Dent Repair Cost: Parts, Labor & Average Price

Dent repair prices depend more on the type of damage than on the car. A shallow ding on a flat door panel with intact paint is a short repair. A sharp crease, a dent on a body line, or a dent that has cracked the paint takes longer and may need a body shop.

There are two main methods. Paintless dent repair (PDR) uses tools to massage the metal back into shape from behind the panel, so the factory paint stays in place. Conventional body shop repair fills, sands, and repaints the area. PDR only works when the paint is not broken, and it is usually the lower-cost option when it applies. The tables below show how price changes with size and method.

ThePricer lists a small door ding at $125 – $300, a medium dent at $250 – $600, and a large, deep, or creased dent at $500 – $1,500. Its size-based breakdown starts with a tiny shallow ding at $125 – $200, then a one-inch dent at $150 – $250, a two- to three-inch dent at $200 – $400, and a four- to eight-inch dent at $350 – $700.

AutoBodyRepairs reports lower numbers for the smallest damage. It lists a door ding under one inch at $75 – $125, a one- to three-inch dent at $100 – $200, and a three- to six-inch dent at $200 – $450 for paintless repair. Local rates and shop type may account for the gap.

PDR typically costs less than a conventional repair because there is no filler, sanding, or paint. Dent Erasers lists professional paintless repair at $75 – $400 per panel, compared with $500 – $2,500 per panel at a traditional body shop.

A body shop repair is the usual choice when the paint is cracked or chipped, the dent is too deep or sharp, or the metal has stretched. In that case the repair includes paint matching, which adds cost. A shop that offers both methods can tell you which one fits.

• Size and depth of the dent.
• Body lines and creases, which are harder to work.
• Aluminum panels, which are less forgiving than steel and often cost more.
• Access to the back of the panel, since trim, lights, or bracing may need to be removed.
• Paint damage, which moves the job from paintless repair to body shop work.
• The number of dents in the same panel.

Many PDR shops price the first inch and add an amount for each extra inch, then add adjustments for depth, body lines, aluminum, and the time needed to remove parts. When you compare quotes, ask how each shop prices these adjustments.

Hail damage involves many dents across several panels, so it costs far more than a single ding. ThePricer reports that widespread hail damage commonly costs $2,500 – $10,000, and it cites Dent Evo at $1,200 – $4,000 for multi-panel hail work. Severe cases with large dents or aluminum panels can go higher. Hail damage is often handled through an insurance claim, so check your policy and deductible before you pay out of pocket.

Mobile PDR technicians come to your home or office and work on small dents. Some charge a small travel fee. A fixed shop has a controlled setting with better lighting and may handle larger jobs. Either can do good work, so compare reviews, photos of past repairs, and the written quote.

A dealership body shop typically charges higher labor rates and sends the car for paint work. An independent PDR specialist often specializes in dent work and can quote quickly from photos or an in-person look. For a small ding with intact paint, a PDR specialist is usually the first call. For a paint-damaged dent, a body shop can handle the whole repair.

Dent repair is mostly cosmetic, but a dent near a door edge, a latch, a window, or a sensor can affect how the part works. Dents on a bumper cover may hide sensor damage. If the dent happened in a collision, have the car inspected for hidden damage to the suspension, frame, and airbags. Ask any shop whether the work is guaranteed and what happens if paint cracks during the repair.

The three ranges above measure different things. ThePricer's range is for a small door ding with intact paint. AutoBodyRepairs reports the price a body shop may quote across a wide range of dent sizes and repair types, which is why its range is the widest. Dent Erasers gives a per-panel range for professional paintless repair. A range that mixes paintless and conventional repair will always look broader than one that covers paintless repair only. Vehicle mix, region, and whether paint damage is included may also explain differences.

• Is paintless repair possible, or does the paint need work?
• How does the shop price size, depth, and body lines?
• Is the quote for one dent or the whole panel?
• Does the price include removal of trim or lights?
• What is the guarantee if the paint cracks?