What ceramic coating costs

The short version

Ceramic coating is priced on three variables: the tier, which sets how many layers go on and how long the coating is rated to last; the size of the vehicle; and the condition of the paint before it is sealed. Everything on this page is a starting price on a sedan. Your quote names the tier, the correction level and the surfaces included, so you can compare it line by line.

The prices here are current and match the ceramic coating prices page.

What each tier buys

Two-year coating, from $499

A decontamination wash followed by a single-stage coating. You get the hydrophobic finish, the gloss lift and UV protection, without correction. It suits a newer daily driver with paint in good shape, or an owner who wants to try a coating before committing to a longer one.

Five-year coating, from $999

Light paint correction, then a multi-layer coating, with the wheels coated as well. This is the middle of the ladder: it removes the light swirls that make black and dark paint look tired, and it lasts through most ownership periods.

Ten-year coating, from $1,499

Full paint correction and a premium multi-layer coating, with wheels and glass included. It is built for luxury, exotic and collector cars, and for anyone keeping a vehicle long enough that the correction and the longer rating pay off.

Lifetime coating, from $2,499

Full correction with the highest-grade coating Offshore applies. It is for the owner who wants the most complete correction and the most durable coating in one visit.

Why trucks and SUVs cost more

Surface area. A full-size truck or three-row SUV takes significantly more product and more hours than a compact sedan, and the roof, tailgate and tall doors all need the same preparation as the hood. Trucks and SUVs add from $100 over the sedan price, with full-size three-row SUVs at the top of that range. Exotics are quoted individually because their body shapes and paint vary too much for a fixed surcharge.

Paint correction: the cost people forget

A coating locks in the paint’s current condition, swirls, light scratches and water spots included, and keeps them there for years. That is why we recommend correction before almost every coating. A one-step correction from $299 handles light swirls and water spots on newer paint. A two-step from $599 handles heavier swirls and light scratches, and it is what most used vehicles need before a five-year coating. The ten-year and lifetime tiers already include full correction.

Maui conditions make this more than cosmetic. Windward rain and humidity set up water spots and mineral deposits on paint, salt air near the coast leaves its own residue, and automatic washes add swirl marks fast. Correcting first means the coating protects a clean finish instead of preserving the damage.

Other things that change the number

• Surfaces. Paint-only is the base. Wheel, glass and trim coatings add to the total on the tiers that do not already include them.
• Coating product. Offshore applies FEYNLAB coatings, and the product for your tier is named on the quote.
• Condition. Heavy oxidation, etching from bird droppings or old wax buildup takes more prep time.

Is it worth the cost?

For most owners, yes, mostly because of what it removes from the calendar. Without a coating, keeping paint protected means waxing every few months, a sealant once a year and regular professional details. A coated car does not need wax, washes faster because dirt and water release from the surface, and holds its gloss for resale. The ceramic coating vs wax comparison goes through that in detail.

What a coating will not do is stop rock chips. If highway chips are the worry, put paint protection film on the front first and coat over the film and the rest of the car.

Getting an exact number

Tell us the vehicle, how it is used and parked, and send a few daylight photos of the paint. The quote will name the tier, the correction level and the surfaces covered.