Home charging cost
Charging a Tesla Model 3 in Washington
What it actually costs to charge at home on Washington's average residential electricity rate.
Home charging at a glance
Washington rate
$0.10/kWh
Full charge
~$7.90
321–363 miles
Cost per mile
~2.4¢
Yearly home-charging cost
Based on the Tesla Model 3’s efficiency (4.1 mi/kWh) at Washington's average residential rate. For comparison, a 30-mpg gas car at $3.50/gallon runs about 12¢/mile.
Home vs. public fast charging
Costs below are for a 10%–80% charge — the usable fast-charge window, about 55 kWh of the Tesla Model 3’s 79 kWh battery. That’s the range most owners actually use, since charging past 80% slows down sharply.
Home charging
~$5.53
10 → 80% · 2.4¢/mile
$0.10/kWh
Public fast charging
~$27.65
10 → 80% · 12.2¢/mile
~$0.50/kWh (DC fast)
Charging the Tesla Model 3 on public DC fast chargers costs roughly 5.0× more than at home — about $22.12 extra per 10→80% charge. Most owners charge at home and only use fast charging on road trips, so your real average lands much closer to the home number.
Level 1 vs. Level 2: can your outlet keep up?
The cost per kWh is the same either way. What changes is how fast the Tesla Model 3 recovers range while parked at home.
Level 1 · standard outlet
~5 mi/hour
120V · no installation needed
~8 hours to recover 40 miles of driving. A 10-hour overnight plug-in adds about 49 miles.
Level 2 · 240V circuit
~39 mi/hour
240V · uses the Tesla Model 3’s 9.6 kW onboard charger
~1 hour to recover 40 miles. A 10-hour overnight plug-in adds up to 394 miles.
If your daily driving stays under ~49 miles, a regular outlet may be all the Tesla Model 3 needs. Drive more than that, and Level 2 — or a workplace charger — becomes the difference between an EV that fits your life and one that doesn’t.
Does a Level 2 install pay for itself?
A home Level 2 setup — 240V circuit plus charger — typically runs $800–$1,800 installed. If the alternative is relying on public fast chargers, home charging the Tesla Model 3 in Washington saves about $97.56/month at 12,000 miles a year.
At a mid-range install cost of $1,300, that’s a payback of roughly 13 months — and every month after that is pure savings.
Winter in Washington
Washington averages about 3 months a year cold enough to cut EV efficiency — typically 15–25% in deep winter. Here’s what that does to the Tesla Model 3’s numbers at a 20% efficiency loss:
Cost per mile
~3.0¢vs. 2.4¢ in mild weather
Full-charge range
~259 mivs. ~324 mi
The cost bump is minor — a few dollars a month. The range cut matters more: if your daily driving is close to the Tesla Model 3’s limits, winter is when a marginal charging setup stops working.
Will a Tesla Model 3 actually work for your home in Washington?
Cost is one piece. The bigger question is whether your outlet and daily driving keep you covered without relying on public chargers. Answer 5 quick questions for a clear, personalized answer.
Check your EV readiness →Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model 3 at home in Washington?
At Washington's average residential rate of $0.10 per kWh, a full charge of the Tesla Model 3's 79 kWh battery costs about $7.90 — roughly 2.4 cents per mile.
What is the yearly cost to charge a Tesla Model 3 in Washington?
Driving 12,000 miles a year, home charging a Tesla Model 3 in Washington costs about $293 per year.
Can you charge a Tesla Model 3 on a regular outlet?
Yes. On a standard 120V outlet (Level 1), the Tesla Model 3 recovers about 5 miles of range per hour — roughly 49 miles overnight. A 240V Level 2 circuit charges about 8x faster.
Is it cheaper to charge a Tesla Model 3 at home or at a public fast charger?
Home charging in Washington costs about 2.4 cents per mile, while public DC fast charging runs about 12.2 cents per mile — roughly 5.0x more.
Tesla Model 3 charging cost in other locations
Other EVs in Washington
Electricity rate is the EIA state residential average. Charging cost assumes home (Level 1 or Level 2) charging; efficiency and battery figures from the EV guide. Rates last reviewed Q2 2026.