EV Charging Cost Calculator
Find your exact cost to charge at home, your cost per mile, and how much you save vs a gas car. Works for Tesla and any electric vehicle. Rates default to the 2026 US average — change them to your own.
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How to calculate EV charging cost
The formula is simple once you separate the energy that goes into the battery from the energy pulled from the wall. Charging is not perfectly efficient, so you pay for a little more than the battery actually stores:
Cost = (kWh added ÷ efficiency) × price per kWh
For example, adding 45 kWh (a 20%→80% charge on a 75 kWh battery) at 90% efficiency and $0.16/kWh: (45 ÷ 0.90) × $0.16 = $8.00. That same charge adds roughly 155 miles of range in a car that gets 3.5 mi/kWh — about 5¢ per mile.
EV charging cost vs gas: a real comparison
The reason EV owners save money is the gap in cost-per-mile. Here's a typical head-to-head at 2026 US average prices:
| Metric | Electric (3.5 mi/kWh) | Gas (30 MPG) |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel price | $0.16 / kWh | $3.50 / gallon |
| Cost per mile | ~5.1¢ | ~11.7¢ |
| Cost per 12,000 mi/year | ~$610 | ~$1,400 |
| Annual saving | ~$790 / year | |
Charging on an overnight time-of-use rate (as low as $0.10/kWh in many areas) or from your own solar panels widens the gap even further.
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?
Tesla battery sizes range from about 60 kWh (Model 3 Standard) to 100 kWh (Model S/X Long Range). At the US average of $0.16/kWh, a full charge runs roughly $10–$16 — but most owners pay far less day to day because they only top up 20–80%, not a full 0–100%. Plug your Tesla's battery size into the calculator above for your exact figure.
Frequently asked questions
Why does charging efficiency matter?
When you charge at home on AC power, the car's onboard charger converts and manages the electricity, and some is lost as heat. That means you pay for ~10–15% more energy than actually ends up in the battery. DC fast charging is a bit more efficient but costs more per kWh at public stations.
Is it cheaper to charge at home or at a public station?
Home charging is almost always cheaper. Public DC fast chargers often cost $0.35–$0.60/kWh — two to four times your home rate. Use home charging for daily driving and public charging for road trips.
Does cold weather increase charging cost?
Yes. In cold weather, range drops and the battery uses energy to keep itself warm, so your effective cost per mile rises 15–40% in winter. Preconditioning while still plugged in helps.