How much does paint protection film cost?

At three XPEL and name-brand installers whose prices were read for this page on 7 November 2026, front-end paint protection film costs $860 to $3,000 or more, and a full car costs about $5,500 to $12,000 or more. Where you are, which panels the package actually covers and which film goes on explain most of that range.

What three installers charge

Car Teks, Schererville, Indiana (XPEL Ultimate Plus, clear). Exact prices come from XPEL’s pattern for your year, make and model, the shop says.

• Partial front (bumper, partial hood, partial fenders, mirrors, door cups): from $860, usually one day
• Full front (full hood, full fenders, mirrors, bumper, door cups): from $1,600, usually two days; headlights add $200
• Sports car package (full front plus rocker panels and door cups): from $2,050
• Full car: from $5,965, about seven days
• Windshield protection film: from $750

Exclusive Paint Protection, Charlotte and Huntersville, North Carolina (XPEL Ultimate Plus gloss or XPEL Stealth satin, same price). Every package includes XPEL’s 10-year manufacturer warranty, registered before pickup.

• Front bumper only: $350 to $800 or more; hood only: $400 to $1,000 or more
• Full front (hood, bumper, fenders, mirrors, headlights): from $1,975 on most vehicles; Tesla from $2,000; Rivian $1,995
• Full vehicle: about $6,500 typical; Tesla from $5,500; Rivian $5,995
• Lower doors add $450 (Rivian pricing); paint prep, only if needed, $450 to $800 or more

Dynamic Detailing, San Jose, California, in its own price guide for the Bay Area:

• Partial front (bumper, partial fenders, partial hood): $1,000 to $1,800
• Full front (hood, fenders, bumper, headlights, mirrors): $2,000 to $3,000 or more
• Full body: $7,500 to $12,000 or more

Why quotes differ so much

Package names are not standard. Car Teks’ partial front covers part of the hood and fenders; its full front covers all of them. Exclusive Paint Protection’s full front includes the headlights, while Car Teks charges $200 for them. Compare the list of panels, not the name of the package.

The film. Dynamic Detailing says rolls of name-brand clear film cost installers $1,200 to $1,800, against $400 to $600 for counterfeit or no-name film, and that a bad film can cost $1,000 or more to remove later. Ask for the brand and product line on the quote. A shop warranty on an unnamed film, Exclusive Paint Protection notes, is only as good as the shop.

Region and the shop’s costs. The San Jose ranges run well above the Indiana prices for similar coverage. Dynamic Detailing points to the cost of insurance for California shops that hold expensive cars.

The paint underneath. Film locks in whatever is under it, so swirls and delivery scratches need correcting first. Exclusive Paint Protection quotes that prep separately and says new deliveries usually need little.

Is it worth it?

It depends on how you drive and how long you keep the car. Highway miles throw the stones that chip a hood and bumper, which is why front-end packages are the common choice. Car Teks gives its own comparison: a single rock chip repair at a body shop is $100 to $300, and a bumper respray $500 to $1,500. That is an installer’s estimate, so check it against a body shop’s quote near you. For a car you will sell in a year, a partial front at the low end is the most a lot of owners spend; full-body film is mostly bought for new, expensive or long-kept cars.

Film and ceramic coating do different jobs and are often combined: film for impact on the front, a coating for gloss and easy washing everywhere. Coating prices are in How much does ceramic coating cost?, and how the three products differ, including why film edges matter, is in Paint protection film, ceramic coating and vinyl.

Before you book

• The film’s brand and product line in writing, and whether the warranty is the manufacturer’s and registered (XPEL’s is 10 years against yellowing, cracking, peeling and staining, per Exclusive Paint Protection)
• Exactly which panels are covered, and whether the hood and fenders are full or partial
• Whether edges are wrapped around panels or cut short
• Whether paint correction is included or extra
• How many days the car will be at the shop: Car Teks quotes one day for a partial front and about seven for a full car

Prices were read on each installer’s own page on 7 November 2026 and change, so use them to test a quote, not as one.

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Mario Bailey

Founder, Driven Life

Mario Bailey founded Driven Life, which is published by Revlent LLC. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a tech founder, and has worked as a software engineer for more than ten years. He edits the site and is responsible for every page on it: the meet, club and rally guides, the metro and state hubs, the car and tool pages, and the magazine.