If you are setting or checking your detailing prices, the most useful benchmark is what other shops actually advertise. We gathered the starting prices that 347 US detailing businesses publish on their own websites and took the median for each service and vehicle size. Each shop counts once; the number in brackets is how many shops publish that price.
Median detailing prices by service and vehicle size
| Service | Sedan / coupe | Small SUV | Large SUV / truck / van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full detail | $250(182) | $285(131) | $310(167) |
| Interior detail | $175(164) | $210(115) | $235(145) |
| Exterior detail | $150(119) | $189(79) | $200(103) |
| Maintenance wash | $92.50(76) | $110(52) | $125(71) |
| Add-on | Median starting price |
|---|---|
| Headlight restoration | $80(112) |
| Engine bay cleaning | $60(114) |
How much more to charge for an SUV or truck
Among shops that print both a sedan price and a large-vehicle price, the median shop charges 25% more for a full detail (164 shops), 27% more for an interior detail, 30% more for an exterior detail and 40% more for a maintenance wash. Yet 4 in 10 detailers list no separate price for bigger vehicles. Full size-markup breakdown.
Ceramic coating prices by promised durability
| Durability | Median starting price |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 years | $400(16) |
| 3 to 4 years | $699(11) |
| 5 years or more | $999(24) |
Coating-only prices. Packages that bundle paint correction with the coating are excluded so the figures compare like with like.
Travel fees and minimums
Only 10 of the 347 detailers post a travel fee or minimum charge on their website. For a mobile detailer, a posted minimum or travel fee protects small jobs and long drives, and almost no competitors have one.
Three ways to use these numbers
- Price large vehicles at least 25% above sedans. That is the market median for a full detail.
- Post your travel fee or minimum. Only 10 of 347 detailers do.
- Sell headlights and engine bays as named add-ons, at around $80 and $60.
Turn these numbers into a price list for your website or Instagram: car detailing price list template ($9).
Common questions
How much should I charge for a full detail?
The median starting price US detailing shops publish is $250 for a sedan, $285 for a small SUV and $310 for a large SUV, truck or van (October 2026, 347 shops).
How much more should I charge for an SUV?
Shops that print both prices charge a median 12% more for a small SUV and 25% more for a large SUV, truck or van for a full detail. The markup is larger for a maintenance wash: 40% for large vehicles.
What do detailers charge for ceramic coating?
Coating-only starting prices run from a median $400 for 1 to 2 years of promised durability to $699 for 3 to 4 years and $999 for 5 years or more.
How the data was collected
Every price comes from a detailing business's own website or booking page, never from lead-generation "average cost" estimates. We recorded the starting price for each service and vehicle size, then took one value per shop. Memberships, promotions, fleet pricing and add-ons sold inside packages are left out. Pages were checked October 17, 2026. Researched with AI tools and published by a human owner.
Get the free 2-page snapshot
The 2026 Auto Detailing Price Snapshot: the national median for every service and vehicle size, what shops add for bigger vehicles, ceramic coating prices and three quick takeaways. Free on Gumroad.
Want every region? The full report ($19) adds median prices for each region by vehicle size, paint correction and ceramic coating prices, seven pricing tips, and a spreadsheet of all 4,461 prices with a link to each source.
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