How Much Does Mobile Detailing Cost in 2026?

A basic exterior wash is the entry point. A mobile detailer will typically hand-wash and dry the car, clean the wheels, and dress the tires. Expect to pay $25–40 for a sedan and $50–75 for a large SUV or truck. This is not the same as a $10 tunnel wash — hand washing is significantly gentler on your paint and avoids the micro-scratches that automated brushes leave behind. Most mobile detailers include this as a standalone service or bundle it into larger packages. If all you need is a clean car without any correction or protection, this is your sweet spot.

A full detail is the most popular service and the best value for most people. It includes a thorough hand wash, clay bar treatment to remove surface contaminants, interior vacuuming, carpet shampooing, leather conditioning, dashboard and trim cleaning, and window cleaning inside and out. For a sedan, you are typically looking at $150–250. SUVs and trucks run $200–350, and larger vehicles like vans or three-row SUVs can hit $350–400. The whole process takes 2–4 hours. A good full detail makes a car feel almost new again — not just clean, but genuinely refreshed. If you have not detailed your car in over a year, this is usually where to start.

Ceramic coating is a semi-permanent protective layer bonded to your paint. The coating itself is not that expensive — the labor is. A proper ceramic job requires paint decontamination, at least a single-stage polish to remove minor defects, and then careful application of the coating in a controlled environment. Entry-level consumer-grade coatings start around $500–800. Professional-grade coatings (Gtechniq Crystal Serum, Ceramic Pro, etc.) with multi-year warranties run $1,000–2,000. The price difference comes down to the coating chemistry, the number of layers, and the prep work involved. A $500 ceramic job almost always skips the paint correction step, which means the coating locks in existing swirls and scratches.

Paint correction is the process of removing swirl marks, scratches, oxidation, and other defects from your clear coat using a machine polisher and specialized compounds. A single-stage correction (one pass with a cutting compound) runs $300–500 and handles light to moderate swirls. A two-stage correction (cutting compound followed by a finishing polish) runs $500–800 and addresses deeper defects. A multi-stage correction on heavily damaged paint can hit $800–1,000+. This is skilled, time-intensive work — a full two-stage correction on a sedan takes 6–10 hours. Paint correction is often paired with ceramic coating, since it makes sense to perfect the paint before sealing it in.

PPF is a clear, self-healing urethane film applied to vulnerable areas of your paint. A partial front-end package (hood, bumper, fenders, mirrors) typically runs $800–2,000. A full front-end wrap is $1,500–3,500. Full-body PPF — every painted panel — ranges from $4,000–7,000 depending on the vehicle and the brand of film (XPEL, SunTek, 3M, etc.). PPF is the gold standard of paint protection. Unlike ceramic coating, it physically absorbs rock chips, road debris, and minor scratches. The film itself heals light scratches with heat. It is expensive, but for new or high-value vehicles, the cost is often less than a single paint repair.

Vehicle size is the biggest factor. A compact sedan takes half the product and half the time of a full-size truck. Most detailers price in 2–3 tiers: sedan/coupe, midsize SUV/crossover, and full-size truck/SUV/van.

Vehicle condition matters too. A well-maintained car that gets detailed every few months is quick work. A car with pet hair embedded in the carpet, tree sap on the hood, and three years of grime takes significantly longer. Many detailers charge extra for heavy soiling or add-ons like pet hair removal ($25–75) or engine bay cleaning ($50–100).

Location plays a role. Detailing in San Francisco or Miami costs more than in a mid-size market — rent, insurance, and cost of living affect what detailers charge. Mobile detailers are also typically 10–20% more than shop-based detailers for the same service, which brings us to the obvious tradeoff: you are paying for the convenience of not having to drive anywhere.

Products and equipment vary widely. A detailer using premium ceramic-grade shampoos, professional polishers, and IDA-certified techniques costs more than someone with a bucket and a buffer from Amazon. You get what you pay for — the difference shows up in the finish quality and how long the results last.

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