Car detailing prices

Updated 2026-10-01 · By the Car Repair Estimator team

A full interior and exterior car detail typically costs about $150-$500, while a basic exterior wash and wax runs about $50-$100 and an interior-only detail about $100-$350. Large SUVs, vans and very dirty cars cost more, and add-ons such as paint correction or ceramic coating can add hundreds of dollars.

How much car detailing costs

Detailing is a deep cleaning of a car's interior and exterior, often finished with protective products such as wax or sealant. It goes well beyond a car wash, and most of the price is hand labor. The table below shows typical professional prices from national cost guides.

Ranges are compiled from HomeGuide, J.D. Power, Bankrate, Autotrader and Consumer Reports. The guides agree on the broad picture but not on the edges: J.D. Power puts full-service detailing at $150-$500, HomeGuide at $150-$500 or more, and Bankrate cites about $200-$350 for a full interior and exterior cleaning. Prices vary by region and shop, so treat the table as a starting point for quotes.

Car detailing prices by vehicle size

Bigger vehicles take longer to clean, and the price follows. HomeGuide's ranges by size:

• Small (coupe, small sedan, hatchback): about $50-$175
• Medium (station wagon, large sedan): about $175-$250
• Large (small truck, two-row SUV or van): about $225-$400
• Extra large (large truck, three-row SUV): about $500-$650 or more

Bankrate notes that the price difference between a small sedan and a larger SUV can be $100 or more. Shops usually build this into their price list. A Seattle shop adds $17-$26 for a sedan, $28-$51 for a two-row SUV and $35-$81 for a three-row SUV or van, depending on the service. A shop in Washougal, Washington charges $360 for a full detail on a sedan, $390 on a small SUV and $408 on a three-row SUV or four-door truck.

Interior vs exterior vs full detail

An exterior detail usually covers a hand wash and dry, wheels and tires, windows and a coat of wax or sealant. Advanced exterior packages add hand wax and polish and buff out minor scratches. An interior detail covers vacuuming the carpets, mats and trunk, wiping down the dashboard and all surfaces, and cleaning the glass. Deeper packages add shampoo or steam cleaning of upholstery and carpets, leather conditioning and stain removal. A full detail combines both. Some shops price it below the two halves booked separately: at one Washington shop, a sedan full detail is $360, against $240 for the interior and $138 for the exterior.

If the inside is the problem, such as kids' spills, pet hair or a smell, an interior detail alone may be all you need. If the paint looks dull or rough to the touch, an exterior detail with clay bar and wax helps more than an interior cleaning.

What drives the price

• Condition. Heavy stains, pet hair, mold or strong odors take extra hours. Many shops charge add-ons for them; Bankrate cites $20-$100 per add-on. A few shops include them in the package price instead.
• Size and trim. More seats, more carpet and more paint mean more labor. Bankrate notes that features such as leather seats and chrome interiors can make detailing a more luxurious car more expensive.
• Location. J.D. Power says detailing in larger cities tends to cost more than in rural areas because of higher labor and business costs. HomeGuide adds that water-use regulations in drier areas can raise costs.
• Who does it. HomeGuide says a professional detailing service typically charges more than a high-volume car wash that also offers detailing, though an independent professional may do higher-quality work.
• Mobile or shop. Mobile detailers come to your driveway or office. Travel fees vary by business; one Washington detailer charges a small travel fee only on short jobs outside its home county. Ask whether a quote includes travel.

Add-ons: paint correction and ceramic coating

Paint correction machine-polishes the clear coat to remove swirl marks and light scratches. J.D. Power puts it at $300-$1,000 on its own and HomeGuide at $250-$750 or more. It cannot fix a scratch that has gone through the clear coat to the color or primer. That needs touch-up or refinishing at a body shop, see car scratch repair cost.

Ceramic coating is a hard, long-lasting protective layer applied after the paint is cleaned and corrected. Autotrader lists consumer-grade coatings at $600 or more for about 2-3 years of protection and professional-grade coatings at $1,000 or more for about 3-5 years. A cheaper paint sealant, at about $100-$200, protects for a shorter time.

Headlight restoration removes the yellow haze from plastic lenses for about $50-$125 at a detailer. Consumer Reports found that the haze typically returns after about a year, so restoration is not permanent. If the lens is cracked or the housing is damaged, see headlight replacement cost.

How long a car detail takes

HomeGuide says a small, well-kept car takes 2 to 4 hours, while a large van with stains, odors and little regular care can take a day or more. One Washington shop quotes 3 to 5 hours for a full detail, 2 to 3 hours for an interior detail and 1.5 to 2 hours for an exterior detail.

How often to detail your car

HomeGuide says most experts recommend a full detail at least 1 to 2 times a year, and more often depending on where you live and how much you use the car. Between details, AAA recommends washing a car every one to three weeks and waxing it two to four times a year, depending on climate and how much the car is driven.

AAA notes that a car that is regularly cleaned and detailed lasts longer and keeps more of its original value, which matters when you sell or trade it in. HomeGuide's guideline for tipping a detailer is 15-20 percent for excellent service.

Detailing won't fix damage

A detail can make dents, deep scratches, chips and rust easier to see, but it doesn't repair them. Small dents with intact paint can often be pushed out with paintless dent repair, while deeper damage needs body work and paint, see cost to repaint a car. After the car is clean, photograph each damaged panel in daylight. With Car Repair Estimator Repair+ you can snap the damage and get an itemized estimate with parts, body labor and refinish hours listed separately, so you know what fixing it would add before you sell or book a coating. Then get quotes from 2-3 shops. The app's estimate is informational, not a binding quote.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• HomeGuide - How much does car detailing cost (2025)
• J.D. Power - How much does it cost to detail a car
• Bankrate (via Yahoo Finance) - How much does it cost to detail a car (2025)
• Autotrader - Ceramic coatings: everything you need to know (2025)
• Consumer Reports - Do headlight restoration kits really work (2026)
• AAA - Car cleaning and detailing (PDF)
• Derek's Auto Detail - Seattle auto detailing cost, 2026 price guide
• Tan's Auto Detailing - Car detailing prices (Washougal, WA)

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