Home EV chargers
Wake up full. Save about $1,360 a year over gas.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes our recommendations. How we make money.
$1,359/yr
Saved vs gas, charging at home
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD, 12,000 miles, US average prices
38 mi/hr
Of range from a 40-amp charger
vs about 5 from a wall outlet
$187
More a year with overnight rates
Per 5¢/kWh off-peak discount, with app scheduling
NACS or J1772? Pick by your car
J1772 is the round five-pin plug used by nearly every non-Tesla EV and plug-in hybrid sold in the US until recently. If you might switch to a NACS car later, an adapter bridges the gap.
Buy this
Lectron NEXUS Level 2 (J1772) $419.99
Up to 38 miles of range an hour from a NEMA 14-50 outlet, weatherproof, 3-year warranty.
Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Home 40A $559
Adds app scheduling for cheaper overnight rates: every 5 cents a kWh off saves about $187 a year on 12,000 miles.
Grizzl-E Classic 40A $299.99
The cheapest UL-listed 40-amp charger we found. No app.
Our picks
Best for most homes
Lectron NEXUS Level 2
Plugs into a 240-volt outlet, weatherproof for the driveway, listed to UL safety standards and ENERGY STAR certified, with a 23-foot cable. Same $419.99 for the J1772 or Tesla (NACS) plug.
- Up to 38 miles of range an hour
- 3-year warranty
Best smart charger
Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Home 40A
The Autel Charge app starts, stops and schedules charging, so the car only charges in your utility's cheaper overnight hours. The hardwired 50-amp version ($599) charges about a quarter faster for cars that can take it.
- About 31 miles of range an hour
- 25-foot cable, 3-year warranty
Best for renters and second homes
Lectron Portable Level 1 & 2 (Tesla / NACS)
Works from an ordinary outlet or a 240-volt one, adjustable from 8 to 40 amps, and goes with you when you move. Tesla (NACS) plug.
- No installation if you have the outlet
- Ordinary or 240-volt outlet
Every charger compared
| Charger | Price* | Plug | Amps | Miles of range/hr | App | Cable | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzl-E Classic 40A (opens in a new tab) | $299.99 | J1772 | 40 | about 31 | No | 25 ft | 3 yr |
| Lectron NEXUS Level 2 (J1772) (opens in a new tab) | $419.99 | J1772 | 40 | 38 | Not stated | 23 ft | 3 yr |
| Lectron NEXUS Level 2 (Tesla / NACS) (opens in a new tab) | $419.99 | NACS | 40 | 38 | Not stated | 23 ft | 3 yr |
| Emporia Classic Level 2 (opens in a new tab) | $449 | J1772 or NACS | 48 | about 37 | Yes | 25 ft | 3 yr |
| ChargePoint Home Flex (opens in a new tab) | $549 | J1772 or NACS | 50 | 37 | Yes | 23 ft | 3 yr |
| Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Home 40A (opens in a new tab) | $559 | J1772 | 40 | about 31 | Yes | 25 ft | 3 yr |
| Tesla Wall Connector (opens in a new tab) | $585 | NACS | 48 | 44 | Yes | 24 ft | 4 yr |
| Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Home 50A (hardwired) (opens in a new tab) | $599 | J1772 | 50 | about 39 | Yes | 25 ft | 3 yr |
*Prices and specs from each maker's US site: Lectron on October 15, 2026, Autel and the others on October 19, 2026. Miles per hour is the maker's figure where stated; "about" figures are our arithmetic for a 31.1kWh/100 mi EV at the charger's full power. Your car may charge slower. Lectron and Autel links are sponsored; the others are plain links. Notes: The cheapest UL-listed, ENERGY STAR 40-amp charger we found, with a tough aluminum case. No Wi-Fi or app, so no scheduling from your phone (many cars can schedule on their own). Smart charger with app scheduling, 48 amps when hardwired. The J1772 version ($449) was sold out when we checked; the NACS version was $479. The $599 Pro adds load management that can let you skip a panel upgrade. Up to 50 amps hardwired with a well-known app. Out of stock on ChargePoint's store when we checked.
NACS vs J1772, in plain English
They are two shapes of plug, not two speeds. At home both deliver the same power for the same amps. NACS (the Tesla plug, standardized as SAE J3400) is on every Tesla and a growing number of newer EVs. J1772 is the round plug on nearly every other EV and plug-in hybrid in the US.
Buy the plug that matches your car today. Lectron sells the NEXUS in both at the same $419.99, and adapters cover the other plug if your next car is different. Only buy Tesla's own Wall Connector if you want the extra speed and will hardwire it.
What installation costs
Installation usually costs more than the charger. Qmerit's 2026 data, published by EnergySage, puts the US average at $2,442 for labor and materials, from $1,834 in Oregon to $3,680 in Mississippi. A plug-in charger next to an existing 240-volt outlet costs nothing to install. Estimate your installation cost by state.
Myths, answered
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Level 2 home EV charger?
For most homes, the Lectron NEXUS ($419.99 when we checked): 40 amps, up to 38 miles of range an hour, ETL listed to UL standards and ENERGY STAR, in J1772 or Tesla (NACS) versions at the same price. If your utility has cheaper overnight rates, the Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Home 40A ($559) adds app scheduling. On a tight budget, the Grizzl-E Classic ($299.99) is the cheapest listed charger we found.
NACS or J1772: which home charger should I buy?
Match the port on your car. Teslas and a growing number of newer EVs have the NACS (Tesla-style) port; most other EVs and plug-in hybrids have J1772. The charging speed is the same at home. If you might switch, buy for the car you have and keep an adapter for the other plug.
Do I need a 48-amp or a 40-amp charger?
A 40-amp charger adds roughly 30 to 40 miles of range an hour, which refills a typical day's driving in an hour or two overnight. A 48 or 50-amp charger must be hardwired on a 60 or 70-amp circuit and only helps cars that accept more than 9.6 kW. Most people never notice the difference.
Plug-in or hardwired?
A plug-in charger uses a 240-volt NEMA 14-50 outlet (the kind for electric ranges and RVs), so you can take it with you when you move. Hardwired allows higher power and is often recommended outdoors. EnergySage puts the price difference in installation at about $100 to $200.
Do I need a Level 2 charger at all?
Not always. An ordinary 120-volt outlet adds about 5 miles of range an hour, roughly 50 miles overnight, which covers many commutes. Level 2 refills even a long day's driving overnight.
Prices and specifications are copied from makers' US websites on the dates shown and change often. Charging speed depends on your car. Have a licensed electrician install the circuit and check local permit rules. Savings use the US average electricity and gasoline prices on our methodology page; your rates differ. See our disclaimer.
Sources
- Lectron NEXUS Level 2 (J1772) product page — checked October 15, 2026
- Lectron NEXUS Level 2 (Tesla / NACS) product page — checked October 15, 2026
- Lectron Portable Level 1 & 2 (Tesla / NACS) product page — checked October 15, 2026
- Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Home 40A product page — checked October 19, 2026
- Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Home 50A (hardwired) product page — checked October 19, 2026
- Grizzl-E Classic 40A product page — checked October 19, 2026
- Emporia Classic Level 2 product page — checked October 19, 2026
- ChargePoint Home Flex product page — checked October 19, 2026
- Tesla Wall Connector product page — checked October 19, 2026
- EnergySage, How much does an EV charger installation cost? (updated June 22, 2026; state averages from Qmerit 2026 data) — checked October 19, 2026
Keep going
Photo: Zaptec on Unsplash (Unsplash License).