A Complete Breakdown: How Much Does Ceramic Coating Cost?

Vehicle Size

How much does a ceramic coating cost for a small vehicle versus a large one? A ceramic coating is more affordable for smaller cars, such as compact sedans or coupes.

On a larger vehicle with more surface area, the price will be higher. These are vehicles like SUVs, minivans, and full-size trucks.

Medium-sized vehicles lie somewhere in the middle range when it comes to ceramic coating costs. Standard-size sedans, small pickup trucks, and large coupes are all considered medium-sized.

Size matters for pricing because ceramic coatings are applied by hand and require a lot of time and attention to detail. This is why DIY ceramic coating is not recommended.

The larger your vehicle, the longer it will take to complete the installation. Some projects require days to complete, which will increase the labor costs. This is another reason why larger vehicles cost more to get a ceramic coating.

Ceramic coating application typically takes 15 hours to complete, but it's not uncommon for the job to last 20 hours or more. If you require paint correction services in addition to the ceramic coating, expect to wait longer.

Ceramic Coating Lifespan

There are various types of ceramic coatings with different materials. The materials used can dictate how long your ceramic coating lasts.

While some coatings only last 30,000 miles with proper maintenance, others can last up to 60,000 miles. If you expect your ceramic coating to reach its full lifespan, make sure to take care of your car.

Ceramic coatings typically provide similar gloss and slickness, so the main difference is how long they last on your vehicle's paint. The longer the ceramic coating lasts, the more expensive the product and installation will be.

Some ceramic coating manufacturers offer warranties on your coating. In most cases, you'll need to opt for yearly professional coating maintenance to maintain your warranty.

If you self-maintain your vehicle, your warranty timeframe could be cut in half or voided altogether.

Top-quality products that come with lifetime warranties will cost more to install, but these ceramic coatings could be worth it for a newer vehicle.

Wheels and Windshield Coatings

Ceramic coating isn't only available to protect your car's paint. During your ceramic coating installation, you can add layers of ceramic protection to other surfaces on your vehicle, such as the wheels and windshield.

Wheel face ceramic coating may cost anywhere from $100 to $200. A windshield ceramic coating is a little cheaper, costing anywhere between $75 and $100.

These ceramic coatings are different than the traditional ones used for paint. A wheel ceramic coating, for example, can resist high temperatures and make it easy to remove dust and debris from your wheels.

Windshield coatings are great safety features as they can help you see better when driving in the rain. Coatings made for windshields can also protect against chipping and mitigate damages from UV rays.

Paint Correction Services

A car detailer may tell you that you need paint correction before applying a ceramic coating. The fact is that ceramic coatings will still bond to paint with swirl marks and light scratches.

If you want to improve your aesthetic, consider correcting your paint before ceramic coatings. While this isn't a requirement, it can improve the look of your car.

If your paint has severe oxidation or water spots, you will need paint correction before applying a ceramic coating.

Deciding if you need paint correction before your ceramic coating application is essential. You won't be able to go back and have your paint corrected after a ceramic coating has been applied.

At that point, the paint correction process would remove your coating and require you to pay for a new installation.

You can opt for enhancements or full paint correction. Enhancements are the more affordable option but can still cost anywhere between $800 to $1,500 depending on the size of your vehicle.

Full correction generally starts around $1,400 and can go up to $2,000+ depending on the severity of the problem.

Location

When you need a ceramic coating installation, you might look into different detailers in Florida. While some locations vary in the cost of ceramic coating installation, it's not a main factor.

Rather than price changes due to your region and climate, discrepancies are more common because of higher labor costs.

To find the best quality services in Florida, do your research on detailing shops. Check references and get multiple quotes before choosing a ceramic coating installer.