Pricing too low kills your shop. Pricing too high kills your close rate. Here's the 2025 detail-shop pricing landscape, by service tier.
Wash + vac (entry tier)
- What's included: exterior wash, interior vacuum, dashboard wipe, window cleaning
- Time: 45-90 minutes
- Typical price: $40-$80 (mobile slightly higher than storefront)
- Margin: ~$15-$30 per job
This is your loss-leader tier. Goal: get the customer in the door for the upsell to a real detail.
Express full detail
- What's included: wash, vacuum, interior wipe-down (no shampoo), exterior wipe-down with quick-detail spray, tire dressing, window cleaning
- Time: 90-120 minutes
- Typical price: $99-$179 (sedan), $129-$229 (SUV/truck)
- Margin: ~$40-$80 per job
The "I want my car clean for the weekend" service.
Full detail (standard)
- What's included: foam wash, two-bucket hand wash, clay bar treatment, interior shampoo (carpets + seats), leather conditioning, full interior detail (vents, console, doors), exterior dressing
- Time: 4-6 hours
- Typical price: $250-$400 (sedan), $325-$500 (SUV/truck)
- Margin: ~$100-$200 per job
This is your bread and butter. Most consumer customers buy this tier.
Premium full detail
- What's included: everything in full detail PLUS 1-stage paint correction, headlight restoration, engine bay detail, plastic trim restoration, full leather treatment
- Time: 8-12 hours (often spans 2 days)
- Typical price: $500-$900 (sedan), $700-$1,200 (SUV/truck)
- Margin: ~$200-$400 per job
The customer here is prepping for sale, lease return, or a special event. Or just loves their car.
Ceramic-prep detail
- What's included: premium full detail PLUS 1-2 stage paint correction, IPA wipe, ceramic-prep level cleanliness — the surface ready for ceramic coating application
- Time: 6-10 hours
- Typical price: $400-$700 standalone (or rolled into the ceramic install price)
- Margin: ~$150-$300
Often sold as part of the ceramic install bundle, not standalone.
Recurring packages (monthly / quarterly / semi-annual)
Recurring detail clients are the secret to detail-shop financial stability. Common packages:
- Monthly express detail: $79-$129/mo
- Monthly full detail: $179-$249/mo
- Quarterly full detail: $69-$99/mo (charged monthly, billed for 3 visits/year)
- Semi-annual premium: $79-$119/mo (charged monthly, billed for 2 premium details/year)
Add-on pricing
- Headlight restoration: $75-$150
- Engine bay detail: $75-$150
- Pet hair removal (heavy): $50-$150
- Smoke odor removal: $150-$350
- Scratch removal (single panel): $100-$300
- Wheel coating (one set): $150-$300
- Glass coating: $75-$150
- Convertible top treatment: $150-$300
Mobile vs storefront pricing
Mobile shops typically charge 15-25% more than storefront for the same service tier. Customers accept this because they're paying for the convenience of you coming to them. Don't apologize for it.
What changes the price
- Vehicle size: SUVs/trucks ~30-40% more than sedans
- Vehicle condition: heavily soiled or smoke-impacted vehicles command 50-100% surcharge
- Vehicle value: $100K+ vehicles can justify a 25-40% premium even for identical services (perception + risk)
- Geographic market: premium metros (LA, Miami, NYC) run 30-50% above national avg
- Time of year: detail demand spikes spring/early summer; consider seasonal premium pricing
What we tell new shops on pricing
"Start at the upper end of the range for your market. You can always discount; you can't easily raise prices on existing customers. Get to 50% close rate at higher prices, then work on volume."