32 amp or 40 amp charger: which should you buy?

A 32 A charger delivers 7.7 kW and a 40 A charger 9.6 kW, a quarter more. Both can plug into the same NEMA 14-50 outlet, and many chargers can be set to either. So the choice is rarely about the box on the wall. It comes down to what your car accepts and what breaker the circuit has.

What 40 A adds over 32 A, by model

These are the 77 versions that accept more than 32 A, biggest gain first. For the one in the middle, 40 A is worth 6 more miles of range per hour.

Miles of range added per hour, for the newest model year of each. A range covers that model's trims. Most of these cars accept 48 A as well. The 40 A or 48 A guide shows what that step adds.

Cars that gain nothing from 40 A

Each of these takes no more than a 32 A charger can supply, so a 40 A unit charges them at exactly the same speed.

• Honda Clarity EV: 6.6 kW
• Hyundai Ioniq Electric: 7.2 kW
• Kia Soul EV: 7.2 kW
• MINI Cooper SE: 7.4 kW
• Mazda MX-30: 6.6 kW
• Nissan Ariya: 7.2 kW
• Nissan Leaf: 7.2 kW
• Tesla Model 3 RWD (Standard Range): 7.7 kW
• Volkswagen e-Golf: 7.2 kW

The breaker decides more than the charger does

• 32 A needs a 40 A breaker. 40 A needs a 50 A breaker. A charger may draw only 80% of its breaker's rating, because it runs for hours at a time.
• The same outlet can be on either. A NEMA 14-50 is allowed on a 40 A or a 50 A circuit. An outlet on a 40 A breaker holds you to 32 A whatever the charger's box says, so read the number on the breaker handle before you buy.
• Going up is not always a breaker swap. Cable sized for a 40 A circuit is usually too small for 50 A. Moving an existing circuit from 32 A to 40 A charging can mean new cable, which costs far more than the difference between the chargers.
• The cord that came with the car may be 32 A already. Several makers' portable cords top out there. If yours does and the car is full every morning, there is nothing to fix.

When 32 A is the right choice

A 32 A charger adds about 22 miles of range per hour to the typical current EV, or about 210 miles in 10 hours. That covers nearly everyone's day several times over.

So stay at 32 A when the circuit is already there on a 40 A breaker, when the panel is short of capacity, or when your car is on the list above. If the panel is the limit, charging on a 100 A panel covers the options.

When 40 A is worth it

Choose 40 A when a new circuit is going in anyway, since the labor for a 50 A circuit is about the same as for 40 A. The larger the battery and the shorter the time the car spends at home, the more the extra quarter matters.

If the electrician is coming regardless and your car accepts 48 A, price a hardwired 48 A install at the same time. It is one more step up for the same visit.

Chargers

Each of these plugs into a NEMA 14-50 outlet. On a 40 A breaker, set the charger to 32 A.

40 A plug-in chargers

Common questions

Can I use a 40 amp charger on a 40 amp breaker?

Not at 40 A. Charging is a continuous load and may use only 80% of the breaker's rating, so on a 40 A breaker the charger has to be set to 32 A. Many 40 A units have a setting for exactly this.

How much faster is a 40 amp charger than a 32 amp?

It delivers a quarter more power: 9.6 kW against 7.7 kW. On the cars that can take it, that is 3 to 8 more miles of range per hour.

Is 32 amps enough to charge an EV overnight?

For nearly every car, yes. A 32 A charger adds about 22 miles of range per hour to the typical EV, which is about 210 miles in 10 hours.

Which EVs gain nothing from a 40 amp charger?

The Honda Clarity EV, Hyundai Ioniq Electric, Kia Soul EV, MINI Cooper SE, Mazda MX-30, Nissan Ariya, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model 3 RWD (Standard Range) and Volkswagen e-Golf. Each takes no more than a 32 A charger can supply.

More guides

Figures are calculated from EPA data and manufacturer specifications for the newest model year of each of the 80 models on this site, and agree with the full chart. "Typical EV" is the median of the 72 versions from model years 2026 and 2027. Code references are to the National Electrical Code. Local rules differ, so have a licensed electrician confirm anything here before work starts. Updated October 7, 2026.