Charging your electric vehicle is part of the deal, but how long does it take to charge a Tesla when you go to a charging station? These come in various shapes and sizes like regular charging stations, Tesla Supercharger stations, and even Tesla destination chargers.

You can Charge a Tesla quickly, but you can also charge slowly if necessary

There are a few different ways to charge a Tesla. Most of these options are at charging stations unless you have a home charger installed. So how long does it take to charge a Tesla at a charging station? That depends on what kind of charger you have come across. Energy Sage says there are four types of chargers: Tesla Supercharger stations, NEMA 14-50, NEMA 5-15, and wall plugs. Each Tesla also runs off a different voltage which impacts the timing.

The slowest charge you will come across is by just plugging in the Tesla with the NEMA 5-15 plug and a wall outlet. If you have a Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, or Model X, you can add two to three miles of range for each hour the Tesla is plugged in. That isn’t going to make much of a difference in a pinch, but it will do.

Tesla says, “If you charge overnight and drive less than 30 to 40 miles per day, this option should meet your typical charging needs.” Depending on your commute, you can charge a Tesla overnight without issue if your commute is shorter.

You can charge a Tesla through a regular outlet or at a Tesla Supercharger

The charging speeds up a bit using a NEMA 14-50 charger. The Tesla Model S will get a full charge in around 17 hours. This seems slow, and it is. The Model X can take approximately 18 hours to charge fully. The Model 3 moves a bit faster with a full charge in eight to 12 hours, and the Model Y is a similar time frame. For all four models, the wall connector is anywhere from seven to eight hours.

The fastest charging available is going to be from a Tesla Supercharger. For all Tesla models, 25 to 30 minutes will get you a full charge. Tesla says that you can get up to 200 miles in 15 minutes. It depends on a few factors to get the exact timing, like the degradation of the battery, the charger itself, and even the weather. Cold weather is known to slow the charging process down.

Tesla Supercharger stations are the fastest chargers available, but these can also wear down the battery faster. Additionally, Superchargers aren’t located all over the place yet. These are strategically placed around highways and major travel routes throughout the country to make longer trips more accessible.

Don’t forget the Destination Charging stations

Car and Driver recently said that the Tesla Model S Plaid was the fastest charging electric vehicle it has come across. The Model S Plaid accepted 250 kW of charge for five minutes, beating the regular Model S charging speed by around 20%. Since the Plaid is brand-new, it has the necessary capacity to charge quickly and efficiently. Due to a few factors, older model Tesla EVs might not charge at such quick speeds.

If you need to use a third-party charger, look for one labeled with J1772 or 120 volts. Using the mobile connector bundle, you should be able to plug into a non-Tesla charger and be on your way. Tesla says to store an adapter bundle the mobile connector bundle in the trunk to ensure you can plug in wherever convenient.

While charging might seem daunting initially, it doesn’t have to be. Just plan your charging out for the first few months, and you will get used to it. Tesla has an interface in the car that can help do just that.

This article was updated on 7/22/2022.