A Tesla charges at home in one of three ways: a regular 120-volt outlet, a 240-volt outlet, or a Wall Connector. The difference in speed is large. In a Model Y Standard, the same overnight session adds about 54 miles on a household outlet and about 316 miles on a 240-volt circuit. This guide shows how long each takes, what it costs, and how to work out which one your daily driving needs.
The three ways to charge at home
Charging speed at home is set by two limits: what the outlet or charger can supply, and what the car will accept. GetTesla's charging calculator uses these figures, which follow Tesla's published charging specifications for the 2026 lineup:
- Household outlet (120 V). The Mobile Connector on a 15-amp outlet draws 12 amps, about 1.4 kW. Every Tesla accepts this.
- NEMA 14-50 outlet (240 V). The dryer-style 50-amp outlet supports 32 amps, about 7.7 kW. This is the most a Standard Model 3 or Model Y will take at home.
- Wall Connector (240 V). On a 60-amp circuit it delivers 48 amps, about 11.5 kW. Premium and Performance trims and the Cybertruck can use all of it. Standard trims cannot, so for a Standard car a Wall Connector is no faster than a 14-50 outlet.
Speed is not the same as cost. All three bring the same energy into the car, so the electricity bill per mile is nearly the same. The 120-volt outlet loses somewhat more energy as heat over its long sessions, so it costs a little more per mile.
How long a full charge takes
The table adds 80 percent of each car's EPA range, for example 10 percent to 90 percent. The range and consumption figures come from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov listing. The Model Y Standard Rear-Wheel Drive is rated 138 MPGe, and the Premium Rear-Wheel Drive 134 MPGe. Times are estimates from the calculator, not Tesla promises. Real sessions vary with temperature and battery condition.
| Car (adds 80% of range) | 120 V outlet | NEMA 14-50 (240 V) | Wall Connector (240 V) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model Y Standard RWD (about 257 miles added) | about 48 hours | about 8 hours | about 8 hours |
| Model Y Premium RWD (about 286 miles added) | about 55 hours | about 9 hours | about 6 hours |
| Cybertruck AWD (about 260 miles added) | about 86 hours | about 15 hours | about 10 hours |
Those numbers look long, but few people charge from 10 to 90 percent at home. Most drivers add a day's driving each night, which is much shorter.
A worked example: 40 miles a day in a Model Y Standard
Take a Model Y Standard Rear-Wheel Drive and a commute of 40 miles a day. At 138 MPGe, EPA lists its consumption at about 24 kWh per 100 miles, which GetTesla's data puts at 24.4. That figure is measured at the wall on 240 volts.
- Energy needed per day on 240 V: 40 miles x 0.244 kWh per mile = 9.8 kWh.
- Time on a 14-50 outlet: 9.8 kWh / 7.7 kW = about 1.3 hours.
- Energy needed on a 120 V outlet: the calculator assumes about 80 percent efficiency on 120 volts against 88 percent on 240 volts, so 9.8 x 0.88 / 0.80 = 10.7 kWh.
- Time on a 120 V outlet: 10.7 kWh / 1.44 kW = about 7.5 hours.
So a 40-mile day fits easily into one night on a regular outlet, if the car is plugged in at about 10 p.m. and unplugged by 6 a.m. A 14-50 outlet or Wall Connector finishes the same job in little more than an hour.
Now the cost. The U.S. Energy Information Administration lists average residential electricity at 16.03 cents per kWh in Texas and 32.58 cents in California for January to August 2026 (preliminary figures, read October 28, 2026). On 240 volts, that daily 9.8 kWh costs about $1.57 in Texas and $3.19 in California. Over 30 days, that is about $47 and $96. On a 120-volt outlet, the 10.7 kWh costs about $1.72 and $3.49 a day, roughly 10 percent more.
Your own rate may differ, especially if your utility has a time-of-use plan. Put your state and miles into the savings calculator to see your yearly figure.
Which setup fits you
- Under about 40 miles a day, parked at home overnight: a 120-volt outlet can be enough. It adds roughly 5 miles of range per hour in a Model Y Standard, so 10 hours gives about 54 miles.
- 40 to 100 miles a day, or a car that sometimes sits for less than a night: a 240-volt outlet. It adds about 30 miles of range per hour in the same car, so a 10-hour night can fill the car from empty.
- Premium or Performance trims, a Cybertruck, or two Teslas sharing a garage: a Wall Connector gives these cars the full 11.5 kW. Check that your electrical panel has room for a 60-amp circuit. That is a question for a licensed electrician, not a figure to guess.
The one downside to a 120-volt outlet is time. After a long trip, or if you drive more than 50 miles on several days in a row, the car will not catch up. A 240-volt circuit costs more to install, and installation prices vary widely by home, so get a quote before deciding.
For a fuller look at the equipment, read choosing a home Level 2 charger for your Tesla. To see what a full home charge costs in your state, see what charging a Tesla at home actually costs, state by state, and to prepare your home before delivery, get your home ready before your Tesla arrives.
What to do
- Write down your typical daily miles. Divide by 4 to get the hours a 120-volt outlet needs for a Model Y, or by 30 for a 240-volt outlet.
- Find out whether you have a 14-50 outlet or room on your panel for a new circuit, and get an electrician's quote.
- Check your utility for an overnight or time-of-use rate, which can cut the cost of charging.
- Try the charging calculator with your trim and charger to see the time and cost for your own car.
Charging times here are estimates for the 2026 Model Y and Cybertruck using GetTesla's calculator as of October 28, 2026. Tesla can change specifications and software limits, and your own results will vary.
