How Much Does a Wrap Cost?
How Much Does a Wrap Cost?
There’s no exact formula to calculate the cost of a wrap, but we’re here to help you get a better idea of what your new look will cost you. Many variables come into play when it comes to choosing the right wrap company and their pricing, but we’ll help you understand the variables that go into your quotes, what goes into a wrap, and things to look for with every shop.
Breaking Down Wrap Pricing
COLOR, FINISH, & DESIGN
A basic color change is one of the most common vehicle wraps. Most solid colors in a matte, satin, or gloss finish are normally your cheapest options. Depending on the vehicle, a color change can range from $2500 - $3500 for a regular car or $3500 - $5000 for a truck or SUV. These colors are cheaper to print and easier to install. This is a great option to give your vehicle a new look or maybe just a refresh a look without the hassle of repainting.
The next, more expensive, option would be a color flip film, such as 3M Psychedelic Flip, or different patterns and textures, like a carbon fiber wrap or camouflage wrap. Special finishes, such as these, can add anywhere from $500 - $1500 to the cost of a wrap. This price increase is a result of two factors: material cost & installation complexity. The increased cost of the finish will cost your installer more for more expensive material and the installation complexity will cost them more in labor hours during installation. This will normally be reflected in your quote.
For example, a brushed aluminum wrap is harder to work with when installing and each panel must have the lines in the finish going the same direction for a proper brushed aluminum look. Finishes like carbon fiber or a camouflage effect require a more intricate installation so that the lines are not stretched, which would create a warped or stretched appearance.
In addition to these printed or textured finishes is chrome. Chrome is by far one of the most expensive vinyl materials and one of the most difficult wraps to work with. This will always be reflected in the price. Chrome wraps normally start around $6,000 and will increase depending on the size & complexity of the vehicle. Chrome finishes take a long time to install and are much more difficult to work with. It will noticeably show any blemishes in the finish and cannot be heated and stretched as much as most other finishes without discoloring or cracking the finish.
Custom designs and commercial wraps tend to vary the most in price. While some commercial wraps may only require some panels to be wrapped, other custom and more intricate designs will require the whole vehicle to be wrapped. More material and more labor results in a higher price. Simple commercial wraps can be as low as $3,000, while an intricate custom wrap can reach up above $10,000.
It’s also important to remember that in order to do these custom designs, shops must pay a graphic designer. More intricate designs will require more design hours yielding a higher price point.
VEHICLE VARIABLES
Every vehicle is different and as a result of this, pricing varies for all different shapes & size vehicles. Small cars may use half of the material that an SUV or Van may use. If you have a custom design being printed for the vehicle, the square footage of vinyl to be printed can significantly increase the cost of the wrap.
The shape of a vehicle is also a major factor in determining the complexity of a wrap. A large flat van is a simpler install than say an exotic car with jagged edges and curves all over that will take longer to wrap properly. This also goes for chrome deletes on some vehicles as well.
As a minor note, for some shops, the current color of your vehicle may play a role in the pricing of your wrap. When wrapping a darker color over a lighter color, much more attention to detail is required. Edges are much more likely to show through if care is not taken because of the contrast. This can take extra time. Though it shouldn’t greatly affect price, this is something that inexperienced shops may overlook and is something to keep in the back of your mind.
VEHICLE PREPARATION
When you drop a vehicle off to be wrapped, there are still several hours of preparation that needs to take place before the wrap is applied to ensure a quality installation. Dirty vehicles must be detailed and decontaminated before being wrapped.
After the vehicle is cleaned, all badges are then removed where necessary. Any lights, bumpers, accessories, and trim are also either removed or loosened to allow installers to ensure that all paint is hidden and no edges or corers are shown.
VINYL QUALITY
The brand of vinyl used by your installer is an important factor when it comes to pricing and nothing less than the best should be accepted. Though it may seem tempting to use a film that costs a couple hundred dollars vs. a film that costs double or triple that, or a no-name brand because they have a specific color, keep in mind that the more expensive brands, like 3M and Avery Dennison, are more expensive for a reason.
Customers sometimes ask if they can purchase vinyl themselves and then have a shop install it, trying to save money. Though this can be done, and some shops will do it, we do not recommend it, as some materials may be more difficult to install, which may increase installation price. There is also a chance that the vinyl may not even be vehicle rated material if the buyer is inexperienced with different types of film. Unless you are experienced in vinyl, we do not recommend going this route.
Large companies like 3M & Avery Dennison have millions of dollars into Research & Development behind their products and back their products with years of warranty. This research goes into improving the technology behind the product, making films easier to stretch and install in complicated areas, leaving finished wraps with fewer cuts and inlays, and an overall cleaner, more paint-like installation. Research also goes into things like product durability, adhesive improvement, and ways to make removal easier.
Most don’t take into account removing vinyl after several years of it baking in the sun. While high-quality vinyl should peel with little to no adhesive left on the vehicle, cheap vinyl will leave a vehicle covered in adhesive that may end up costing more than what you saved originally to remove.
SHOP COSTS
The last factor most don’t take into account when determining price differences between wrap quotes are shop costs. While there certainly are companies that will give a much cheaper price, one must remember that there is a reason they can afford to give these prices. Many factors come in to play such as the facility the car is going to be wrapped in, employee experience, insurance & licensing, and security. While you may get a shop that quotes you $1,800 vs. $3,000 on a job, remember that there is a reason they can afford to work that cheap. We normally advise to beware of any wrap under $2,000. Inexperienced labor is cheap and inexperience on a vehicle can lead to much more expensive issues.
Also, take into account the facility the vehicle is being wrapped in. Is it a clean & dust-free environment, or is it the back garage at someone’s house or a storage warehouse? Clean environments result in cleaner installations and reduce the risk of dirt getting in the wrap.
Established companies are also licensed & insured. If something were to ever happen, you’re covered. And to prevent things from happening, shops should have a security system. These are all things that should be taken into account when choosing a shop to trust with your vehicle.
WRAP IT ALL UP
There are many companies in the wrap industry, especially here in South Florida. Some are more qualified than others and it’s important to take all of the above factors into account when choosing the right company to take care of your vehicle. As for most industries, we firmly believe in the saying “You get what you pay for.” and though, a company may have a higher price point, remember that there may be good reason for it and it could end up saving you more money in the long run.
Click here to get a quote to wrap your vehicle or if you you have any more questions, feel free to contact us here!
