Car Wrap Price Guide » How Much to Wrap a Car 2022 (2023)

FAQs

How much wrap is enough for a car? ›

Small size cars can be fully wrapped with 50 to 55 feet / 15 to 16.8 meters of vinyl. Midsize cars can be fully wrapped with 60 to 65 feet / 18.3 to 19.8 meters of vinyl.

A standard wrap for a small car starts at around $3,000, while a larger car or SUV could cost up to $5000. Costs can vary even further for more complex designs, with some wraps costing as much as $7,000.

You could spend between $600 and $2,000 or more, depending on the brand, color, and finish. Professionally applying it will set you back another $1,000 to as much as $2,500, depending on the type of film. Larger vehicles can cost as much as $5,000 to have wrapped professionally. Exotics will cost even more.

Cost is a likely factor in a wrapping vs painting decision: is it cheaper to wrap or paint a car? Paint jobs run from $500 (low quality) or anywhere between $1,000-$5,000 (high-quality). A professional wrap runs between $2,500 to $5,000. There is also a labor cost to remove the wrap that may range between $500-$600.

The easiest way to calculate how much vinyl you need, is to take the length of your car, multiply by 3 and add 10 to 15 feet, round it up to the nearest roll size you can buy. Measure your car for all the areas you want to wrap with vinyl film. Always add extra for the edges, so you have somewhere to grab the material.

For example, if you want to wrap an SUV, you would probably need 10-12 square feet of material per side. This means that if you wanted to wrap the whole thing in vinyl, you would need 20-24 square feet total.

The Materials Used

Higher quality vinyl, such as 3M vinyl and Avery cast vinyl, will last longer than low-quality vinyl. High-quality vinyl is UV resistant, more scratch resistant, and less fragile than low-quality vinyl.

You should expect your car wrap to last roughly five to seven years, depending on the finish and proper maintenance.

Most car wraps last approximately five to seven years. After five to seven years most vinyl wraps will begin to crack, fade, and peel off the vehicle.

Comparing to other types of vinyl wrap films, to some wrappers, gloss wrap film might be the easiest to wrap.

Are car wraps worth it? ›

Full vehicle wraps offer a few key benefits compared to painting, such as lower costs, better quality, greater protection and more design options. Vehicle wraps' advantages make them an ideal choice for car owners and fleet managers, whether they're looking to save money or create a one-of-a-kind design.

Prices for rolls of 3M's standard 2080 Series Gloss Black vinyl wrap range from about $36 for 10 square feet to about $420 for 200 square feet. About 250 square feet of vinyl are needed to cover the whole surface of the average car.

A wrap typically lasts about five years, while a good paint job can shine for decades if it's cared for. And although you won't have to wax the wrap or tend to it the same way you would paint, an automated car wash with brushes or a power washer can tear the vinyl.

3M does not recommend using wax or other similar coatings on vehicle graphics. Vinyl wraps may be run through car washes. Touch less car washes are the best for graphic care.

As the wrap undergoes more damage, the colour will begin to seep through, becoming more noticeable and losing its overall finish. The protective element of the vinyl wrap will also be lost, again exposing the paintwork to more damage.

The length of a wrap is measured all along one of the hems, from the tip of the taper point along to the end of that hem. Wraps are parallelograms (squashed rectangles), so although the two long ends don't sit directly above each other, then both measure exactly the same.

Measure the circumference of the widest point of the object being wrapped. Then measure the length of the product being wrapped. Add 10-15% to the circumference of the width then divide by 2.

Black Matte 60 Inch x 50ft Car Wrap Vinyl Roll for Full Car Wraps.

A typical vehicle wrap installation can take 7-9 hours or longer, depending on the size of the vehicle. It is not uncommon to take 2-3 days to complete a full wrap. The installation is completed indoors requiring the vehicle to typically be left at the installation premises.

Depending on whether you have opted for solid color with a matte finish, or a more expensive version, the cost can range from $2500 - $3500 for a regular car or $3500 - $5000 for a truck or SUV.

What tools do you need to wrap a car? ›

Standard colors are more durable with reds on the lower end of the range. The most durable options in any vinyl product palette are typically black, white, and transparent.

A wrap may increase the cost of your insurance, but it doesn't have to. It depends on the overall risk of the vehicle being insured and which insurance company you speak to.

Although they've been around for quite some time, many vehicle owners often ask us, does a car wrap damage paint? The truth is that a vinyl wrap or car wrap as some call it, is completely safe to be applied to any type of paint – whether it's gloss or a matte finish.

The wrap's durability will suffer if you use the car daily for transportation. The wrap should endure for about two years of daily driving. Without regular maintenance, vinyl car wraps typically last for about five years. Simple measures like parking in the shade can add years to the vehicle's life expectancy.

Because vinyl wraps are nothing more than just a film on the surface of the car, they're pretty susceptible to getting little nicks and scratches (even if it doesn't break the vinyl).

Vinyl wraps bond tightly to surfaces when applied, so wrapping a car or van with a scratch may cause the defect to be more noticeable as the vinyl picks up the contours of any chips or deep scratches.

While car wraps can be applied over scratches, they will not hide scratches. In fact, a vinyl wrap may even make the imperfections in your vehicle's paint even more noticeable.

If you want to grab people's attention with your vehicle wrap, then warm colours, such as yellow, red, or orange are typically the best hues to pick. Business people use these colours to sell products and to capture the interest of visitors to their websites.

What color car is easiest to wrap? ›

If you want to avoid any trace of stock color choose a vehicle with a neutral color like black for wraps.

There's no need to fear you might damage the paint. In fact, the vinyl will act as a barrier between the paint and weather exposure, rocks and other debris, and the normal wear of time. If done the right way, the vinyl won't even leave a sticky residue when removed.

Vehicle wraps aren't meant to be installed and forgotten. Like the rest of your vehicle, your vehicle wrap requires regular cleaning and maintenance. For longer-lasting, vibrant color, wash your wrap on a regular basis and keep your vehicle away from possible pollutants. This will help with vehicle wrap protection!

Vinyl wraps are highly durable and are often resistant against everyday wear and tear like minor scratches. These scratches don't break through the material or damage your car's paint. This will ensure that vinyl car wraps are a good investment and you can get most out of your exterior coating.

Stay in the know

While the short answer to how long a vinyl wrap lasts appears to be “three to seven years,” that wide range merits some explanation.

Vinyl has a much quicker processing time to finish than car wraps that usually take a day or two to complete. Vinyl decals offer varied options. Vinyl wraps come in a broader range of colors and finishes than paint. You can match anything depending on the color of your vehicle.

PPF jobs usually cost more than vinyl wrap jobs. You can expect to pay around $5000+ for a full PPF wrap on a sedan. Meanwhile, a full vinyl wrap will typically cost you around $3400 for a similar sized vehicle.

How long will my wrap last? Your wrap properly installed and properly maintained, is warranted to remain in acceptable viewing condition for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Instead of conventional turtle wax or clearcoat polish, use vinyl wrap specific polish to give your wrap the proper shine it needs. If possible, choose a brand-specific polish to match the brand of your wrap like a 3M polish for your 3M wrap.

The answer to getting ultimate longevity and usability from your vinyl wrap is to pair it with a ceramic coating. Ceramic coatings are the pinnacle of vehicle protection, but many people aren't aware that they can be used on vinyl wraps as well as glossy paint.

Can you wax wraps? ›

1- Waxes, sealants and other surface protectants are fine to use on a gloss wrap. As a general rule, if a container is plastic, you may use it's contents on your wrap, if it's metal, we don't suggest you use it.

“I've wrapped parking sensors several different ways. Not once, have I ever had any issues with them not functioning normally. I have removed and wrapped, wrapped directly over with a tuck and trim technique and cut separate pieces to do each individually, and the film has not affected functionality,” said Nopps.

Wraps are non permanent, long term, and do not void the vehicles warranty. The wrap will keep the original paint protected until it is time to be removed. There are hundreds of colors to choose from with many finishes. Full vinyl wraps can be used completely change the appearance of the vehicle.

3M™ Wrap Film Series 2080 (“2080”) is more conformable than 3M™ Wrap Film Series 1080 (“1080”), enabling easier installation with less heat. All 2080 gloss films have a conformable protective film layer on their surface. - The protective film layer reduces surface impressions in a finished goods roll.

Each roll measures 30 inches wide by 12 feet, 30 total square feet for a 120 total square feet per pack. Each roll can wrap approximately 7 shirt boxes that measure 14.75 inches x 9.5 inches x 1.88 inches. The 4 roll pack can measure 28 shirt boxes!

When a car is wrapped, the resale value is considerably greater than for a car that has been repainted. This is primarily because the wrapper can be removed without damaging the car. Since the wrap preserved the paint, the value of your car is higher because it still looks new.

Full vehicle wraps offer a few key benefits compared to painting, such as lower costs, better quality, greater protection and more design options. Vehicle wraps' advantages make them an ideal choice for car owners and fleet managers, whether they're looking to save money or create a one-of-a-kind design.

Using the formula breadth = X, length = Y and height = Z, Mark says his wrapped box is: length of paper = 2Y + 2Z + extra (for overlap); breadth of paper = X + Z + extra (for overlap). In layman's terms, this means two times length, two times height and a little extra; breadth plus height and a little extra.

Bottom Line. Selling your vehicle with a wrap still on will likely decrease the value of your vehicle unless you get very lucky and find a buyer with the same tastes as you and you have evidence that the wrap isn't hiding any paint damage.

How long does a high quality car wrap last? ›

How Long Does a Car Wrap Last? Most car wraps last approximately five to seven years. After five to seven years most vinyl wraps will begin to crack, fade, and peel off the vehicle.

Under normal conditions, the average lifespan of a vehicle wrap is about five years. Another factor that can impact wrap lifespan is the installation process. A wrap that's not properly installed can quickly start showing signs of wear, conditions like peeling or getting dirty under the wrap.

Because vinyl wraps are nothing more than just a film on the surface of the car, they're pretty susceptible to getting little nicks and scratches (even if it doesn't break the vinyl).

Taking into account the angles, spaces and curves of the vehicle when designing a wrap, choosing the right vinyl wrap can go a long way to creating the visual impact you're looking for on your vehicle. The material, whether high quality or low, should be the first questions answered when seeking the right vinyl wrap.