ~0.3 h |
*To ~80% at 90% efficiency. DC times are optimistic; charging slows near full.
Who should use this calculator
EV owners planning when to plug in, trip planners estimating charging stops, and buyers comparing how long a car takes to charge on different equipment. It works for any battery size and charger.
Why charging slows near full
On DC fast chargers, the car draws peak power only at low states of charge. As the battery fills past roughly 80%, it tapers the current sharply to protect the cells — so the last 20% can take as long as the first 60%. For fast-charging stops, aiming for 80% is far more time-efficient than 100%.
What affects real charging time
- The slowest link wins. A 150 kW charger won't help if the car accepts only 50 kW.
- Cold batteries charge slower until they warm up; preconditioning helps.
- AC charging is limited by the car's onboard charger (often 7–11 kW), not the wallbox.
Limitations of this calculator
This gives a linear estimate from average efficiency. It doesn't model the charging curve, battery temperature, or the car's maximum accepted power, all of which affect real-world DC fast charging — especially above 80%. Treat it as a planning estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to charge an EV?
Divide the energy needed by the charger power. A 20→80% charge on a 60 kWh battery (36 kWh) takes about 5.4 hours at 7.4 kW, or under an hour at 50 kW.
Why is fast charging slower above 80%?
The battery tapers the current near full to protect the cells, so the final 20% takes disproportionately long. Stop at 80% on fast chargers when you can.
Does a more powerful charger always charge faster?
Only up to the car's maximum accepted power. If your EV accepts 50 kW, a 150 kW charger won't be faster.
How long on a normal home socket?
A Level 1 (1.4 kW) socket is slow — roughly 28 hours for a 36 kWh top-up. A 7.4 kW wallbox does the same in about 5.4 hours.
Does cold weather affect charging time?
Yes. A cold battery charges more slowly until it warms, especially on DC. Preconditioning the battery before a fast-charge stop helps.