How Much to Charge for Mobile Detailing
Mobile detailing is typically priced in tiers: a basic wash and vacuum runs $50–$100, a full interior/exterior detail $150–$300, and premium packages with paint correction or ceramic coating $400–$1,000+. Vehicle size (sedan vs. SUV vs. truck) moves the price within each tier, and pet hair removal, odor treatment, and engine bay cleaning are usually priced as add-ons rather than built into the base package.
Package tiers are the standard structure
Detailing customers think in packages, not itemized time — build your pricing around three common tiers:
- Basic (wash + vacuum + wipe-down): $50–$100
- Full interior/exterior detail: $150–$300
- Premium (paint correction, ceramic coating add-on): $400–$1,000+
Vehicle size moves the price within each tier
A sedan, an SUV, and a full-size truck are not the same amount of surface area or interior space:
- Sedan: base package price
- SUV / minivan: add $10–$30 per tier
- Truck / larger vehicle: add $20–$50 per tier
Add-ons that live outside the package price
- Pet hair removal. Embedded pet hair in upholstery takes real extraction time — price it separately, typically $25–$75.
- Odor treatment. Ozone or enzyme treatment for smoke or pet odor is a distinct service, not part of a standard interior clean.
- Engine bay cleaning. A less common request, but one that adds real time and shouldn’t be assumed as included.
Ceramic coating is its own service, not a package upgrade
Ceramic coating requires paint correction and prep work most detail packages don’t include — quote it as a separate premium service with its own price, not as a checkbox add-on to a standard detail. Customers who want it are usually shopping specifically for it and expect a dedicated quote.
Mobile adds a convenience premium, and that’s fine
Detailing at the customer’s home or office saves them a drop-off trip — many mobile operators price at or slightly above shop rates for that convenience, rather than discounting to compete with a fixed-location shop’s lower overhead.
Frequently asked questions
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.