Car Repair EstimatorBumper repair cost
Updated 2026-09-29 · By the Car Repair Estimator team
Bumper repair typically costs about $150-$600 for scuffs, scratches and small dents, and about $450-$1,400 for a crack that needs plastic repair and repainting. Replacing a bumper cover usually runs $500-$2,500, and more on luxury cars or bumpers with parking sensors, cameras or radar.
Bumper repair and replacement costs
On nearly every modern car, what you see as the "bumper" is a painted plastic cover. Behind it sit foam or plastic energy absorbers, a metal reinforcement bar, brackets and, on many cars, sensors. Cosmetic damage to the cover is usually repairable. Damage to the parts behind it, or to the cover's mounting tabs, pushes the job toward replacement.
| Repair type | Typical cost range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Light scuff, touch-up | $150-$500 | Sand, fill and spot refinish a small area |
| Scuff with full bumper refinish | $300-$900 | Whole cover repainted for an even match |
| Scratches | $100-$300 | Shallow scratches that don't need plastic repair |
| Small dent in the cover | $150-$250 | Plastic can often be reshaped with heat |
| Crack, plastic weld or epoxy | About $300 | Before paint; small cracks only |
| Crack or tear, repair plus repaint | $450-$1,400 | Depends on crack length and paint color |
| Paint a bumper | $300-$600 | Tri-coat colors about $750-$2,500+ |
| Front bumper cover replacement | $500-$2,000 | Cover, paint and labor; sensors reused |
| Rear bumper cover replacement | $700-$1,800 | Mainstream vehicles; luxury $3,000-$5,000+ |
| Luxury or specialty vehicle, full replacement | $2,000-$5,000+ | OEM parts and complex finishes |
| Reinforcement bar or absorber | Add $250-$900 | Hidden damage found after the cover comes off |
| ADAS sensor calibration | Add $250-$1,200+ | Per sensor: about $150-$300 ultrasonic, $200-$400 camera, $300-$600 radar |
Ranges are compiled from body shop guides published in 2025-2026 and CarParts.com. Sources disagree on edges: one shop puts standard full replacement at $700-$1,500, while another puts the cover with reused sensors at $800-$2,500. AutoZone puts most front bumper replacements at $500-$1,500, with sensor-equipped or luxury models reaching $2,500 or more.
Front vs rear bumper replacement cost
Which end costs more depends on what's built into it. Front bumpers often carry radar for adaptive cruise and automatic emergency braking, plus fog lights, grilles and parking sensors. Rear bumpers can carry parking sensors, blind-spot radar and trim for the backup camera. One 2026 shop guide lists front bumper jobs at about $800-$2,000 and rear at about $700-$1,800 for mainstream cars. In AAA's 2023 study of ADAS repair costs, the average minor rear collision estimate was about $1,698, of which about $684 was driver-assistance parts, while the ADAS portion of a minor front collision averaged about $1,540. If your bumper has no sensors, both ends usually cost about the same.
What drives the cost
Type and location of damage
Scuffs on a corner are cheap. Cracks near mounting tabs, torn plastic, and punctures are expensive to repair well and often lead to replacement. If the impact was hard enough to bend brackets or crush the absorber, those parts add to the bill even if the cover looks fine.
Paint
Nearly every bumper repair ends with paint. Solid colors are cheapest. Metallic, pearl and tri-coat colors cost more and may require blending into the fender or quarter panel for a match. See cost to repaint a car for panel and full paint prices.
Sensors and ADAS
Parking sensors, cameras and radar must be removed and reinstalled, sometimes replaced, and then calibrated so safety systems work correctly. That work requires special equipment and can add hundreds to more than a thousand dollars.
OEM vs aftermarket parts
An OEM cover from the automaker fits best but costs more; AutoZone puts OEM bumper parts alone at roughly $700-$2,000. Aftermarket covers are cheaper but may need more fitting time. Nearby parts, like a headlight or fender, often get damaged in the same impact.
Labor rates
Shop labor rates vary a lot by region. Urban shops charge noticeably more per hour than shops in smaller towns.
Repair or replace?
Repair is usually the better value for scuffs, scratches, small dents and short cracks away from mounting points. Replacement usually wins when the cover is torn, has several cracks, has broken mounting tabs, or when repair labor plus paint approaches the cost of a new painted cover. On cars with sensors, a shop may recommend replacement if a sensor bracket molded into the cover is broken.
DIY bumper repair
CarParts.com notes that DIY bumper repair kits start around $15. Popping out a shallow dent with heat or touching up a light scuff is a reasonable home job. Plastic welding, color matching and anything involving sensors is best left to a shop.
Is it worth using insurance?
For a scuffed or lightly cracked bumper, the repair often costs less than your deductible. Once sensors, reinforcement bars or other panels are involved, the total can pass $1,000 quickly, and a claim may make sense. Compare an itemized estimate to your deductible first.
How to get an accurate bumper estimate
Photograph the whole bumper plus close-ups of each crack or scuff, and check for gaps between the bumper and fender, which can mean broken clips or brackets. With Car Repair Estimator Repair+ you can snap the damage, scan the VIN so the estimate matches your trim and its sensors, and get an itemized estimate with parts, body labor and refinish hours listed separately at local rates. Then get quotes from 2-3 shops and ask whether each quote includes sensor calibration and blending. The app's estimate is informational, not an insurance appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a bumper?
Painting a front or rear bumper at a body shop typically costs about $300-$600. Metallic and pearl colors cost more, and tri-coat paints can push the price to roughly $750-$2,500.
How much does bumper scuff repair cost?
A light scuff that only needs sanding and touch-up typically costs about $150-$500. If the whole bumper cover has to be refinished to match, expect about $300-$900.
Can a cracked bumper be repaired?
Often, yes. Shops can plastic-weld or epoxy many cracks, with a simple crack repair around $300 and a crack repair plus repaint roughly $450-$1,400. Cracks at mounting tabs, large tears and damage near sensors often make replacement the better choice.
Why is my bumper replacement so expensive?
Modern bumpers can hold parking sensors, cameras and radar that must be transferred or replaced and then calibrated. Calibration alone can add about $250-$1,200, and AAA found driver-assistance parts made up a large share of minor collision repair bills.
Sources
- Brea Auto Body - Bumper repair cost 2026
- Re-Lux Collision - Bumper repair cost (2025)
- CarParts.com - How to fix a cracked bumper (2025)
- AutoZone - Front bumper replacement cost
- StormWise - How much to paint a bumper
- AAA - Cost of ADAS repairs (2023)
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