Purpose:　This　paper　aims　to　optimize　the　charging　schedule　for　battery　electric　buses　(BEBs)　to　minimize　the　charging　cost　considering　the　time-of-use　electricity　price.　Design/methodology/approach:　The　BEBs　charging　schedule　optimization　problem　is　formulated　as　a　mixed-integer　linear　programming　model.　The　objective　is　to　minimize　the　total　charging　cost　of　the　BEB　fleet.　The　charge　decision　of　each　BEB　at　the　end　of　each　trip　is　to　be　determined.　Two　types　of　constraints　are　adopted　to　ensure　that　the　charging　schedule　meets　the　operational　requirements　of　the　BEB　fleet　and　that　the　number　of　charging　piles　can　meet　the　demand　of　the　charging　schedule.　Findings:　This　paper　conducts　numerical　cases　to　validate　the　effect　of　the　proposed　model　based　on　the　actual　timetable　and　charging　data　of　a　bus　line.　The　results　show　that　the　total　charge　cost　with　the　optimized　charging　schedule　is　15.56%　lower　than　the　actual　total　charge　cost　under　given　conditions.　The　results　also　suggest　that　increasing　the　number　of　charging　piles　can　reduce　the　charging　cost　to　some　extent,　which　can　provide　a　reference　for　planning　the　number　of　charging　piles.　Originality/value:　Considering　time-of-use　electricity　price　in　the　BEBs　charging　schedule　will　not　only　reduce　the　operation　cost　of　electric　transit　but　also　make　the　best　use　of　electricity　resources.　©　2022,　Jia　He,　Na　Yan,　Jian　Zhang,　Yang　Yu　and　Tao　Wang.