How to Choose the Right EV Charger for Your Home in 2026

Switching to an electric vehicle is exciting – but the bit no one talks about is how confusing home chargers can seem at first.

7kW or 22kW? Smart tariffs? Tethered or untethered? App controls?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key decisions step-by-step so you can choose a charger that’s safe, future-proof and cost-effective for your home in 2026.

Use this as a checklist before you buy – and if you’d like help, there’s a simple next step at the end.

1. Start With Your Everyday Driving

Before looking at brands and fancy features, think about how you actually use your car.

Ask yourself:

- How many miles do I drive on a typical day?  Most EV drivers do less than 100 miles a day, which is easily covered by overnight charging on a home charger.

- How big is my battery?  A 40–60 kWh battery is common; larger SUVs can be 70–100 kWh.

- How long is my car usually parked at home?  If your car sits on the drive all night, you don’t need crazy fast speeds – you just need a reliable overnight charge.

For most UK drivers, a standard 7.4 kW home charger will comfortably refill the battery overnight.

2. Understand Power Ratings (3-pin vs 3.6 kW vs 7.4 kW vs 22 kW)

Charger speed is measured in kilowatts (kW). The higher the kW, the more miles you add per hour of charging.

3-pin “granny” charger (around 2.3–3 kW)

Plugs into a normal 3-pin socket.

Pros: Cheap (usually comes with the car), no installation.

Cons: Very slow – often 20+ hours for a full charge on a typical EV. Best kept as an emergency or backup option, not your main solution.

3.6 kW wall charger

Faster than a 3-pin plug, but still relatively slow. Adds roughly 15 miles of range per hour in the UK.

7.4 kW wall charger (the UK sweet spot)

This is the most common and practical option for UK homes.

Works with the single-phase supply that most UK houses have. Adds around 25–30 miles of range per hour, meaning most EVs can fully charge overnight in 6–8 hours.

11 kW / 22 kW chargers (three-phase supply)

Much faster, but there’s a catch:

Your home must have three-phase power, which most UK homes don’t. Your car must support 11 kW or 22 kW AC charging, or you won’t see the extra speed. Upgrading your supply to three-phase adds cost and paperwork with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

So, what should you choose?

For almost every UK household in 2026:

A 7.4 kW smart home charger is the best balance of cost, speed and future-proofing.

As your installer, We would only recommend three-phase / high-power options if:

You already have a three-phase supply and You have multiple EVs or very high daily mileage.

3. Tethered vs Untethered – Which Cable Style Suits You?

When you look at chargers, you’ll see two main styles.

Tethered charger

Has a fixed cable permanently attached, usually 5–10 m long.

Pros: Super convenient – just grab and plug in. Cable always ready, even in bad weather.

Cons: The cable is always on show. You’re “locked in” to that cable length and connector style.

Untethered (socket-only) charger

Looks like a neat socket on the wall – you plug your own cable in.

Pros: Very tidy looking – great if you care about how the front of your home looks. Easier to replace or upgrade cables later.

Cons: You need to fetch the cable from the boot every time. Slightly less convenient in the rain or at night.

Quick tip: If you mostly charge in the same spot and value convenience, go tethered. If you want a minimalist look and flexibility, go untethered.

4. Smart Chargers & Tariffs in 2025: Why “Smart” Now Matters

Since mid-2022, all new home chargers sold in Great Britain must be “smart” under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021.

That’s actually good news for you.

What does “smart” mean in practice?

Modern smart chargers can:

Schedule charging in off-peak hours by default – typically outside weekday peaks (8–11am and 4–10pm), helping you use cheaper and greener electricity. Work with EV-specific tariffs from energy suppliers that offer much cheaper night rates. Let you control everything via an app – start/stop charging, set departure times, track energy and cost. Apply a randomised delay at the start of charging to help protect the grid from millions of chargers switching on at exactly the same second.

Some models also:

Integrate with solar panels & home batteries, so you can prioritise charging from your own solar. Offer load balancing, automatically slowing the car charging if you turn on a big appliance, helping avoid overloading your main fuse.

When we specify a charger for you, we’ll look at:

Whether you plan to add solar in the future. Whether you already have, or could benefit from, a smart EV tariff. How tech-friendly you are (some apps are much simpler than others).

5. Safety & Compliance – What You Don’t See Matters Most

A home EV charger is a high-power electrical device. It needs to be designed and installed correctly – not just plugged into any old circuit.

A professional EV charger installation in 2025 should cover:

Load assessment of your existing supply – checking main fuse rating, consumer unit capacity and diversity. DNO notification or approval where required (we handle this for you).

A dedicated circuit with correctly rated cable, breaker and RCD/RCBO protection. PEN fault protection / earthing solution as required by current standards and manufacturer instructions. Compliance with BS 7671 (Wiring Regulations) and the IET Code of Practice for EV Charging Equipment Installation.

This is where using a qualified electrician with EV experience really matters. Done properly, your charger will be:

Safe for your family and property. Reliable long-term. Fully compliant for insurance and future homebuyers.

6. Grants, Costs & Paperwork

Typical cost

As of late 2025, a typical 7.4 kW smart home charger installation in the UK often falls in the £800–£1,200 range, depending on cable runs and complexity.

Things that can push the price up:

Long cable runs around the property.

Consumer unit upgrades.

Groundworks or outbuilding feeds.

Three-phase upgrades.

Government grants

The old OZEV “homeowner with driveway” grant has changed, but some drivers can still get help:

Flat owners or people who rent may still access grants of up to £350 towards a home charger, if they meet certain criteria.

Grant schemes change over time, so we always recommend:

Checking the latest guidance on the government website. Letting your installer advise you on what you might qualify for.

As part of our process, we can help you understand what support (if any) is currently available and how to apply. Majority of the time we can apply on your behalf.

7. Choosing the Right Charger: A Simple 8-Step Process

We explain what should happen at each step it for you on our EV Charger page: https://www.siqagroup.co.uk/ev-chargers

A brief overview is:

Step 1 – Initial Contact.

Step 2 – Initial Site Survey (photos or visit).

Step 3 – Required Information.

Step 4 – Quotation.

Step 5 – Acceptance.

Step 6 – Installation and Handover.

Step 7 – Certification and Notification.

Step 8 – Review and Feedback.

8. Quick FAQs: Home EV Chargers from 2026

Q: Will a 7.4 kW charger be enough for future EVs with bigger batteries?

A: Yes for most households. Even as batteries get larger, you generally have 8+ hours overnight to charge. A 7.4 kW charger is considered future-proof for typical single-phase homes.

Q: Do I need a three-phase upgrade for home charging?

A: In most UK homes, no. Three-phase is usually only worth considering if you already have three-phase and have high usage or multiple EVs needing quick turnaround.

Q: Can I use my existing outside socket instead of installing a charger?

A: You can use a 3-pin “granny” charger in a pinch, but it’s slow and not ideal as a permanent solution. A dedicated charger is safer, faster and designed for regular high-power use.

Q: Do I need Wi-Fi where the charger is installed?

A: Most smart chargers prefer Wi-Fi or mobile data to access smart features. If the signal is weak, we can look at options like Wi-Fi extenders or 4G-enabled models.

Q: What if I change car brand in a few years?

A: As long as you stick with mainstream EVs in the UK, your home charger will remain compatible (Type 2 is the standard for AC charging). We can always change cable types in the future if needed.

9. Ready to Talk About Your Home Charger?

Choosing a home EV charger doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you understand:

Your daily driving needs. The right power rating for your home. The benefits of smart charging and off-peak tariffs. The importance of safe, compliant installation.

…you’re already 90% of the way there.

If you’re in Ashford or the surrounding Kent area, we can:

Assess your home and driving needs.

Recommend the best charger options for your situation.

Handle the installation, paperwork and setup from start to finish.

Get in touch with us today: https://www.siqagroup.co.uk/ev-chargers

team@siqagroup.co.uk