How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla? (2026 Costs by Model)

Charging a Tesla at home costs about $10–$21 for a full charge at the US average electricity rate of roughly 17 cents per kWh — around 5 to 8 cents a mile depending on the model. Supercharging the same miles costs two to three times that. For most owners driving 1,000 miles a month, home charging works out to $45–$60 a month.

But the honest answer is that the national average tells you almost nothing about your own bill. The cost swings by a factor of four depending on where you live and when you charge. Here's how to work out your real number.

The three numbers that decide your cost

Everything comes down to these, and only one of them is about the car:

1. Energy per mile. Every Tesla sits between roughly 0.25 kWh per mile (Model 3 RWD) and 0.45 (Cybertruck). Even the extremes are only about 80% apart.
2. Your electricity rate. This runs from about 11 cents per kWh in the cheapest states to over 40 cents in Hawaii. That's a 4x spread — far bigger than any difference between models.
3. Where you charge. Superchargers typically cost two to three times a home rate.

So the model you drive is the least important factor. Your zip code and your charging habits decide your bill.

One thing most charging-cost articles leave out: about 10% of the energy you pay for never reaches the battery. It's lost as heat in the charger and the car's onboard electronics. Your meter always reads higher than the energy the car reports adding, and every figure below includes that loss.

What a full charge costs by model

A 10% to 100% charge, at the US average residential rate of about $0.17 per kWh:

Range figures are EPA-based. Expect 10–30% less in cold weather, at sustained highway speed, or with a roof box — which also means 10–30% more cost per mile.

Your electricity rate changes everything

The same Model Y Long Range, driving 1,000 miles a month, charged entirely at home:

Rates are approximate 2026 residential averages and they move every year. Use your own bill instead: take the total amount divided by the kWh used, not the headline supply rate, because delivery charges and fixed fees are part of what each kWh really costs you.

The last two rows matter more than they look. At 35 cents a kWh, charging a Model Y at home costs about 10.9 cents a mile — and a 28 MPG gas car at $3.10 a gallon costs 11.1 cents. In the most expensive electricity markets, home charging and gas are roughly a wash, and in Hawaii gas can be cheaper. That's the opposite of what most EV cost articles claim, and it's why the next section is worth reading before you assume you're saving money.

If that's your situation, a time-of-use rate is the fix rather than a reason to give up — see below.

Home vs Supercharger vs gas

Same Model Y Long Range, 1,000 miles a month:

The striking line is the Supercharger one. Supercharging exclusively costs about the same as driving a gas car, and at peak rates it costs more. Superchargers are a convenience for road trips, not a way to save money. The savings in EV ownership come almost entirely from charging at home.

If you're in California, where both electricity and Supercharging cost more than average, our California Supercharger cost guide has state-specific rates. For the full home-versus-gas comparison, including the break-even gas price for your own car, see home charging vs gas cost.

What it costs per month at your mileage

Model Y Long Range at the US average $0.17/kWh, charged at home:

For most households this is a 20–30% increase in the electricity bill, replacing a larger gas expense. If you're budgeting total running costs rather than just fuel, the Cost of Ownership Calculator adds insurance, maintenance, tires and depreciation on top.

What these numbers don't include

• The one-off cost of home charging equipment. A Wall Connector plus installation runs a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. See home charger installation cost.
• Idle fees at Superchargers, charged per minute if you stay plugged in after charging finishes at a busy station.
• Cold weather. Winter energy use rises 10–30%, partly from heating the cabin and battery, partly from reduced efficiency.
• Apartment and condo charging. If you can't charge at home, your real cost is closer to the Supercharger rows above, which changes the economics of owning a Tesla considerably.
• Battery degradation. Not a charging cost as such, but see how long a Tesla battery lasts if you're modelling long-term ownership.

How to pay less

1. Get on a time-of-use or EV electricity rate. Overnight rates are often 30–60% below the standard rate, and charging is the one large household load you can move entirely into cheap hours. This is the single biggest lever, and in expensive states it's what separates saving money from breaking even.
2. Set a scheduled charge in the car so it only draws power during those cheap hours. Controls → Charging → Scheduled Departure.
3. Charge to 80% daily. Better for the pack, and the last 20% is the slowest, least efficient part of a charge.
4. Keep Superchargers for road trips. At two to three times your home rate, routine Supercharging erases most of the savings.
5. Precondition while plugged in in winter, so cabin heating comes from the wall rather than the battery.
6. If you have solar, charging midday against your own generation usually beats any utility rate, depending on your net-metering terms.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to fully charge a Tesla?

Between about $10 and $21 at the US average rate of 17 cents per kWh, depending on pack size — roughly $10 for a Model 3 RWD or Model Y RWD, $13 for a Long Range, $16 for a Model S or X, and $21 for a Cybertruck.

Is it cheaper to charge a Tesla or buy gas?

Charging at home is almost always cheaper — typically 5 cents a mile against 11 cents for a 28 MPG gas car. Supercharging exclusively is roughly the same as gas, and at peak rates it is more expensive.

How much does charging a Tesla add to my electric bill?

About $53 a month for 1,000 miles in a Model Y Long Range at the US average rate. That's roughly 311 kWh, which for many households is a 20–30% increase in the monthly bill.

Why does the car say it added less energy than I paid for?

Around 10% of the energy is lost as heat between the wall and the battery. The meter measures what you drew; the car measures what reached the pack. This is normal and is included in the figures above.

Do Tesla Superchargers cost more than other public chargers?

They're usually competitive and often cheaper than other DC fast networks, partly because of reliability and partly because Tesla prices by the kWh in most states. Level 2 public chargers are cheaper per kWh but much slower.

Is Supercharging ever free?

Only for some older Model S and Model X cars bought with free unlimited Supercharging, or cars carrying promotional free miles. It doesn't transfer with most resales.

The bottom line

Budget about 5 cents a mile for home charging at an average US rate, or roughly $50 a month for typical driving. The model you choose barely moves that number; your electricity rate and whether you can charge at home move it enormously.

The two decisions that actually matter are getting onto an off-peak electricity rate and keeping Superchargers for road trips. Do both and you'll pay a third of what the same miles cost in gas. Do neither and you may be paying about the same as the car you replaced.