Quick Facts About Costs for Ceramic Coating
- An advertised starting price for ceramic coating typically includes covering the vehicle’s body paint, and costs increase with vehicle size, paint condition, and the quality of the ceramic product.
- Using a professional to apply a ceramic coating is expensive because it is labor-intensive, but the procedure can provide years of protection.
- Cars with dark paint might require a multistep paint correction to fix defects, which adds to the expense.
The cost of installing a ceramic coating depends on the vehicle’s size, age, condition, and, in some cases, the paint color. Applying an entry-level ceramic paint coating to a new or well-maintained car may cost as little as $750 at one shop and $1,000 or more at another. For comparison, consumer-grade ceramic coating for the body paint on an SUV needing surface decontamination and paint correction can cost upward of $1,500.
Starting prices at professional detailing shops typically only include coating the vehicle body paint. An additional fee applies for glass, headlight, wheel, and trim coverage. Coating all exterior surfaces of a new sedan will typically cost approximately $1,300 or about $2,000 for a new SUV or full-size pickup exterior.
- Ceramic Coating Price Range
- Regional Cost Variations
- Other Considerations
- Ceramic Coating Cost Estimates
- Why Are Ceramic Coatings So Expensive?
Ceramic Coating Price Range
Too many variables are in play to have a one-size-fits-all ceramic coating price. Vehicle size, preparation needs because of paint condition, ceramic product quality, and other factors contribute to the cost of the protective coating. These examples will help give you an idea of what to expect.
How Much Does a Professional Ceramic Coating Cost?
A ceramic coating for car paint costs about $750 to apply to a small vehicle, and the expense can exceed $1,000 depending on vehicle size, condition, and other factors. The cost to apply a ceramic coating increases by several hundred dollars if the procedure includes the glass, wheels, and trim. Coating all exterior surfaces of a car, truck, or SUV will cost $1,300 to $2,000 or more. The price estimates include a minor paint correction on new and well-maintained vehicles.
[Editor’s Note: I wanted to protect my wife’s new car, so I had it coated with paint protection film. We added a ceramic coating on top of that, on advice from the manufacturer. The ceramic coating adds additional protection and can be rejuvenated every year for a fresh look. You can protect your investment in paint protection film with ceramic coating, and make it last even longer. — Jason Fogelson, senior editor]
How Much Does it Cost to Ceramic Coat a Car?
The cost to ceramic coat the paint and all exterior surfaces of a car starts at around $1,300. Here’s a breakdown of the expenses.
- Paint ceramic coating = $750
- Glass ceramic coating = $200
- Wheel ceramic coating = $200
- Trim ceramic coating = $150
Ceramic coating a car is expensive because it can take around 15 hours to complete. However, the procedure only needs to be performed every few years. In addition to being time-consuming, the ceramic coatings are costly, with the product cost per car easily exceeding $200.
How Much Does it Cost to Ceramic Coat an SUV?
The cost to ceramic coat all exterior surfaces of an SUV will start at $1,500. Ceramic coating an SUV is a bit costlier than a car due to the increased size and the need for a work platform or ladder to coat the roof. The time required to ceramic coat an SUV typically is 18 hours if only a minor paint correction is needed. If the paint has many scratches and swirl marks, the surface needs compounding and polishing, which raises the price by $250 or more.
- Paint ceramic coating = $900
- Glass ceramic coating = $200
- Wheel ceramic coating = $200
- Trim ceramic coating = $200
How Much Does it Cost to Ceramic Coat a Truck?
The cost to ceramic coat all exterior surfaces of a truck will start at $1,600. Full-size pickup trucks will cost more money and require additional time to ceramic coat. Trucks will need upward of 20 hours if they are new or only have light scratches and swirls that a minor paint correction can remove. Neglected paint that requires compounding can easily add $300 to the cost of applying a ceramic coating.
- Paint ceramic coating = $1,000
- Glass ceramic coating = $200
- Wheel ceramic coating = $200
- Trim ceramic coating = $200
Regional Cost Variations
Our unscientific survey found no significant difference in how much it costs for ceramic coating in several regions across the country. Price discrepancies more likely come from higher labor costs in some areas, not climate differences.
Package costs at Buffalo, New York, detailing centers are similar to those in Tampa, Florida. Ceramic coating starting prices in Tempe, Arizona, are close to what shops in Louisville, Kentucky, charge. Car owners can expect to pay about the same for ceramic protection in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, as in the Seattle, Washington, area.
Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Car owners should always check a detailing shop’s references and carefully weigh cost versus quality when getting ceramic coating quotes.
Other Considerations
Understand that service charges are higher for extra-large SUVs, minivans, and trucks with bed caps. Depending on the vehicle’s condition and the services you select, a ceramic coating application could exceed $2,500 and require multiple days to complete.
Owners of cars with dark paint might spend more for a quality job as darker paint colors make paint defects more visible. Performing a multistep paint correction may help take care of the defects, but it comes with additional expense.
Remember how long the application will last if the prices give you sticker shock. For instance, a ceramic coating detail must only be performed every few years or longer. Select the best paint ceramic coatings with durability lasting seven years or longer if you plan on keeping your vehicle for that long. The downside? Those long-lasting products cost more. But even entry-level and midgrade ceramic products offer far better protection than car wax or paint sealant when technicians perform the procedure correctly.
RELATED: Paint Protection Film Guide
Ceramic Coating Cost Estimates
- Paint Ceramic Coating Cost
- Glass Ceramic Coating Cost
- Wheel Ceramic Coating Cost
- Trim Ceramic Coating Cost
Paint Ceramic Coating Cost
- Spray paint ceramic coating = $225+
- Consumer paint ceramic coating = $750+
- Professional paint ceramic coating = $1,000+
Glass Ceramic Coating Cost
- Glass ceramic coating (windshield) = $75+
- Glass ceramic coating (all windows) = $200+
Wheel Ceramic Coating Cost
- Wheel ceramic coating (faces only) = $200+
- Wheel ceramic coating (faces and barrels) = $400+
Trim Ceramic Coating Cost
- Trim ceramic coating = $150+
RELATED: How Long Does It Take to Detail a Car?
Why Are Ceramic Coatings So Expensive?
Applying a ceramic coating is an expensive but worthwhile investment in any automobile. A large portion of the cost comes from the products, exceeding $75 per fluid ounce. Top-quality products with lifetime warranties can cost even more.
Ceramic coating products come in small quantities. For example, bottles contain milliliters of the material instead of ounces, like almost every other product used for car detailing.
When you perform a DIY ceramic coating application for a single vehicle, the cost will be around $225 to coat the entire exterior surface of a car.
Larger bottles are available and contain enough product to coat multiple vehicles. These bottles usually sell for a lower price per milliliter (ml). As a result, the cost per application might decrease by nearly half.
However, buying a bigger bottle has at least one potential drawback. A container of ceramic coating is only usable for a few weeks after opening. Therefore, maximizing the savings by using the leftover product before it expires might be challenging.
Ceramic Coating Product Costs: ($225)
- Paint ceramic coating (30 ml) = $75 and up
- Glass ceramic coating (30 ml) = $50 and up
- Wheel ceramic coating (30 ml) = $50 and up
- Trim ceramic coating (30 ml) = $50 and up
Larger vehicles will need the bigger 50-milliliter bottle of ceramic coating to protect all the paint.
MORE: How Much Does It Cost to Detail a Car?
Other Expenses
The remaining expenses for materials might be between $60 and $100. Prices vary depending on what products are needed and the quantity or volume purchased. However, an average car owner won’t need gallons of products, and initial costs are higher to buy larger quantities.
Time and labor also factor into the overall expenses. In addition to high product costs, a complete ceramic coating application on a well-maintained car will take around 15 hours to perform. If a multistep paint correction is required, it is not unusual to spend 20 hours or more on a job. Of course, oversized vehicles require more for applications because of their greater surface areas.
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Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.
