How Much Does a Ceramic Coating Cost?

This is the number one question that we receive about ceramic coatings. "How much is a ceramic coating?" We will answer that in the most transparent way possible:

"It depends."

Here at Extensive Detailing, we aim to be as upfront and direct as possible. So we'll break it down - here are the major variables when it comes to our ceramic coating prices.

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SIZE OF THE VEHICLE

The main factor we take into consideration is the size of the vehicle. A Mazda Miata will take less time than a GMC Yukon XL. This is the key factor of the final price.

CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE

How much preparation and paint correction will the vehicle need? A Chevrolet Equinox that is driven daily and has 60,000 miles will likely need much more preparation than a Corvette that is kept in the garage and only driven to and from car shows. This is an important factor for ensuring the vehicle is completed on schedule and has enough time in the shop for a quality result. Any reputable detailer should thoroughly inspect your vehicle to tell you how much work will be required before applying a ceramic coating.

COLOR OF THE VEHICLE

Sometimes, potential clients challenge us on this and ask why we need to know the color of the vehicle. The simple fact is that dark vehicles are SIGNIFICANTLY harder and more time-consuming to work on. Just as dark vehicles show more dirt, they also show more imperfections.

BRAND OF COATING BEING APPLIED

Any DIY or consumer-grade coatings will vary greatly compared to a professional-use only coating. Choosing a ceramic coating or mode of application is one of the most important decisions a car enthusiast will make. The DIY market is PACKED with inferior products with over-exaggerated claims - so do your research before you purchase any DIY products. The team at Extensive Detailing has been professionally trained and certified to install ceramic coatings. Because of this, we only use professional-grade ceramic coatings that offer the highest level of protection to our clients. We are extremely selective on which products we offer and only choose those that offer the highest level of quality.

EXPERIENCE OF THE DETAILER APPLYING YOUR CERAMIC COATING

This is EXTREMELY important. A detailer that has applied hundreds of coatings to hundreds of different vehicles will likely charge more for their services. They know the ins and outs of the coating, tips and tricks that are often specific to a certain vehicle (for example, black GM paint is incredibly hard, making it difficult to remove imperfections), and has experienced every difficulty that can arise when coating a vehicle. Because of the years of experience that they bring to the service, they will be sure to provide you with excellent preparation and application of the coating you purchase.

LEVEL OF PAINT CORRECTION NEEDED BEFORE THE COATING IS APPLIED

If you are purchasing a ceramic coating from a quality and reputable detailing professional, this will likely be the largest factor in the final price of your ceramic coating. A single-stage paint correction can easily take 5-8 hours and two-stage paint correction can take up to 14 hours. Your detailer should thoroughly discuss your expectations of the paint correction prior to coating your vehicle. If desired, even ask for a test spot or two so you can see the expected result before finalizing your appointment.

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It is extremely important to ask your detailer to give you a detailed cost and ask what is included before making a coating purchase. While you may be getting a "good price" you may not be getting a professional-grade coating, quality paint correction, or any other services that you assume may be included in the price.