Wrapping A Car: An Overview
In many ways, wrapping a car seems like a relatively straightforward practice. In reality, it is a task that requires both patience and expertise to execute correctly. Let’s walk through the process of wrapping a car.
There are some vital questions that must be asked by both the vehicle owner and the professional who will be applying the wrap:
- What is the make and model of the car? The complexity of the design directly affects the time needed to wrap a vehicle, varying the cost accordingly
- Does the car have any kind of body kit? Cars with custom body kits usually add to the intricacies of the wrap, due in large part to the unique angles and creases of the aftermarket alterations
- What vinyl finish do you want? Standard vinyl finishes are offered in different finishes – gloss, matte, satin, and textured
- What parts of the car do you want to be wrapped? Maybe you want to get the car wrapped top to bottom for commercial purposes (as a means to promote your business). Or perhaps you aren’t looking to have your entire vehicle wrapped, but rather just apply a carbon-fiber hood or red brake calipers. Each option and approach will be priced differently depending on these factors.
Cost Of Wrapping A Car
Most costs incurred from having your car professionally wrapped result from the labor-intensive nature of the process. The following price approximations generally apply to the easiest and most basic wrap applications. For example, a Tesla is surprisingly one of the simplest vehicles to wrap due to its smooth, flat, and simple exterior design. Once you begin including upgrades such as specialty vinyl, custom designs, and wheel wrapping, the price starts to increase.
Here are the average baseline costs of having a professional apply a wrap to your vehicle.
- Compact car or coupe: Prices vary depending on design, but start around $2,500.
- Family sedan: The average family sedan would run you about $3,000.
- Compact crossover: Most compact crossover vehicles start at around $3,500.
- Full-size SUV: A Full-size SUV is likely to start at about $4,000.
We also have the commercial line of vehicles which is highly customizable prices depend more on coverage than they do on colors, prices can vary from $750 for spot decals to more than $3500 on a more complex full cube van wrap on a box
DIY Option
We must lead this section off by saying that we highly advise having your car wrapped by professionals with the experience and expertise to execute the application properly. As we have detailed throughout this piece, applying a wrap can be both tedious and complicated. Therefore, you are best suited to have the job completed by professionals to avoid any mishaps or potentially catastrophic application errors.
However, if you feel you have the experience and technical know-how to take on the task yourself, there are fewer costs associated with the process than professional installation.
Prices for rolls of 3M’s standard 2080 Series Gloss Satin vinyl wrap is about $1400 per roll
The average car requires roughly 3/4 to a full roll of vinyl to cover its entire surface. With this in mind, the standard DIY car wrap will run you approximately $1050-$1400 in vinyl costs. These prices will vary depending on the vinyl brand, the vinyl retailer, and the color or finish of the car wrap.
Whether you are employing a professional’s services or taking the DIY approach, wrapping a car is a time-consuming process. If you want to commit your vehicle to a professional (which we wholeheartedly advise), you will likely spend at least $3,000 for a car wrap. The DIY approach can be much more cost-effective but comes with its drawbacks and potential complications.
If you are looking to get your car wrapped in the near future, we hope we have provided some general insight that will help you decide which approach is best for your budget and achieving your desired results.
Growing marketing and promotional spending, increased penetration of graphic films and vehicle wrap in the automobile industry, increased demand for wrap ads, and advancements in printing technologies and graphic films are some of the major factors driving the market’s expansion. Graphic films in vehicles are also used to shield the external parts of the car from reduced maintenance costs.
Car wraps have been around for a long time, and the technology behind creating these graphics has advanced significantly in the last decade. In the world of large illustrations and complete coverage, vehicle vinyl wraps are almost ubiquitous.
Car wraps have become highly popularized in recent years. Not only do they give you the option to completely change the appearance of your car, but a wrap can also provide ample, long-term protection to the paint and the surface of your vehicle. These stylish-yet-protective layers can help prevent the chips and blemishes that often occur with daily driving and exposure to the elements.