How Long Does It Take to Charge a Tesla?

Charging at Home vs Charging at a Supercharger Station

One of the benefits of being a Tesla owner is that you can charge your car at home using a standard 120-volt outlet, a faster 240-volt Level 2 charger, or you can charge it at a Tesla Supercharger station. Charging at home is convenient and safe. Using a Level 1 home charger to charge your Tesla vehicle is not recommended since it is too slow. A better option is to get a Level 2 home charging station.

It will take longer to charge with a home Level 2 charger than a DCFC Tesla Supercharger but most EV drivers plug in overnight and wake up to a fully charged Tesla car, so DC fast charging isn’t necessary.

Another reason why home chargers are a better option for a Tesla driver is there are only about 1,500 Tesla Supercharger stations across the United States. Not all of them are necessarily easy to get to or even in operation.

How does fast charging work?

When you plug your Tesla into an electric vehicle charging station, the onboard charger starts drawing power from the electric grid and converts it into direct current (DC) electricity. That DC electricity is then sent to the battery where it’s stored. The rate at which your car charges depends on how much power your charger can draw from the electric grid-if you’re using a standard 120-volt outlet, it will be slower than if you’re using a Supercharger station. 

So, how long does it take to charge a Tesla? It depends. If you’re charging at home, it will take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours for a full charge. If you’re charging at a Supercharger station, you can get up to 80% charge in about 30 minutes. No matter how you choose to charge your Tesla, one thing is for sure – you’ll enjoy all the benefits that come with driving an electric vehicle.

Charging Levels and Speeds

There are various public and private charging station options available for Tesla drivers. These charging stations are divided into three levels, according to their voltage and speed.

There are three different charging levels, each with pros and cons.

• Level 1 AC Charging. Level 1 charging stations have a minimum of 120-volt walls. Examples of Level 1 chargers are outlets installed at home driveways or garages. These have a very slow charge rate of 2 to 5 miles per hour and are often used for overnight charging.
• Level 2 AC Charging. Most public charging stations and workplace chargers are classified as level 2. These chargers use 240 volts and can fully charge an EV in 4 to 6 hours or at a rate of 30 to 35 miles per hour.
• Level 3 or DC Fast Charging. Also called DC Fast Charging, these EV chargers supply direct current, rather than alternating current. These can output up to 480 volts of power, making it possible to recharge 80% battery in 30 minutes.