Ceramic coatings offer outstanding protection to a car’s exterior, however, they can get very expensive. Whether you’re looking to get your car ceramic coated by a professional, or you’re looking to do it yourself, I’ll go through the average price per region of a ceramic coating.
This article is split into the following countries:
- USA
- UK
- Australia
- Canada
Simply scroll to your location of interest to find a breakdown of the price in each region of the country.
The cost to apply a ceramic coating at home by yourself is at the bottom of the article.
Ceramic Coatings in the USA
Ceramic coating application in the USA typically costs between $1000-$1500. This includes the ceramic coating itself and light machine polishing to prepare the surface. Ceramic coating extras include the glass which costs around $150 and the wheels which cost approximately $300.
The main variant for the cost is the level of paint correction required prior to coating application. All cars will need to be machine polished in order to prepare the surface for the coating to ensure it bonds properly for maximum durability.
However, if you require additional paint correction to remove deeper scratches and swirl marks to improve visual appearance, this will be an additional charge. Paint correction packages typically cost upwards of $800 alone, and ceramic coating application will cost a further $500.
The exact cost of the ceramic coating will also depend on the grade. The averages given are based on the installation of a 3-5 year ceramic coating. If you are choosing a 1-2 year coating, expect the price to be around $200 lower. If you are choosing a 5 year+ coating, expect the price to be around $300 higher.
Here is a table to show the average cost of the preparation and ceramic coating application based on USA region and car-size. Keep in mind that paint correction and enhancement will cost usually a additional $500-1000.
| Region | Small Car | Medium-Size Car | Large Car | Wheels | Glass |
| West | $1200 | $1300 | $1500 | $300 | $150 |
| Mid-West | $1000 | $1200 | $1400 | $300 | $150 |
| South-West | $1100 | $1250 | $1400 | $300 | $150 |
| North-West | $1150 | $1300 | $1400 | $300 | $150 |
| North | $1400 | $1500 | $1700 | $300 | $200 |
Check out my complete guide to the pros and cons of ceramic coatings so you know exactly what to expect.
Ceramic Coatings in the UK
The average cost to get a car ceramic coated applied in the UK is between £450-£600. This includes preparation and application service, and the cost of the coating itself. Ceramic coating extras include the glass which costs around £100 and the wheels which cost approximately £125.
This is the minimum amount a ceramic coating installation will cost. If you are looking for scratch and swirl mark removal to enhance the finish of the paint, then this will cost upwards of £350 depending on the size of vehicle. Some detailer offer ceramic coatings as “extras” rather than inclusive in a package. Where this is the case, the coating will usually cost an additional £200-500 depending on the size of car and the grade of coating (1-2 year, 3-5 year or 5 year+).
Here is a table to show the average cost of the preparation and ceramic coating application based on UK region and car-size for a 3-5 year ceramic coating. Keep in mind that any additional paint correction and enhancement will cost usually an extra £350-£700.
| Region | Small Car | Medium-Size Car | Large Car | Wheels | Glass |
| London | £600 | £650 | £700 | £150 | £100 |
| South East | £500 | £550 | £600 | £150 | £80 |
| South West | £450 | £500 | £550 | £125 | £80 |
| East Anglia | £475 | £500 | £525 | £125 | £80 |
| West Midlands | £450 | £475 | £525 | £125 | £80 |
| East West | £500 | £525 | £550 | £125 | £80 |
| Wales | £500 | £550 | £600 | £125 | £80 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £500 | £550 | £600 | £150 | £80 |
| North West | £450 | £475 | £525 | £125 | £80 |
| North East | £450 | £475 | £500 | £125 | £80 |
| Scotland | £500 | £525 | £575 | £125 | £100 |
| Northern Ireland | £400 | £450 | £500 | £125 | £80 |
Ceramic Coatings in Australia
The average cost to get a ceramic coating applied to a car in Australia is between $750-$1500, which includes the preparation process. Low-grade coatings which last 1-2 years will typically cost $750 to apply to an average sized vehicle, whilst 5-year+ coatings will cost upwards of $1250.
As well as the coating-grade and vehicle size dictating the overall cost, the level of machine polishing will also affect the price. The prices listed above include light machine polishing to prepare the car for the coating. However, if you require more polishing to remove defects such as swirl marks and scratches, this will usually cost upwards of $500 depending on the vehicle size.
Extras including ceramic coating the wheels and glass, will usually cost around $200 and $150, respectively.
Ceramic Coatings in Canada
The average cost to apply a ceramic coating in Canada is between $1200-$1800 including the preparation process. One-two year coatings typically cost $1200 to apply to an average sized vehicle whilst high-grade 5-year+ coatings will cost upwards of $1800.
Additional ceramic coating features include the wheels which costs roughly $350 and the glass which costs roughly $200.
The application cost includes a light machine polish to prepare the surface for the coating. If you require additional machine polishing stages to enhance the paint by removing scratches and swirl marks, this will likely cost upwards of $750 depending on the size of vehicle and level of correction needed.
Applying a Coating Yourself
You may also apply a coating yourself at home, however this is general not advised as it requires a certain level of skill and some expensive equipment. This means that in some cases, getting a professional to apply the coating may be the most economical option.
Here is the average cost of the ceramic coating itself depending on the durability claims/ grade.
| Ceramic Coating Grade | Cost (UK) | Cost (USA) | Cost (AU) | Cost (CA) |
| 1-2 year ceramic coating | £50 | $75 | $100 | $85 |
| 3-5 year ceramic coating | £100 | $150 | $175 | $150 |
| 5+ year ceramic coating | £140 | $200 | $250 | $225 |
In addition to the cost of the coating itself, you will also need to prepare the surface. This requires decontamination and machine polishing. Here is how much each piece of equipment costs:
- Iron fallout remover (£10/ $18)
- Tar and glue remover (£10/$18)
- Clay bar (£15/ $25)
- Dual-action machine polisher and pads (£200/ $300)
- Polishing liquid (£25/ $40)
- Panel wipe solution (£10/ $18)
The process itself will likely take two full days to complete. You will also need perform the coating step indoors in 50-80°F (10-25°C) for most coatings. There are some coatings that can be applied outside though such as the Pyramid Car Care and Gyeon Evo ranges.
Looking to learn more? Check out this complete guide to ceramic coatings for more information.
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