Detailing Business Pricing — Build Your Menu From Costs Up
Who this is for: For detailers starting out or raising prices — who know their costs but not whether the menu math survives a slow month.
For detailers: build your price list from costs up — hourly rate, service menu, and margin check.
Quick answer: Detailer pricing: floor rate = (expenses + income goal) ÷ billable hours (15–25/week realistic), then services at 1.5–2× per service hour. $2,500 expenses + $4,000 income ÷ 20 h = $325/hour → $160 full details at 2–3/day. The calculator checks your menu against the math.
Supplies, insurance, van, marketing
15–25 realistic
2–4 typical
| Floor rate | (Expenses + goal) ÷ billable hours |
|---|---|
| Billable | 15–25 h/week realistic |
| Supplies | $8–15 per car |
| Menu | 1.5–2× floor per service hour |
| Market check | Full detail $125–200 sedan |
| Status | 2026 US averages compiled from detailing industry ranges: basic wash/wax $50–125, interior $50–150, full detail $125–200 sedan / $150–275 SUV, paint correction $150–500, ceramic $500–2,500. Vehicle class and condition multipliers applied. Estimates — real quotes vary by market. |
How should a detailing business set prices?
Cost-plus from your true hourly: (monthly expenses + income goal) ÷ billable hours = your floor rate. Monthly expenses include supplies (per car $8–15), water/power if mobile, insurance ($100–300/mo), van payment, marketing. Billable hours are NOT 40/week — 15–25 is realistic after travel, prep and admin. Then price services at 1.5–2× your floor rate per service hour. A detailer with $2,500/month expenses targeting $4,000 income over 20 billable hours needs $325/hour-menu equivalent — which lands right at the market bands for full details ($150–200 at 2–3 cars/day).
Common uses
- Building a service menu from costs up
- Checking whether your current prices survive a slow month
- Deciding mobile fee with real van costs in it
- Setting a price raise with numbers instead of guilt