How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Truck?

Written by

CarParts.com Research Team

Automotive and Tech Writers

Updated on August 19th, 2024

Reading Time: 4 minutes
Summary
  • There are various ways of painting a truck, and the cost of the services differ.
  • A basic paint job uses synthetic enamel and costs around $300 to $900.
  • Standard paint service uses higher quality paint and adds other services, so it costs anywhere between $1,000 and $4,000.
  • Finally, showroom-quality paint service can cost as much as $20,000.
  • Painting a vehicle takes 40 to 80 hours, and additional work can extend the duration by more than a month.

Remember that guy from the Offspring song who wanted to get inked a 13 but instead got a 31? Chances are, he went to a local tattoo shop that charged half the price of the usual cost and was dealt the short end of what he bargained for. That, or everyone was playing mischievous and probably drunk. But let’s not delve into that.

It’s pretty much the same when painting a truck. If you want a stellar job, you go to someone who knows his stuff (and should definitely be sober too). Plus, you need to consider things like the color, the design, the kind of paint to be used, and so on. Of course, there’s also the question about the budget: how much does it cost to paint a truck?

While it’s best to earmark money in advance, there’s no telling how much exactly to fork out for the upgrade. That’s because there are various ways of getting it done and the cost of the services differ.

A showroom-quality paint job includes sanding, removal of dents, and application of 20-24 layers of paint and six to eight layers of clear coat.

If you want a little more than that, your best bet is to go standard. Standard service usually includes sanding and rust removal. The paint used is also of higher quality and is typically branded. Depending on the amount of work, standard service can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $4,000.

But what if you want a paint job that swanks a luscious and leave-you-breathless luster? Then you’re looking at showroom-quality service. Labor for this first-class option includes sanding, removal of dents, and application of 20-24 layers of paint and six to eight layers of clear coat. Some showroom-quality service packages include air-brushing and multi-tone metallic finishes.

These are all well and good, but the expense shall still depend on the year, make, and model of your truck, as well as the location and the coverage of the overall paint job. So, really, how much to paint a truck the most optimal way? All things considered, the cost can go as much as $20,000.

How Long Does It Take to Paint a Car?

Or a truck, for that matter. Again, it depends on the kind of service. Normally, it takes around 40 to 80 hours to complete the job. However, there are other stages essential to the actual color-coating that may require more. For instance, if there are major dents to correct, that’s about three to five days, at least six hours a day, to get the issue resolved.
Moreover, more demanding paint job services (i.e., showroom-quality or custom) can last a month or even longer as these services tend to zero in on the tiniest details and are expansive in nature.

Normally, it takes around 40 to 80 hours to complete the paint work.

How Much Does it Cost to Repaint a Car?

So how much does it cost to paint a car?

Costs vary depending on the sort of paint job you’re looking for. The prices of touch-ups typically range from $300 to 1,000. On the other hand, the cost to repaint a car completely is going to be significantly higher than the cost of a mere touch-up. You can expect to pay between $500 to $5,000 due to the fact that the process is lengthier and requires a lot more mechanical expertise to pull off well.

Why is the Cost to Paint a Car So High?

Painting a car isn’t as easy as slapping a new coat of paint over the old one. To replace the color of your vehicle, you need to sand the body and remove all the rust before applying any new coat of paint.

Lengthy processes aside, numerous other factors affect how much you’ll need to pay to repaint your car. The size of your vehicle as well as the color, type, and finish of the paint are all things you need to consider. Some paints simply cost more than others.

There’s also the matter of every body shop charging different rates. The key is to do your research and ask for referrals from people who have repainted their vehicles before.  This will make it easier to choose a shop that will get the job done reliably and efficiently.

More often than not, you get what you pay for when it comes to car paint jobs. If the price is too low or sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Get Accessories and Parts for Your Truck In a Few Clicks

You might use your truck for your daily commute or to haul supplies and necessities for your business. Regardless, it’s important that it can handle everything you throw at it and still be dependable and safe. For your truck to do this, you’ll need to keep it in tip-top shape by replacing any faulty components that it might have. Good thing CarParts.com is a one-stop shop for truck parts and accessories.

Our user-friendly site allows you to easily search for the part you need. We have a wide selection of parts to choose from, so make sure to input your truck’s year, make, and model in our vehicle selector to see only those that will fit. If you need any assistance, we also have parts specialists who are ready to assist you any time.

Don’t settle on any part or accessory. Get high-quality body parts and engine components for your truck today at CarParts.com!

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