Imagine waking up every morning to a fully charged electric vehicle (EV), ready for your day’s adventures. That dream becomes a reality with a home EV charger. But stepping into the world of home charging can feel like navigating a maze. Which charger is fast enough? Will it fit my garage? And how do I keep my family safe?
The sheer number of brands, charging speeds, and installation requirements can cause serious headaches. You want convenience, reliability, and a good price, but sorting through technical jargon like Level 1 versus Level 2 charging feels overwhelming. Choosing the wrong charger means slow charging times or, worse, installation headaches down the road.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down everything you need to know about home EV chargers, from understanding power levels to finding the perfect model for your needs and budget. By the end of this post, you will feel confident selecting and installing the right charging solution for your electric ride.
Top Home Car Chargers Recommendations
- Charge with Confidence: ChargePoint builds reliable, flexible EV charging stations for home, business, and fleets. Get 24/7 support and access to hundreds of thousands of North American charging locations.
- Charge Smart: With the user-friendly ChargePoint Mobile App, you can control your electric car charger, manage reminders, connect to smart home devices, find stations, get data and charging info, and access the latest features. Note: WiFi is needed for certain functionalities and troubleshooting steps if connectivity issues arise.
- Vast Network: Wherever you go, ChargePoint’s network includes 274k+ stations across North America and Europe and 565k+ roaming partner stations.
- Safe & Durable: Rely on this UL-certified EV charger for safe home charging. It can be installed indoors or outdoors by an electrician and includes a cold-resistant cable.
- Fast & Powerful: This EV charger charges 9× faster than a 120V outlet, delivering up to 45 mi/hr., dependent upon your vehicle. It features a J1772 connector for all non-Tesla EVs and requires a 20A or 80A circuit. For Tesla EVs, this will require an adapter.
- Fast 40A EV Level 2 Charger: 8X faster than basic portable ev charger. Power up at 9.6 kW - up to 38 mph. EV chargers for home level 2 requires a 240V NEMA 14-50 receptacle (40A or 50A circuit rating)
- UL, ETL, FCC & Energy Star Certified: EVIQO electric vehicle charger is eligible for rebates and incentives (incl. 30% Federal Tax Credit). Mainboard steel shielding protects the internals of the EV charging station. External reset button clears faults in seconds. NEMA 4/IP66 housing survives rain, snow, sleet, heat and dust
- Enhanced WI-FI Antenna + Smart App: Advanced Wi-Fi keeps EVIQO EV car charger level 2 online in garage & basement. Control start/stop, set 6-40A current with 1A step, set schedules for your electric vehicle charging stations & charge off-peak, get reminders & track consumption/cost right in the app. Remote OTA firmware updates (2.4 GHz). Smart app features require an active Internet (Wi-Fi) connection.
- Universal J1772 Charger: 25’ EV charging cord reaches any spot. Works with every EV/PHEV in North America. Heavy duty fully rubberized J1772 connector. Operates as a tesla home charger with NACS adapter (not included)
- 5-Minutes Installation: Plug & Charge EVSE level 2 charger out of the box, no electrician needed (wall mounting kit and guide included with electric car charger level 2)
- 40W Fast Car Charger for iPhone 17/16/15: This USB C car charger delivers max output 40W fast and efficient charging for your iPhone/Android devices. Fast Charge for your iPhone 17/Air/16/15 series up to 70% and iPad Pro up to 50% in just 30 minutes
- 20W Fast Charger Block for iPhone Air/17/16: The USB C wall charger supports Power Delivery 3.0 fast charging functions with a total output power of 20W (Max), fast charge for iPhone Air up to 60% and charge for your iPad Mini up to 50% in just 30 minutes, help you work efficiently
- 6FT USB C to C Cable: Type c charger cord supports efficient fast and safe charging up to 60W (20V/3A), and data syncing up to 480Mbps for your iPhone 17 16 series. The 6FT long length is enough to be convenient to charge your device in couch, bedroom, office or on the go
- Widely Compatibility: 40W Dual USB C fast car charger compatible with iPhone 17/Air/17 Pro/17 Pro Max/16 Pro Max/16 Pro/16 Plus/16/16e/15 Pro Max/15 Pro/15 Plus/15, iPad Pro 13/12.9/11 inch, iPad Air 6th/5th/4th, iPad Mini 7th/6th, iPad 10th/11th Generation, AirPods Pro 3 2, Galaxy S25/S24/S23/S22, Pixel 10/9/8/7/6, Moto, Tablet, Android Phone and more
- What You Get: 1 x 40W Dual Port USB C Car Charger Cigarette Lighter Adapter, 2 x 6FT USB C to USB C Cable, 1 x 20W USB C Wall Charger Block. The [4-in-1] Type C fast car charger kit is suitable for travel and meet your daily charging needs
- 2-in-1 CELL PHONE CHARGER: The ideal companion for busy travelers. This compact device combines a wall charger and car charger into one, eliminating the need for multiple chargers. Stay powered on the go with this portable travel charger that conveniently plugs into your car's 12V cigarette lighter or any standard home AC outlet.
- FAST CHARGING - Experience lightning-fast power with this 30W PD Travel Charger, specifically designed to charge USB-C devices up to 4 times faster than a standard 5W USB charger. Get up to 50% battery life in just 30 minutes on your iPhone 14 and other compatible Apple devices, ensuring your devices are always ready to go when you need them.
- TRAVEL-FRIENDLY DESIGN - Our portable, compact, and foldable charger is designed with your convenience in mind. The foldable plugs make it easy to pack and store, while the versatile wall/car charger combo ensures you're never without power. Ideal for business trips, vacations, or everyday use.
- COMPATIBILITY - Engineered with versatility in mind, this 2-in-1 charger is compatible with smartphones, tablets, cameras, portable gaming systems and all of today's latest devices.
- Backed by Scosche's Lifetime Tech Support and 1 Year Warranty.
- 【Trusted Brand】Autel has been making automotive intelligent diagnostic, inspection, and analysis products since 2004. The MaxiCharger AC Home was developed over 2 years from a full team of designers and engineers to bring you the safest, smartest, and one of the best looking chargers on the market.
- 【High speed Charging】With 12kW up to 50A charging, speed will never be an issue. Add 37 miles per charging hour. Don't waste time waiting on your EV to fully charge with slower chargers. An updated 25-Foot durable cable is flexible no matter how cold the season is so you can charge with confidence in even the coldest of temperatures(-40℃).
- 【CSA Certified & NEMA Type 4】Eligible for the Federal rebate program. With NEMA Type 4 you are protected in any type of weather including snow, rain, hail, and sleet. Hang it up outside your house or inside a garage and it will operate efficiently. Fire resistant, over current, over voltage, and over temperature protection. Your level 2 charger will run better and last longer, saving you money in the long term.
- 【Smart APP Control】Use Autel Charge APP to control your charger and manage charge times, schedule charging while you're away, and optimize your charging to take advantage of off peak electricity. Bluetooth enabled, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Ethernet access make sure your automatic over the air (OTA) remote firmware updates keep you connected at the times you need.
- 【High Reliability】The MaxiCharger is easy for any electrician to install. A 3-year warranty, APP automatic updates, and around-the-clock support from Autel's service team means you'll never have to worry about quality and service.
- 2-in-1 CELL PHONE CHARGER: The ideal companion for busy travelers. This compact device combines a wall charger and car charger into one, eliminating the need for multiple chargers. Stay powered on the go with this portable travel charger that conveniently plugs into your car's 12V cigarette lighter or any standard home AC outlet.
- FAST CHARGING - Experience lightning-fast power with this 20W PD Travel Charger, specifically designed to charge USB-C devices up to 4 times faster than a standard 5W USB charger. Get up to 50% battery life in just 30 minutes on your iPhone 14 and other compatible Apple devices, ensuring your devices are always ready to go when you need them.
- TRAVEL-FRIENDLY DESIGN - Our portable, compact, and foldable charger is designed with your convenience in mind. The foldable plugs make it easy to pack and store, while the versatile wall/car charger combo ensures you're never without power. Ideal for business trips, vacations, or everyday use.
- COMPATIBILITY - Engineered with versatility in mind, this 2-in-1 charger is compatible with smartphones, tablets, cameras, portable gaming systems and all of today's latest devices.
- Backed by Scosche's Lifetime Tech Support and 1 Year Warranty.
- Flex Level 1 EV Charger - The EVDANCE Level 1 electric car charger is compatible with J1772 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles (North American Standard). *Tesla requires a SAE J1772 adapter.
- Convenient to Use - This charger has both NEMA 6-20 plug for 16A 240V charging (3.68kW, 10-12 mi/h) and a NEMA 6-20 to 5-15 plug adapter for 12A 120V charging (1.44kW, 2-5 mi/h). The included bag makes it easier to carry on the go. It also has a 25ft cable length, you can use it flexibly from anywhere in the garage or driveway.
- Check Your Outlet Type -This charger works with standard 120V NEMA 5-15/5-20 outlets (2-5 mph charging speed) and 240V NEMA 6-20 outlets (10-12 mph) . It's not compatible with NEMA 6-15/10-30/14-30/14-50/6-50 outlets – you'll need a NEMA 14-50/14-30/10-30/6-50 to 6-20 adapter (sold separately) to connect.
- Compatible EV Models -This EV charger works with most major electric vehicles, including Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Audi, Nissan Ariya, Rivian R1S, Kia, and others. However, it's not compatible with Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop,Toyota Prus Prime/Z4X/RAV4Prime, Porsche Taycan Base/4S/Turbo/Turbo S or Tesla models (Tesla requires a J1772 to Tesla Adapter, sold separately). For a full list of compatible models, check out the Full Compatibility List on our product page.
- Indication Displays - LED display that can tell you the status as well as indicate errors while charging your electric vehicle.
- Charger for All J1772 EVs: Works seamlessly with all SAE J1772 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids—Ford, GM, Nissan, Audi, BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Chevy, and more (Tesla requires an additional adapter). Ideal for home or travel, this 16A Level 1 & 2 charger keeps your EV fully charged and ready whenever you need it.
- Portable L1 & L2 EV Charger: Flexible Charging Anywhere, Featuring dual L1 & L2 plugs, this charger is compatible with both NEMA 5-15 and 6-20 outlets. Perfect for use at home, a friend’s garage, or while traveling. Use the NEMA 6-20 plug for Level 2 charging (240V, 16A, 3.84kW, 15.36 miles/hr) or the NEMA 5-15 adapter for Level 1 charging (110V, 13A, 1.43kW, 5.72miles/hr). Note: In accordance with North American electrical safety standards, the charger automatically limits current to below 16A when using a 5-15 outlet, ensuring the safety of both your EV and your home electrical system.
- Easy Installation: No need to worry about complicated setup. The charger comes with a 25-foot cable for maximum flexibility, plus a 20cm NEMA 5-15 adapter to connect to any 110V–240V outlet. With these, you can easily reach vehicles at a distance and charge freely anywhere.
- Smart Charging: Adjustable current and scheduled charging are essential for most EV owners. The J1772 charger supports 4 levels of adjustable current (8A/10A/13A/16A) and a 1–12 hour smart delayed start timer. Whether charging overnight or during off-peak hours, you can make the most of your electricity, reduce energy costs, and enjoy a truly convenient smart charging experience—completely on your schedule.
- One-Glance Charge Management: The 16A EV charger brings full control to your hands with its 2.8-inch LED touch display. Schedule charging sessions during off-peak hours to save on electricity bills, monitor real-time voltage, current, and power, adjust current settings and charging timing delay on the screen, and instantly see any errors for rapid troubleshooting. One glance at the display gives you complete insight and control—turning every charging session into a precise, efficient, and worry-free experience.
Your Guide to Choosing the Best Home Car Charger
Thinking about getting a home car charger for your electric vehicle (EV)? It’s a smart move! Charging at home is usually cheaper and much more convenient than relying only on public stations. This guide will help you pick the perfect charger for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping, certain features make a big difference in how well your charger works for you.
Charging Speed (Amperage)
- Level 1 Chargers: These plug into a regular wall outlet (120V). They are slow but easy to install. They add about 3 to 5 miles of range per hour.
- Level 2 Chargers: These use a 240V outlet (like the one your dryer uses). They are much faster, adding 20 to 40 miles of range per hour. Most EV owners choose Level 2 for daily use.
Smart Features and Connectivity
Many modern chargers connect to Wi-Fi. This lets you use an app on your phone. You can schedule charging times to use cheaper electricity rates. Some chargers also track how much energy you use. These “smart” features offer great control.
Cable Length
Check the length of the charging cable. A longer cable (usually 20 to 25 feet) gives you more flexibility in parking your car in your garage or driveway. Make sure it reaches easily.
Important Materials and Build Quality
The materials used affect how long your charger lasts, especially if it sits outside.
Enclosure Durability
Look for chargers with a strong, weather-resistant casing. Many good chargers have an IP rating (like IP65 or higher). This rating shows how well the unit resists dust and water. A tough plastic or metal case protects the electronics inside.
Connector Quality
The connector that plugs into your car should feel sturdy. Most chargers use the J1772 standard connector in North America. Make sure the connector handle feels comfortable to hold and has a good locking mechanism.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Some aspects directly impact your charging experience and the charger’s lifespan.
Installation Type
Hardwired vs. Plug-in: Hardwired chargers connect directly to your home’s electrical panel. They often offer a more permanent, cleaner look. Plug-in chargers use a NEMA 14-50 outlet. These are easier to install but require a dedicated outlet.
Safety Certifications
Always choose a charger certified by recognized safety organizations, like UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Safety certifications confirm the device meets strict electrical standards. Uncertified chargers might pose a fire risk.
Heat Management
Fast charging creates heat. Quality chargers have good internal cooling systems. If a charger overheats frequently, it might slow down charging or fail early. Good heat management improves reliability.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you plan to use the charger matters a lot.
Daily Commuters
If you drive a moderate distance daily, a Level 2 charger is usually perfect. You plug in when you get home, and it’s ready by morning. Smart scheduling helps save money overnight.
Long-Range Drivers or Second Cars
If you have a long commute or multiple EVs, you might want a higher amperage Level 2 charger (like 40 amps or 48 amps) to maximize speed, provided your home electrical system supports it.
Apartment Dwellers
If you rent or cannot install a permanent fixture, a portable Level 2 charger might work if you have access to a 240V outlet in your designated parking spot. Always check your lease agreement first!
Top 10 FAQs About Home Car Chargers
Q: What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 charging?
A: Level 1 uses a standard wall plug and is slow. Level 2 uses a special 240V outlet and charges much faster.
Q: Do I need an electrician to install a home charger?
A: For Level 1, no, you just plug it in. For Level 2, yes, an electrician usually needs to install the 240V outlet or hardwire the unit safely.
Q: How much does a home charger typically cost?
A: The charger unit itself can range from $300 for a basic Level 2 unit up to $800 or more for a high-end smart unit. Installation costs are extra.
Q: Are smart chargers worth the extra money?
A: Yes, if you want to save money. Smart features let you charge when electricity rates are lowest, which saves you cash over time.
Q: Will my existing home wiring handle a Level 2 charger?
A: Not usually. Level 2 chargers need a dedicated 240V circuit, which an electrician must install. They check if your main electrical panel has enough capacity.
Q: What is the standard connector type I need?
A: In North America, most non-Tesla EVs use the J1772 connector. Tesla vehicles use their proprietary connector but come with an adapter to use J1772 chargers.
Q: Can I leave my charger plugged in all the time?
A: Yes, modern chargers are designed to stay plugged into the car and the wall 24/7. They only draw power when actively charging.
Q: What does the IP rating mean for outdoor use?
A: The IP rating shows water resistance. A higher number means it resists rain and weather better, which is important if you install it outside.
Q: How long does a Level 2 charger last?
A: A high-quality charger, installed correctly, should last 10 to 15 years or more. Good materials help it survive the elements.
Q: Do I need to worry about my car’s battery health with faster charging?
A: No. Level 2 charging is gentle on your car’s battery. The car’s onboard computer manages the charging rate to protect the battery pack.