Offering some of the most popular electric cars, Tesla contributes to accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. The company has built the greenest and the most fun-to-drive electric vehicles, making headlines in the global auto industry. To keep the brand rolling, Tesla keeps on launching new and exciting products in today’s technologically advanced electric vehicles.
With a comprehensive range of 100% full electric portfolio, Tesla has taken the world to storm. From the range-topping products like Model X and Model S to affordable ones like Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, people are going gaga over Tesla.
However, the most generic question that pops in mind when it comes to electric cars is how long it will take to charge. On an estimate, a Tesla can take anywhere from one hour to seven days to fully charge, depending upon the three factors-
- Which model do you have
- What type of charger do you use
- How much charge was left on your battery when you started recharging it
In this article, we focus on Tesla Model 3 and discuss how long it takes to charge.
Types of charging stations
Before understanding how long it takes to charge a Tesla Model 3 at charging, it is essential to know the different charging stations.
A. Tesla Superchargers
Tesla has come up with its own network of public vehicle chargers. They are called superchargers and charge the Tesla Models with incredible speed. Superchargers are super fast!
Talking about Tesla Model 3, charging with these 480-volt engine superchargers for 15 minutes ensures 175 miles of range. So, for every one hour of charging with a supercharger helps Tesla Model 3 run for 700 miles.
It takes around 40 minutes at a supercharging station to recharge the vehicle’s battery up to 80%. Once the battery reaches 80%, the speed of charging reduces. It helps in protecting the battery’s health until it charges fully.
B. Charging Tesla at Home
Although superchargers are designed to charge the vehicle at the best speed, they stress the car’s battery. If you are driving your Tesla only once in a while, charging at superstations is fine. However, for daily commute with Tesla, using an at-home charger is considered the best.
You get different options for charging your Tesla at home, among which the most popular are the following-
1. NEMA 5-15 charging
Every Tesla comes with a NEMA 5-15 charger, especially for home charging. You can plug the charger into any 120-volt outlet to charge the vehicle. It is a standard household outlet that people use to charge their mobile phones.
Although NEMA 5-15 does not charge the vehicle as fast as the supercharger, with every one hour of charging, you can enjoy 3 miles of range. So, when you are using a home charging method, it is recommended to keep the Tesla Model 3 for overnight charging.
If the car’s battery is empty, it may take from four to eight days to charge it completely, depending upon the model and version of Tesla you have.
2. NEMA 14-50 charging
It is a superior charger to NEMA 5-15 charger that can charge your Tesla Model 3 faster. The reason behind this is it uses a powerful outlet of 240-volt.
Usually, homes have two types of outlets- the standard one with a 120-volt outlet that charges the batteries of phones and laptops and those with a 240-volt outlet that is typically used with washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and clothing dryers.
NEMA 14-50 charger uses a high power outlet of 240-volt. Depending upon the model, it can charge an empty car battery between 9 and 22 hours.
3. Tesla Wall Connector Charging
Wall Connectors are the charging unit that Tesla owners can install in their homes. It is another feasible option that helps charge the vehicle at great speed. Tesla recommends wall connectors as the best way to charge the Tesla vehicles.
For every one hour of charging with a wall connector, the Tesla can receive a maximum of 44 miles of range- incredibly faster than the NEMA chargers. However, high-speed charging comes with a cost.
A Wall Connector costs around $ 500 to install. At the same time, it is important to get it installed only by a Tesla-qualified electrician. Depending on the model, a wall connector can fully charge an empty Tesla battery within six to 15 hours.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model 3?
Tesla Model 3 is the highest-selling vehicle with three different versions on the market- each version has a different battery range.
- Model 3 Performance- 322 miles
- Model 3 Long Range- 322 miles
- Model 3 Standard Range Plus- 263 miles
Since the Tesla Model 3 has a small-range battery, it can charge faster than any other model. The table below will help you understand how long it will take to charge a Tesla Model 3 at charging through different ways when the battery is empty.
| At-home charging option | Model 3 Standard Range Plus charge time | Model 3 Performance charge time | Model 3 Long Range charge time |
| Wall Connector | 8.8 hours | 7.2 hours | 8.02 hours |
| NEMA 14-50 | 8.8 hours | 10.5 hours | 11.8 hours |
| NEMA 5-15 | 3.6 days | 4.4 days | 4.9 days |
Key Points to Remember
- A Tesla Model 3 will not take more than eight days to get fully charged with whatever charging method you use.
- It is recommended not to deplete the battery down to zero.
- You can also charge your Tesla at home with solar panels that cost lesser than any other charging method.
- An overnight charging will make your Tesla worthy enough to run good miles with no hassle.
- Using Tesla mobile charger with NEMA 5-15 or 14-50 outlet is the most common way of charging.
- Using Wall Connector is the most feasible way of charging Tesla, but a little costlier.
- It will take around 40 minutes to 10 hours to charge a Tesla Model 3 after commuting 30 miles. However, it will again depend upon the type of charger you are using.