Charger hardware
Power, connector count, mounting, networking and payment capability all affect the starting price.
UK commercial charging costs · 2026
How much does a commercial EV charger cost?
For a straightforward UK installation, 7–22 kW AC charging is usually a low-thousands-per-socket project. DC rapid charging moves into five figures quickly, and electrical capacity or civil works can become more expensive than the chargers themselves.
Cost data checked: 31 August 2026
2026 working ranges
Commercial EV charger installation cost by charger type.
These are useful market benchmarks, but the scope behind each published price matters. A quote that includes only a charger and short cable run is not comparable with one that includes trenching, distribution equipment and a new connection.
| Charger type | Typical use | Published installed range | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7–22 kW ACWorkplace / destination | Staff, company cars, hotels, longer dwell times | £2,000–£4,500per straightforward single charger | 22 kW normally needs suitable three-phase capacity. |
| 43–50 kW DCRapid charging | Retail, leisure, fleet turnaround | £15,000–£30,000published installed range | Connection and civils can push the total much higher. |
| 100 kW+ DCUltra-rapid | Fleet hubs, high-throughput public charging | £40,000–£80,000+per unit in published guides | High aggregate demand can require major site infrastructure. |
Why you may see lower figures elsewhere.
Some current installer guidance quotes around £1,300–£1,800 + VAT for a straightforward commercial chargepoint. That can be realistic for a simple AC installation with a short cable route and suitable existing supply. The wider £2,000–£4,500 bracket is more useful for early budgeting because it allows for a broader range of commercial installation conditions.
Where the money goes
Four things usually decide the final price.
Commercial charging is an electrical-infrastructure project, not simply a charger purchase. The cheapest hardware can still produce an expensive installation if the site is difficult to cable or lacks spare electrical capacity.
Model these variables in the calculatorElectrical capacity
Existing spare capacity can keep a project simple. An upgraded connection, transformer or new distribution can change the budget materially.
Cable routes & civils
Trenching, ducting, feeder pillars, protective bollards and reinstatement can equal or exceed the hardware cost.
Software & access
RFID, driver billing, public payment, load management and back-office systems add setup and sometimes ongoing charges.
Example budgets
What different projects can look like.
The examples below use the same assumptions as our cost calculator. They are intentionally broad and exclude grants so you can see the underlying project range.
Small workplace
2 × 7 kW AC
£2,980–£8,080 ex VAT
- Short cable routes
- Minimal groundworks
- Existing capacity confirmed
- Basic access + load management
Growing workplace
8 × 7 kW AC
£14,940–£37,540 ex VAT
- Medium cable routes
- Some trenching / posts
- Electrical capacity unconfirmed
- RFID + load management
Three-phase workplace
4 × 22 kW AC
£12,440–£32,900 ex VAT
- Medium cable routes
- Some civil work
- Capacity not yet confirmed
- 88 kW combined nameplate load
Rapid public / fleet
2 × 50 kW DC
£61,100–£150,900 ex VAT
- Heavy civils
- Major connection assumed
- Public payment capability
- 100 kW combined nameplate load
Why the ranges get wide.
Once electrical capacity is unknown or a new connection is likely, an early budget cannot sensibly be precise. The final answer needs a site survey and, for larger loads, potentially a network connection offer.
Electrical connection
Grid cost is often misunderstood.
For demand connection applications made from 1 April 2023, EV charging customers are no longer charged for general distribution-network reinforcement needed to accommodate the connection.
You can still be charged for assets required specifically for your project — for example connection cables, transformers, excavation, permits and traffic management. GOV.UK notes that the connection cost can be a significant proportion of the overall charging project.
A DNO connection quote can take roughly 5–65 working days depending on connection size, before delivery time is considered.
Workplace Charging Scheme
An eligible workplace can currently reduce the installation cost.
The Workplace Charging Scheme covers up to 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs including VAT, capped at £500 per socket and 40 sockets across all sites.
Current scheme closes31 March 2027
The maximum headline value is therefore £20,000, but the 75% rule means the actual award can be lower. Eligibility and application requirements must be checked before installation.
Avoid over-specifying
7 kW, 22 kW or DC rapid?
The most expensive charger is not automatically the best commercial charger. Match power to vehicle dwell time and daily energy requirement.
Lower hardware and infrastructure demand makes 7 kW a strong workplace starting point, especially when many bays need charging.
Check both the site's supply and the vehicles' AC charging capability. Not every EV accepts 22 kW AC.
Faster charging is valuable for fleets and public-facing sites, but higher power magnifies connection and civils risk.
Comparing quotations
Make installers quote the same scope.
A cheaper headline quote is not cheaper if it excludes the electrical and civil work that another supplier has included. Ask for a clear scope before comparing totals.
✓
Hardware — exact charger model, sockets and mounting equipment.
✓
Electrical works — distribution boards, protection, metering and load management.
✓
Civils — trenching, ducting, posts, bollards and reinstatement.
✓
Connection — clarify what is included if DNO or transformer work is needed.
✓
Software — CPMS, RFID, payment processing and recurring platform fees.
✓
Aftercare — warranty, maintenance, call-out and uptime support.
Commercial EV charger cost FAQ
Common budgeting questions.
How much does a commercial EV charger cost to install in the UK?
A straightforward 7–22 kW AC charger is commonly quoted in the low thousands of pounds. A current UK cost guide places a single 7–22 kW installation at around £2,000–£4,500, while simpler installer examples can be lower. DC rapid charging normally moves into five figures before exceptional grid or civil work.
Is a 22 kW charger much more expensive than a 7 kW charger?
The hardware difference is only part of the answer. 22 kW AC normally needs suitable three-phase capacity. If that capacity is not already available, the electrical work can matter far more than the charger price.
How much can the Workplace Charging Scheme save?
The current WCS covers up to 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs including VAT, capped at £500 per socket and 40 sockets across all sites. That creates a theoretical £20,000 maximum, but actual support can be lower because the 75% limit applies.
Does a commercial EV charger need a new grid connection?
Not always. Many AC projects can use existing capacity, particularly with smart load management. Larger AC estates and DC rapid projects are more likely to require a DNO assessment or upgraded connection.
What costs are easy to miss?
Cable trenching, surface reinstatement, distribution equipment, protective bollards, payment systems, software subscriptions, maintenance and connection assets are common omissions from early hardware-led estimates.
Sources & methodology
How we set the cost ranges.
We cross-check current UK installer and marketplace pricing, then use broader ranges in our own calculator where site uncertainty makes a narrow figure misleading. The example projects above are generated from the same V2 cost model used by our calculator.
- MyBuilder — Commercial EV Charger Installation Costs in 20262026 commercial installation cost guide; used as external market context for AC, DC, infrastructure and project-level ranges.
- Spirit Energy — Commercial EV Charging Stations CostsCurrent example of a straightforward commercial AC installation range.
- GOV.UK — Connecting EV chargepoints to the electricity networkConnection process, charging arrangements and DNO timing guidance.
- GOV.UK — Workplace Charging SchemeCurrent 75% rule, £500-per-socket limit, 40-socket cap and 31 March 2027 closing date.
Planning information, not a quotation: CommercialEVCharger.co.uk is independent and does not install chargepoints. Prices can vary substantially by site. Obtain a site-specific survey and written quotation before committing budget.
Use your own assumptions
Estimate your commercial EV charging project.
Choose charger power, socket quantity, cable routes, civils, electrical capacity and potential grant support.