So you’ve spent a pretty penny on a new Tesla Model 3, and at the dealership, they inevitably sold you on how much money you’d save at the gas pumps by making the switch to electric.
Well, that’s all well and dandy, but let’s get down to brass tax.
Sure, it’s cheaper in the long run, but a lot of new owners want to know just how long of a run is necessary before they’re back in the black after their big purchase.
We’re going to dive into exactly how much it costs to charge a Tesla Model 3 and where you’ll see the most savings.
Costs vary by location and even the charging type selected, so we’ll do a full breakdown of what to expect in terms of charging costs.
The Simple Math: How to Estimate Charging Cost for Any Location
To properly estimate how much it will cost to charge your Tesla Model 3, it comes down to a simple equation: battery size x electricity cost ÷ charging efficiency.
Here are some US figures to work off for that equation:
| Battery Sizes | Model 3s range from 50 kwh to 82 kWh depending on trim |
| Electricity Rates | ~14.5 cents or $0.145/kWh |
| Charging Efficiencies | ~75% @ 120V, 90% @ 240V, 95% Supercharging |
Let’s look at some examples to see that in action.
At-Home Charging Cost for a Model 3 (USA)
These numbers are for a full overnight charge at your home:
| Standard Rear-Wheel Drive | 50 kWh battery | @120V or Level 1 charger | Costs $6 |
| Standard Rear-Wheel | 50 kWh battery | @240V or Level 2 charger | Costs $3.02 |
| Performance Model 3 and Long Range Model 3 | 82 kWh battery | @120V or Level 1 charger | Costs $9.90 |
| Performance Model 3 and Long Range Model 3 | 82 kWh battery | @240V or Level 2 charger | Costs $4.95 |
How Much Does It Cost to Supercharge a Model 3? (USA)
Most Tesla owners will (and should) plan to charge mostly at home, but for those spur-of-the-moment road trips, there’s the Tesla Supercharger network across the United States that offers a quick and easy place to plug in.
However, it’s not recommended to rely solely on Supercharging not only because of its impact on the battery’s life span but also because it’s costly.
On average, Supercharger stations charge 48 cents for their electricity rates.
Let’s look at the same Model 3 trims again for a comparison.
| Standard Rear-Wheel | 50 kWh battery | @480V or Supercharger | $5.00 |
| Performance Model 3 and the Long Range Model 3 | 82 kWh battery | @480V or Supercharger | $8.20 |
But as with most things, inflation has taken its toll, with California Tesla drivers recently noting that Supercharging rates went up to $0.58 per kWh during peak hours.
Superchargers get your Tesla Model 3 going in minutes as opposed to hours, but you need to know a few things about how they calculate costs.
- In most locations, you’ll be billed per kWh. However, there are a few exceptions where states have chosen to bill per minute.
- If you’re getting billed per minute, the charging speed dictates your price per minute, with anything over 180 kW being the highest price point.
- Don’t linger! Idling fees can be added to your bill as Tesla tries to combat drivers taking their sweet time at the plug. Superchargers are designed for fast charging, so if you’re still there past a full charge, expect some additional fees.
Average Monthly Charging Cost for Model 3 owners
So now you know on average what it costs per charging session in the United States, what does that mean per month?
Considering most of us budget monthly, you’ll want to see what that equates to over 30 days to really get a sense if you’re coming out ahead compared with gas prices.
Again, thinking about averages, most Tesla 3 drivers will spend $25–$35 a month to charge their vehicle.
That’s with regular overnight at-home charging on either a Level 1 or a Level 2 charger.
How much you pay monthly will depend on how much you charge, how often you drive and drain the battery, your charging efficiency levels, and your electricity rates in your home state.
Here are some real-world users discussing their monthly charging fees.
One Model 3 owner states they supercharge exclusively and pay closer to $60 a month in California.
Whereas another driver who pays $0.15 in electricity rates and drives under 500 miles is sitting under the average of $20 a month.
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Charging in Other Countries
The math stays the same across borders, but given that electricity costs vary greatly state to state, it also means they change by country.
Here’s a look at electricity rates in Canada, Australia, and the UK:
| Canada | $0.179 per kWh |
| United Kingdom | $0.265 per kWh |
| Australia | $0.3025 per kWh |
Looks like our friends to the north enjoy cheaper charging rates, with owners stating it costs them anywhere between $3 and $4 to fully charge their Model 3 overnight at home.
Australians, on the other hand, are looking at over US$13.00 per charge.
Depends on how you look at things though. According to insideevs.com, Australia is one of the cheapest, while Denmark at $US34, Germany at $US33, and Italy at $US27 are among the most expensive.
Cool Tesla Charging Features You Should Know
There are some ways to save a little money at the plug by taking advantage of some tips and tricks when it comes to charging your Model 3.
Setting Charging Percentage Limits
It’s always a good idea to get into an every-day charging routine with your Level 1 or Level 2 charger.
It’s an even better idea to set charging percentage limits. This way, you’re not concerned with always charging all the way to 100%, which is not recommended by Tesla.
The sweet spot is usually between 80% and 90%. You can adjust your charge limit by opening the Charging screen on your Tesla’s touch screen and hitting “Set Limit” or opening the same screen in your app to make the adjustments.
Got a long road trip where you want the 100%? No problem, you can easily change it back in the settings as needed.
Having a max charge limit is a key strategy in extending the life of your battery.
Scheduled Charging
You could always charge your Model 3 at any time of the day, but now there’s also a feature that allows you to schedule when exactly you’d like to charge.
Scheduled Charging allows you to pick the time your vehicle will charge until it reaches your set charge level, say 80%.
This feature is great if you want to start your charging period when off-peak electricity rates are set to begin.
Scheduled Departure
Similar to preconditioning, you can set a Scheduled Departure time so that your Model 3 is charged up and ready for that time.
Particularly useful in extreme climates, Scheduled Departure will turn on the various heating and cooling instruments inside your Model 3 so it’s an ideal temperature when you get in.
At the same time, it’s also preconditioning your battery, which is great for when it’s really cold outside.
Note that both these scheduling options are in their own “Schedule” category within the app, not in the Charging section.
Here’s a handy video walking through how to set up both Scheduled Charging and Scheduled Departure.
Final Thoughts
While it’s not free to charge your Tesla Model 3, it’s definitely reasonable, with most drivers spending less than one tank of gas per month.
And when you think about gas prices right now in 2022, you’re making out like a bandit.
Plus, when you follow some of the helpful tips to maximize your charging sessions, it’ll save you time and dollars spent at the plug.
Nicki Schill
Nicki Schill is a writer and content marketer out of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. As the former Geotab Marketing Manager, she’s got loads of experience in electric vehicles and fleet electrification. She’s a tech blogger and marketing guru who enjoys all things Canadian like hockey and poutine.These 5 rare tips can save you so much time and stress – and few owners know about them (even after years of ownership). Sign up below to learn more. It's free!
