How Much Does a Full Detail Cost? A Complete Price Guide

A full detail typically costs between $150 and $400 for most passenger cars, with the average falling around $200 to $250. SUVs and trucks run higher, usually $250 to $500 or more depending on condition. The exact price depends on where you live, how dirty the vehicle is, whether you go to a shop or use a mobile detailer, and what specific services are included in the package.

That range might feel wide, but it makes sense once you understand what actually goes into a full detail. You're paying for labor-intensive work: deep cleaning the carpets, treating leather, polishing paint, dressing tires, cleaning vents, and more. This guide breaks down the pricing by service level, vehicle size, and location so you know exactly what to expect before you hand over the keys.

What's Included in a Full Detail

"Full detail" isn't a standardized term. Every shop defines it a little differently, which is part of why prices vary so much. That said, most full detail packages cover both interior and exterior work.

Exterior Full Detail

The exterior portion typically includes a hand wash, clay bar treatment to remove bonded contaminants, light polishing or paint correction, and a wax or sealant coat. Some shops will clean the wheel wells and dress the tires. A clay bar treatment alone can take 30 to 45 minutes on a sedan, so when a shop includes it in the package, it adds meaningful time and cost.

Cheaper packages often skip the clay bar and go straight from wash to wax. You'll want to ask specifically if clay bar is included when comparing prices.

Interior Full Detail

Interior work usually involves vacuuming everything, shampooing carpets and fabric seats, cleaning and conditioning leather if applicable, wiping down all hard surfaces and plastics, cleaning windows from the inside, and cleaning out vents and crevices.

This is where condition matters most. A car with muddy carpets, dog hair embedded in fabric, or spilled coffee that sat for a week will take significantly longer to clean than a vehicle that's been maintained regularly. Shops that charge by the hour will reflect this in the final bill.

Full Detail Pricing by Vehicle Type

Vehicle size is one of the most consistent factors in pricing. Here's a realistic breakdown:

These ranges assume a vehicle in average condition. If your car hasn't been detailed in three or more years, expect to pay toward the upper end or be quoted an hourly rate instead of a flat fee.

Mobile Detailer vs. Detailing Shop

Both options have trade-offs, and the price difference is sometimes smaller than people expect.

Mobile Detailing Pricing

Mobile detailers come to your home or office, which saves you time. Prices tend to run 10 to 20 percent higher than shop pricing because the detailer is bringing equipment and water to you. A mobile full detail on a sedan might run $200 to $350, while the same shop service could be $175 to $275.

The quality from a good mobile detailer is identical to a shop. Many skilled detailers prefer the mobile model because they can focus on one vehicle at a time without the overhead of a physical location.

Shop Detailing Pricing

Shops can often offer slightly lower prices because they have consistent water, electricity, and space. They may run multiple vehicles through a day, which keeps their per-car labor cost manageable. The downside is that you need to drop off the car and arrange transportation while you wait.

High-end detailing studios in major cities charge more than either option above. A boutique shop in a place like Los Angeles or New York might charge $500 to $1,000 for a full detail on a standard sedan, partly because of premium products and partly because of labor rates in those markets.

What Drives the Price Up

Several factors push a full detail above the baseline price:

Condition: Pet hair removal, smoke odor treatment, mold remediation, and severe staining all add time and cost. Some shops charge a separate fee for these issues rather than building them into the package price.

Paint correction: If you want swirl marks and scratches addressed during the detail, that's a separate service. A single-stage paint correction on a sedan typically runs $200 to $400 on top of the basic detail price. A two-stage correction on a black car could run $500 to $1,000 or more.

Ceramic coating or sealant upgrades: Some shops offer add-on protection packages. Upgrading from a standard wax to a spray ceramic coating might add $75 to $150 to the bill.

Add-on services: Engine bay cleaning ($50 to $100), headlight restoration ($50 to $100), and ozone odor treatment ($75 to $150) are commonly offered as extras.

How to Find a Good Detailer at a Fair Price

The cheapest option isn't always the best value. A detailer charging $99 for a "full detail" is almost certainly cutting corners, whether that's rushing the process, skipping the clay bar, or using low-quality products that leave residue.

When comparing shops, ask these specific questions: - Is a clay bar treatment included? - Do you shampoo the carpets or just vacuum? - What wax or sealant do you apply? - How long does the full detail typically take?

A legitimate full detail on a sedan takes three to six hours. If someone quotes you a two-hour full detail for $100, it's a wash and vacuum with marketing language, not a real detail.

Reading recent reviews on Google Maps is the fastest way to shortcut the research. Look for reviewers who describe specific work done, not just "great job." Also check our guide to the Best Car Detailing services for what to look for when evaluating shops.

If you're trying to decide between DIY and professional work, take a look at Top Car Detailing products that pros actually use. Knowing what the products cost separately gives you a realistic sense of whether the shop price is reasonable.

When a Full Detail Is Worth the Money

If you're selling the car, a professional full detail almost always returns more than it costs. A clean, well-presented car sells faster and at a higher price. Studies from iSeeCars and Carfax consistently show that presentation has a measurable effect on sale price, often $500 to $1,500 more on a $15,000 car.

For daily drivers, a full detail once or twice a year keeps the interior in better long-term condition. Dirt and grit act as abrasives that wear down fabric and leather over time. Regular cleaning extends the life of the materials and makes the car more pleasant to drive.

FAQ

How long does a full detail take? For a sedan in average condition, expect three to five hours. A large SUV with kids or pet mess can take six to eight hours. Shops that turn around a "full detail" in under two hours are not doing thorough work.

Is a full detail the same as a car wash? No. A car wash takes 10 to 30 minutes and removes surface dirt. A full detail involves deep cleaning, decontamination, paint protection, and complete interior restoration. They're entirely different services.

How often should you get a full detail? Once or twice a year is the standard recommendation for a daily driver. If you maintain the car with regular washes and quick interior cleanups between details, once a year is usually sufficient.

Can a full detail remove scratches? A basic full detail doesn't include paint correction. If you want scratches addressed, you need to ask specifically about paint correction services and budget separately. Minor surface scratches can sometimes be improved with polishing, but deeper scratches require more involved correction work.

Conclusion

A professional full detail runs $150 to $400 for most cars, with condition and vehicle size being the biggest cost drivers. The main things to verify before booking are whether clay bar is included, how the carpets are cleaned, and how long the process takes. Those three questions will quickly separate genuine detail shops from high-priced car washes.