There is no single answer to "how long does charging take?" - it depends on the charger, the car and how empty the battery is. This guide gives you realistic UK charging times across every common charger type, plus the factors that change the numbers in real life.
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The simple formula
Charging time is a simple calculation:
Battery size (kWh) ÷ charger power (kW) = hours to charge
For example, a 77 kWh battery on a 7 kW home charger takes about 11 hours from empty to full (77 ÷ 7). In practice you will rarely charge from 0-100% - most drivers charge from around 20% to 80%, which takes roughly 6.5 hours in that example.
Home charging times
Most UK drivers charge at home, and the speed depends on the equipment you have:
| Charger | Power | Range added per hour | 60 kWh battery, empty to full |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-pin plug (granny cable) | 2.3 kW | ~8 miles | ~26 hours |
| Single-phase wallbox | 7 kW | ~25-30 miles | ~8-9 hours |
| Three-phase wallbox | 11 kW | ~40 miles | ~5-6 hours |
| Three-phase wallbox (max) | 22 kW | ~75-80 miles | ~3 hours |
About 95% of UK homes have a single-phase supply, which caps home charging at 7.4 kW - so a 7 kW wallbox is the standard choice. A typical overnight session of 8 hours adds 200+ miles, far more than the average UK daily drive of 20-30 miles. From 20% to 80%, most EVs take 4-7 hours on a 7 kW charger - easily completed overnight.
Installing a dedicated home charger costs roughly £800-£1,200 in the UK. Renters and flat owners can claim up to £500 through the EV Chargepoint Grant. The 3-pin plug should be treated as an emergency backup, not a daily solution.
Public charging times
Away from home, charging gets much faster. Typical UK public charger speeds and the time to add meaningful range:
| Charger type | Power | Typical 20-80% time (60 kWh car) |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid | 50 kW | ~40-60 minutes |
| Fast rapid | 100-150 kW | ~25-35 minutes |
| Ultra-rapid | 150-350 kW | ~20-40 minutes |
Cars with 800-volt architecture, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, can sustain very high charge rates for longer, which is why they excel on ultra-rapid chargers. See our full breakdown of how much it costs to charge an EV in the UK for the price side of the equation.
Why charging slows after 80%
EV batteries do not charge at a constant speed. The fastest charging happens between roughly 10% and 80%; after 80% the rate drops sharply to protect battery health and reduce stress. This is why rapid chargers are best used for top-ups - charging from 80% to 100% on a motorway rapid can take as long as 10% to 80%.
The car's own limit: onboard chargers
Even a powerful charger cannot force a car to accept more than its onboard charger allows. Many popular EVs - including the Tesla Model 3, VW ID.3, Ioniq 5 and Nissan Leaf - have 7 kW or 11 kW onboard AC chargers, so a 22 kW wallbox would still charge them at 7-11 kW on AC. Always check the vehicle specification before buying a high-power charger.
Real-world routine
For most UK drivers the answer is simple: plug in at home on a 7 kW wallbox overnight and you start every day with a full battery. Public rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are for journeys - a 20-40 minute coffee stop adds enough range for 150-250 miles of motorway driving. For a step-by-step setup guide, see our home EV charging guide.
