Are you wondering how much it costs to paint a motorcycle?
You’ve come to the right place!
In this ProPaintCorner.com guide, you’ll learn:
- The typical cost of DIY painting a motorcycle
- How to save money when painting motorcycles
- How much it usually costs to hire a professional vs do it yourself for painting a motorcycle
- The estimated cost of labor and supplies to paint a motorcycle
And much more!
So, if you want to learn how much you should plan on spending to get your motorcycle painted, then keep reading for all our tips and insights below!
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Motorcycle?
The cost to paint your bike depends on how much you want to be painted, and how many paintable panels you have on your motorcycle.
Some bikes, like Harley Davidsons for example, have less plastic paneling than other bikes(like a Suzuki Ninja).
Dirtbikes have easy-to-remove rear/front fenders that make painting easy.
Painting The Fuel Tank
Painting the gas tank is as simple as removing it from the bike and going to town! You could hypothetically paint the fuel tank for the cost of a cheap can of spray paint or
The extent that you paint your bike is up to you; some people like to make airbrush some awesome art piece on their bike, and other people like to simply use a spray can to change the color or hide scrapes on the gas tank (yes, motorcycles tip over all the time).
There are so many different variations and parts on a motorcycle that you can paint. Here are some other parts and combinations that you could paint your bike:
Side Panels + Fairing+Rear Fender+Side covers+Frame
Painting the whole bike could get expensive, and it also will be time-consuming because you will either have to mask off different parts or even disassemble the bike completely to
Average Cost To Paint Motorcycles If You Do It Yourself?
The average cost to paint a motorcycle yourself ranges from ~$10 -$100+ depending on how into detail you want to go.
Whether you are painting just the fuel tank or the whole bike from the frame out, here are some materials and tasks you'll have to perform to do your custom paint job correctly:
Sanding
Sanding before and in between coats is necessary for a paint job that is smooth to the touch.
You can start with a rough 80-grit, and gradually move your way up to 120 and 200 grit for a paint finish that is smooth to the touch.
Cleaning
You'll want to make sure the area is completely clean before applying the first coat of paint.
We recommend using a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the surface of the motorcycle before applying paint.
Remember that even small dust particles will show up in your paint job.
Masking
Mask off parts that you don't want to be painted like the motor, saddlebags, oil tanks, electronics, and other engine components by using painters tape and masking.
Pro painters typically use a paint masker(find one on Amazon) to quickly cover undesired surfaces.
Note: Decals are an easy way to change the look of your motorcycle without the need of using paint.
Read More >> What Are The Best Automotive Paint Guns?
Average Cost To Paint A Motorcycle If You Hire a Professional Company?
Hiring a pro paint shop for the job will cost anywhere from a couple of hundred bucks all the way up above a thousand dollars, and it all depends on who you hire for the job.
For example, if you want the bike stripped down to the frame with a ridiculously handsome powder coat paint job, then that will take the painter/motorcycle mechanic a significant amount of time to break down the bike all the way to the frame.
Body Shop
When taking your motorcycle to a body shop, a single color factory paint job shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred bucks.
Artistic Paint Jobs
Artistic paint jobs are totally a thing when it comes to motorcycle painting, and there are even artists that will charge $2,000+ for an unforgettable art piece on the fuel tank or even the complete bike.
Read More >> What Are The Best LVLP Spray Guns?
How To Estimate The Cost To Paint A Motorcycle?
Deciding On Which Parts To Paint
The amount of paint you purchase will depend on the type of bike you have. Some bikes have more paintable parts than others.
Measuring the square footage of your specific project will help you estimate the amount of paint more accurately.
Paint quality vs. Economic price
There are plenty of different paints you could apply to your motorcycle, from automotive enamel to airbrush formulas, or you could even apply artistic paints with smaller brushes.
Estimated Cost To Paint Per Square Foot?
Finding the cost per square foot shouldn't be too hard.
Let's say at the minimum, a gas tank paint job will be 5 square feet of the painting surface, and at the maximum a full bike re
Let's say we're painting a complete motorcycle that is 30 square feet.
You'll have to measure your specific project because the actual surface you are painting could be significantly less.
Square Foot Cost For DIY
DIY cost for paint and supplies should cost you under $50.
After you save money doing it yourself, you won't be saving time, so take that into consideration.
Bodywork takes time.
Square Foot Cost For A Professional Paint Job
Let's say that the paint shop completed the paint job for ~$300.
$300 / 30 square feet = That's $10 per square foot.
Read More >> What Are The Best Auto Primers To Cover Old Paint?
Estimated Cost of Paint For A Motorcycle?
When painting a motorcycle panel you'll ideally need at least:
One pint of prime coat + one pint of basecoat/color coat + one pint of clear coat
If each pint costs ~$10-$20, then an estimated cost for paint would be anywhere from $30-$60 for decent quality paint, however, this will differ based on the paint you want to use and the amount of work you are looking to put into the surface of your bike to make the entire process perfect.
You could end up spending less than $30, or more than $60 on repaint supplies for your bike.
Estimated Cost of Labor For A Motorcycle Paint Job?
DIY Labor Time
It will take you anywhere from 1 hour to 10+ hours to paint your motorcycle.
Time is money, so if you are going to take a long time painting your motorcycle, you may want to just send it into a shop to knock it out fast.
Professional Labor Cost
Since professionals charge in labor hours, you can expect to be charged from 2 hours of labor, all the way up to 10+ hours, and a standard body shop will charge anywhere from $50-$150 per labor hour.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $100-$1500 for a reasonably priced regular paint job/paint revamp.
Read More >> What Are The Best Spray Paints For Wheels & Rims?
How To Save Money When Painting Motorcycle?
Paint It Yourself!
The most obvious way to save money is to do it yourself.
Sure, prep work is some dirty work, but you'll end up winning with more bills in your pocket.
Use Old Paint
If you are just spraying a coat on an old dirt bike or cafe racer, you might want to save money by searching in your garage for old spray cans.
Perform Preparation Work Yourself
If you're looking to have a professional do the job for you, you'll save money by disassembling the parts/panels yourself before taking them into the shop.
Ask Us Questions!
And remember, if you have any paint questions, you can always hit us up at Pro Paint Corner for a quick answer to your problems.
