How Much to Charge for Car Detailing Pricing Guide 2026

Wondering how much to charge for car detailing? You’re not alone; setting profitable prices is a common challenge for new and experienced detailers. You need rates that attract customers but also build a sustainable business.

On average, you can expect to charge between $100 and $350 for a standard car detailing service in 2026. Basic packages for smaller cars range from $50-$150, while comprehensive full-service details on larger vehicles can cost $200-$350 or more. Factors like vehicle size, its initial condition, and the specific types of services included are the biggest drivers of the final price.

This data-driven guide moves beyond simple price lists. We’ll break down the exact factors that justify your rates and show you how to calculate prices based on your unique costs and profit goals. You’ll learn the strategies to structure your services for maximum profitability and price with confidence.

Key Facts

• Mobile Convenience Carries a Premium: Mobile detailing services that travel to a client’s location typically justify a 20-30% price premium over shop-based services, according to industry analysis.
• Vehicle Condition is a Major Factor: Expect to add a surcharge of 25-50% for vehicles with excessive pet hair, heavy stains, or significant soil, as this extra work can add hours to the job.
• Size Directly Impacts Price: Industry data from sources like CARFAX shows that larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks consistently cost $50-$100 more to detail than compact cars due to the increased surface area and labor time.
• Profit Margins are a Key Metric: A healthy profit margin for a car detailing business is between 30% and 50%, a target that your pricing structure should be designed to achieve.
• Full-Service Details Offer High Value: A comprehensive full-service detail, which includes both interior and exterior work, typically costs between $200 and $350.

How Much to Charge for Car Detailing? 2026 Pricing Guide

The average cost for a professional car detail in 2026 ranges from $150 to $500.. However, this is just a benchmark. A basic maintenance detail on a small, well-kept car might be as low as $100, while a premium service like multi-stage paint correction on a luxury vehicle can easily exceed $1,000. This guide is built on data-driven analysis from industry sources like CARFAX and Yelp, providing a realistic foundation for your pricing strategy.

The key is to understand that you are not just selling a clean car; you are providing a meticulous service that restores and protects a client’s valuable asset. Effective car detailing pricing is about balancing market rates with your specific business costs and profit goals. These numbers serve as a starting point, but the rest of this guide will teach you how to adapt them to fit your unique business model.

Here is a summary of typical price ranges you can expect for different levels of service. This table provides a clear overview of what the market supports, helping you position your own packages competitively.

Service Level	Typical Price Range	Average Cost
Basic Detail Package	$50 – $150	$100
Full-Service Detail	$200 – $350	$275
Interior-Only Detail	$150 – $300	$225
Exterior-Only Detail	$100 – $250	$175
Premium/Paint Correction	$500 – $1,000+	$750

What Key Factors Determine Car Detailing Prices?

The primary factors that determine car detailing prices are vehicle size, the initial condition of the vehicle, the service location (mobile vs. shop), your experience level, and any add-on services. Understanding these variables is crucial for providing accurate quotes and ensuring you are compensated fairly for your work. Each factor directly influences the labor time and materials required for the job.

Here’s a breakdown of how these key price modifiers affect your final quote:

• 🚘 Vehicle Size: This is one of the most significant factors. Larger vehicles simply have more surface area to clean, both inside and out. As a general rule, you should charge more for larger vehicles. Industry data shows SUVs, trucks, and vans typically cost $50 to $100 more than a standard sedan.
• 🔥 Vehicle Condition: A car that is regularly maintained will cost less to detail than one that is heavily soiled. Factors like excessive pet hair, tough stains, accumulated grime, or smoke odor removal can dramatically increase labor time. It is standard practice to apply a surcharge of 25-50% for these conditions.
• 📍 Service Location (Mobile vs. Shop): Where you perform the service matters. Mobile detailing commands a premium price, often 20-30% higher than shop-based services. This premium covers your travel time, fuel costs, and the convenience you provide by coming directly to the customer.
• ⭐ Experience Level and Reputation: As you build your skills and a portfolio of positive reviews, you can command higher prices. Established professionals with a strong reputation can often charge 20-40% more than a beginner. Your expertise is a valuable asset.
• 💰 Add-on Services: These are your profit drivers. Specialized services that go beyond a standard detail add significant value and should be priced accordingly. Services like multi-stage paint correction, ceramic coating application, headlight restoration, or engine bay cleaning can add anywhere from $75 to over $1,000 to the final bill.

How Do You Structure Detailing Services into Profitable Packages?

A successful detailing business typically uses a three-tiered package structure to appeal to different customer needs and budgets.. This model simplifies choices for your clients and creates clear upsell paths. Instead of offering a confusing menu of individual services, you group them into logical, value-driven packages.

From years of working with different customer types, a “Good, Better, Best” model has proven to be the most effective. It guides customers toward the option that provides the most value, which is often your standard or “Full” detail package. Let’s break down how to build this structure.

🧼 The Basic Maintenance Package

This is your entry-level offer, designed for value-conscious customers or those on a regular maintenance schedule. It’s the “foot in the door” package that introduces clients to your quality of work.

• Target Customer: Repeat clients on a monthly plan or new customers looking for a professional clean without a major investment.
• Typical Services:
  • Thorough exterior hand wash
  • Interior vacuuming of carpets and seats
  • Wipe down of dashboard and door panels
  • Window cleaning inside and out
  • Tire and wheel cleaning with tire dressing

💪 The Standard “Full” Detail (Most Popular)

This is your flagship offering and should be positioned as the best value for most car owners. It provides a comprehensive clean that restores the vehicle to a like-new condition, balancing affordability with a significant transformation.

• Target Customer: The majority of car owners who want a complete interior and exterior refresh.
• Typical Services:
  • Everything in the Basic Package, PLUS:
  • Application of wax or a paint sealant for protection and shine
  • Deep cleaning and shampooing of carpets, floor mats, and upholstery
  • Leather cleaning and conditioning (if applicable)
  • Detailed cleaning of vents, consoles, and door jambs

💎 The Premium Restoration Package

This is your high-ticket, high-margin service for car enthusiasts, people selling their vehicle, or anyone wanting the absolute best. It includes specialized services that require advanced skills and more time.

• Target Customer: Enthusiasts, owners of luxury vehicles, or clients preparing a car for sale.
• Typical Services:
  • Everything in the Standard Package, PLUS:
  • Clay bar treatment to decontaminate the paint surface
  • Single or multi-stage paint correction to remove swirls and light scratches
  • Application of a high-end sealant or entry-level ceramic coating
  • Engine bay cleaning

Here is a table to help you and your customers visualize the differences and see the value progression between each tier.

Feature	Basic Maintenance Package	Standard “Full” Detail	Premium Restoration Package
Target Customer	Value-Conscious / Repeat	Most Car Owners	Enthusiasts / Selling Vehicle
Est. Price	$50 – $150	$200 – $350	$500+
Exterior Wash	✔️	✔️	✔️
Interior Vacuum	✔️	✔️	✔️
Tire Dressing	✔️	✔️	✔️
Wax/Sealant	❌	✔️	✔️ (High-End Sealant)
Interior Shampoo	❌	✔️	✔️ (Deep Clean & Extraction)
Clay Bar Treatment	❌	Optional Add-on	✔️
Paint Correction	❌	❌	✔️ (Multi-stage)

How Do You Calculate Your Detailing Hourly Rate to Ensure Profitability?

To calculate your detailing hourly rate, you must first sum all your monthly business expenses and your desired monthly profit, then divide that total by the number of billable hours you plan to work in a month.. This is the single most important calculation for building a sustainable business. Pricing based on market rates alone is a guess; pricing based on your actual costs is a strategy.

What most guides miss is that your time is your biggest expense, and your prices must cover more than just chemical supplies. Let’s walk through the exact steps to determine the minimum hourly rate you must charge to be profitable.

1. 🗓 Calculate Your Total Monthly Costs (Overhead)
   This includes every expense required to operate your business, even before you touch a car. Don’t estimate here; use real numbers.
   • Supplies: Chemicals, microfiber towels, polishing pads, etc.
   • Fixed Costs: Insurance, software subscriptions (for booking/invoicing), phone bill, vehicle payments, and shop rent (if applicable).
   • Variable Costs: Fuel, marketing and advertising, credit card processing fees.
2. 💵 Determine Your Desired Monthly Salary (Profit)
   How much do you need to earn each month to cover your personal living expenses? This is your take-home pay. A business that doesn’t pay its owner is a hobby, not a company.

3. ⏲ Estimate Your Monthly Billable Hours
   Be realistic. This is not the total hours you work, but only the hours you are actively detailing a customer’s car. Do not include time spent driving, marketing, or doing administrative tasks. A full-time detailer might work 160 hours a month but only have 100-120 billable hours.

4. 📈 Calculate Your Target Hourly Rate
   Now, put it all together with a simple formula. This gives you the hourly rate you need to charge to cover all costs and pay yourself your desired salary.

   (Monthly Costs + Desired Profit) / Billable Hours = Your Target Hourly Rate

   Let’s use a real-world example:

   • Your monthly costs (supplies, insurance, fuel) are $1,000.
   • You want to earn a salary of $4,000 per month.
   • You realistically estimate you can work 100 billable hours per month.
   • The calculation: ($1,000 + $4,000) / 100 = $50 per hour.

This $50/hour is your break-even number. Any rate below this means you are losing money. To achieve a healthy profit margin of 30-50%, you should aim to charge more, perhaps $60-$80 per hour. When you quote a flat rate for a 4-hour full detail, you know your price must be at least $200 (4 hours x $50/hr) just to break even.

How Should a Beginner Price Their Detailing Services?

Beginner car detailers should price their services approximately 20-30% below the local market rate for their first 5-10 clients.. This is not about being the “cheap guy” forever. It is a calculated business strategy to overcome your biggest initial challenge: a lack of social proof.

The goal of this introductory pricing is to quickly build a portfolio of before-and-after photos and collect positive online reviews. These assets are far more valuable than the small amount of extra money you’d make by charging full price from day one. You are strategically trading a temporary discount for the marketing tools you need to attract future, full-price customers.

Here is a simple, actionable plan for pricing your services when you are just starting out:

• 💼 Research Your Local Market: First, find out what established, reputable detailers in your area are charging for their standard packages. This gives you your “market rate” benchmark.
• 🎯 Apply the “First 10 Clients” Rule: Offer your services at a 20-30% discount to your first 5-10 customers. Be transparent about why you are doing this. A great approach is to say, “I’m currently building my portfolio and would love to offer you a discount on my full detail service in exchange for a detailed review and permission to use before-and-after photos.”
• 📸 Focus on Documentation, Not Just Detailing: Your primary goal with these first few jobs is to get stunning photos and glowing testimonials. Take high-quality pictures that clearly show the transformation. A great before-and-after shot of a cleaned carpet or a restored headlight is your best salesperson.
• 🎖 Graduate from Introductory Rates: Once you have a collection of 5-10 positive reviews and a solid portfolio of your work, it’s time to raise your prices. Confidently adjust your rates to match the established market prices in your area. You now have the social proof to justify them.

This approach turns your first few jobs into a powerful investment in your business’s future. It builds momentum, confidence, and the credibility needed to compete effectively.

FAQs About How Much to Charge for Car Detailing

How much extra should I charge for excessive pet hair?

You should charge an extra $50 to $100 for excessive pet hair removal.. This fee is completely justified because removing embedded hair is extremely labor-intensive, often adding 1-2 hours to the job. It requires specialized tools like rubber brushes and high-powered vacuums. Always inspect the vehicle first and get your client’s approval for the surcharge before you begin work to ensure transparency.

Is mobile detailing more expensive to offer?

Yes, mobile detailing typically justifies a 20-30% price premium over shop-based services.. While you save on the overhead of a physical shop, you must account for non-billable travel time, fuel costs, and the investment in a self-contained setup (water tank, generator). The premium price reflects the significant convenience and time savings you provide to the customer.

How do I price a ceramic coating job?

Professional ceramic coating jobs should be priced between $800 and $2,500.. This wide range is because the price must include a mandatory and labor-intensive first step: a full paint correction to remove any imperfections before sealing the paint. The final price depends on the vehicle’s size, the quality and warranty length of the coating product, and the number of hours required for paint correction.

Should I charge by the hour or by the car?

You should always quote clients a flat rate “by the car,” but you must calculate that rate based on your target hourly wage.. Customers overwhelmingly prefer the price certainty of a flat rate. Calculating it based on your internal hourly rate ensures you remain profitable, protecting you if a job takes longer than anticipated. This method provides the best of both worlds: customer transparency and business profitability.

How much should I charge for just an interior detail?

A comprehensive interior-only detail should be priced between $150 and $300.. The final price is heavily dependent on the vehicle’s size and condition. A basic interior clean for a well-maintained sedan would be at the lower end, while a deep clean involving fabric shampooing, steam cleaning, and leather conditioning on a large, heavily soiled SUV would be at the higher end of that range.

What’s a fair price for headlight restoration?

Headlight restoration is a high-margin add-on service that should be priced between $75 and $150.. The material costs for this service are very low, but the visual transformation is dramatic, providing extremely high perceived value for the customer. It’s an excellent and easy service to upsell during any exterior wash or detail.

Do I need to charge sales tax for detailing services?

This depends entirely on your state and local regulations; it is critical to consult a local tax professional or accountant.. In many jurisdictions, auto detailing is considered a taxable service. Failing to properly collect and remit sales tax can result in significant fines and legal issues. Getting professional advice on this matter from the start is a necessary cost of doing business.

How do I handle clients who say my price is too high?

Politely and confidently explain the value included in your service, referencing your meticulous process, the quality of products you use, and the dedicated time it takes.. Avoid getting defensive or immediately offering a discount. A professional response could be: “I understand my price may seem higher than some, and that’s because a thorough job on your vehicle will take me 6 hours and involves a multi-step process to ensure the best possible results and protection.”

Should I offer a discount for repeat customers?

Yes, offering a 15-20% discount for customers who sign up for a recurring maintenance plan (e.g., monthly or quarterly) is an excellent business strategy.. This is far more effective than offering random one-off discounts. It rewards loyalty while creating predictable, recurring revenue, which is the foundation of a stable and sustainable detailing business.

What is a good profit margin for a car detailing business?

A healthy profit margin for a well-run car detailing business is between 30% and 50%.. Mobile operators with lower overhead can often achieve margins on the higher end of this range. Shop-based businesses with costs like rent and utilities may fall closer to the 30-40% mark. Your entire pricing strategy should be built with the goal of achieving this level of profitability.

Key Takeaways: How to Price Your Detailing Services

• Price Based on Profit, Not Just a Guess: Use the formula (Monthly Costs + Desired Profit) / Billable Hours = Your Hourly Rate to find your unique, profitable rate. Don’t just copy competitors.
• Use a 3-Tier Package System: Structure your offerings into Basic, Standard, and Premium packages. This simplifies choices for customers and provides clear upsell paths for you.
• Account for Price Modifiers: Always adjust your base price for vehicle size (+$50-100 for SUVs/trucks), heavy soil/pet hair (+25-50%), and the convenience of mobile service (+20-30%).
• Beginners Price for Portfolio: If you’re new, charge 20-30% below market rate for your first 5-10 clients specifically in exchange for high-quality photos and detailed reviews.
• Quote Flat Rates, But Think Hourly: Give customers a fixed price for the job, but ensure that price was calculated based on your target hourly rate and the estimated time to complete the service.
• Add-Ons Are Your Profit Engine: Services like headlight restoration ($75-$150) and ceramic coating ($800+) have high perceived value and excellent margins. Always look for opportunities to upsell.
• Convenience Commands a Premium: Mobile detailing is a convenience service. Your pricing should reflect the value of saving the customer’s time, justifying a 20-30% premium over shop-based rates.

Final Thoughts on Setting Your Car Detailing Prices

Setting your car detailing prices is one of the most empowering steps you can take as a business owner. It’s not about finding a magic number, but about creating a strategic system. By moving away from simply copying market averages and instead calculating rates based on your actual costs and profit goals, you transform pricing from a source of anxiety into a powerful tool for building a successful enterprise.

Remember to structure your services in clear, tiered packages that make sense to your customers and guide them toward the best value. Always account for variables like vehicle size and condition, and never be afraid to charge a premium for specialized skills and the convenience you offer.

Ultimately, effective pricing is about communicating your value with confidence. When you understand your numbers and the quality of the results you deliver, you can stand behind your prices and attract clients who appreciate true professional service. Use this guide as your blueprint to build a profitable and sustainable detailing business.