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Car detailing pricing calculator: what to charge per vehicle

The short answer

Multiply your hours per vehicle by your hourly cost, add products and drive time for mobile work, then add overhead and profit. Kelley Blue Book’s 2023 guide puts a professional detail at $150 to $300. Price it by the time each package really takes: a wash and vacuum, an interior and a full detail aren’t the same job.

Run each package you sell through this once, then you’ve got a price list that you know makes money.

What to charge

$209.70

$209.70 per vehicle. About 4 hours on site.

Labor, with drive time: $95.33
Products for the job: $20.00
Overhead: $52.42
Profit: $41.94
Brought in per hour the crew is tied up: $48.39

How it works

Price = (labor + supplies) ÷ (1 − overhead share − profit share). Dividing, rather than adding a percent, makes sure overhead and profit are the shares of the price you wanted.

Worked example: one full detail at 4 hours, using made-up numbers
Line	Amount
Labor, with drive time (1 at $22 an hour)	$95.33
Products for the job	$20.00
Overhead (25% of the price)	$52.42
Profit (20% of the price)	$41.94
Price	$209.70

What customers see

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts a professional detail at $150 to $300, in a guide dated November 30, 2023. That’s an older figure, so check what shops near you charge now.

Build a simple price list

List your packages: wash, interior, exterior, full detail.
Time each one on a sedan and on an SUV.
Run both through the calculator.
Add extras, such as pet hair and stain removal, at the time they take.

Mobile? Your drive time is built in above. Set a service area or a travel charge so long drives don’t eat the profit.

Common questions

How much should I charge for a full detail?

Run your own time through the calculator. Kelley Blue Book’s 2023 guide says $150 to $300, and prices vary by market, vehicle size and condition.

Should I charge more for SUVs and trucks?

Yes, if they take longer. Time them and enter the hours: the price will follow.

How do I price mobile detailing?

Add your drive time, and any water and power you bring with you. A service area or a travel fee keeps long trips worthwhile.

How much extra for pet hair?

Charge for the extra time, at your hourly cost plus overhead and profit. Set it ahead so it isn’t a surprise.

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