ChargeCost

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model 3 at home?

A full home charge of the Tesla Model 3 RWD (2024-present) costs about £17.06 at the July 2026 Ofgem price cap (26.11p/kWh) — that is 6.5p per mile. The typical 20–80% top-up costs £10.24.

Prices based on the Ofgem price cap of 26.11 p/kWh, effective 1 July 2026.Source: Ofgem

Full charge

£17.06

at the Ofgem price cap

Running cost

6.5p /mile

at 4.6 mi/kWh incl. losses

20–80% on a 7 kW wallbox

4 hr 56 min

costing £10.24

Charging cost by tariff

TariffFull charge20–80%Per mile
Ofgem price cap26.11 p/kWh£17.06£10.246.5p
Octopus Go 12M Fixed off-peak (London example)9.50 p/kWh£6.21£3.722.3p
Intelligent Octopus Go 12M Fixed off-peak (London example)8.00 p/kWh£5.23£3.142.0p

Costs include the ~12% energy lost during AC charging, so they reflect what your meter records. Off-peak rates assume all charging happens inside the cheap window; rates vary by region. These are comparisons of published rates, not tariff recommendations.

How the Model 3 compares on running cost

Cheapest we cover: Fiat 500e5.6p/mi
Tesla Model 3 (this car)6.5p/mi
Average of 23 models we cover6.5p/mi
Dearest we cover: MG ZS EV7.4p/mi

Pence per mile at the Ofgem price cap. Shorter is cheaper.

See the full cheapest-to-charge league table →

Charging time by charger type

ChargerSpeed for this car20–80%Empty to full
Three-pin plug (2.3 kW)2.3 kW15 hr25 hr
3.6 kW wallbox3.6 kW9 hr 35 min15 hr 58 min
7 kW wallbox7 kW4 hr 56 min8 hr 13 min
22 kW three-phase11 kWlimited by the car3 hr 8 min5 hr 14 min

Times are simple energy-needed ÷ power estimates. Real sessions can run a little longer, because charging slows as the battery approaches full.

What affects these numbers for the Tesla Model 3

  • This car charges at up to 11 kW on AC

    The Tesla Model 3's onboard charger accepts at most 11 kW from an AC connection. A 22 kW three-phase cannot charge it any faster than that, so there is no benefit in paying for a more powerful home charger than the car can use.

  • A three-pin plug is a backup, not a plan

    From a standard three-pin socket (2.3 kW), an empty-to-full charge of the 57.5 kWh battery takes about 25 hr. Fine for overnight top-ups, but impractical as your only way to charge.

  • More efficient than most EVs

    At 4.6 miles per kWh, the Tesla Model 3 goes further on each unit of electricity than the typical EV, which is why its pence-per-mile figure is low for its size.

  • Real-world figures vary

    The 318-mile range is the official WLTP lab figure. Cold weather and motorway speeds reduce real-world efficiency, which raises cost per mile and lowers range. Treat these numbers as good estimates, not promises.

  • The 170 kW DC figure is not for home charging

    DC rapid charging at up to 170 kW only happens at public rapid chargers. All home charging is AC, so it is the 11 kW AC limit that matters for the times on this page.

Tesla Model 3 RWD— specifications used

Usable battery
57.5 kWh
WLTP range
318 miles
Efficiency
4.6 mi/kWh
Max AC charging
11 kW
Max DC charging
170 kW
Connector
Type 2 / CCS

Data source: Tesla UK Model 3 page checked 2026-07-20; MY24 Highland figures; usable kWh is an industry estimate; 2025 battery update raised WLTP to ~323 mi