Tesla Model 3 vs Tesla Model S
Price, range, charging speed and what each costs to run, side by side.
Quick answer
- Lowest price: Tesla Model 3, from $36,990.
- Longest range: Tesla Model S, up to 410 miles.
- Quickest fast charging: Tesla Model 3: ~185 mi in 15 min (Tesla); 10–80% ~27 min (estimate).
- Cheapest to charge at home: Tesla Model 3, about $45 a month (a 28-mpg gas car: about $121).
Tesla Model S: 2026 model · no longer sold new.
Side by side
| Tesla Model 3 | Tesla Model S | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $36,990 | $109,990 |
| EPA range | 309–363 miles | 309–410 miles |
| Winter range (about 20% less) | ~247–290 miles | ~247–328 miles |
| Body style | Midsize sedan | Large sedan |
| Battery | 79 kWh | 100 kWh |
| Efficiency | 4.1 mi/kWh | 3.7 mi/kWh |
| Home charging cost | ~$45/month (4.5¢/mile) | ~$50/month (5¢/mile) |
| Level 2 at home | 11.5 kW · ~40 mi/hr | 11.5 kW · ~35 mi/hr |
| DC fast charging | Up to 250 kW | Up to 250 kW |
| 10–80% fast charge | ~185 mi in 15 min (Tesla); 10–80% ~27 min (estimate) | ~200 mi in 15 min (Tesla); 10–80% ~30 min (estimate) |
| Plug | NACS (Tesla) plug | NACS (Tesla) plug |
| 300-mile road trip | 1 stop, 8 min charging · ~$16 | No stop · ~$16 |
Which one fits you
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if…
- ✓ you want the lowest price: from $73,000 less
- ✓ you road-trip: fast charging 10–80% about 3 minutes quicker
- ✓ you want the cheapest running costs: about $5 a month less to charge at home
- ✓ you want a midsize sedan: the only one here
Pick the Tesla Model S if…
- ✓ range matters most: up to 47 more miles on a charge
- ✓ you want a large sedan: the only one here
Which one fits how you actually drive?
Specs don’t say whether a car works with your charging and your week. Answer 5 quick questions and see which electric cars match your driving, what they’d cost you to charge, and how often you’d need a fast charger.
Check your EV readiness →Charging cost where you live
The figures above use the U.S. average electricity rate. Each car’s page links to its cost in your state:
Other comparisons
Base MSRP before incentives. Ranges are EPA estimates across each model’s trims. Running costs assume 1,000 miles a month at the U.S. average of 18.4¢/kWh. The road trip uses each model’s longest-range version on the highway in summer, leaving home full, charging 10–80% at $0.50/kWh. Fast-charging times are the makers’ claims or estimates noted on each model page.