Free cable tool
Cable length calculator
Not sure how long a charging cable to buy? Answer a few questions, or pop in a measurement, and we will recommend a length that reaches with a little slack to spare.
A quick estimate from how your car and charge point sit. Measuring the run is always more reliable, so switch to if you can.
Buy the shortest length that reaches comfortably. Longer cables cost more and are heavier to coil. A tethered wallbox has its own fixed lead, so this is for untethered home and public charging.
How this calculator works
The right cable is the shortest one that reaches comfortably. Too short and it will not stretch to the car's socket, or it sits under strain at the plug. Too long and you have paid more for a cable that is heavier to coil and leaves a loop on the ground. This tool aims for the sweet spot.
In guided mode we estimate the run from three things: how far the charge point is from where the car sits, how you park, and where the charging port is on the car. We add the distance from the charge point to the near end of the car, then the reach along or around the car to the port. In measure mode you give the real distance the cable will run. Either way we add about 1.5m of slack and round up to the nearest length we stock.
Why a little slack matters
A cable pulled tight puts load on the connector every time the car moves on its suspension or you open a door near the lead. Slack lets the cable sit in a relaxed curve, coil tidily when not in use, and route round an obstacle such as a gatepost or a second car rather than in a dead straight line. It is the difference between a cable that lasts and one that frays at the plug.
Lengths we stock
Cables come in fixed lengths, so the calculator rounds your run up to the next one. Here is the full range and the sort of setup each suits.
| Length | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 5m | Car parked right by a home wallbox, socket on the near side. |
| 7.5m | Standard driveway, or the car's socket on the far side. |
| 10m | Across a double drive, round a car, or most public charge points. |
| 15m | Longer driveway, detached garage, or awkward parking. |
| 20m to 50m | Long runs, shared parking, and commercial or fleet setups. |
Why not just buy the longest?
A 25m cable will of course reach where a 10m one does, but a thick Type 2 cable is heavy. The extra length is more to lift, more to coil, more to store in the boot, and more to pay for. Longer runs can also be a trip hazard if the spare is left loose. Size it to the job and keep a single, tidy cable.
Home charging vs public charging
At home you often control where the car sits, so you can size tightly. At public posts you cannot, and the bay layout decides how far the socket is from the charger, which is why many drivers keep a 7.5m or 10m cable for public use even if a shorter one does the job on the drive. If you do both, size for the longer of the two.
Remember this is for untethered charging, where you supply the cable. A tethered wallbox has its own attached lead, so you only need a portable cable for public charging. Not sure which you have? Tethered vs untethered chargers explains it.
Common questions
- What length EV charging cable do most people need?
- 5m suits a car parked right next to a home wallbox, and it is the shortest we sell. 7.5m or 10m is the safe choice for a typical driveway, where the charge point is across a drive or the car's socket is on the far side. Public charging posts often need 7.5m or more because you cannot choose where the car sits relative to the socket.
- Should I buy a longer cable just in case?
- Usually no. A longer cable costs more, is heavier to coil and store, and the spare length just sits on the ground. Buy the shortest cable that reaches comfortably with a little slack. If you charge in more than one place, size for the longest run you actually use.
- How much slack should I allow?
- About 1.5m on top of the straight-line distance. That covers routing round the car rather than across it, a tidy coil, and enough give that the cable is not pulled tight at the plug, which protects the connector.
- Does the cable length affect charging speed?
- Not for the lengths sold for home and public AC charging. Our cables are sized so there is no meaningful power loss across them. Charging speed is set by your car's onboard charger and the supply, not the cable length.
- Do I need a cable at all if my charger is tethered?
- No. A tethered wallbox comes with its own fixed lead, so this calculator is for untethered (socketed) home chargers and for public charge points, where you bring your own Type 2 cable.
- How do I measure the run properly?
- Measure the route the cable will actually take from the charge point to where the car's charging socket sits when parked, going round the car rather than straight through it. If you are not sure which way you will park, measure the longer option.
Keep reading
Default rates and assumptions as of October 2026. These are typical figures to get you started, not quotes. Every value is editable, so change them to your own tariff, car and driving for a result that fits you.