Updated — Reflects Q1 2026 Ofgem price cap rates
How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla at Home in the UK?
The short answer
A full home charge runs £4 to £18, depending on the tariff and the model. On an off-peak smart tariff, a Model 3 from 0–100% costs around £4–5; on a standard tariff, the same charge is closer to £17–21.
A full tank of petrol in a comparable car runs £70–90. Even at the most expensive home electricity rates, charging a Tesla is a fraction of that.
Cost by Tesla model
A full home charge, by model, at 2026 UK electricity rates:
| Model | Battery | Off-peak (~7p/kWh) | Standard (~28p/kWh) | Supercharger (~40p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model 3 Standard | 60 kWh | £4.20 | £16.80 | £24.00 |
| Model 3 Long Range | 75 kWh | £5.25 | £21.00 | £30.00 |
| Model Y | 75 kWh | £5.25 | £21.00 | £30.00 |
| Model S | 100 kWh | £7.00 | £28.00 | £40.00 |
| Model X | 100 kWh | £7.00 | £28.00 | £40.00 |
0–100% figures. Most owners charge from 20–80%, which is roughly 60% of these numbers.
The Ofgem Q1 2026 price cap puts the standard unit rate at 24.5p/kWh; most EV-specific tariffs undercut that sharply during off-peak hours. Tracked across three tariffs over the past year, real-world figures match the estimates above to within a few pence per charge.
The cheapest EV tariffs
The tariff is the biggest single lever on running costs. The full picture is on the tariff comparison page; the four worth knowing about for a Tesla:
Octopus Intelligent Go is the default for most Tesla owners — ~7p/kWh from 11:30pm to 5:30am, ~28p/kWh peak, and a direct API link to the car. The charger doesn't need to be "smart"; Octopus talks to the Tesla itself.
Octopus Go is the simpler sibling — ~8.5p/kWh between 12:30am and 5:30am, a five-hour off-peak window, and works with any charger as long as you set a timer. Slightly higher rate, slightly less faff.
British Gas Electric Drivers sits at ~8p/kWh from midnight to 5am. Competitive off-peak; the peak rate (~32p/kWh) is the steepest of the three smart tariffs, so it pays best if you can keep almost everything overnight.
A standard variable tariff (~28p/kWh, Ofgem Q1 2026 price cap) is the same rate around the clock — still cheaper than Supercharging or petrol, but well short of what a smart tariff returns. Switching to off-peak is usually worth more than picking the right charger.
The best EV charging tariff guide goes deeper.
Home charging vs Supercharger vs petrol
Annual cost at 10,000 miles a year:
| Method | Cost per mile | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Home (off-peak tariff) | ~2p | £200 |
| Home (standard tariff) | ~8p | £800 |
| Tesla Supercharger | ~12p | £1,200 |
| Petrol (equivalent car) | ~16–18p | £1,600–1,800 |
That's £1,400–1,600 a year against petrol, and £400–1,000 against relying on Superchargers. The off-peak tariff matters more than the charger: a £405 Easee One on Intelligent Go costs less to run than a £700 unit on a flat rate.
The interactive savings calculator runs the numbers for your mileage and tariff; the UK EV Charging Cost Index sets it against every UK tariff by cost per mile.
Charger and installation cost
A home charger runs £800–1,200 fully installed — unit plus labour. On the running-cost savings above, most owners pay it back inside a year.
Renters and flat owners qualify for the OZEV grant, which takes £500 off the installed price.
In short
Home charging a Tesla in the UK is cheap, and cheapest on a smart tariff. A 7p/kWh off-peak rate paired with a wallbox runs a Tesla for roughly £15–20 a week, against £40–50 for Supercharging or £60+ for petrol. The charger pays for itself inside a year for most drivers.
For ranked recommendations, see the cheapest EV charger guide or the best Tesla home charger guide.
When you're ready, compare the chargers we've tested, or — no obligation, no sign-up.