Pricing guide
How Much Does Car Detailing Cost?
Car detailing is priced by package and vehicle size, from a basic wash to a full interior-and-exterior detail or a ceramic coating. Package tiers are costed below, with a note on where the premium work stops paying for itself on an older car.
Founder, Smarfle · Published June 26, 2026
Average car detailing
$50 to $300+
By package and vehicle size. Basic washes are at the low end; full details and ceramic coatings cost considerably more.
Quick answer
Car detailing typically costs $50 to $300 or more depending on the package and vehicle size. A basic wash and wax runs $50 to $100, a full interior-and-exterior detail $150 to $300, and a ceramic coating $500 to $2,000.
Car Detailing price list
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Basic wash and wax | $50 to $100 |
| Interior detail | $75 to $200 |
| Full detail (interior + exterior) | $150 to $300 |
| Clay bar and polish | $100 to $250 |
| Ceramic coating | $500 to $2,000 |
| Headlight restoration | $50 to $150 |
Prices are typical U.S. ranges and vary by region, scope, and condition. Always get a written quote.
Cost by vehicle size (full detail)
| Vehicle | Full detail |
|---|---|
| Sedan / compact | $150 to $225 |
| SUV / crossover | $175 to $275 |
| Truck / large SUV | $200 to $350 |
| Minivan | $200 to $325 |
Cost by package
| Package | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Express wash | $25 to $50 | exterior wash and dry |
| Wash and wax | $50 to $100 | wash plus wax |
| Interior detail | $75 to $200 | vacuum, shampoo, wipe-down |
| Full detail | $150 to $300 | interior plus exterior |
| Ceramic coating | $500 to $2,000 | multi-year paint protection |
What affects the cost
Vehicle size
A compact car costs less than a large SUV, truck, or van, which have more surface area and interior to clean.
Package level
A basic wash is quick; a full detail with clay bar, polish, and interior shampoo takes hours and costs more.
Condition
Heavily soiled interiors, pet hair, stains, or oxidized paint take extra time and may carry a surcharge.
Mobile vs shop
Mobile detailing that comes to you may add a convenience surcharge, while a shop may have package deals.
What you are actually paying for
The parts of a car detailing quote that never appear as a line item, from the side of the business that has to cover them.
You are renting a bay and a technician's day
A full interior and exterior detail occupies one person and one working space for most of a day, and that space can only be sold once. Against a federal median of $35,830 for vehicle cleaning work, the labor alone explains most of the gap between a quick wash and a full detail.
Machine polishing is the detailer assuming liability
Correcting paint means removing a controlled amount of clear coat, and getting it wrong is a repaint. Packages that include correction cost more partly because the person doing it is accepting responsibility for the finish, which is a different risk from washing and vacuuming.
A mobile rig carries its own water and power
Mobile detailing saves you a trip but does not save the detailer money. They are hauling a tank, a generator and a pressure system, and they can fit fewer jobs into a day because they drive between them. Similar pricing to a shop reflects a genuinely similar cost, not a premium for convenience.
Where the money goes
Most detailers price by package, with premium services like clay bar, polish, and especially ceramic coating priced separately because they are time-intensive and high-skill. Ceramic coating is the biggest single line because it can take a full day and protects the paint for years.
Should you DIY or hire a pro?
A basic wash is easy to DIY. A full detail (clay bar, machine polish, interior shampoo) and especially a ceramic coating need professional skill and equipment: a botched coating has to be stripped and redone, which costs more than paying a pro the first time. For protection and resale value, a pro detail is usually worth it.
How to save on car detailing
- Book a package rather than separate services. The bay time is the real cost and it is sold once either way.
- Keep the car maintained between details so each one is a lighter job.
- A ceramic coating costs more up front and reduces how often you need correction work later.
- Skip paint correction if you only want the car clean. It carries the most labor and the most risk in the whole package.
- Ask about repeat-customer or membership rates, which exist to keep the bay booked.
What the federal data shows
Detailing sits inside the federal category of cleaners of vehicles and equipment, which had a median of $35,830 in May 2025. A full detail is several hours of one person's time, so the labor cost alone explains most of the gap between a $50 wash and a $300 interior-and-exterior package.
Run a car detailing business? Here is what to charge
If you run a detailing business, price your packages clearly and break out premium services like ceramic coating as separate lines, they are your highest-margin work. Memberships and repeat customers are far more valuable than one-off washes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does car detailing cost?
How much is a full car detail?
How much does ceramic coating cost?
How much does interior detailing cost?
Is mobile detailing more expensive?
More pricing guides
Where these numbers come from
The dollar ranges on this page are our own editorial estimates, not survey data. We build them from the federal wage figures cited below, which set the labor floor for the trade, plus the typical job scopes we see in the field. Materials, permits, access and local demand move every one of them. Treat the ranges as a starting point for a conversation with a contractor, not as a quote.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Hand Laborers and Material Movers (May 2025)Car detailing sits inside this group rather than having its own handbook profile. The sub-occupation "cleaners of vehicles and equipment" had a median of $35,830 in May 2025, which is the labor rate behind the ranges above.
Last reviewed September 2026.
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