Car detailing typically costs $50 to $400 for standard services in 2026, depending on vehicle size, condition, service level, and location. Basic cleaning packages start at $50, while full-service details run $150 to $400. Paint correction, ceramic coating, and PPF are separate protection services with higher price ranges than standard detailing.
Key Takeaways
- Basic car detailing costs $50 to $150 and typically takes 30 to 90 minutes.
- Full-service detailing ranges from $150 to $400 and includes deep cleaning, polishing, and conditioning.
- Larger vehicles generally cost more because they require additional labor, product, and working time.
- Condition, location, and add-ons affect the final quote more than vehicle age or mileage.
- Paint correction ($200 to $1,800), ceramic coating ($300 to $2,500), and PPF ($500 to $10,000) are advanced services priced separately from standard detailing.
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- Car Detailing Cost Overview: What to Expect in 2026
- Basic Car Detailing Cost and What’s Included
- Full-Service Car Detailing Pricing
- How Much Do Car Detailing Add-Ons Cost?
- Factors That Affect Car Detailing Prices
- How Much Do Paint Correction, Ceramic Coating, and PPF Cost?
- Car Detailing Costs in South Florida and Pompano Beach
- Benefits of Professional Car Detailing
- Need Car Detailing in Pompano Beach?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Car Detailing Costs
- About the Author
Car Detailing Cost Overview: What to Expect in 2026
Car detailing costs $50 to $400 for most standard packages, with pricing driven by vehicle size, service depth, and condition. Basic maintenance sits at the low end, while full-service work that includes polishing, clay treatment, and conditioning moves toward the top. Most standard details take 30 minutes to 5 hours.
South Florida's coastal humidity, UV intensity, and salt air can accelerate paint contamination and surface wear, which may mean vehicles in the region need professional cleaning more frequently than those in drier inland markets. That pattern supports consistent demand for detailing services across Pompano Beach and the broader Broward County area.
Package structure shapes where a vehicle lands on the pricing curve. A driver maintaining a clean car between visits stays near the low end. A vehicle arriving with embedded contamination, oxidation, or heavy soiling will require more labor and time regardless of which package is selected, which pushes the quote upward before a single add-on is considered.
Basic Car Detailing Cost and What’s Included
Basic car detailing costs $50 to $150 and covers routine cleaning for vehicles that only need upkeep between deeper services. These jobs usually take 30 to 90 minutes and include an exterior hand wash, interior vacuuming, window cleaning, and tire dressing. A wash and wax package typically falls between $60 and $100.
This tier works best for drivers who manage light dirt before it builds up. Basic detailing focuses on visible cleanliness rather than restoration, so it runs faster and costs less than full-service work.
Common inclusions at this level:
- Exterior hand wash: removes loose dirt and road film without machine abrasion
- Interior vacuuming: cleans floors, seats, and crevices
- Window cleaning: improves visibility inside and out
- Tire dressing: restores a darker, cleaner finish on sidewalls
Full-Service Car Detailing Pricing
Full-service car detailing costs $150 to $400 and combines thorough exterior and interior cleaning with polishing and protection. These jobs typically take 2 to 5 hours and include deep cleaning, machine polishing, waxing, shampooing, and conditioning. A complete detail often lands between $175 and $400 depending on vehicle size and condition.
Some shops also offer exterior-only detailing as a standalone package, typically priced at $100 to $250. This covers the hand wash, clay bar treatment, polishing, waxing, tire cleaning, and window work without interior services. It suits drivers who primarily want paint maintenance and gloss improvement between full details.
Typical full-service inclusions:
- Clay bar treatment: removes bonded surface contaminants that washing alone cannot address
- Machine polish and wax: improves gloss and adds temporary paint protection
- Fabric or leather conditioning: refreshes cabin materials
- Trim cleaning and dressing: restores exterior plastic and rubber
- Stain removal: addresses embedded soil in seats and carpet
How Much Do Car Detailing Add-Ons Cost?
Engine bay cleaning and headlight restoration are common add-on services that can be added to a basic or full-service detail. Engine bay cleaning costs $30 to $100 and removes accumulated grease and grime for easier inspection and a cleaner underhood appearance. Headlight restoration costs $40 to $150 and clears the oxidation layer that clouds plastic lenses and reduces nighttime light output. Adding either service increases the total detailing cost based on the work required.
These services matter most on older vehicles and cars that spend significant time in outdoor parking. Headlight restoration can be particularly useful on vehicles exposed to Florida's strong UV conditions, where plastic lenses can develop oxidation and yellowing over time. Restored clarity can improve both appearance and light performance.
Factors That Affect Car Detailing Prices
Five factors commonly shape car detailing prices: vehicle size, vehicle condition, service package, location, and add-ons.
Vehicle Size
Vehicle size increases detailing costs because larger vehicles have more paint surface, more interior volume, and more panels to work through. Many shops charge more for larger vehicles, although the actual difference varies by provider and service.
| Vehicle Type | Typical Cost Range | Cost Driver |
| Sedan | $60 to $300 | Smaller paint area and cabin |
| SUV | $80 to $350 | More panels and interior volume |
| Truck | $90 to $400 | Largest surface area and labor load |
These ranges are examples of how pricing can vary by vehicle type rather than fixed industry rates.
Vehicle Condition
Condition often carries the most weight on the final quote. A well-maintained car and a heavily soiled one of the same size can require very different amounts of labor to reach the same finished result. Embedded contamination, oxidation, or baked-on grime all add time and product cost before the detail itself can begin.
Location, Package, and Add-ons
Location affects detailing prices because local labor costs, market demand, and environmental conditions vary by region. South Florida markets often run toward the upper end of national price ranges for comparable services, reflecting both regional demand and the coastal wear patterns that can increase maintenance needs.
Package selection also affects the final price. A basic package covers routine cleaning, while full-service packages add more labor-intensive cleaning, decontamination, polishing, and conditioning.
Add-ons increase the total cost when additional services are needed. Headlight restoration, engine bay cleaning, and paint decontamination each add labor and time to the appointment. Paint correction, ceramic coating, and PPF are separate services rather than standard detailing add-ons and are typically priced based on the vehicle's condition, size, coverage, and preparation requirements.
How Much Do Paint Correction, Ceramic Coating, and PPF Cost?
Paint correction, ceramic coating, and paint protection film are separate services from standard detailing. Each addresses paint condition or long-term surface protection rather than routine cleaning, and each is typically priced and scheduled as its own job rather than an add-on to a maintenance detail.
Paint Correction
Paint correction costs $200 to $1,800 and removes swirl marks, scratches, and oxidation through machine polishing. The number of polishing steps determines where the job falls in that range. Light surface issues respond to a single stage; more serious damage requires compounding and finishing passes before the paint is ready for protection.
| Correction Level | Typical Cost | Best For |
| 1-Step | $200 to $550 | Light swirls and gloss improvement |
| 2-Step | $400 to $1,000 | Moderate scratches and defects |
| 3-Step | $600 to $1,800 | Severe oxidation and more serious damage |
Ceramic Coating
Ceramic coating costs $300 to $2,500 depending on durability tier, vehicle size, and the extent of surface preparation required before application. It bonds chemically to the clear coat and provides hydrophobic and UV-resistant properties that generally last longer than wax when properly installed and maintained. Most professional installations take one to two days.
The price difference between tiers reflects how long the coating is rated to last and how much corrective prep the surface needs before the layer can be applied. A full ceramic coating cost breakdown covers what separates consumer, professional, and premium options in durability, prep requirements, and installation labor.
Paint Protection Film
PPF costs $500 to $10,000 depending on coverage area, from a partial front-end package to a full-vehicle wrap. It provides a physical barrier against rock chips and road debris, protecting paint in a way that coating does not. Partial front coverage generally costs less than full-vehicle coverage, while larger coverage areas require more material and installation labor.
Car Detailing Costs in South Florida and Pompano Beach
For South Florida, car detailing commonly ranges from about $100 to $500 depending on service level, vehicle size, and condition. Maintenance-level packages in Pompano Beach often range from $149 to $299 for a complete service. South Florida's combination of UV intensity, coastal humidity, and salt air can accelerate surface wear faster than in many inland markets, which tends to support a higher baseline maintenance frequency for vehicles in the region.
"In over 20 years detailing vehicles in South Florida, the biggest mistake I see is waiting," says John Vanderkuyp, owner and founder of Advanced Detailing Sofla. "Owners bring in a car that came off the dealer lot two years ago with factory swirl marks already worked into the paint. It still looks fine from a distance, but the window for correction without heavy labor has closed. Protecting paint early, before Florida's UV and humidity get into it, tends to cost less in the long run."
Pompano Beach serves as a local destination for customers from Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Parkland, Coral Springs, Delray Beach, Weston, and Palm Beach. Detailing pricing across this region reflects both local demand and the real-world wear patterns that coastal driving and outdoor parking create for vehicles in South Florida.
Benefits of Professional Car Detailing
Professional car detailing improves appearance, helps protect paint from UV damage and contamination, and may support resale value over the long term. Many owners schedule professional detailing several times per year, although the ideal interval depends on driving habits, storage conditions, climate exposure, and vehicle use.
Resale value is one of the more concrete reasons to maintain a regular detailing schedule. A well-maintained exterior and interior may support a stronger asking price, particularly for luxury vehicles, lease returns, and enthusiast cars where condition is a primary factor for buyers.
Ceramic coating and PPF extend the protective value of a standard detail rather than replacing it. Coating reduces the frequency and effort of routine cleaning, while film addresses physical chip damage that detailing cannot prevent. For many South Florida owners, combining consistent maintenance with one or both protection services can help reduce the amount of corrective work needed after damage or contamination accumulates.
Need Car Detailing in Pompano Beach?
Routine detailing costs are fairly predictable once vehicle size and service level are known. The wider price swings come in when paint correction or ceramic coating enters the picture, because both depend on the paint's actual surface condition rather than a package tier.
Advanced Detailing Sofla provides professional car detailing in Pompano Beach for daily drivers, SUVs, luxury vehicles, and exotic cars. Contact Advanced Detailing Sofla for a vehicle-specific recommendation and a quote based on your vehicle's size, condition, and detailing needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Detailing Costs
How much does a basic car detail cost?
A basic car detail typically costs $50 to $150 in 2026. This tier covers an exterior hand wash, interior vacuuming, window cleaning, and tire dressing, with work usually completing in 30 to 90 minutes. Price varies by vehicle size and the detailer's base rates for the local market.
How much does a full car detail cost?
A full-service detail costs $150 to $400 and includes deep cleaning, machine polishing, waxing, shampooing, and conditioning for both exterior and interior. Most full details take 2 to 5 hours to complete. Larger or more heavily soiled vehicles tend to land toward the higher end of that range.
How much does car detailing cost in South Florida?
Car detailing in South Florida commonly costs about $100 to $500 depending on the service, vehicle size, and condition. Maintenance-level details in Pompano Beach commonly run $149 to $299 for a complete service. Regional pricing reflects both market demand and the higher maintenance frequency that coastal conditions tend to create for vehicles in the area.
Why does car detailing cost more for larger or dirtier vehicles?
Larger vehicles have more paint surface, more interior volume, and more panels to work through, which adds labor time and product use at every step. More heavily soiled vehicles require more decontamination passes and more careful preparation before the same finished result can be achieved. Both factors increase the cost independently of which package tier is selected.
Does car detailing include paint correction?
Standard car detailing does not include paint correction. Detailing cleans and protects surfaces that are already in reasonable condition. Paint correction is a separate machine-polishing service that removes swirl marks, scratches, and oxidation from the clear coat, and it is typically priced and scheduled as a standalone job.
About the Author
John Vanderkuyp, Owner and Founder, Advanced Detailing Sofla (established 2000). 20+ years of hands-on experience with paint correction, ceramic coating, PPF, and window tint for luxury, exotic, and specialty vehicles across South Florida.
Last updated: September 2026.