EV charger installation cost in 2026: what a 7kW home charge point really costs
In short: An EV charger installation typically costs £800 to £1,200 in 2026 for a standard 7kW home charge point on a straightforward run, including the unit, the dedicated circuit and the certificate. Grant funding cuts this for eligible flats and rental properties. A long cable run, a consumer unit or earthing upgrade, or load management push the price higher.
Key points
- Budget £800 to £1,200 for a standard 7kW home install on a short run.
- It is a notifiable new circuit: a registered electrician installs and certifies it.
- The price includes the unit, the dedicated circuit, the certificate and Part P notification.
- Earthing protection against an open-PEN fault is required and is part of the cost.
- Grant funding now targets flats and rentals rather than all homes; check current eligibility.
An EV charger looks like an appliance you bolt to a wall, which is why the price surprises people. What you are buying is a dedicated circuit, the protection that keeps the car safe to touch on a typical UK supply, and a certificate for notifiable work. The box on the wall is the cheap part.
Typical prices in 2026
| Install | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Standard 7kW unit, short run, modern board | £800 to £1,000 |
| Longer cable run or awkward routing | £1,000 to £1,300 |
| With a consumer unit or earthing upgrade first | £1,200 to £1,600 |
| 22kW three-phase (where the supply allows) | £1,200 upwards, supply dependent |
Grant funding, where you qualify, comes off these figures. The unit itself is a few hundred pounds; the rest is the circuit, the protection and the labour.
What is in the price
- The charge point, a 7kW (32A) unit for most homes
- A dedicated circuit from the consumer unit, correctly rated and protected
- Open-PEN fault protection, either a charge point with O-PEN detection built in or an earth electrode, required by BS 7671 section 722
- The Electrical Installation Certificate and Part P notification
- Where needed, a load management or current-limiting device so the charger does not overload the supply
Why the earthing is the hidden half of the job
Most UK homes are on a PME supply, also called TN-C-S. On that arrangement, a rare but real fault in the supply network, an open PEN conductor, can raise the voltage on exposed metalwork. Indoors that is contained; on a metal car parked outside and being touched, it is a shock risk. BS 7671 requires the installation to protect against it, which is why a charger is not a job for a socket and a length of cable. That protection, and the earthing assessment behind it, is part of what separates an £850 certified install from a cheaper one that skipped it.
What can push the price up
The variables are the same ones that move any consumer unit job: the distance and difficulty of the cable run, whether the existing board has a spare way and adequate earthing, and the state of the main supply. A house whose earthing needs bringing up to standard before a charger goes on it is two jobs, and an honest quote raises that after a survey rather than discovering it on the day.
The certificate you should receive
Because a charge point is a new circuit, the work is certified with an EIC and notified under Part P, exactly as covered in our guide to Part P and notifiable work. Keep the certificate with the property documents. It is the evidence the installation was designed and tested properly, and it is the first thing a buyer's conveyancer or a warranty claim will ask to see.
Common questions
How much does it cost to install a 7kW EV charger?
Typically £800 to £1,200 in 2026 for a standard install on a short, straightforward run, including the charge point, the dedicated circuit and the certificate. A longer run, an earthing or consumer unit upgrade, or load management add to it.
Do I need an electrician to install an EV charger?
Yes. A home charge point is a new dedicated circuit and is notifiable work, so it must be installed by a competent, registered electrician and certified. It is not a plug-in appliance.
Do you get a certificate with an EV charger?
Yes. The installation is certified with an Electrical Installation Certificate covering the new circuit, and the work is notified under Part P. Keep it with the property records; it matters at sale and for any warranty claim.
Why does the earthing matter for an EV charger?
Most homes are on a PME (TN-C-S) supply, and an open-PEN fault on an outdoor charge point can make the car bodywork live. BS 7671 requires protection against this, either a charge point with built-in O-PEN detection or an earth electrode, and that requirement is part of why a charger is more than a socket.
Is there a grant for an EV charger?
Grant funding has narrowed from the early universal scheme to targeted support, mainly for flats, rental properties and certain situations. Eligibility changes, so check the current scheme before assuming it applies, but where it does it meaningfully cuts the cost.
SparkCerts runs the whole job for a UK sparky: quote it, fill the certificate in on site with readings checked as you type, and the invoice goes out with the cert attached. Three jobs free, then £12 a month.
Try it on your next job