If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle—one from Tesla, perhaps—one of the biggest questions on your mind is likely how much a Tesla costs to charge.
You know what you’re getting when you pay for a fill-up at a gas car, and you can’t miss the price signs on nearly every corner. An EV works a little differently, with several different options when charging.
You can charge it at home if you set up your charging equipment. Prices vary by location, vehicle, and time; some stations are free, others require payment, like Superchargers.
Here, as we shall review in this article, charges for a Tsla differ under different circumstances.
Factors that will determine the price to be charged for a Tesla include:
The cost of charging depends on quite a few variables. We’ll run through each of the major ones below.
Where you charge
The biggest factor impacting your cost could be where you charge your Tesla. Electricity costs vary significantly from state to state. For instance, the average person in Massachusetts is going to pay $0.28 per kWh—kilowatt hour—more than double the roughly $0.11 per kWh a resident of Louisiana would pay.
This may vary under the place you are charging it from. Charging at home overnight is cheaper than on the road; some supermarkets and shopping centers offer free charging while you shop.
Which Tesla do you own
Not surprisingly, the type of car you drive will also impact how much it costs to charge, depending on the size of the vehicle, the range, the battery size, and the efficiency.
Currently has five different models on the market: Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck.
Tesla’s chart shows charging costs for 100 miles and gas savings based on $0.16/kWh.
| Model | Cost to drive 100 miles | Gas savings |
| Model S | $4.48 | $12.48 |
| Model 3 | $4.08 | $9.84 |
| Model X | $5.31 | $12.42 |
| Model Y | $4.48 | $11.12 |
| Cybertruck | $8.00 | N/A |
Which charging station do you use?
Costs can vary significantly depending on what charging station you use. As noted above, there are free charging stations that some businesses make available to customers.
The cost to charge at a Tesla charging station is typically about $0.25/kWh, meaning a full recharge to 250 miles would cost about $22.
At other stations, charging costs can range up to $0.50/kWh.
When you charge
When you charge also has an impact on the costs, as electricity costs tend to fall at night.
Nighttime charging costs vary by utility; check if yours offers lower rates.
Price of charging at home
If you’re considering buying a Tesla, there’s more involved in the cost of charging at home than just the electricity — you should also consider the cost of purchasing and installing your charging connection.
There are several options for charging at home. Tesla recommends installing a wall connector, which will add up to 44 miles of range per hour and cost $450. A universal wall charger that will work with any EV will cost $620.
Use a $245 adapter for 30 miles/hour with a 240V outlet or a mobile connector for 2-3 miles/hour with a 120V outlet.
Installing a connection will cost an estimated $750 to $1,500, depending on the market, the residence, and the electrician, meaning that you could be paying as much as $2,000 for the charging infrastructure before you even charge your Tesla.
The chart below shows the estimated cost of charging a Tesla at home based on driving an average of 40 miles per day, which is about the national average.
| Model | Annual cost |
| Model S | $653.76 |
| Model 3 | $599.04 |
| Model X | $777.96 |
| Model Y | $653.76 |
Price of charging a Tesla at a supercharger
If you’re out on a road trip, you’re going to need a way to charge away from home. Your best option is the supercharger, Tesla’s network of fast chargers. Tesla’s superchargers aren’t just the fastest way for Tesla owners to charge their vehicles away from home; they’re also the cheapest.
Supercharging costs around $0.25/kWh, 50% more than home charging, or $22 for 250 miles, still cheaper than gas.
Unless you’re frequently on the road for work or some other reason, you’ll likely do most of your charging at home.
Price of charging at other networks
Charging your car outside of the supercharger network is also an option, including networks like Chargepoint and Electrify America.
Charging at Electrify America varies, depending on the state, and it is cheaper with a membership. Without a membership, fully charging a Model 3 will cost an estimated $21.50 for a full charge or $15.50 for a membership. Charging with a supercharger would be approximately 19% cheaper at $12.50.
The chart below shows how much it costs to charge different Tesla vehicles at a ChargePoint station. Keep in mind that most Chargepoint charging is free.
| Model | Average charging time | Average cost per session |
| Model 3 | 2 hours 47 minutes | $1.02 |
| Model S | 3 hours 14 minutes | $0.97 |
| Model X | 3 hours 20 minutes | $1.16 |
Charging a Tesla vs. fueling a gas vehicle
No matter how you charge your Tesla, whether it’s at home, on a supercharger network, or another charging network, paying for a charge is going to cost less than the equivalent amount of gas.
Once you pay the estimated $1,200 to $2,000 to set up a charging connection at home, you’ll make up the difference fairly quickly — in about a year.
The chart below shows the cost to charge a Tesla 40 miles a day and the estimated gas savings.
| Model | Charging costs | Estimated gas savings |
| Model S | $54.48 | $151.96 |
| Model 3 | $49.92 | $119.66 |
| Model X | $64.83 | $151 |
| Model Y | $54.48 | $135.44 |
Should you buy a Tesla?
The kind of car you buy is a personal choice, and you’ll want to consider what suits your needs beyond just charging costs.
However, if you’re wondering if you’ll save money on gas by owning a Tesla, the answer is very likely yes. If you drive about 14,000 miles a year, the national average, you’ll save close to $2,000 a year on fueling.
Upfront charging costs are quickly recouped, saving you money compared to gasoline.
From a fueling perspective, the ideal use case for a Tesla, or another EV, is as a commuter car so you can charge it every night at home. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about finding a charger or waiting while your car charges.
Tesla Charging Costs: FAQ
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla at a charging station?
At some, you’ll pay nothing; at others, you’ll pay a dollar if you’re using a ChargePoint charging station, and at others, you’ll pay $0.50/kWh—higher for electricity, but less than you’d pay for gas in an equivalent quantity.
Is charging a Tesla cheaper than gas?
Yes, charging a Tesla is almost always cheaper than gas. If you’re charging at home, charging your Tesla will cost about a quarter of what it would for the equivalent amount of gas.
Can I charge my Tesla for free?
There are some stations in the parking lots of supermarkets and shopping centers that offer free EV charging while you shop.
How many miles is a full charge for a Tesla?
The range varies depending on the Tesla model. At the low end, the Tesla Model 3 RWD has a range of 272 miles, while the Model S gets a range of 402 miles, according to estimates.
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