Tesla Supercharger Cost Calculator (Price per kWh, California Rates)
Work out what a Supercharger stop really costs your Tesla — per session, per mile and per month — and how it compares with charging at home or driving a gas car. Defaults use typical California rates.
How Supercharger pricing works
Tesla bills Supercharging by the kilowatt-hour (kWh) in most US states, including California. Each station sets its own price, and most stations have peak and off-peak rates: overnight and early morning sessions are usually 20–30% cheaper than afternoon and evening ones. The Tesla app shows the exact rate for a station before you arrive.
In mid-2026, California stations commonly charged roughly $0.50–$0.71 per kWh at peak and about $0.33–$0.49 per kWh overnight, which puts California among the most expensive states to Supercharge. Non-Tesla EVs pay more unless they buy a Supercharging membership.
How this calculator works
- Energy per mile comes from EPA-based estimates for each Tesla. Expect 10–30% more in cold weather or at sustained highway speed.
- A 10% → 80% session adds about 70% of the usable battery, the range where Superchargers charge fastest.
- Home charging adds about 10% for charging losses between the wall and the battery.
- Idle fees (charged when you stay plugged in after charging finishes at a busy station) are not included.
How to pay less at Superchargers
- Charge off-peak when you can — late night and early morning rates are the lowest.
- Stop at 80%. Charging slows sharply above that, and you pay for the time at busy sites.
- Precondition the battery by navigating to the Supercharger, so it charges at full speed.
- Charge at home for daily driving and keep Superchargers for road trips.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to Supercharge a Tesla in California?
A 10% to 80% session in a Model 3 or Model Y Long Range adds about 55 kWh. At a typical California peak rate of $0.58/kWh that is about $32; at an overnight rate of $0.42/kWh it is about $23. Check the station's live rate in the Tesla app.
Is Supercharging cheaper than gas?
Usually yes, but by less than people expect in California. A Model Y at $0.58/kWh costs about 16 cents a mile, while a 30 MPG car at $4.80 a gallon costs about 16 cents a mile too. Charging at home at $0.33/kWh drops the Model Y to about 10 cents a mile.
Why are California Supercharger rates so high?
California has some of the highest commercial electricity prices and demand charges in the US, and Tesla sets each station's price to match local electricity costs and demand.
Do Superchargers charge by the minute anywhere?
A few states without per-kWh billing rules have used per-minute pricing in the past. California bills per kWh.
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