The price of a charge comes down to two things: how many kWh you add, and what you pay per kWh. The first is set by the battery and how empty it is; the second by your electricity contract and where you charge. Once you know those two numbers, the maths is simple.
What does a kWh cost in Denmark?
The total price per kWh is not just the spot price of electricity. On top come the grid tariff (transporting the power), the electricity tax and VAT. Together, the price for most households in 2026 often lands somewhere between DKK 2 and 4 per kWh, depending on your contract, grid area and time of day. If you have an hourly (spot price) contract, night-time can be much cheaper than peak hours.
Lower electricity tax in 2026
From January 2026 the electricity tax was cut sharply towards the EU minimum. That lowers the tax part of your bill and makes home charging cheaper. The total price per kWh still depends on the spot price, grid tariff and VAT, so the exact figure is in your own electricity contract, not here.
A concrete worked example
Let's assume a total price of DKK 2.50/kWh, that's only an example, not a guaranteed price. A typical Tesla battery holds around 60-80 kWh:
| Charge | kWh | Cost at DKK 2.50/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Small top-up (10%) | approx. 7 kWh | approx. DKK 18 |
| Half charge | approx. 35 kWh | approx. DKK 88 |
| Nearly empty to full | approx. 70 kWh | approx. DKK 175 |
With consumption of around 16-18 kWh per 100 km, DKK 2.50/kWh works out to roughly 40-45 øre per km in pure electricity. By comparison, a petrol car often costs several times that per km, see Tesla vs petrol car.
Home vs. Supercharger
Home charging is normally the cheapest way to charge, because you pay your own electricity price and can schedule charging for the cheap hours. Supercharging is a paid fast charge meant for trips, the price per kWh is typically higher than at home and can vary by time of day. A good rule of thumb: charge at home day to day, and use a Supercharger en route on longer journeys.
- Home: cheapest, follows your contract, charge smart at night, see home charging.
- Supercharger: fast and convenient on trips, payment happens automatically via the car and app.
- Public charging: prices and payment vary between operators, see public charging.
How to keep the price down
- Charge at home at night on a spot-price contract, and use the car's built-in schedule.
- Keep the daily charge limit at a sensible level, it's good for the battery too, see battery care.
- Plan charging stops on trips so you charge where it's cheapest and it fits with a break.
- Remember that a referral often gives free Supercharging for a while, pure savings on top.
Referral benefit: free Supercharging
If you buy a new Tesla, the referral program typically gives free Supercharging for a set number of kilometres. That's a real saving on charging from the start. See the current referral benefits, and how to secure them by using the code correctly.