How long does it take to charge a Tesla?

Tesla Motors produces some of the most talked-about electric cars in the industry, the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y. Marketed by founder Elon Musk as luxury electric vehicles (EVs), Tesla's stylish products come with a long travel range and a price tag to match. Understanding your Tesla charging station options and deciding whether to use their extensive charging network or home charging is an important part of electric car ownership.

It can take anywhere from an hour to 12 hours to charge your Tesla. Your Tesla charge time is dependent on how full your car's battery is and the type of charging station that you use. In the tables below, we'll assume the worst-case scenario: you have a completely depleted battery and the car model with the largest battery.

Every Tesla comes with a few basic battery charging options. When you buy your Tesla, you get a mobile connector and three adapters: one for a standard wall outlet (the NEMA 5-15), one for a higher-powered 240-volt (or 40 amps of power) wall outlet home charger (the NEMA 14-50), and one for public charging stations (with the exception of Tesla Superchargers). The NEMA 5-15 is also known as level 1 charging (120 volts using a standard ac wallet) for the bare minimum but this is not recommended.

Charging speed for a Tesla Model S

Charging speed for a Tesla Model X

Charging speed for a Tesla Model 3

Charging speed for a Tesla Model Y

NEMA 5-15 charging for Tesla

The NEMA 5-15 charger for Tesla electric cars plugs into a standard wall outlet and is the slowest type of Tesla EV charger available.  A standard Tesla charger with a NEMA 5-15 connector will offer about 3 miles of range per hour of charging. This type of charging station is best for overnight use at home.

NEMA 14-50 charging for Tesla

The NEMA 14-50 charger for Tesla electric cars plugs into a 240-volt wall outlet, similar to the type used by your clothes dryer or other appliances. A standard Tesla charger with a NEMA 14-50 connector can charge your Tesla battery completely in 10 hours (for the Model S) to 12 hours (for the Model Y long range ).

Tesla wall connectors

Tesla offers at-home wall connector charging stations that serve as an “upgrade” from the standard charging cord provided when you purchase your Tesla. With the help of an electrician, you can install a wall connector to charge your Tesla Model S, Model S Plaid, or Model X at your home. A wall connector can fully charge your Tesla Model S battery in 6 to 9 hours or your Model X battery in 6.5 to 10 hours.

Tesla Superchargers

The Tesla  Supercharger network has stations scattered throughout the country, making it possible for Tesla owners to take their Model S or Model X on a road trip with fast charging. Supercharger stations are only compatible with Tesla vehicles. With a Tesla Supercharger station, you can charge your car fully in an hour to an hour and a half, the fastest charging rate available.

The smallest Tesla battery capacity (in the Model 3) will last for 262 miles on a single charge. The highest range Tesla offers is 405 miles for one full charge of their Model S battery. 

Importantly, these numbers are not always exact, and it is important to always be proactive about charging your Tesla. Some factors that may affect the range your battery will take you are the way you drive, where you're driving (highway versus backroad), and the size/model of your battery. 

Similar to the range for a single charge, the lifespan of a Tesla car battery could also fluctuate based on several factors. As a rule of thumb, Tesla batteries have a 300,000-500,000 mile lifespan, the equivalent of 21-35 years, based on the average number of miles driven by Americans. 

Electric cars offer significant fuel savings on a day-to-day basis thanks to their efficient use of electricity as fuel. The cost to fully charge a Tesla depends on your car and where you live because electricity prices vary from utility to utility and state to state. The price to "fill up" a Tesla Model S battery at home ranges from $6.60 (in Washington state) to just over $21.00 (in Hawaii). For a Tesla Model X, prices will vary from $6.70 (Washington) to nearly $22.00 (Hawaii).

To learn how much it costs to charge a Tesla, read our blog post about costs by model and more.

Cost to charge a Tesla Model S in top states

Cost to charge a Tesla Model X in top states

When you buy an electric car, your fuel costs are equivalent to the cost of electricity you use to charge the car's battery. By installing home solar panels with your EV, you can eliminate the need to pull any electricity from the grid. The result: emissions-free, low-cost electricity for both your home and your car. The average shopper on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace breaks even on their solar investment in just seven and a half years, and solar panels continue to generate useful electricity for over 25 years.