# How Long Does It Take to Charge an EV on a 3-Pin Plug?

By EV Charge Cables · Published 14 October 2026

**The short version**

A 3-pin plug adds around 8 to 10 miles of range per hour, so a small battery fills overnight and a large one takes a day or more from low.

- Roughly 2.3kW output, best for overnight top-ups
- A 60kWh battery from low takes over a day to fill
- Estimate time by dividing kWh needed by charger power

Charging an EV on a 3-pin plug adds around 8 to 10 miles of range per hour, so a full charge from low takes overnight for a small battery and a day or more for a large one. A 3-pin granny charger draws roughly 2.3kW, which is slow but perfectly usable for overnight top-ups and backup charging. The exact time depends on your battery size, how empty it is and your car's efficiency. If you want a suitable unit, see our [portable EV chargers](https://www.evchargecable.co.uk/portable-ev-chargers), and for higher daily mileage consider a faster home cable too.

### At a glance: 3-pin charge times

| Battery to add | Approx range | Approx time on a 3-pin plug |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10kWh top-up | ~35 to 40 miles | ~4 to 5 hours |
| 20kWh top-up | ~70 to 80 miles | ~8 to 9 hours (overnight) |
| 40kWh charge | ~140 to 160 miles | ~17 to 19 hours |
| 60kWh charge | ~200 to 240 miles | ~26 to 29 hours |

These are rough guides at around 2.3kW. Actual times vary with car, temperature and how full the battery is.

### How do you work out the charge time?

The quick method is to divide the energy you need by the charger's power. A 3-pin unit delivers around 2.3kW, so adding 20kWh takes roughly 20 divided by 2.3, about 9 hours. In range terms, at 8 to 10 miles per hour, replacing 80 miles takes around 8 to 10 hours. Charging is not perfectly linear and slows a little near full, and cold weather reduces efficiency, so treat any figure as an estimate and add a margin rather than assuming an exact finish time.

### How long for a full charge?

A full charge on a 3-pin plug depends heavily on battery size. A small battery of around 20 to 30kWh can fill overnight, while a large 60kWh or bigger battery may need a day or more from low. Because of this, most drivers do not run flat to full on a 3-pin plug. Instead they top up the miles they used that day, which is usually a much shorter charge. For a large battery that needs regular full charges, a faster charger is the better fit.

### Is a 3-pin plug fast enough for daily use?

For many drivers, yes. If you cover a moderate daily mileage and can leave the car plugged in overnight, a 3-pin plug can replace what you used comfortably. The average UK car covers well under 30 miles a day, which a 3-pin unit can add in a few overnight hours. High-mileage drivers or those with large batteries may find it cannot keep up, in which case a 7.4kW wallbox, which adds around 25 to 30 miles per hour, is the better everyday tool.

### What affects how long it takes?

Several things move the real-world time:

- **Battery size:** bigger batteries take proportionally longer to fill.
- **Starting charge:** topping up is far quicker than a full charge.
- **Temperature:** cold weather reduces efficiency and can slow charging.
- **Charger output:** a 3kW unit is marginally quicker than 2.3kW.

Because charging can slow near full and losses vary, always allow a bit more time than the simple calculation suggests.

### When should you choose a faster charger?

Choose a faster charger if you regularly drive more miles than a 3-pin plug can replace overnight, or if you have a large battery you often run low. A 7.4kW wallbox adds around three times the range per hour and usually fills a car overnight with room to spare. A 3-pin plug remains a sensible backup to keep in the boot for travel and occasional use, but as an only solution it can frustrate high-mileage drivers.

**Quick tool:** see realistic charge times for any car with our free [EV charging time calculator](https://www.evchargecable.co.uk/tools/ev-charging-time-calculator) (granny plug, 7kW, 22kW and rapid DC).

### Frequently asked questions

#### How many miles per hour does a 3-pin plug add?

A 3-pin plug adds around 8 to 10 miles of range per hour at roughly 2.3kW. The exact figure depends on your car's efficiency and the temperature. This makes it ideal for overnight top-ups and low daily mileage, but slow for replacing a lot of range or filling a large battery from low.

#### How long to fully charge a 60kWh EV on a 3-pin plug?

Roughly 26 to 29 hours from near empty at around 2.3kW, so more than a full day. In practice, few drivers charge a large battery from flat to full on a 3-pin plug. Most top up the miles used that day, which is a much shorter charge, and use a faster charger when a full charge is needed.

#### Can I fully charge overnight on a 3-pin plug?

A small battery of around 20 to 30kWh can often fill overnight, but a large battery cannot from low. Overnight typically gives you 8 to 9 hours, enough to add roughly 70 to 90 miles. For most daily driving that is plenty as a top-up, even if a full charge from empty would take longer.

#### Does cold weather slow 3-pin charging?

Yes, a little. Cold weather reduces battery efficiency and some energy goes to keeping the battery at a working temperature, so charging can be slightly slower and less efficient in winter. Allow a bit more time in cold conditions, and where possible charge while the car is still warm from driving.

#### Is a 3-pin plug too slow to bother with?

Not at all. It is slow compared with a wallbox, but perfectly useful for overnight top-ups, low-mileage drivers, plug-in hybrids and as a backup. Many drivers rarely need more than it provides day to day. It only becomes a limitation for high mileage or large batteries that need frequent full charges.

#### Will a 3kW charger be much quicker than 2.3kW?

Only slightly. A 3kW unit adds a little more range per hour than a 2.3kW one, but the difference over a full charge is modest. Choose based on your socket and wiring rather than the small speed gain, and use adjustable current if your wiring is older or you are unsure.

#### How do I estimate my own charge time?

Divide the energy you need by the charger power. For a 3-pin unit at around 2.3kW, adding 20kWh takes about 9 hours. In range terms, at 8 to 10 miles per hour, replacing 80 miles takes roughly 8 to 10 hours. Add a margin, as charging slows near full and cold weather reduces efficiency.

The bottom line: a 3-pin plug is slow but dependable, adding about 8 to 10 miles per hour and best used for overnight top-ups. For more, read whether you [can charge an EV from a normal socket](https://www.evchargecable.co.uk/blogs/guides/can-you-charge-an-ev-from-a-normal-socket) and compare a [granny charger versus a wallbox](https://www.evchargecable.co.uk/blogs/guides/granny-charger-vs-wallbox).

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Canonical version: https://www.evchargecable.co.uk/blogs/guides/how-long-to-charge-an-ev-on-a-3-pin-plug

EV Charge Cables, EV charging cables matched to your car: https://www.evchargecable.co.uk. Some links in this article are Amazon affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.