How long does it take to charge a Tesla?
It can take anywhere from one hour to seven days to fully charge a Tesla.
How long it takes for your Tesla to charge depends on which model you own, what type of charger you use, and how much charge is left on your battery when it begins charging.
Currently, Tesla offers three vehicle models:
- Model 3
- Model S
- Model X
We’re going to take a look at how long it’ll take a Tesla to charge, depending on the model and which charger you use.
What types of charging stations are there?
Tesla Superchargers are super fast
Tesla has their own network of public vehicle chargers known as Superchargers. These 480-volt vehicle charging stations are designed to charge Teslas with incredible speed.
Superchargers recharge at different rates for each of the Tesla models:
| Tesla Model | Miles of Range per 15 Minutes of Supercharging |
| Model 3 | 172 miles |
| Model S | 136 miles |
| Model X | 123 miles |
How long does it take to charge a Tesla using a Supercharging station?
Superchargers can recharge a vehicle’s battery up to 80% in just about 40 minutes. After the battery reaches 80%, it will begin to charge slower to protect the battery’s health until it reaches a full charge.
Charging your Tesla at home
Superchargers have an incredibly fast charging speed, but they can put a lot of stress on the car’s battery. So, using an at-home charger is best for everyday recharging. There are a few different options for charging your Tesla at home.
The most popular home charging options for Teslas are:
- NEMA 5-15 charging
- NEMA 14-50 charging
- Tesla Wall Connector charging
NEMA 5-15 chargers
Every Tesla comes with a NEMA 5-15 charger, which can be plugged into any standard 120 volt outlet. These are the standard household outlets, like the ones that you plug your phone or laptop into.
A NEMA 5-15 charger will add about 3 miles of range per hour of charging. This is the slowest way to charge your Tesla, making it best-suited for overnight charging. 
NEMA 5-15 chargers come with the purchase of every Tesla. Image source: Tesla
How long does it take to charge a Tesla using a NEMA 5-15 charger?
Depending on which model and version of Tesla you own, it can take anywhere from three to seven days to charge your empty Tesla battery to 100%.
NEMA 14-50 chargers
You can purchase charging adapters so you can charge your Tesla by using some other types of outlets you may have in your home. Besides the standard 120-volt outlet, many homes will have 240 volt outlets. These are usually used to power washing machines and clothing dryers.
Tesla’s NEMA 14-50 adapter will charge your Tesla much faster than the NEMA 5-15 charger, as it is using a more powerful outlet.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla using a NEMA 14-50 charger?
Depending on which model and version of Tesla you own, it can take between eight and 17 hours to fully charge your empty car battery.
Wall Connectors
Tesla also offers the option to install a charging unit in your home, which is called a Wall Connector. Wall Connectors are the fastest way to charge your Tesla in your home. Your Tesla will receive a maximum of 44 miles of range per hour of charge using a Wall Connector.
Tesla recommends Wall Connectors as the best way to charge your vehicle. 
How long does it take to charge a Tesla using a Wall Connector?
Your Tesla will take anywhere between seven and 11 hours to fully charge with a Wall Connector.
It’s important to note that Wall Connectors cost more than the charging adaptors. A Wall Connector costs $500 to install and it must be installed by a Tesla qualified electrician.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model 3?
The Model 3 is Tesla’s newest and highest-selling vehicle.
There are three different versions of the Model 3 currently on the market:
- Model 3 Performance
- Model 3 Long Range
- Model 3 Standard Range Plus
The Model 3 Standard Range Plus has a battery range of 250 miles. The Model 3 Performance and Model 3 Long Range both have a range of 322 miles.
The following table represents how long it will take to charge each version of the Model 3 using various charging options, assuming the vehicle’s battery is completely empty:
| At-Home Charging Option | Model 3 Standard Range Plus Charge Time | Model 3 Performance Charge Time | Model 3 Long Range Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMA 5-15 | 3.5 days | 4.5 days | 4.5 days |
| NEMA 14-50 | 8.3 hours | 10.7 hours | 10.7 hours |
| Wall Connector | 7.3 hours | 7.3 hours | 7.3 hours |
Being that the average American’s commute is only 30 miles roundtrip, recharging your Tesla Model 3 after a long day of work will take 10 hours using a NEMA 5-15 charger, one hour to recharge using a NEMA 14-50 charger, and only about 40 minutes using a Wall Connector.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model S?
The Tesla Model S has the longest range of any electric vehicle on the market.
It comes in two different versions:
- Model S Performance
- Model S Long Range
The following table represents the charge time for the two versions of the Model S using different charging options, assuming the vehicle’s battery is completely empty:
| At-Home Charging Option | Model S Performance Charge Time | Model S Long Range Charge Time |
|---|---|---|
| NEMA 5-15 | 4.8 days | 5.4 days |
| NEMA 14-50 | 15.1 hours | 16.9 hours |
| Wall Connector | 10.2 hours | 10.2 hours |
To charge your Tesla Model S after a commute of 30 miles, it would take about 10 hours using a NEMA 5-15 charger, approximately 1.5 hours using a NEMA 14-50 charger, and less than one hour using a Wall Connector.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model X?
Tesla’s SUV model, the Model X, is also offered in two versions:
- Model X Performance
- Model X Long Range
The Performance version has a range of 305 miles with the Long Range coming in at a whopping 351 miles. This is the highest range for any electric SUV on the market. 
The following table represents the charge time for both versions of the Model X using different charging options. This assumes the vehicle’s battery is completely empty:
| At-Home Charging Option | Model X Performance Charge Time | Model X Long Range Charge Time |
|---|---|---|
| NEMA 5-15 | 6.35 days | 7.31 days |
| NEMA 14-50 | 15.25 hours | 17.53 hours |
| Wall Connector | 10.16 hours | 11.7 hours |
In order to charge your Tesla Model X after a commute of 30 miles, it would take about 15 hours using a NEMA 5-15 charger, approximately 1.5 hours using a NEMA 14-50 charger, and only an hour using a Wall Connector.
How long will my Tesla usually charge for?
In all 50 states, charging an electric vehicle costs less than it does to purchase gas. That means even though Teslas can have a high upfront cost, they will save you money in the long run. Charging your Tesla will cost you even less if you have solar panels on your home.
No matter which charger you decide to use, it will never take more than seven days to fully charge your car. However, since very few people will deplete their Tesla’s battery down to zero, it’s unlikely you will ever use all seven days charging your car.
For most people, it will take anywhere between one and 12 hours to charge their Tesla, depending on the charger they use and how much their battery is already charged.
An overnight charge will almost always get your Tesla right where you want it to be and you can rest assured knowing that the next morning, your Tesla will get you to wherever you want to go.
