How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla? Home vs Supercharger

Charging a Tesla is a simple multiplication: the kilowatt-hours (kWh) the car pulls from the wall times the price you pay for each kWh. The hard part is knowing both numbers. This guide uses the official EPA efficiency ratings for every 2026 Tesla, the latest EIA electricity prices and a clear Supercharger assumption, so you can see what a charge really costs at home, on the road and from your own solar panels. For an exact figure for your car and your bill, plug your numbers into our Tesla charging calculator.

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla at home?

At the US average residential price of 18.2¢/kWh, home charging costs about $4.37 to $7.83 per 100 miles, and $14 to $25 to cover a Tesla’s full EPA-rated range. The Model 3 and Model Y sit at the low end; the Cybertruck at the high end.

Those figures come from two official sources:

• Efficiency: the EPA rates every electric vehicle in kWh per 100 miles on fueleconomy.gov. The EPA figure is measured at the wall, so it already includes charging losses.
• Price: the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that the average US residential electricity price was 18.16¢/kWh in August 2026 (Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A). This site rounds it to 18.2¢.

Multiply the two and you have cost per mile. A Tesla that uses 25 kWh per 100 miles costs 25 × $0.182 = $4.55 per 100 miles, or 4.6¢ per mile.

Tesla charging cost by model

The cheapest Tesla to charge is the 2026 Model 3 or Model Y Standard RWD at 24 kWh per 100 miles; the most expensive is the Cybertruck at 43 kWh per 100 miles. The table below uses EPA ratings for 2026 models, the 18.2¢/kWh US average for home charging, and an assumed Supercharger price of 45¢/kWh.

2026 Tesla (EPA trim)	EPA efficiency	EPA range	Home cost per 100 mi	Home cost, full range	Supercharger per 100 mi (45¢)	Supercharger, full range
Model 3 Standard RWD	24 kWh/100 mi	321 mi	$4.37	$14.02	$10.80	$34.67
Model 3 Premium RWD	25 kWh/100 mi	363 mi	$4.55	$16.52	$11.25	$40.84
Model Y Standard RWD (18 in)	24 kWh/100 mi	321 mi	$4.37	$14.02	$10.80	$34.67
Model Y Long Range AWD	27 kWh/100 mi	327 mi	$4.91	$16.07	$12.15	$39.73
Model S	27 kWh/100 mi	410 mi	$4.91	$20.15	$12.15	$49.82
Model X	32 kWh/100 mi	352 mi	$5.82	$20.50	$14.40	$50.69
Cybertruck AWD	43 kWh/100 mi	325 mi	$7.83	$25.43	$19.35	$62.89

Source: fueleconomy.gov (US DOE/EPA) 2026 ratings; EIA August 2026 price. “Full range” means the wall energy needed to drive the full EPA range (efficiency × range), not the battery’s nameplate size.

Why not use battery size? Tesla does not publish official usable battery capacities, and the energy you pay for is larger than what goes into the battery. Working from the EPA’s wall-to-wheels rating avoids both problems. Our calculator does accept a battery size, using approximate usable capacities (for example, about 78 kWh for a Model Y Long Range), so you can model a specific charge such as 10% to 90%.

How much does a Supercharger cost?

Tesla Supercharger prices in the US vary by station and often by time of day; this guide assumes 45¢/kWh, which makes Supercharging roughly 2.5 times the cost of average home charging. The exact rate for any station appears in the Tesla app and on the car’s navigation screen before you arrive.

A few things drive the Supercharger bill:

• Location. Stations in high-cost states and busy corridors tend to charge more than rural sites.
• Time of day. Many sites use peak and off-peak prices. Charging late at night is usually cheaper.
• Billing method. Most US sites bill per kWh delivered; the app shows how a given site bills.
• Idle fees. If your car stays plugged in after it finishes at a busy site, Tesla can add per-minute idle fees. Move the car promptly.
• Non-Tesla EVs. Many Superchargers are now open to other brands, a shift that followed Tesla’s decision to open its connector design in 2022; the app shows the price that applies to your car.

Public fast charging costs more than home power because the price has to cover the charger hardware, installation, grid demand charges and maintenance as well as the electricity. A national analysis by Borlaug et al. (2020) in Joule modeled this “levelized cost of charging” across the US and found that it varies widely by state, charger type and how heavily a station is used, with home charging generally the cheapest option.

Because Supercharger rates change frequently and Tesla does not publish a single national price list, treat 45¢/kWh as an assumption, not a quote. Change the “Supercharger price” field in the Tesla charging calculator to match the rate you see in the app.

Do you have to pay to charge a Tesla?

Usually, yes: home charging is billed through your electricity bill and Supercharging is a paid, per-kWh service for almost all owners. Free charging exists, but only at some workplaces, hotels and retailers, or for older cars that kept free Supercharging. Treat free charging as a bonus, not a plan.

• At home you pay your utility rate for every kWh, about $4.91 per 100 miles for a Model Y Long Range at the US average.
• At Superchargers you pay the per-kWh price shown in the Tesla app. Unlimited free Supercharging ended for Model S and Model X cars ordered after January 15, 2017 (CleanTechnica); some earlier cars and limited-time promotions still include it.
• At free public chargers (some stores, hotels, employers and municipal lots) the owner covers the electricity. Whether a given site is free changes over time, so check the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center station locator, which lists access and fee details, before relying on it. Most free sites are Level 2, adding roughly 25 miles of range per hour.

Home vs Supercharger vs free charging

Home Level 2 charging is the cheapest paid option, Supercharging is the fastest and most expensive, and free charging (at work, hotels or retailers) costs nothing but is rarely reliable enough to depend on. Most owners do 80% or more of their charging at home and use Superchargers on road trips.

Option	Typical price per kWh	Model Y LR cost per 100 mi	Speed	Best for
Home Level 1 (120 V)	Your rate (US avg 18.2¢)	$4.91	About 5 mi of range per hour (DOE)	Low daily mileage
Home Level 2 (240 V)	Your rate (US avg 18.2¢)	$4.91	About 25 mi of range per hour (DOE)	Daily charging
Home, off-peak TOU rate	Often well below average	Lower	Same as Level 2	Overnight charging
Rooftop solar	Already paid for	Lowest	Limited by sunlight	Daytime charging at home
Supercharger (assumed 45¢)	Varies by site and time	$12.15	Up to 100–200+ mi per 30 min for DC fast charging (DOE)	Road trips
Free public or workplace	$0	$0	Usually Level 2	Bonus top-ups

Speeds are from the US Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center and vary by car and state of charge. Engineering reviews of charger design, such as Yilmaz and Krein (2013), classify these same AC Level 1, AC Level 2 and DC fast power levels and explain why on-board AC chargers are limited in power while off-board DC chargers are not.

Level 1 charging loses a little more energy than Level 2, so the real cost per mile at 120 V can be a few percent higher. On the other hand, a Level 2 wall connector costs money to buy and install. If you drive under about 40 miles a day, the DOE’s estimate of 40 miles from an 8-hour Level 1 session may be all you need.

How do time-of-use rates change Tesla charging costs?

Time-of-use (TOU) rates charge different prices at different hours, and scheduling your Tesla to charge overnight in the off-peak window can cut the cost well below your average rate. Many utilities also offer EV-specific plans with a low overnight price.

A time-of-use rate is an electricity tariff in which the price per kWh depends on when you use the power. Peak hours (often late afternoon and evening) cost the most; overnight off-peak hours cost the least.

Teslas make TOU easy to use:

1. Open the Tesla app or the car’s charging screen.
2. Set Scheduled Charging or Scheduled Departure for the start of your utility’s off-peak window.
3. Set your charge limit.
4. Plug in when you get home. The car waits and charges when power is cheapest.
5. Check your utility bill after a month to confirm the charging landed in off-peak hours.

To see what your plan is worth, run the EV charging cost calculator twice: once with your peak price and once with your off-peak price. The difference times your monthly miles is your savings.

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla in your state?

State electricity prices make a bigger difference to Tesla charging costs than the choice of model: the same Model Y costs about $3.47 per 100 miles to charge in Louisiana and $12.74 in Hawaii. The table uses EIA’s August 2026 residential averages and the Model Y Long Range AWD rating of 27 kWh per 100 miles.

State	Residential price, Aug 2026 (EIA)	Model Y LR cost per 100 mi	Cost for 1,000 mi/month
Hawaii	47.18¢	$12.74	$127
Massachusetts	30.48¢	$8.23	$82
California	29.75¢	$8.03	$80
New York	28.65¢	$7.74	$77
Connecticut	24.51¢	$6.62	$66
US average	18.16¢	$4.90	$49
Texas	15.91¢	$4.30	$43
Florida	14.99¢	$4.05	$40
Washington	14.63¢	$3.95	$40
Idaho	13.37¢	$3.61	$36
North Dakota	13.31¢	$3.59	$36
Louisiana	12.87¢	$3.47	$35

State averages hide wide differences between utilities, and 2026 values are preliminary. The most accurate number is the one on your own bill: divide the total by the kWh used, or use our electricity cost calculator to check.

Even in Hawaii, charging at home compares well with gasoline. EIA reported a US average regular gasoline price of $4.284 per gallon for the week of October 19, 2026. A 28 mpg car at that price spends about $15.30 per 100 miles on fuel, more than three times the US-average cost of charging a Model Y.

Can you charge a Tesla with solar panels?

Yes: a Tesla plugged into a home with rooftop solar can run on the sun, and every kWh of solar it uses replaces a kWh you would otherwise buy at your retail rate. That makes your car part of a renewable energy system rather than just a cheaper fuel.

A photovoltaic (PV) panel converts sunlight into direct current, which an inverter turns into the alternating current your home and charger use. Our guide on how solar panels work explains the process in detail.

To size solar for a Tesla, work from miles:

1. Estimate monthly miles (say 1,000).
2. Multiply by the EPA rating: 1,000 × 27 kWh/100 mi = 270 kWh per month for a Model Y Long Range AWD.
3. Add that to your home’s monthly use.
4. Enter the total in our solar panel calculator, which estimates panels and production for your location.

At 18.2¢/kWh, 270 kWh a month is about $49 of grid electricity, or roughly $590 a year, that solar could offset.

Solar charging also improves the climate case for an EV. Your car’s emissions depend on how your grid electricity is generated; solar, wind and other forms of clean energy cut that to near zero for the miles they cover. See our solar energy guide for costs and output.

What else affects Tesla charging cost?

Weather, driving speed, wheel size, charging losses and battery health all change how many kWh you use per mile, and so what you pay. The EPA rating is a standardized estimate, not a guarantee.

• Cold weather. Heating the cabin and battery uses extra energy. Preconditioning while plugged in uses grid power instead of battery range.
• Highway speed. Aerodynamic drag rises steeply with speed, so 75 mph uses noticeably more energy per mile than 60 mph.
• Wheels and trim. EPA ratings show the effect: the 2026 Model Y Standard RWD is rated at 24 kWh/100 mi on 18-inch wheels and 26 kWh/100 mi on 19-inch wheels.
• Charging losses. Some energy becomes heat in the charger and battery. Our calculator assumes 90% efficiency by default; Level 1 can be lower.
• Charge limit. Charging to 80% or 90% for daily driving does not change cost per mile, but it changes how much each session costs.

History of Tesla charging

Tesla went from a single plug-in sports car in 2008 to running one of the largest fast-charging networks in North America, and its connector is now the basis of the SAE J3400 standard. The pricing model changed along the way, from free Supercharging to today’s per-kWh rates.

The first Tesla, the Roadster, reached its first owner in February 2008 and charged mainly at home. Long trips only became practical when Tesla unveiled the Supercharger network on September 24, 2012, opening six solar-canopied stations in California and promising that the Model S would fill up for free. For several years, Supercharging was included with the car. Tesla ended unlimited free access for Model S and Model X cars ordered after January 15, 2017, replacing it with an annual credit of 400 kWh and a fee beyond it (CleanTechnica, 2017); some later promotions temporarily brought free charging back.

The bigger change came on November 11, 2022, when Tesla published its connector design and named it the North American Charging Standard (NACS), inviting other automakers and network operators to adopt it. SAE International then released a Technical Information Report for SAE J3400 in December 2023, turning the Tesla plug into an industry standard. The US DOE’s Joint Office describes the J3400 connector as the plug many automakers are moving to, which is why non-Tesla EVs increasingly charge at Superchargers.

Year	Milestone	Source
2008	First production Tesla Roadster delivered (February)	Wikipedia
2012	Supercharger network unveiled with six California stations (September 24)	Engadget
2017	Free unlimited Supercharging ends for Model S/X ordered after January 15; 400 kWh annual credit introduced	Charged EVs
2022	Tesla opens its connector design as NACS (November 11)	Tesla
2023	SAE issues J3400 “NACS Electric Vehicle Coupler” (December)	SAE

For owners, the history explains today’s bill: Supercharging is a paid, per-kWh service with prices set site by site, while home charging at your utility rate remains the cheapest way to fuel a Tesla.

Is there a tax credit for charging or buying a Tesla?

For most buyers, no federal credit remains: the §30D new clean vehicle credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The used EV credit (§25E) ended on the same date (Plante Moran, 2025).

Some state governments and electric utilities still offer rebates for EVs, home chargers or EV-friendly rates. These programs change often, so check your state energy office and your utility’s website rather than relying on any third-party list.

Scientific references

These peer-reviewed papers and standards underpin the cost and charging-level figures on this page:

1. Borlaug, B., Salisbury, S., Gerdes, M., & Muratori, M. (2020). “Levelized Cost of Charging Electric Vehicles in the United States.” Joule, 4(7), 1470–1485. doi:10.1016/j.joule.2020.05.013
2. Muratori, M., Alexander, M., Arent, D., Bazilian, M., Cazzola, P., Dede, E. M., et al. (2021). “The rise of electric vehicles: 2020 status and future expectations.” Progress in Energy, 3(2), 022002. doi:10.1088/2516-1083/abe0ad
3. Yilmaz, M., & Krein, P. T. (2013). “Review of Battery Charger Topologies, Charging Power Levels, and Infrastructure for Plug-In Electric and Hybrid Vehicles.” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 28(5), 2151–2169. doi:10.1109/TPEL.2012.2212917
4. SAE International (2023). SAE J3400: NACS Electric Vehicle Coupler (J3400_202312, Technical Information Report). SAE Mobilus

Muratori et al. (2021) review how charging infrastructure, battery costs and policy shaped EV adoption, useful background for anyone comparing a Tesla with other EVs.

Bottom line

At the US average of 18.2¢/kWh, a Tesla costs about 4.4¢ to 7.8¢ per mile to charge at home, or $14 to $25 to cover its full EPA range. Superchargers cost roughly two and a half times as much at an assumed 45¢/kWh, and your state’s electricity price matters more than which Tesla you drive. Charge overnight on a time-of-use plan, or from rooftop solar, to push the cost lower still and make your driving part of a clean, renewable power system. Use the Tesla charging calculator with your own rate, then compare with other EVs in our guide to the cost to charge an electric car, or brush up on units in what is a kilowatt-hour.