Why we don't publish prices
We don't publish prices for wraps or paint protection film. No standardized regional price index is published for these services in the cities we serve; costs reflect local installer reporting, and they move with your vehicle, the film and how much coverage you want. A shop needs to see the vehicle to give a real number. What we can do is explain what drives the price, so you can read an estimate and see why two quotes differ.
What drives the cost
Film
Different films cost very different amounts. Paint protection film is a thick polyurethane film and generally costs much more per foot than color-change vinyl. Within each category, premium product lines, special finishes (satin, matte, color-shift, chrome) and colored PPF cost more. Ask for the exact product name on the estimate so you can compare quotes fairly.
Coverage
A partial front of PPF uses a fraction of the film and labor of a full vehicle. For wraps, door jambs, inner edges and extra panels add material and time. Know exactly what's covered.
The vehicle
Large vehicles use more film. Complex bodywork, deep recesses, sharp curves, vents and sensors take more time and skill to cover cleanly. Some panels on some models are notoriously difficult; shops know which.
Disassembly
Removing and reinstalling handles, badges, lights, mirrors and trim lets film wrap around edges for a cleaner, longer-lasting result. It's also labor, and it requires care with clips and sensors. A quote that removes nothing will be cheaper and will usually show more edges.
Paint prep and correction
Every job includes washing and decontamination. Paint correction, polishing out swirls and scratches before film goes on, is extra labor that can add significantly to a PPF job, but film over uncorrected paint locks the defects in. Ask whether correction is included.
Shop overhead
A clean, enclosed, climate-controlled bay with good lighting and a plotter costs money to run. Mobile installers have lower overhead, and the price often shows it, along with less control over dust and temperature.
Why very cheap full wraps cut corners
When a full color-change wrap is priced far below other quotes, ask what's different. Common savings are:
- Film that isn't made for vehicle curves, such as calendered film used where cast film belongs.
- Little or no disassembly, so edges stop short and show original paint.
- Rushed prep, which leaves contamination and causes lifting.
- Skipped post-heating, which lets film pull back from recesses.
- Cutting film on the paint, which risks score lines in the clear coat.
Removal is part of the cost of ownership
Every wrap and most PPF eventually come off. Removing old film takes labor, and it gets harder as film ages in the sun; adhesive residue has to be cleaned off, and weak paint can lift with the film. Ask what the shop charges for removal, and what the film maker says about removability for the product you're buying. A film that's cheaper to buy but harder to remove may not be cheaper over the life of the car.
Reading an estimate
A good written estimate names:
- the film product by brand and product line, and its warranty;
- exactly which panels and areas are covered;
- what will be removed and reinstalled;
- the paint prep, and whether paint correction is included;
- how long the vehicle will be in the shop;
- the shop's own workmanship warranty, if it offers one.
Questions to ask about price
- What exactly is included, and what isn't?
- Would anything change the price once you start, such as paint defects found during prep?
- What's the deposit and payment schedule?
- What does removal cost later, and what does it involve?