Home charging equipment
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Charging / Cost
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model 3?
There is no universal Model 3 charging price. The correct answer depends on energy purchased, electricity rate, charging location, time-of-use period, and provider fees.
Want the answer without doing the formulas? Choose your EV, electricity prices, season and annual distance in the new calculator.
Calculate my EV costs3-minute charging-cost guide
Calculate a session, 100 miles, or a monthly budget
Watch the worked examples, then use the formulas below with your own electricity rate, delivered energy, and fees.
Quick charging-cost formula
Session cost = energy drawn from the charger (kWh) × price per kWh + session fees.
Example: a home session draws 40 kWh at an all-in rate of $0.20/kWh.
40 kWh × $0.20 = $8.00.
Use the charger, utility meter, or provider receipt when available. Energy stored in the battery can be lower than energy purchased because charging, thermal management, and vehicle systems consume energy.
Estimate a partial charge
If you know usable capacity and percentage added, first estimate battery energy:
Battery energy added = usable capacity × percentage added.
Illustration: a 60 kWh usable capacity charged from 20% to 80% receives about 36 kWh:
60 kWh × 0.60 = 36 kWh.
The wall normally supplies more. If you assume 90% overall efficiency for planning—not as a fixed Tesla specification—purchased energy is roughly:
36 kWh ÷ 0.90 = 40 kWh.
At $0.20/kWh, that example costs $8.00. Replace estimates with measured delivered energy for an accurate bill.
Cost per mile or kilometer
Cost per mile = kWh per mile × price per kWh.
If the car averages 0.27 kWh/mile and electricity costs $0.20/kWh:
0.27 × $0.20 = $0.054 per mile, or about $5.40 per 100 miles, before charging losses.
For metric units, multiply kWh/100 km by price per kWh to get energy cost per 100 km.
Monthly charging budget
Monthly cost = monthly distance ÷ efficiency × electricity rate.
Example: 1,000 miles at 3.7 miles/kWh requires about 270 kWh at the battery. At $0.20/kWh, that is about $54 before losses. If measured wall energy is 300 kWh, the billed energy cost is $60.
For mixed charging, calculate home, workplace, public AC, and DC fast charging separately, including each provider’s fees, then add the results.
Find your real home rate
- Open a recent utility bill and identify total kWh for the billing period.
- Include the energy and delivery charges relevant to additional usage.
- For a simple all-in rate, divide the relevant bill amount by household kWh.
- For time-of-use pricing, use the rate during the hours when the car charges.
- Check whether EV charging crosses a higher tier or creates a demand charge.
Solar charging is not automatically free: the comparison may include lost export credit, battery cycling, or the financed system cost. State your assumptions.
Public charging costs
Networks may bill per kWh, per minute, per session, or through membership. Parking and idle fees can exceed the energy charge. Before starting, check:
- energy or time price;
- session, parking, idle, and activation fees;
- member and non-member pricing;
- taxes and local billing rules;
- whether the receipt shows delivered kWh.
Do not compare a home energy-only figure with a public receipt containing parking and service fees without separating the components.
Why owners pay different amounts
- Versions, wheels, tires, climates, speeds, and routes produce different efficiency.
- Cold or hot conditions can use energy for battery and cabin conditioning.
- Charging losses vary with equipment, power, temperature, and vehicle activity.
- Utility rates change by season, time, tier, or demand.
- Fast-charging prices and fees differ by network and location.
Use these examples as a method, not a quote. Replace every sample number with measured consumption, purchased kWh, tariff, taxes, and provider fees.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use battery size or charger kWh?
Use delivered kWh for the most accurate cost. Battery size is an estimate because the car rarely charges empty-to-full and purchased energy includes losses.
Is home charging always cheaper?
Often, but not always. Compare the all-in home rate—including time-of-use or demand charges—with the public network’s complete price.
How do I compare charging with gasoline?
Compare cost per 100 miles over similar driving. Use measured kWh and electricity cost for the EV, and gallons consumed and fuel price for the gasoline vehicle.
Does charging to 100% cost more per kWh?
The tariff determines the per-kWh price, but the final part can take longer. Time-based billing and idle fees can change the total.
Primary references: Tesla charging instructions · US Department of Energy vehicle cost calculator.
Related: Home charger installation cost → · Daily charging routine → · Long-trip planning → · Battery health →
Use the same method for any electric car
The formula is not Tesla-specific. Start with the car’s real consumption, add charging losses, then apply the price actually paid at home and on public networks. Battery size is useful for one charging session; consumption is the better figure for comparing annual driving cost.
Three scenarios worth saving
- Daily home charging: your household or time-of-use rate, including losses.
- Mixed use: the percentage charged at home versus public stations.
- Road-trip month: a larger public-charging share and highway consumption.
Run all three in the EV cost and range calculator. It accepts decimal prices, multiple currencies and any vehicle through manual mode.
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