Buying Guides
Which EV Charging Cable Do I Need? The Complete UK Guide
On this page
Three things decide which cable you need: the connector on your car, the power your car can actually accept, and a length that reaches from the socket to your inlet. Get those right and a good cable lasts for years. Almost every EV sold in the UK since 2018 uses a Type 2 connector and charges at 7.4kW, so a 5m Type 2 to Type 2 cable is the right answer for most drivers. The quickest way to be certain is to enter your registration and let the checker read your car's inlet and charge rate, or browse cables by car to see only what fits.
At a glance: what decides your cable
| Decision | What to check | Most common answer |
|---|---|---|
| Connector | Your car's charging inlet | Type 2 (EVs since 2018) |
| Power rating | Car's onboard AC charger and your home supply | 7.4kW |
| Length | Socket to inlet, plus slack | 5m |
| Cable or charger | Wallbox lead vs 3-pin portable | Type 2 lead (most want both) |
Which connector does your car use, Type 1 or Type 2?
The connector on your car's inlet decides which cable will physically fit. Type 2 is the seven-pin standard on almost every EV and plug-in hybrid sold in the UK since 2018, and it locks in place while charging. Type 1 is an older five-pin connector on a few earlier cars. Whichever you have, the charger end of the cable is always Type 2 at home wallboxes and public points, so only the car end changes. For the full breakdown see Type 1 vs Type 2 explained.
How much power can your car actually take, 7.4kW or 22kW?
A cable only carries as much power as your car's onboard AC charger will accept. 7.4kW (32A single phase) is the ceiling for most UK homes and suits most cars. 22kW (32A three phase) only helps if your car has a three-phase onboard charger and you plug into a 22kW AC supply, which almost no home has. A bigger cable never makes a single-phase car charge faster. See 7.4kW vs 22kW and do I need a 22kW cable.
What length cable do you need?
5m suits most home setups. Park as you normally would, measure from the socket to your car's inlet, and add a little slack. If you park on the street, share a charger, or the inlet sits on the far side of the car, step up to 7m or 10m. Remember that longer cables cost more, weigh more and take longer to coil away, so buy the shortest length that comfortably reaches.
Do you need a cable or a portable charger?
They do different jobs. A Type 2 charging lead plugs into a wallbox or an untethered public point and is what you will use day to day. A portable "granny" charger plugs into a normal 3-pin socket for slow, occasional top-ups where no wallbox exists. Many owners keep both: a Type 2 lead for regular charging and a portable charger in the boot for emergencies.
How to check exactly what fits your car
You do not need to memorise specs. Enter your registration on the home page and the checker reads your car's inlet type and maximum AC charge rate, then shows only the cables that fit. Because compatibility is computed from your actual car rather than a generic list, you will not be sold a Type 1 cable for a Type 2 car or a 22kW cable your car cannot use. Browse the results at Type 2 charging cables.
Quick tool: find the right lead length for your setup with our free EV charging cable length calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Are all EV charging cables the same?
No. Cables differ by connector (Type 1 or Type 2), power rating (7.4kW or 22kW) and length. The connector must match your car's inlet, the power is limited by your car's onboard charger, and the length just needs to reach from the socket to your car.
Can I use any Type 2 cable with any car?
If your car has a Type 2 inlet, almost any Type 2 to Type 2 cable will work, as long as the current rating and length suit you. A 32A cable covers 7.4kW single phase and 22kW three phase, so it is the safe default for most drivers.
What cable comes with a new EV?
Many new EVs now ship with only a 3-pin granny charger, or nothing at all. A Type 2 charging lead for home wallboxes and public points is usually bought separately, so check what is in the boot before you assume you are covered.
Is a 5m or 10m cable better?
5m suits most driveways and home wallboxes. Choose 7m or 10m only if you park on the street, share a charger, or the inlet is on the far side of the car. Longer cables cost more and are heavier to coil, so do not over-buy.
Do I need a different cable for public chargers?
Untethered AC charge points need you to bring your own Type 2 lead, the same one you use at home. Rapid DC chargers have their cable attached, so you plug straight in and need no cable of your own.
Can a cable be too powerful for my car?
There is no harm in it, but you pay for capacity you cannot use. A 22kW cable on a single-phase car still charges at 7.4kW, so unless your car takes three-phase AC there is no speed benefit to going above 7.4kW.
Match the connector, match the power, pick a sensible length, and you are done. Start by entering your reg, or read the connector and power guides next: Type 1 vs Type 2 and 7.4kW vs 22kW.
Written by
Gavin RogersCo-founder · drives a BMW iX2
Gavin runs a BMW iX2 and spends a lot of his time on the gap between a car's headline charging figure and what you actually get at home. A car quoting 11kW three-phase still charges at 7.4kW on a normal single-phase UK house, and that is exactly the kind of thing the site exists to make clear.
More from GavinKeep reading
More
charging guides.
Straight answers on connectors, charging speeds and what actually fits your car.
View all guides
Buying Guides
Public vs Home EV Charging: Cost and Convenience
Home charging is cheaper and more convenient for daily driving, while public charging is best kept for longer trips. Home off-peak: around 7 to 10p/kWh vs public rapid around 45 to 80p/kWh Home adds roughly 25 to 30 miles per hour; rapid DC is minutes not hours Rapid chargers are tethered; keep your own Type 2 lead for AC points
Buying Guides
Best TPMS Sensors for Electric Cars: Monitor Pressure When Parked
Tyre pressure is one of the biggest easy wins for EV range. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and reduce range by 1–3% per missing PSI. External TPMS sensors show real-time pressure on a dashboard display, including when the car is cold and parked — better than the built-in TPMS warning, which only alerts you when pressure is already critically low. Built-in TPMS warns at 25% below recommended pressure — too late for optimal range External sensors monitor continuously and alert at any deviation from your target Fits any valve stem in minutes, no coding required
How-to
Do Electric Cars Come with a Spare Tyre? (And What to Carry Instead)
Most electric cars are sold without a spare tyre. The space under the boot floor (where the spare would sit on a petrol car) is often used for the traction battery or additional storage, and the weight of a spare is avoided to improve range. Carry a tyre repair kit and inflator instead — they handle 80% of road punctures. Check your car: look in the boot floor well and the handbook — some EVs do include a space-saver spare A foam sealant kit (Holts Tyreweld) handles slow punctures and most nail/screw punctures A full repair kit (sealant + inflator) is the right kit for UK driving; some also work on the motorway
How-to
Charging Your EV in France: Everything You Need to Know
Charging in France works well on the motorway (IONITY and TotalEnergies are widespread) but requires planning for overnight stops. A portable EVSE with a Schuko plug charges from any French domestic socket. For campsites, you need a Type 2 to CEE 16A adapter. Bring the standard European driving kit — it is a legal requirement. Motorway rapid charging (IONITY, TotalEnergies, Allego): same Type 2 cable as the UK Overnight at a gite or Airbnb: portable EVSE with Schuko plug, charges at 1.8–3.5kW Campsite hookup: Type 2 to CEE 16A adapter, charges at 3.6kW from a blue caravan socket