Tesla Home Charging Cost Calculator: Cost per Charge, Mile and Month
Work out what it actually costs to charge your Tesla at home — per charge, per mile and per month — and the gas price at which a gas car would cost you the same. Defaults use the US average residential rate.
Why your electricity rate decides almost everything
Charging cost comes down to three numbers: how much energy your Tesla uses per mile, what you pay per kilowatt-hour, and how many miles you drive. The first barely changes between Teslas — every model sits between roughly 0.25 and 0.45 kWh per mile. The rate is what varies, and it varies enormously. Residential electricity runs from around 11 cents per kWh in the cheapest states to over 30 cents in California and higher still in Hawaii. The same Model Y can cost three times as much to run depending only on the address.
That is why a national average figure is close to useless for budgeting. Take the rate from your own electricity bill — look for the total bill divided by kWh used, not the headline supply rate, because delivery charges and fees are part of what each kWh really costs you.
How this calculator works
- Energy per mile comes from EPA-based estimates for each Tesla. Expect 10–30% more in cold weather, at sustained highway speed, or with roof loads.
- Charging loss of about 10% is added, because some energy is lost between the wall and the battery. Your meter always reads higher than the energy the car reports adding.
- A 10% → 100% charge is treated as a full charge, since that is how most people charge at home overnight.
- Time-of-use plans are handled by the off-peak rate and the share you charge off-peak. If you are on a flat rate, set the off-peak rate to the same value.
- The break-even gas price is the gas price at which your gas car, at the MPG you enter, would cost the same per mile as charging at home.
How to cut your home charging bill
- Ask your utility about an EV or time-of-use rate. Overnight rates are often 30–60% below the standard rate, and charging is the one large load you can shift entirely to off-peak hours.
- Set a scheduled departure or off-peak charging window in the car so it only draws power during cheap hours. This is the single highest-value setting on the screen.
- Charge to 80% for daily driving. It is easier on the pack, and the last 20% is the slowest and least efficient part of a charge.
- Keep Superchargers for road trips. They typically cost two to three times your home rate.
- If you have solar, charging midday against your own generation is usually cheaper than any utility rate, depending on your net-metering terms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla at home?
At the US average residential rate of about 17 cents per kWh, a 10% to 100% charge costs roughly $13 for a Model 3 Long Range or Model Y Long Range, which works out to about 5 cents a mile. In a cheap state it can be half that; in California it is often double.
Is charging at home cheaper than Supercharging?
Almost always, and usually by a lot. Superchargers commonly cost $0.36–$0.60 per kWh against a US average home rate near $0.17, so home charging typically costs a third to a half as much per mile.
How much does charging a Tesla add to my electricity bill?
Driving 1,000 miles a month in a Model Y Long Range uses roughly 310 kWh at the wall, which is about $53 at 17 cents per kWh. For many households that is a 20–30% increase in the monthly bill, and it replaces a larger gas expense.
Does charging to 100% cost more per kWh?
The rate is the same, but the last stretch of a charge is slightly less efficient, so a little more energy is lost as heat. The difference is small. Charging to 80% daily is recommended for battery longevity rather than for cost.
Do I need a Wall Connector to charge at home?
No. A standard 120V outlet adds about 3 miles of range an hour, which is enough for low-mileage drivers. A 240V outlet or Wall Connector adds 20–44 miles an hour and is what most owners end up installing.
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