How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Jeep?

7 minutes

Learn about the cost of painting a Jeep, with DIY options ranging from $180 to $200 and professional services costing up to $3000. Discover various paint options and tips for finding the best local and non-local paint shops. Read now for a comprehensive guide on Jeep painting costs.

No matter what the use might be, the paint of the Jeep can wear out due to many reasons. And it’s important to paint the Jeep so that rust or any other element can’t do any serious damage.

So how much does it cost to paint a Jeep? The cost differs between DIY and professional shops. If you go for DIY, you can get the job done at a range of $180 to $200. On the other hand, if you seek professional help, it will save you time but at the expense of as much as $3000.

There are many paint options available. Moreover,  decent research of local and non-local paint shops is necessary. Keep reading to know more. 

How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Jeep?

Usually, the cost of painting any vehicle depends on the following factors:

  • The surface area of the vehicle
  • Whether you are doing it yourself or not
  • What kind of shop you are choosing to paint your Jeep

Based on the sizes of Jeeps, you can expect to paint a 100 sq. ft. area if not more. If you decide on painting your Jeep by yourself, you can finish the job by spending around $180-$200.

However, it will consume a lot of time and energy. Moreover, there can be a great mess if you’re doing it for the first time. So, to give you ease, there are dedicated car painting shops with variations. 

If you aim for a top-class one, expect to shred around $2700-$3000 bucks. The estimation brings the labor cost into the count as well. As you go deep into this article, you will find some discussions regarding all the possible options out there.

Painting Your Jeep Yourself

In this segment of the article, I will discuss everything regarding the DIY process of painting a Jeep.

How Much Does It Cost to DIY Painting A Jeep?

The quality of the paint becomes the x-factor while calculating the typical cost of painting when it comes to DIY. Top-quality paint can make you pay a thousand bucks or more, whereas you can get the job done at $180 by using paint of average quality.

However, some other ingredients are also important to DIY, especially for smoothing, concealing defects, and masking areas not meant to be painted. The prices aren’t that much for all these.

Selecting The Paint And Assessing The Surface

You need to have a clear mindset about which portion of your Jeep you want to get painted. This will help you to assess the exact surface of the car.

Some Jeeps come with a zipper rooftop, which can be taken off. So it’s a no-brainer that you won’t be painting that part. Hence, such an assessment is crucial before going into the main task.

There are three stages of painting a car:

  1. Primer
  2. Base coat
  3. Clear coat: 

If your Jeep’s estimated surface is 100 sq. ft, which needs 2 coats to get covered, you will require 6 coats to complete all three stages.

As we mentioned above, if you use paint of somewhat quality, you will have to pay $1.8 for each sq. ft. The whole process can take 25 hours on average to complete based on your skills. So take necessary preparations beforehand.

Here’s a video to help you paint your Jeep using the U-pol raptor line:

Painting My Entire Jeep With Upol Raptor Liner – DIY

Taking Pro Help to Paint Your Jeep

Things get different when you decide to take your Jeep to a good paint shop. This segment will cover everything related to that.

How Much Does It Cost to Seek Pro Help for The Painting of A Jeep?

When it comes to painting shops, what makes the pricing difference is the labor cost which varies from region to region. Moreover, how efficient the painters are is also very important to know as the hours might vary based on this.

It can take 15 hours on average for professionals to finish painting your Jeep. Hence, if you are taking service in the midwest, for instance, where the hourly rate is around 55 bucks, it will cost you around $825.

However, the labor cost gets almost double when you move towards the east. So make sure the budget doesn’t get lower than $500 or higher than $3000, no matter what the location is.

Selecting The Best Possible Shop

You need to do your homework properly before contacting the shops. Then all you need to do is check the reviews and pricing of these shops. You can also take help from friends who have done it before. They can help you recognize real professionals.

Remember that although the cost is massive, the time and energy this will save you is also important.

Types of Paints to Choose for Your Jeep

As we have discussed previously, to cover 100 sq. ft., 6 quarts of paint will be required for 3 stages. However, it’s always good to have 2 or 3 extra gallons to avoid any casualty.

Each quart will cost $30, making it $180 for a passable paint. Now let’s look at some of the options for the paint to consider:

  • Single-stage paint: These paints are all-purpose paints, mainly polyurethane. It can cover all the stages.
  • Truck bed coat: These paints are fantastic for painting the body part of your Jeep. This is a great option for off-roaders.
  • Lacquer: You will need to apply primer first, then lacquer, and clear coat at the end to get a nicely painted Jeep.
  • Acrylic: This is mainly urethane which is an inexpensive but long-lasting option.
  • Vinyl wrap: This is a removable option made of carbon that gives the same service as the paint.
  • Plasti dip: Plasti dip has one great feature: it can be easily scrubbed off with acetone or alcohol.

How to Spend Less While Painting A Jeep?

Let’s discuss some ways which can help you save money:

  • If you have time and patience, go for DIY. 
  • If you buy a lot of paint, some paint might not be used which you can sell online or at a shop.
  • Make sure the research is well-done before you choose a pint shop and it’s always best to pick a local shop.

The Benefits of Painting Your Jeep

Let’s look at some of the reasons you can consider painting your Jeep:

  • As Jeeps are made of metals, it’s always great to paint the car every once in a while to protect the materials from water damage, scratches, rust etc.
  • A newly painted Jeep has a great appearance which makes it possible to sell it off at a good price.

FAQs

Let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions and their answers:

Q. Is wrap long-lasting or paint for a Jeep?

Ans. Standard paints usually only last for two years, while top-of-the-line ones can last a lifetime. The life expectancy of a quality wrap for a vehicle is as much as a decade.

Q. How expensive is it to wrap a Jeep?

Ans. It costs between $1,300 and $10,000 to wrap a Jeep.

Final Thoughts

Changing the paint of a car has been a well-practiced custom among car modifiers. The same thing applies to the Jeeps too. However, it’s really important to properly rub the existing paint and dust before applying the paint.

As for the cost of the paint job, hopefully, today’s article will get you covered in every possible aspect of the cost. Be it DIY or from a pro shop, make sure to check all the prices accordingly before going for it. There are pros and cons to both options, so don’t decide based on your whims and desires.

Written By

  • Clifford Atiyeh

    Clifford Atiyeh is an esteemed independent journalist with a keen expertise in the automotive sector. As a contributing editor for Car and Driver, he covers a broad range of topics including business, government, and litigation news within the industry. With over two decades of experience, Clifford’s bylines have graced numerous prestigious media outlets. His passion for storytelling is matched by his skill in photography, further enriching his journalistic endeavors. As the president of the New England Motor Press Association, Clifford plays a pivotal role in the automotive journalism community. His insights and analyses are also featured on platforms such as Forbes, showcasing his versatility and depth of knowledge.

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