How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Truck?
If you’re considering a new paint job for your truck for a newer, fresher look, or maybe you’re looking to increase its resale value, you’re also probably wondering how much does it cost to paint a truck.
Of course, cost varies widely with how large you truck is, the type of paint you use, and whether you’re getting it serviced or do it yourself. The good news is we’ve done all the research to give you a better idea of what this project will cost you both in money and time, so you can set your expectation and budget beforehand.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $4,000, even a little more if you want tougher paint and more sophisticated design, to get a satisfying paint job for your beloved truck.
This guide will give you an estimate for two options, the professional service or a DIY project in your own garage.
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Truck: DIY Project
If you drive an old truck, it might not make sense to have a professional paint it. To keep the costs down, it’s wise to consider doing it yourself.
If you choose to do it yourself, which is not that hard, the amount of paint your truck requires is the deciding factor on the cost of a DIY paint job.
Between primer, color, and clearcoat, most trucks will require somewhere around 6-7 quarts of paint. Depending on the size of the truck and paint color, some might need more or less.
This is important to consider because choosing a paint color that costs $25 more per quart than another could add over $150 to the job just for the paint. In general, you can expect to shell out up to $600 for a DIY paint job for your truck.
What you need are readily accessible:
- Paint (or Durabak for maximum protection)
- Primer
- Masking tape
- Foam brushes
- Sandpaper
- Paint trays
- Mineral spirits
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How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Truck: Professional Service
Although doing it yourself is definitely a lot cheaper, you might decide you’re not good at this kind of handy job and want to opt for a professional service.
How much does it cost to paint a truck with professional services? It depends on the service level. If you choose to go the professional route, you have some different levels of service available to you.
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Basic Service
This involves a few coats of paint and is the cheapest option. You can expect to pay between $500 and $1,000 for the most basic services.
This kind of service uses synthetic enamel, a type of paint that could mask off removable trims and parts but might not cover door jams and inside-the-hood areas. The professional will only take care of visible areas.
You get what you pay for, and do not expect this kind of paint job to last you that long while being exposed to the harsh outdoor elements.
In addition, opting for basic paint service, despite its price range, could also result in getting paint in unwanted areas and crude masked-up edges.
Standard Service
This often includes sanding and removing any rust before beginning the paint job. The paint used is also of higher quality and is typically branded.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on how much work needs to be done to prep your truck before the painting.
Showroom Quality Service
If you want a little more than that, your best bet is to go standard. This involves taking the bodywork to bare metal with sanding. Then, any dents and rust is removed.
After that, the shop applies high-quality paint in 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 projects might consume a month of time and cost up to $20,000.
What Affects Service Pricing?
Preparation Work And Labor
Apart from the amount of paint needed, another significant variable that affects the cost of a new paint job is the prep work involved. Before actually applying the new paint, depending on how thorough the paint job is, much of your vehicle’s interior might actually need to be removed to avoid getting paint on it and ruining it when the door jambs are painted.
This includes the seats, dash, and console. This is a step of the process most people don’t consider.
Then, all of the old paint has to be removed so the new paint can adhere better for a smooth, durable finish, which is a particularly time-consuming process.
In addition, the process will take longer if your truck has rust spots that also need to be removed. So if you’ve been giving your precious vehicle proper maintenance, you have this covered.
Unless you’re living somewhere like South East Asia, the materials will not be the most expensive part but rather the hours of painstaking labor. The total labor time involved in painting a truck is fairly extensive.
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How Long Does It Take to To Paint A Truck?
While we’re on this, note that depending on the kind of service, 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 extra hours. For instance, if there are major dents to deal with, this adds about three to five days on top with at least six hours of labour a day.
If you are getting a showroom-quality or custom paint job, especially one with sophisticated design, the project can last a month or even longer as these services tend to take care of the tiniest details on your big hauler.
