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Auto detailing cost: compare full-detail packages by vehicle size
A full detail on a sedan costs $140 for Brad's Auto Spa's basic package in Denver and $210 for its premium one; PGH Detailing in Pittsburgh charges $250–$300. A large SUV runs $255 at Brad's and $300–$350 at PGH. Ask what the package covers inside, such as seat shampoo and pet hair, and outside, such as a clay bar and sealant.
What do published prices include?
| Job, size or area | Published price | Included work and extras | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic full detail, sedan (Denver) | $140 per vehicle | Routine interior and exterior maintenance package. | Brad’s Auto Spa: Denver mobile detailing menu · Checked |
| Premium full detail, sedan (Denver) | $210 per vehicle | Premium interior and exterior package for a sedan. | Brad’s Auto Spa: Denver mobile detailing menu · Checked |
| Premium full detail, SUV (Denver) | $230 per vehicle | Premium interior and exterior package for an SUV. | Brad’s Auto Spa: Denver mobile detailing menu · Checked |
| Premium full detail, large SUV/minivan (Denver) | $255 per vehicle | Premium interior and exterior package for a large SUV or minivan. | Brad’s Auto Spa: Denver mobile detailing menu · Checked |
| Full interior/exterior detail, sedan (Pittsburgh) | $250–$300 per vehicle | Full interior and exterior detail for a sedan. | PGH Detailing: Pittsburgh mobile detail prices · Checked |
| Full interior/exterior detail, small SUV (Pittsburgh) | $270–$320 per vehicle | Full interior and exterior detail for a small SUV. | PGH Detailing: Pittsburgh mobile detail prices · Checked |
| Full interior/exterior detail, large SUV (Pittsburgh) | $300–$350 per vehicle | Full interior and exterior detail for a large SUV. | PGH Detailing: Pittsburgh mobile detail prices · Checked |
Prices are in US dollars. Each row keeps the provider's unit and service area.
Why do full-detail packages cost different amounts?
"Full detail" means whatever the shop's menu says. Brad's basic full detail at $140 is its routine maintenance package; the premium full detail on the same sedan is $210. Read the checklist: vacuum or hot-water extraction on seats and carpet, leather cleaned and conditioned, door jambs, a hand wash, clay bar decontamination, and wax or sealant.
Condition moves the price as much as size. Pet hair woven into the carpet, beach sand, a spilled drink or smoke all take extra time that a photo of a clean exterior won't show. Send photos of the seats, carpet and cargo area with your request.
What should a mobile detailing quote include?
The package name, your vehicle class, the interior and exterior steps, and any extras priced as their own lines: pet hair, stain or odor treatment, headlight restoration. For a mobile detail, ask whether the van carries its own water and power, how much room it needs around the car, and what happens to the appointment if it rains.
Paint correction and ceramic coating are their own services. A wash, clay bar and wax leave the paint clean and glossy; swirl marks and light scratches need machine polishing. If a package promises scratch removal with no polishing step, ask what it does. A ceramic coating quote should name the product and the prep that goes before it.
How much more does an SUV cost to detail than a sedan?
At Brad's Auto Spa, the premium full detail is $210 for a sedan, $230 for an SUV and $255 for a large SUV or minivan, a $45 step from smallest to largest. PGH Detailing charges $250–$300 per vehicle for a sedan, and its large SUV tier starts $50 higher.
Shops sort vehicles differently. A crossover can land in PGH's small SUV tier at $270–$320 on one menu and count as a full SUV on another, and the price moves with it. Give the year, make and model, and mention a third row, since those seats and the cargo area add interior time.
What should I ask before booking a car detail?
Send this: Please quote a full detail on my [year, make, model]. The photos show [pet hair, stains, sand, smell]. I want [the result, such as clean seats and no dog smell]. Which package covers that, what would be extra, and do you need water, power or shade? Please confirm the total before adding any treatment.
Ask how long shampooed seats and carpet need to dry before you close the car up, since damp upholstery left shut can turn musty. Walk around the car with the detailer at handover and check the stains you named, so anything missed gets a second pass while they're still there.
Frequently asked questions
Why does pet hair cost extra?
Dog hair weaves into carpet and cloth seats, and a vacuum alone won't pull it out; it takes rubber brushes, pumice stones and time. Send a photo and ask for the charge up front.
Can a detailer get rid of smoke smell?
Ask whether the package includes odor treatment, such as an enzyme cleaner or ozone, or whether it's priced separately. Shampoo and fragrance alone cover smoke only until the fragrance wears off.
What is a clay bar treatment?
A clay bar is a soft clay glided over lubricated paint to lift bonded grit, rail dust and overspray that washing leaves behind. It goes on before wax or sealant, so the protection bonds to clean paint.
Sources
- Brad’s Auto Spa: Denver mobile detailing menu · Checked
Denver interior and exterior detailing, with basic full, premium full and premium interior packages priced by vehicle size.
- PGH Detailing: Pittsburgh mobile detail prices · Checked
Pittsburgh full interior/exterior detailing by sedan, small SUV or large SUV, plus a separate interior deep-clean package.
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