# EV Charging Cost Calculator (Tesla and Other EVs)

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/everyday-life/ev-charging-cost/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The EV charging cost calculator works out the cost of charging a Tesla or other electric car from the battery size, current and target charge level and electricity price, and the cost of driving per mile and per trip.

## Inputs

- Car
- Battery capacity (kWh)
- Efficiency (kWh/100 mi)
- Current charge level (%)
- Target charge level (%)
- Electricity price (/kWh)
- Charging efficiency (%)
- Distance to drive (mi, km, m, nmi)

## Results

- Battery capacity used
- Efficiency used
- Energy drawn from the grid
- Charging cost
- Cost of a full charge (0–100%)
- Cost per 100 miles
- Cost for the distance

## Formula

```
Energy to add = capacity × (target − current level) ÷ charging efficiency
Charging cost = energy × price per kWh
Cost per 100 mi = efficiency (kWh/100 mi) × price ÷ charging efficiency
```

## Explanation

Home charging is usually the cheapest way to fuel an electric car; public fast chargers can cost several times more per kWh. About 10% of the energy is lost as heat while charging, and most owners charge to 80–90% for everyday use to look after the battery.

### How to use the EV Charging Cost Calculator

- **Car**
- **Battery capacity**
- **Efficiency**
- **Current charge level**
- **Target charge level**
- **Electricity price**
- **Charging efficiency**
- **Distance to drive**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Choose your car (or enter its battery size and efficiency), set the current and target charge levels, the price per kWh and the distance you drive.

### Tips

- Use your own measured figures – fuel economy, speed and prices vary a lot with driving style, traffic, load and season.
- Pick the unit in each field's menu (miles or kilometres, mpg or L/100 km); the calculator converts everything for you.
- Fill up to the brim twice and divide the distance by the fuel added to measure real fuel economy.
- For vehicle modifications, treat results as a starting point and confirm with the parts maker or a professional mechanic.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Mixing US and imperial (UK) gallons – a UK gallon is about 20% bigger.
- Using the advertised fuel economy instead of real-world figures.
- Forgetting tolls, parking and wear and tear when comparing driving with public transport.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterCarChoose one: Tesla Model 3 RWD (≈ 57.5 kWh, 25 kWh/100 mi), Tesla Model 3 Long Range (≈ 75 kWh, 26), Tesla Model Y Long Range (≈ 75 kWh, 28), Tesla Model S (≈ 100 kWh, 28) …Battery capacityIn kWhEfficiencyIn kWh/100 miCurrent charge levelIn %Target charge levelIn %Electricity priceUnits: /kWhCharging efficiencyIn %Distance to driveUnits: mi, km, m, nmi

### What each result means

- **Energy drawn from the grid** = [Battery capacity used]×max([Target charge level] - [Current charge level], 0)÷100÷([Charging efficiency]÷100)
- **Charging cost** = [Energy drawn from the grid]×[Electricity price]
- **Cost of a full charge (0–100%)** = [Battery capacity used]÷([Charging efficiency]÷100)×[Electricity price]
- **Cost per 100 miles** = [Efficiency used]×[Electricity price]÷([Charging efficiency]÷100)
- **Cost for the distance** = [Distance to drive]÷1609.344÷100×[Cost per 100 miles]

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Battery capacity** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Battery capacity (kWh)Charging cost37.5856.25875893.758112.581508

## Worked example

Inputs — Car: Tesla Model 3 Long Range (≈ 75 kWh, 26); Battery capacity: 75 kWh; Efficiency: 27 kWh/100 mi; Current charge level: 20 %; Target charge level: 80 %; Electricity price: $0.16 /kWh; Charging efficiency: 90 %; Distance to drive: 1,000 mi.

Results — Battery capacity used = 75 kWh; Efficiency used = 26 kWh/100 mi; Energy drawn from the grid = 50 kWh; **Charging cost = $8.00**; Cost of a full charge (0–100%) = $13.33; Cost per 100 miles = $4.62; Cost for the distance = $46.22.

## FAQ

**How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?**
A Model 3 Long Range from 20% to 80% uses about 50 kWh from the wall – around $8 at $0.16/kWh.

**Is charging cheaper than petrol?**
At home, usually: about 4–5 cents per mile versus 10–15 cents for a 25–35 mpg petrol car.

**Why charge only to 80%?**
Lithium-ion batteries age more slowly when not kept full; charge to 100% before long trips.

**What formula does the EV Charging Cost Calculator use?**
Energy to add = capacity × (target − current level) ÷ charging efficiency.


## Sources

- [U.S. DOE – Charging at home](https://www.energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/charging-home)