Thinking about a home charge point and wondering what it will actually cost is reasonable, and worth answering before anyone comes round with a van. Here is what really drives the price and how we handle it when you ask Martin Day Electricians for an estimate.
What drives the cost of an EV charger installation
No two installs cost the same, because no two properties present the same job. The variables that actually move the price:
- Your consumer unit. An older fuse board is the single most common thing that holds up an EV charger installation. If yours needs upgrading to take the new circuit safely to current wiring regulations, that is extra work before the charger itself goes in.
- The cable run. How far the charge point sits from your consumer unit, and whether that route is a straightforward run along a wall or needs drilling through masonry or routing around an extension, changes the labour and materials involved.
- The charger itself. Tethered units, with the charging cable built in, and untethered units, where you supply your own cable, are priced differently, and power rating (typically 3.6kW or 7kW for a home) changes the unit cost too. A 22kW charger needs a three-phase supply, which most UK homes do not have, so 7kW is the usual home choice.
Because of that spread, we do not publish a single headline figure for this job. Every EV charger installation gets a written estimate after we have studied the photographs and information you send us about your consumer unit, existing supply and parking arrangement. An estimate is our best assessment of the job. It is not a fixed price. If we find something that couldn’t be seen at the start, we will tell you what we have found and what it means for the price before carrying on. For how this approach works across every job we do, see our full guide to electrician costs in Leeds.
Choosing the right charger for your car
The right unit depends on your car’s onboard charger and how quickly you need a full charge overnight, not on buying the fastest thing available. A tethered charger is simpler day to day since the cable lives on the unit; an untethered one lets you swap cables as your car changes. Power rating matters too: a 7kW charger will fully charge most electric cars overnight from empty, and paying for 22kW capability your vehicle cannot use just adds cost for no benefit. A 22kW charger also needs a three-phase supply, which most UK homes do not have, so 7kW is the usual home choice. We talk through the right specification before the work, not after the unit has arrived.
Agreeing the work in writing
Every EV charger installation follows the same process: we give you a written estimate after studying the photographs and information you send us, agree the work and only then start. We are an NICEIC Approved Contractor and Part P registered, Martin is JIB Approved and on the Register of Electricians, we have been trading in Leeds for more than 30 years and every job carries £5,000,000 public liability cover as standard. On our reviews we are rated 4.9 stars from 215 reviews, ranked 3rd of 848 UK electricians nationally.
If your consumer unit is likely to need attention first, our consumer unit and fuse box upgrade guide covers what that involves and what to expect. We install home charge points right across Leeds, including Horsforth, Garforth, Roundhay and Kirkstall, and most areas in between.
EV charger FAQs
How long does EV charger installation take?
A standard domestic EV charger install usually takes a single day, from fitting the unit to testing and certifying it. It can take longer if your consumer unit needs upgrading first or the cable run to the charging point is long, both of which we flag before the day so there are no surprises. If a consumer unit upgrade is needed, we can usually carry out both jobs in the same visit.
Can I install an EV charger without a driveway?
Without off-street parking, fitting a standard home wallbox usually is not possible, since it needs a private supply and somewhere to mount it. Options can include a lamp-post or kerbside charging scheme where your council runs one, or a unit mounted on the property boundary if you have a nearby parking space. Get in touch and we will talk through what is realistic for your street before recommending anything.
How much does it cost to install an EV charger at home in Leeds?
Every EV charger installation starts with a written estimate before any work starts, based on the photographs and information you send us about your consumer unit, the cable run and the type of charger you choose. Costs vary from property to property, and an estimate is not a fixed price. If something comes to light that couldn’t be seen at the start, we tell you what it means for the price before carrying on. See our general guide to electrician costs in Leeds for how we price work across the board.
What type of EV charger do I need for my car?
Chargers come tethered, with the cable built in, or untethered, where you supply your own cable, and in a few power ratings, typically 3.6kW or 7kW for a home. A 22kW charger needs a three-phase supply, which most UK homes do not have, so 7kW is the usual home choice. The right choice depends on your car’s onboard charger, how you park and how quickly you need a full charge overnight. We advise on the right specification before the work, so you do not pay for capability your car cannot use.
Book your EV charger installation
If you want a written estimate for your property rather than a guess over the phone, contact Martin Day Electricians and send us photographs of your consumer unit and the proposed charger location. Or see the full home EV charger installation page for what is included and how the job runs from estimate to certification.
