How long does a Tesla take to charge?

While you may know Elon Musk for being the billionaire determined to colonize Mars, you probably also know him for being the co-founder and CEO of one of the most successful electric vehicle (EV) companies in the world: Tesla Motors. While other vehicle manufacturers have joined the rush to bring electric vehicles to the market, Tesla has done the most to bring EVs into the mainstream. More and more, it can feel like every other car on the road is a Tesla, whether it’s the Model S, Model 3, Model X, or Model Y.

If you’re in the market for a Tesla or have one already sitting in your garage, you may well be wondering how to charge it at home. In this article, we will provide you with vital information about charging your Tesla, including how long it takes to charge your Tesla, walk you through the different types of chargers that are available, how to charge your Tesla at home, and how you can get a Tesla-ready charger installed in your home using an EV charging station installer.

Understanding Tesla charging options and charge times

How long it takes your Tesla to charge depends on three specific items—the size of your battery, how depleted the battery is, and the kind of charger you have.

Depending on how you answer those questions, the amount of time it takes to charge a Tesla can range from one hour to 12 hours. When you purchase a Tesla, there are cords and adapters available for purchase. If you have a standard outlet in your garage, you use the NEMA 5-15 adapter. This adapter is the slowest of the EV charger adapters and is best suited for situations in which you have overnight to charge your EV. Typically, a NEMA 5-15 adapter will provide you with approximately three miles of range per hour of charging.

The second option you have is the NEMA 14-50 adapter, which allows the car to be plugged into a 240-volt line—like the one to which you’ve connected your clothes dryer or other such appliances. Under these circumstances, a full charge from empty will take between 10 and 10.5 hours, depending on your model (10 for the Model S and 10.5 for the Model X).

Another EV charger option is to install a Tesla at-home wall connector charging station which will provide you with a faster charging experience than the two EV charger options mentioned above. To install one of these wall-connector charging stations, you will have to enlist the help of an electrician. Unlike a standard Tesla adapter, a Tesla wall charger will allow you to charge up to 44 miles per hour from a completely depleted state. Generally, you can expect to pay between $600 to $900 for installation. It will allow you to charge your Tesla Model S battery in six to nine hours or a Model X battery in 6.5 to 10 hours.

How Enphase can help

Enphase manufactures a wide range of EV chargers that are compatible with your Tesla and can offer you cost-effective options that will allow you to reach the charging power of a Tesla charging station. This is beneficial if you ever want to be able to charge non-Tesla cars as Tesla chargers only work with Tesla. In addition, Enphase can advise you of EV charger installers near you. To start your journey toward purchasing a cost-effective Tesla EV charger installation from Enphase, you can get started by clicking here.

Key takeaways

Thanks in part to the success of Tesla Motors, EVs are becoming more mainstream than ever before.
Charging your Tesla at home can take anywhere from one to 12 hours depending on the power level of the charger and how depleted the battery is when you begin charging.
A Level 2 charging station can provide a faster home charging experience adding up to 61 miles of range per hour of charging. Level 2 charging stations typically cost $600 to $900 and usually require a licensed electrician for installation.
Enphase provides a wide range of EV chargers that are compatible with Tesla EVs and are cost-competitive with Tesla-branded products.
Learn more about charging a Tesla in our Charging a Tesla video.