Should I charge more for SUVs and trucks than sedans?

Yes — larger vehicles take longer to wash, vacuum, and detail, and most operators add $10–$30 per tier for SUVs and $20–$50 for trucks and larger vehicles over a sedan's base price.

How much extra for pet hair removal?

Pet hair embedded in upholstery and carpet takes real extra time to extract and is almost always priced separately — many operators charge $25–$75 depending on how much hair is involved.

Is ceramic coating priced per package or separately?

Almost always as its own premium service, quoted separately from a standard detail package, since it requires paint correction prep and a different skill set and product cost than a wash-and-detail.

How Much to Charge for Mobile Detailing

Package tiers are the standard structure

Detailing customers think in packages, not itemized hourly rates — build your pricing around three common tiers so clients can easily self-select their level of service:

Basic Maintenance Detail (wash + quick interior vacuum + dash wipe-down): $50–$100. Best for regular clients scheduled on a 2-week or monthly recurring basis. Takes 45–75 minutes.
Full Interior & Exterior Detail: $150–$300. The standard flagship offering. Includes deep carpet extraction, leather conditioning, clay bar treatment, and a 3-month spray sealant. Takes 2.5–4 hours.
Premium Paint Correction & Protection: $400–$1,000+. High-end restoration package including single-stage or two-stage machine polishing, rim off-car detailing, and ceramic coating protection. Takes 5–8+ hours.

Vehicle size moves the price within each tier

A compact sedan, a mid-size 3-row SUV, and a lifted heavy-duty truck require vastly different amounts of surface prep, chemical volume, and labor time:

Sedans & Coupes: Base package price.
Mid-size SUVs & Crossovers: Add $20–$40 per tier to account for additional roof height and cargo area vacuuming.
Full-Size Trucks & 3-Row SUVs: Add $40–$75 per tier due to heavy carpet square footage and high roof panels.
Dually Trucks, Cargo Vans & RVs: Quote custom rates starting at $15–$25 per linear foot or $75+ above base package pricing.

Overhead and consumable chemical cost math

To ensure a 45%–60% net profit margin as a mobile operator, factor in both fixed overhead and variable consumable expenses per job:

Chemicals & Consumables ($8–$20 per car): pH-neutral shampoo, iron remover, degreaser, leather cleaner, ceramic spray, and fresh microfiber towels (account for laundering costs).
Utilities & Equipment Run-Time ($5–$12 per job): Generator fuel, pressure washer pump wear, water tank refill costs, and extractor heating fuel.
Drive-Time & Vehicle Fuel ($10–$25 per job): Calculate round-trip mileage from your base. Build a 15–20 mile service radius; charge a $1.50/mile travel surcharge for locations beyond your core zone.

Add-ons that live outside the standard package price

Never include heavy labor or specialty restoration work in standard package quotes. Itemize add-ons separately:

Pet Hair Removal ($30–$80): Embedded pet hair requires specialized rubber brushes, pumice stones, and specialized vacuum attachments that add 30–60 minutes of intensive manual labor.
Odor Elimination & Enzyme Treatment ($50–$120): Smoke, mildew, or pet accidents require deep hot-water extraction followed by an ozone generator cycle or biological enzyme fogging.
Headlight Restoration ($60–$120): Multi-stage wet sanding, compound buffing, and UV ceramic clear coating to restore oxidized headlights.
Engine Bay Detail ($45–$90): Safe degreasing, steam cleaning, and plastic dressing for clean engine compartments.

Trade edge cases and driveway constraints

Operating on-site at a customer’s home or office introduces operational variables you must manage before starting work:

Water & Power Access: Confirm whether the client provides hose spigots and electrical outlets, or if your rig is fully self-contained with a water tank and generator. Self-contained rigs justify a $15–$25 convenience premium.
Shade & Direct Sunlight: Polishing compounds and ceramic coatings cannot be applied in direct hot sun. If working in a driveway, bring a heavy-duty pop-up canopy or schedule paint correction jobs during early morning hours.
Parking Garages & Low Clearance: Measure your mobile van or truck clearance before accepting subterranean office garage jobs where low pipe overhangs block access.

On-site driveway billing and customer communication

Structure your payment collection workflow to secure payments immediately upon job completion:

Pre-Inspection Walkthrough: Walk around the vehicle with the customer before spraying water. Note existing scratches, curb rash, or deep carpet stains on your initial estimate form.
Scope Changes & Approval: If you discover heavy pet hair or severe paint oxidation during the wash, send a quick photo text and get client approval for the add-on fee before proceeding.
Driveway Payment Collection: Once finished, perform a final walkthrough, present an itemized bill, and collect card or digital payment on the spot.

Once your package tiers are set, use our free mobile detailing invoice template to bill on-site. When you’re ready to automate scheduling and driveway card payments, compare the best software for a mobile detailing business or see what it costs to start a mobile detailing business.