EV Charger Location: Where to Put One at Home and How to Find Public Ones

The best home EV charger location is the spot closest to your car’s charging port that also sits near your consumer unit, keeps the cable off walkways and out of the path of a reversing bumper. Mounted at a comfortable reach height, it is usually somewhere between roughly 0.5 m and 1.5 m off the ground. If you mean public chargers instead, use a live map such as Zapmap, which covers most of the UK network. Both are covered below, with the local detail for Dorset, Hampshire and Devon.

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TL;DR

Choose the position from the parked car back to your electrics, not from the nearest empty bit of wall.
Typical manufacturer and regulation guidance puts a home unit between about 0.5 m and 1.5 m high. Public accessible chargers follow tighter figures.
Keep the lead clear of paths, gates and doors, and protect the unit from parking mistakes.
Have a qualified electrician assess the site before the unit is fixed.
To find public chargers, use Zapmap or your council’s guidance, and check live availability before you set off.

Start with the car, not the wall
Cable length, tethered or untethered
What mounting height should an EV charger be?
Protecting the unit and the people around it
Wi-Fi, smart features and your electrics
Perspective: how we choose a charger location
Finding the right spot in Dorset, Hampshire and Devon
How to find public EV chargers near you
Charging at home versus public charging
Need a charger fitted in Dorset, Hampshire or Devon?
FAQ
Sources

Start with the car, not the wall

Most people look at their house and ask where a charger would fit. Work the other way round. Park the car where it normally sits, note where the charging port is, then trace the shortest safe route back to your electricity supply.

Energy Stack makes the same point: a good position is chosen from the parked vehicle back to the supply, and the lead should reach the inlet without stretching, crossing a pedestrian route or being driven over.

The charging port may be at the front, the rear or either side, and the Energy Networks Association advises thinking about cable length and making sure it will reach the port wherever it is on the car. If you may change cars in a few years, or a second EV may join the household, think about that now. A position that suits a rear-side port on one car can be awkward on another.

Questions to ask on your driveway

Where is the port on your car, and on any car you might buy next?
Do you park nose-in, or reverse in?
How far is the consumer unit, and what is between it and your chosen spot?
Will the lead cross a path, a gate swing or a pushchair route?
Is there a Wi-Fi signal where the unit will sit?

Cable length, tethered or untethered

Whether the charger has a fixed cable (tethered) or a socket for your own lead (untethered) changes the best location. The RAC notes that a tethered cable may look like a coiled garden hose on the front of your house, so some owners prefer to hide the unit or choose an untethered one and keep the lead in the boot.

With a tethered unit, the cable length decides how far from the car the unit can be. With an untethered unit you have more freedom, but you will be lifting a lead in and out of the car each time. Either way, the lead should hang or coil without creating a trip hazard.

What mounting height should an EV charger be?

There is no single legal height for a domestic charger, which is why answers vary. These are the figures you will meet:

Source	Guidance	Applies to
SyncEV installation guide	600 mm to 1.4 m, noting BS 8300:2018 recommends 500 mm to 1500 mm	That manufacturer’s unit
Fast Amps installation guide	0.9 m to 1.5 m from the ground, on a flat brick, concrete or masonry wall, ideally out of direct sunlight	That manufacturer’s unit
BSI PAS 1889	Socket-outlet centreline or holstered connector handle 800 mm to 950 mm; screen bottom at 800 mm, top at 1300 mm	Accessible public chargepoints

For a home install, the manufacturer’s own installation guide is the starting point, because the unit is certified to be fitted that way. In practice many installers sit the unit at a comfortable chest-to-waist height, which falls inside all the ranges above.

Why accessibility figures matter at home too

PAS 1889 explains that its heights came from user testing with wheelchair users and ambulant users. Seated users may prefer the lower end of the range, and ambulant users the higher end, because of the force needed to lift a connector from its holster. Energy Stack adds that guidance should be applied to the actual site, not reduced to one universal mounting height.

The disability charity RiDC advises that the height of the unit and any controls or plugs should allow easy reach, and that the space around it should allow safe access with or without mobility aids. If anyone in your household has reaching, strength or dexterity difficulties, say so before the installer marks the wall. RiDC also stresses that the charger should suit you, not the installer, and that you should be present during installation to discuss current and future needs.

The isolator and other switches

Some installs include a double pole isolator or a suitably rated 2 pole RCBO inside the property. The SyncEV guide says the isolator is mandatory for new builds but optional for existing dwellings, and that the switch should be mounted between 500 mm and 1500 mm above finished floor level. Your installer will specify what your particular unit and property need.

Protecting the unit and the people around it

A charger in the wrong place gets hit, or gets in the way. Energy Stack advises against mounting it where a small parking error can crush it, and says a recess, return wall, kerb or suitable impact protection may be needed where vehicles manoeuvre close by.

Before you agree a spot, check these:

The unit and controls can be reached and used comfortably.
The lead can be lifted and returned to its holder without effort.
Doors, gates and garage doors can still open.
Pedestrians, wheelchairs and pushchairs have a clear route.
The bumper cannot reach the unit if you misjudge the parking.

That list follows Energy Stack’s pre-install checks. A walk-through with the installer, car parked in place, settles most of these in ten minutes.

Wi-Fi, smart features and your electrics

Most modern chargers use a connection for scheduling, remote control and off-peak tariffs. The RAC points out that mounting the unit at the furthest corner from your router may not be ideal for accessing those smart tools. A garage at the end of a long garden may need a Wi-Fi extender or a wired connection, so raise it early.

The location also affects the electrical side. The ENA says domestic charge points range between 3 and 7 kW, giving roughly 10 to 25 miles of range per hour, and recommends that a qualified installer assesses the suitability of your location, the cable to your car and the options for adding a charge point to your supply. A long cable run from a distant consumer unit adds cost and can change which spot is sensible.

The installer should also check the protection arrangement. The SyncEV guide warns that a DC leakage fault in the vehicle may blind a Type AC RCD, and says no EVSE should be fed from an upstream Type AC RCD. It recommends a 40 A B Type MCB at source with the unit’s built-in Type A RCD with 6 mA DC protection. This is a job for a qualified electrician, not something to improvise. RiDC advises using an authorised installer: a qualified electrician trained and experienced in installing EVSE in line with the IET Code of Practice.

If you have solar panels, or plan to add them, location can also make pairing easier. Our guide on pairing an EV charger with solar in Hampshire covers that. If your supply is limited, see how EV charger load balancing can help avoid expensive upgrades.

Perspective: how we choose a charger location

We have fitted chargers on terraced fronts in Poole, on gravel drives in the New Forest and on garage walls in Devon, and the best position is rarely the first one a homeowner suggests.

Our approach is to ask you to park the car where it normally sits, then look at the port, the route of the lead and the distance to your consumer unit. A few metres can change the cable run, the visibility of the unit from the road and how often the lead gets in your way.

We would rather spend ten minutes on site agreeing the spot with you than fix a unit that you regret every morning. As MCS and NICEIC registered electrical contractors, we also check the electrical side at the same visit, so the location, supply and protection are decided together. If you have solar or a battery, or plan to, we think about those at the same time so the whole system works as one.

Simon

Finding the right spot in Dorset, Hampshire and Devon

Local conditions affect the choice more than people expect.

Coastal homes in Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth or Torbay face salt air. A sheltered position, out of direct sun and driving rain where possible, is a sensible starting point. Fast Amps, for one, recommends keeping the unit out of direct sunlight.
Older properties with solid stone or brick walls give a solid fixing, but cable routes through thick walls need planning.
On-street parking is common in terraced streets. A charger only helps if you can park in front of it, and a lead across a pavement raises trip-hazard and permission questions that need to be settled with your local council before anything is installed.
Rural homes often have a long run between the meter and the parking area. Think about which outbuilding or wall is truly best.

If you are also looking at the wider system, our article on how solar planning works shows how panel, battery and charger positions fit together.

How to find public EV chargers near you

If your search was about public charger locations, the quickest route is a live map.

Dorset Council advises drivers to use Zapmap to find any type of chargepoint, and to use the Mer app to find chargepoints in Dorset Council car parks. It also notes a growing network of community-based chargepoints.

Zapmap describes itself as a UK-wide map with search and filters, a smart route planner and payment across more than 50 charging networks. DriveElectric says that well over 100,000 public charge points are now available in the UK, with speeds from slow to ultra-rapid up to 350 kW, in places such as supermarkets, service stations and community schemes like kerbside and lamp-post charging.

Finding chargers along a route

For longer trips, Zapmap’s route planner offers three modes: Autoroute, Suggest chargers and Show all chargers. You can set a start and destination, customise networks and payment methods, add stops, avoid motorways or tolls, and set charge levels. The ENA notes that public stations tend to sit in urban areas, motorway services, shopping centres and other busy places, and that apps help you plan routes.

On the motorway network, GRIDSERVE says its chargers are at more than 80% of UK motorway service stations, with a mix of rapid and ultra-rapid units.

Checking availability and cost before you go

Zapmap says that over 80% of charge points show a colour-coded live status icon: in use, out of order or available. Checking before you set off saves wasted detours.

On payment, DriveElectric explains that most modern chargers accept contactless cards, though some networks offer better rates through their own app or an RFID card, so it is worth signing up to networks you use regularly.

Are Tesco chargers still free?

No longer. One charging guide reports that free charging at Tesco stores ended on 1 November 2022, with per-kWh pricing since. Prices change, so check the app of the network running the unit before you plug in.

Charging at home versus public charging

Public charging is useful for trips and for drivers without a driveway. For daily use, a home charger on a sensible location is simpler: the car is full each morning, and you can schedule charging for off-peak hours. If you have a battery or a time-of-use tariff, our guide to when off-peak battery charging pays is a good next read. Once installed, a charger needs looking after too, and we cover what to check and how often.

Need a charger fitted in Dorset, Hampshire or Devon?

We install home and business EV chargers across Dorset, Hampshire and Devon. We visit, look at where you park, agree a position with you and handle the electrical work. Our team highlights MCS and NICEIC accreditation, personalised advice and quick quoting. See our EV charger installation service for details.

If you already have solar or a battery, we also offer a Solar & Battery Service & Maintenance Plan at £175 per year.

FAQ

What is the best height to mount a home EV charger?

Follow the manufacturer’s installation guide, since the unit is certified for it. Published guides give ranges such as 600 mm to 1.4 m or 0.9 m to 1.5 m, and BS 8300:2018 recommends 500 mm to 1500 mm. If anyone using the charger has mobility needs, your installer should adjust within those ranges.

Where should an EV charger be placed?

Place it where the lead reaches your car’s port without stretching, close to your consumer unit, away from walkways and where a parking slip cannot hit it. Check Wi-Fi coverage if you want smart features. A qualified installer should confirm the site before fitting.

How do I find EV chargers on my route?

Use a route planner such as Zapmap’s, set your start, destination and preferred networks, and choose a mode that suggests chargers or shows all of them. Check the live availability icon before you arrive.

Are Tesco EV chargers still free?

No. Free charging at Tesco stores reportedly ended on 1 November 2022, and the chargers now carry per-kWh prices. Check the network’s app for the current rate.