EV charger cost

Break a quote into four parts. Hardware: $600–$1,200 for a Level 2 unit, per Bob Vila; DOE's infrastructure guidance cites a Rocky Mountain Institute figure of $380–$690 for a residential Level 2 charger, so shop the unit separately and you may do better than a bundled price. Labor: $1,200–$2,000 for Level 2. Permits: $100–$200 all in. Electrical upgrades: $0 if your panel has room, $1,500–$4,000 if it doesn't.

Distance and route matter. Wiring runs $6 to $12 per linear foot, and exterior installs ($800–$2,500 for materials and labor) tend to cost more than interior ones ($800–$1,500). If the charger can go on the garage wall closest to the panel, put it there.

Hardwired versus plug-in changes the number too. Bob Vila puts hardwired connections at $850–$1,800 and plug-in connectors at $1,000–$2,200 for materials and labor combined. Plug-in is easier to swap later; hardwired is often required for higher-amperage units. Ask which your chosen unit supports before you decide.

DOE's own installation figures are a useful sanity check on the labor line: roughly $1,300 per connector for residential Level 2 equipment installation, and $400–$600 per connector for Level 1, excluding labor and permitting. Data cited by DOE shows labor is the largest single expense in a typical installation.

How to choose

Price the charger separately from the labor

You can shop a model number. Residential Level 2 units have been cited as low as $380–$690 by DOE. A bundled "installed price" hides the markup.

Get the panel assessed before comparing bids

A $1,500–$4,000 panel upgrade is the difference between the low and high end of every quote you'll receive.

Shorten the wire run

At $6 to $12 per linear foot, mounting location is a lever you control. Walk the route with the electrician.

Ask whether permits are in the number

$100 to $200 is typical. It should be an itemized line, not a surprise.

Be suspicious of quotes given without a site visit

Nobody can price a 240-volt circuit without seeing your panel, your parking spot and the path between them.