How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla in the UK?

Charging a Tesla can cost anywhere from £2 to £70+ per charge, depending on where you plug in.

That’s a huge range, and it’s why so many people get confused about EV running costs.

Here’s the reality in 2026:

• Charge at home on a cheap EV tariff → as little as £3–£8
• Standard home electricity → £15–£25
• Tesla Superchargers → £20–£30
• Public rapid chargers → £50–£70+

If you get your setup right, a Tesla can cost up to 10x less than petrol per mile.

I’ve also created a handy calculator below so you can find out the exact costs based on your tariff.

Before we get started, yes, I’m a Tesla owner. And no, it wasn’t because I wanted to save the planet… I’m much more selfish than that. It was because I was having my mid-life crisis and I wanted a car that could go like sh*t off a shovel and didn’t require much in the way of servicing

And, I’ve had a lot of happy motoring from it. Apart from an issue with the suspension. But that’s another story.

👉 Pretend you didn’t just read that and check out my Tesla referral code if you’re looking at buying a new one, and you could get as much as £500 off.

Tesla Charging Costs (UK 2026)

These are realistic UK electricity rates as of April 2026:

• Standard home rate: 25p/kWh
• EV night rate: 5.5p/kWh (tariff and region dependent)
• Tesla Supercharger: 23p–40p/kWh
• Public rapid chargers: 79p–87p/kWh

Cost Per Full Charge

👉 Most drivers don’t charge from 0–100%, so real-world costs are usually lower.

Where You Charge Matters Most

1. Charging at Home (Cheapest by far)

If you can charge at home, this is where EVs win.

• EV tariffs typically sit around 5.5p/kWh
• Some regions and tariffs drop lower at certain times
• A full charge can cost as little as £3–£5

Example (Model 3):

• Night rate → £3.30
• Standard rate → £15

This is what makes owning a Tesla cheap.

👉 Take a look at my Intelligent Octopus Go review to find out more about cheap charging.

2. Tesla Superchargers (Best public option)

Tesla’s own network is still the easiest way to charge on the go.

• Typical cost: 23p–40p/kWh
• Often cheaper off-peak
• Adds ~150+ miles in 15–20 minutes

Typical cost (near empty to full):

• Model 3 → £20–£25
• Long Range → £27–£30

👉 Much cheaper than most people expect in 2026.

3. Public Rapid Chargers (Most expensive)

Third-party networks like:

• BP Pulse
• Instavolt
• Osprey Charging

Typical pricing:

• 80p+ per kWh

👉 These are basically “emergency only” chargers. Try to only use these as a last resort.

4. Destination Charging (Sometimes free)

• Found at hotels, restaurants, supermarkets
• Often free if you’re a customer
• Slow (adds 30–40 miles per hour)

👉 Nice bonus, but not something to rely on. My local Tesco used to offer free charging, but that stopped about the time I got my first EV. What a surprise.

Cost Per Mile (What It Actually Costs to Drive)

Tesla (average 4 miles per kWh)

Petrol Comparison

• Petrol car (40 mpg at £1.50/litre):
  👉 15p–18p per mile

The Bottom Line

• Charging at home = massive savings
• Supercharging = still cheaper than petrol
• Public charging = can cost more than petrol

Hidden Costs to Watch

• Idle fees at Superchargers (up to £1/min when busy)
• Home charger install (£800–£1,200 typical)
• Regional price differences depending on supplier

Is Charging a Tesla Worth It?

Yes, if you can charge at home.

✔ Extremely cheap to run on EV tariffs
✔ Much lower cost per mile than petrol
✔ Convenient overnight charging

❌ Expensive if you rely on public chargers
❌ Rapid charging can wipe out savings

👉 The biggest savings come from pairing a Tesla with a tariff from providers like Octopus Energy.

Quick Summary

• Cheapest charging → £3–£8 at home (EV tariff)
• Average home charging → £15–£25
• Superchargers → £20–£30
• Public rapid → £50–£70+

Rule of thumb:

Charge at home = cheap
Charge in public = expensive

Further reading

If you’re interested in energy costs, take a look at the running costs of some of the most popular items around your home.

FAQ