Full Detail
Full Detail Cost in 2026: $225–$385
The full detail is the volume backbone of a mobile detailing business. It converts one-time searchers into maintenance clients, and it's the tier you should publish publicly — never your cheapest package. Price it so a competent solo operator clears $70–$95 an hour after drive time.
Get the Course — $39Typical price
$225–$385
Time on site
3.5–5 hours
Gross margin
85–90%
Full Detail Pricing by City (2026)
| Metro | Low | High | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $235 | $405 | Austin |
| Dallas, TX | $230 | $395 | Dallas |
| Houston, TX | $225 | $385 | Houston |
| Phoenix, AZ | $225 | $385 | Phoenix |
| Las Vegas, NV | $235 | $405 | Las Vegas |
| Los Angeles, CA | $305 | $520 | Los Angeles |
| San Diego, CA | $280 | $480 | San Diego |
| San Francisco Bay Area, CA | $315 | $540 | San Francisco Bay Area |
| Seattle, WA | $260 | $445 | Seattle |
| Portland, OR | $250 | $425 | Portland |
| Denver, CO | $250 | $425 | Denver |
| Chicago, IL | $250 | $425 | Chicago |
| Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN | $235 | $405 | Minneapolis–St. Paul |
| Boston, MA | $280 | $480 | Boston |
| New York, NY | $315 | $540 | New York |
| Atlanta, GA | $235 | $405 | Atlanta |
| Miami, FL | $260 | $445 | Miami |
| Orlando, FL | $225 | $385 | Orlando |
| Charlotte, NC | $225 | $385 | Charlotte |
| Nashville, TN | $235 | $405 | Nashville |
What the Job Actually Involves
- 1Pre-rinse and foam, then two-bucket contact wash top-down
- 2Wheels, barrels, and tires with dedicated brushes and a separate bucket
- 3Iron decontamination and clay on the paint
- 4Dry with a filtered blower plus edgeless towels — no chamois drag marks
- 5Machine-apply a 6-month sealant or spray coating
- 6Full interior: vacuum, extract high-traffic spots, steam surfaces, dress plastics
- 7Final walk-around with the client before you take payment
What's Included
- Hand wash, wheels, and tire dressing
- Iron and clay decontamination
- 6-month paint sealant
- Interior vacuum, wipe-down, and spot extraction
- Glass inside and out, door jambs cleaned
Profitable Add-Ons
- Engine bay detail+$60–$120
- Headlight restoration+$80–$150
- Upgrade sealant → ceramic+$600–$1,100
- Monthly maintenance plan$89–$179/mo
Margin Killers to Avoid
- ✕Advertising 'starting at' pricing and attracting hagglers
- ✕No SUV/truck upcharge — a Suburban is 40% more labor than a Civic
- ✕Free re-dos for condition you never documented
- ✕Booking back-to-back with no drive-time buffer and running late all day
- ✕Never asking for the maintenance plan at the walk-around
Sell Full Detail at the top of the range
The complete Mobile Detailing Academy course covers pricing menus, intake forms, and the scripts that hold your number. $39 one-time.
Get the Course — $39