Paint Protection Film Cost: Parts, Labor & Average Price

Paint protection film (PPF), sometimes called clear bra, is a clear urethane film applied over painted panels to protect against rock chips, scratches, and road debris. It is installed by hand and cut to the shape of your car, so the price is mostly labor and skill, plus the film itself.

PPF is priced by how much of the car you cover. A small package protects the part of the car that takes the most impacts, such as the front bumper and the leading edge of the hood. A full-body package covers every painted panel. The tables below show the common packages and what each one tends to cost.

Coverage level sets the price. ThePricer lists a partial front package at $1,000 – $1,600, a full front package at $1,850 – $2,500, a track package at $2,500 – $4,500, and full-body coverage at $5,000 – $8,000. A track package usually adds rocker panels and other impact zones to a full front.

BGI Tint, an installer, lists a partial front package at $600 – $1,500 and a full front at $1,500 – $3,500. ClearPro lists a full front or track pack with XPEL Stealth film at $2,200 – $3,500. These numbers come from shops that sell PPF, so they describe what an installer charges, and they may reflect that shop's own packages and market. The differences between sources are a good reason to collect several local quotes.

Package names are not standardized. In general, a full front covers the bumper, the whole hood, the fenders, the mirrors, and often the headlights. A partial front covers a strip of the hood and bumper. Some shops include a roof strip, door edges, or door cups in a package, and others charge extra. When you compare quotes, ask for the list of panels so you compare the same coverage.

Film locks in whatever is on the paint beneath it, so a shop may recommend paint correction first if the finish has swirls or scratches. ThePricer lists paint correction at $349 – $700. Some owners also add a ceramic coating over or alongside the film, and a ceramic coating on its own is listed at $600 – $1,399. A coating is a different product and does not provide the same physical layer of protection as film.

Bigger vehicles need more film and more time. A pickup or large SUV generally costs more than a small coupe, and cars with complex curves, many sensors, or large panels take longer. Film type matters too. Gloss film and matte or satin film are priced differently, and premium lines cost more than entry-level film. Some shops publish prices by vehicle class, and some quote only after seeing the car.

Brand and warranty also affect the price. Ask which film the shop uses, what warranty covers yellowing, cracking, or peeling, and whether the shop or the manufacturer honors it.

Pre-cut kits and bulk rolls exist for people who want to install film themselves. Installing PPF without experience is difficult, because trapped dust, stretching, and edge lifting are easy mistakes, and a failed attempt wastes the film. A professional installer also provides a warranty on the work. Weigh the cost of a kit against the cost of redoing a poor install.

Prices depend on the shop and the area. Metropolitan areas and high-demand shops tend to charge more. For a local figure:

• Ask for quotes from at least two or three installers, using the same package description.
• Ask which brand and line of film each shop uses.
• Ask whether paint correction, edge wrapping, and door edges are included.
• Ask to see recent work, including close-ups of edges.
• Ask what warranty covers the film and the install.

• Coverage level: partial front, full front, track package, or full body.
• Vehicle size and body shape.
• Film brand, thickness, and finish.
• Paint condition and any correction needed.
• Edge wrapping versus cutting around panels.
• Installer experience and location.

All four ranges are for full-body or full-vehicle coverage, but they do not come from the same kind of source. ThePricer summarizes advertised prices from detailers. BGI Tint, Pure Protection Film, and ClearPro sell the service or the film, so their figures come from businesses with something to sell, and a shop may quote the packages it offers rather than a neutral market average. ClearPro's figure is for XPEL Stealth, a matte film, so the finish may account for part of the difference. Vehicle mix, region, and the exact panels included may also explain the spread. Use the table to judge the general range and get written quotes for your car.

• Which panels are covered, and which are left off?
• Which film brand and line is used?
• Does the quote include paint correction?
• Where does the film end at the edges, and are edges wrapped?
• What does the warranty cover, and who honors it?