Car Detailing Cost: How Much Does It Cost to Detail a Car?

Understanding car detailing cost matters whether you’re maintaining your vehicle or running a detailing service. Car detailing is  a multi-step cleaning and restoration process covering the interior, exterior, and protective treatments. Because services vary widely, so do prices. Everything from vehicle size, service level, labor hours, and location impacts how much people expect to pay.

One of the most common questions drivers have is how much does car detailing cost, because prices vary depending on service type, dirt level, and geographic region.

In this guide, we’ll discuss:

• the average cost of car detailing across different service levels
• the factors that influence how much you should expect to pay (vehicle size, service type, location, and condition)
• how to estimate your detailing cost and compare mobile vs. shop pricing
• real regional price examples, add-on fees, and premium service pricing
• frequently asked questions about pricing and what a full detail includes

Before we get into the cost breakdowns, detailers who want to manage bookings, estimates, invoices, and payments digitally often use our Invoicing Software to keep admin fast and consistent.

What Is Car Detailing and How Pricing Works

Car detailing is a full cleaning, restoration, and protection service for a vehicle’s interior and exterior. Compared to a car wash, detailing involves deeper cleaning, mechanical polishing, stain removal, and protective treatments like ceramic coatings, headlight restoration, or clay bar decontamination.

Pricing is based on:

• vehicle size (sedan vs. larger vehicles)
• condition (pet hair, stains, oxidation)
• service type (interior detailing, exterior detailing, or full detail)
• technician skill and tools
• service location (shop vs mobile)
• regional labor markets

Understanding how much car detailing cost can change from one vehicle to another is essential because condition, service level, and labor time are never the same.

Average Car Detailing Cost (National Benchmarks)

If you’re wondering how much does it cost to detail a car, most customers fall somewhere between $150 and $300 for a full interior and exterior service. Below are realistic nationwide averages pulled from industry surveys and reporting by Yahoo Finance.

Typical Car Detailing Prices (by Service Type)

For a basic service, cost depends on whether you book a mobile technician or visit a traditional shop.

Mobile vs Shop Pricing (What Changes?)

Mobile detailers charge for convenience; shop detailers charge for environment and equipment. Mobile setups may add a small travel or convenience fee, while shops tend to charge more for advanced machine polishing and coatings due to controlled lighting and temperature.

If you want to see business-side pricing structures, explore our Car Detailing Business guide.

Factors That Affect Car Detailing Cost

Vehicle Size (Sedan vs SUV vs Truck)

• Sedans → base price
• Small SUVs → +$20
• Large SUVs/Trucks → +$40–$60
• XL vehicles → +$80+

More interior volume and exterior surface area directly increase the cost to detail a car.

Vehicle Condition: Dirt, Stains, Pet Hair, Odors

Add-ons include:

• pet hair removal (+$25–$100)
• mud/sand removal
• stain extraction
• odor or smoke treatment (+$40–$150)
• mold remediation (case-by-case)

A common search by customers is “how much does interior car detailing cost?”, and pricing typically ranges from $80 to $160 depending on condition.

Service Type: Interior, Exterior, Full, Premium

Interior Detailing

Includes vacuuming, mats, seats, shampooing, odor neutralizing, steam cleaning, and deep cleaning for carpets and upholstery.

Exterior Detailing

Includes hand washing, clay bar treatment, iron removal, waxing, trim care, and sometimes mild polishing to restore gloss.

A helpful benchmark for buyers asking how much does car interior detailing cost: interior-only services vary based on dirt level, stains, and any deep cleaning or extraction.

Premium Services

Premium or advanced packages may include:

• multi-stage paint correction
• ceramic coatings
• engine bay cleaning
• headlight restoration

These services significantly increase car detailing cost due to higher skill and time.

Location (“Near Me” Pricing Differences)

If you’re researching how much does it cost to get a car detailing in your city, these factors create noticeable price differences. Prices vary based on:

• wages
• competitive density
• weather
• local supply costs

Remember: Labor-heavy states like California have higher averages due to the California Labor Car Wash Rules and similar regulatory frameworks.

Mobile vs Shop Detailing

Mobile setups often add a convenience fee; shop setups typically charge more for advanced polishing and coating due to controlled lighting, tools, and space.

Regional Pricing Examples Across the U.S.

West Coast (CA, OR, WA)

• $90–$150 basic packages
• $200–$350 full details
• $700–$1,200 for correction/coating

Higher wages and stricter water rules push average pricing up.

Midwest (OH, MI, WI, MN)

In the Midwest, cost to get your car detailed usually ranges from $150 to $260 for a full interior/exterior, depending on the city and competition.

East Coast (NY, NJ, MA, FL)

• $70–$130 basic services
• $180–$320 full detail
• Premium: $500+

Coastal climates and dense markets influence both service demand and pricing.

How to Estimate Your Car Detailing Cost (Step-by-Step)

1. Determine Vehicle Size

Sedan → base pricing
SUV → +$20–$40
XL → +$80+

2. Choose Service Type

Decide whether you need interior, exterior, or both. For most drivers wondering how a car detail should cost, the answer depends on the combination of these services and how deep you want the cleaning and protection to go.

3. Add Condition-Based Extras

Stains, spills, sand, and pet hair all add to labor time and can increase the cost of car detailing for that visit.

4. Add Specialty Services

If you’re focused on the inside only, cost will depend heavily on stain removal, steam cleaning, and extraction requirements.

5. Consider Location-Based Price Differences

Warmer climates, coastal states, and large metro areas often charge more due to higher labor and overhead, which impacts the average car detailing prices you’ll see when searching “car detailing cost near me.”

6. Calculate Labor Hours

Most shops estimate labor at $50–$150 per hour and then build packages around that.

For business owners, the labor costs guide is useful for understanding how many hours go into each level of service. Additionally, most detailers use hourly vs flat rate pricing and tools like a Service Price Calculator to set profitable packages.

Consumer Examples

Standard Sedan Detailing Pricing

• Full detail: $180
• Stain removal: +$20

Large SUV Detailing Pricing

• Full detail: $240
• Pet hair removal: +$60

This $300 figure is a realistic price for larger vehicles with heavy use and pet hair.

Business Example

Professionals price services based on:

1. labor time
2. supplies
3. tools/equipment amortization
4. overhead

Give and Receive A Car Detailing Quote Confidently

The true car detailing cost depends on your service type, location, vehicle condition, and add-ons. For buyers, the national averages and breakdowns in this guide offer a reliable benchmark. Whether you’re asking how much does it cost to get your car detailed for a one-time deep clean or planning regular maintenance, the cost structure now should feel much clearer.If you operate a detailing service, Invoice Fly’s Client Portal helps automate bookings, reminders, and payments so you can focus on delivering quality work instead of chasing admin tasks.