What paint protection actually costs
Three services, priced from what shops advertise on their own websites rather than from estimates. Pick the one you're pricing.
- Ceramic coating
- $950 median, 698 shops
- Paint protection film
- $1,999 median, 128 shops
- Paint correction
- $450 median, 329 shops
- Prices read
- 3,164 read off shops’ own price lists
Pick the one you are pricing
Each opens the full breakdown: by tier or coverage, by vehicle size, and by state.
Ceramic coating
$599–$1,399
Median $950 · 698 shops publish it
What moves the price: the durability tier, and almost nothing else.
See the breakdown →Paint protection film
$1,199–$3,800
Median $1,999 · 128 shops publish it
What moves the price: coverage. A front and a full body are five times apart.
See the breakdown →Paint correction
$345–$700
Median $450 · 329 shops publish it
What moves the price: paint condition, and how many stages it takes.
See the breakdown →Ceramic coating vs PPF vs paint correction
These solve different problems, which is why plenty of cars end up with two of them. Here's the whole comparison in one place.
| Service | What it does | Typical | Median | Shops pricing it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic coating | Chemical protection. Easier washing, resists etching. | $599–$1,399 | $950 | 698 |
| Paint protection film | Physical protection. The only thing here that stops a stone chip. | $1,199–$3,800 | $1,999 | 128 |
| Paint correction | Repair. Removes swirls and scratches before anything goes on top. | $345–$700 | $450 | 329 |
Typical is the middle half of what shops advertise: a quarter charge less, a quarter charge more. Per vehicle, standard car.
Whether it costs more where you live
The twelve states with the most published prices behind them, so the rows you can lean on come first. Blank means too few shops there publish a figure for that service to be worth printing.
| State | Coating | Film | Correction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $999139 | $2,20026 | $45058 |
| California | $850122 | $1,99922 | $50066 |
| Texas | $87580 | $1,99914 | $40043 |
| Georgia | $99928 | $1,7007 | $54923 |
| Washington | $1,00033 | $1,1998 | $49916 |
| North Carolina | $1,35027 | $2,25011 | $40015 |
| Arizona | $79933 | $1,0006 | $50013 |
| Colorado | $89932 | — | $50013 |
| Pennsylvania | $99928 | $2,0005 | $45010 |
| Virginia | $95027 | — | $4009 |
| Ohio | $94922 | — | $4409 |
| Tennessee | $60018 | $2,3995 | $3997 |
Median, with the number of shops behind it beneath. National medians for comparison: ceramic coating$950, paint protection film$1,999, paint correction$450.
What any quote should spell out
The four answers that explain almost every difference between two prices for what sounds like the same job. A shop that answers all four quickly is telling you something.
- Which durability tier, and what the warranty actually coversCoatings are sold in tiers and the word on the invoice is the same for all of them. A one year and a nine year product are different chemistry at different prices, and most warranties cover gloss and water behavior rather than the coating simply wearing out.
- Whether correction is included, and how many stagesThis is the single biggest reason two quotes for "a ceramic coating" differ by a thousand dollars. Coating is optically clear, so anything not corrected first is preserved for the life of the coating.
- What is being covered, panel by panelMostly a film question. A front bumper, a full front and a full body are three prices with the same name, and "front end" means different things to different shops. Ask which panels, and whether the edges are wrapped.
- What happens if it fails, and who paysA shop confident in the work will answer this quickly. Ask whether reapplication is covered, what voids it, and whether documented maintenance washes are a condition.
Get a real number for your vehicle
Tell us the car and the work. We put it in front of shops that do this specific job, and they come back to you directly. We aren't a middleman on the price and we take no cut of it.
- Your details go only to shops you're matched with
- Most replies land the same day
- Free, and no obligation to book anything
While you are deciding
The short list for keeping protected paint working: wash it with the right thing, dry it before the water does, and top it up when the beading fades.
- WashCheck price
Gtechniq GWash Shampoo
A pH-neutral shampoo with no gloss additives or wax in it.
- DryingCheck price
Gyeon Q²M SilkDryer
A large twisted-loop drying towel.
- ToppersCheck price
Gyeon Q²M Cure
A ceramic detail spray for use after every wash.
Prices come from Amazon and update hourly. We earn a commission on anything bought through these links, at no extra cost to you, and no brand paid to be included. The full shop, or how to look after a coated car.
Where these numbers come from
Where do these prices come from?
Every figure is an advertised rate read from a business's own website. We hold 3,164 of them across the three services. Nothing here is modeled, estimated, or supplied by a shop in exchange for placement.
Are these quotes?
No. A quote depends on your vehicle, the condition of the paint and what the shop finds on inspection. These ranges tell you whether a quote is normal, which is a different and more useful thing than predicting one.
Why do some states have no figure?
Because fewer than 5 separate businesses in that state publish a price for that service. Below that the number is one shop's opinion rather than a market, so we leave it out rather than dress it up.
Read next
How much does ceramic coating cost?The median, and the three things that move a quote inside the range.Read the answer
Is ceramic coating worth it?Divide each tier by its term and the price list reverses.Read the answer
Ceramic coating or PPF?They solve different problems. Both priced, by a site that sells neither.Read the answer
Should I do it myself?The price gap is preparation, not chemistry. How to tell which your paint needs.Read the answer