Are you wondering how much it costs for a Maaco paint job?
You’ve come to the right place
In this ProPaintCorner.com guide, you’ll learn:
- The typical cost of a DIY automotive paint job?
- How to save money when getting a Maaco paint job
- How much it usually costs to hire a professional vs do it yourself for a Maaco paint job
- The estimated cost of labor and supplies for a Maaco paint job
And much more!
So, if you want to learn how much you should plan on spending to get a Maaco paint job, then keep reading for all our tips and insights below!
How Much Does A Maaco Paint Job Cost?
Maaco paint jobs range anywhere from $300-$1000 depending on the size of the vehicle and bodywork needed.
Maaco is a chain company originally located in North Carolina with locations all across the United States that can paint your vehicle for a legitimately reasonable price.
Not to mention the fact that Maaco paint jobs have a 3-year warranty against cracking and peeling. In other words, it's a cheap paint job that is reliable when it comes to car painting.
Looking to give your vehicle a Maacover(make-over)? We don't blame you.
And good for you for sticking with the same vehicle for so long--the more you run them, the further they run. Us mechanics can agree on that.
And why should you get a Maaco paint job?
That's a completely legitimate question, and the answer is because they actually sound like they know what they are talking about when it comes to their business model.
Not to mention the fact that you can find 500+ Maaco paint shops around the globe that have a mastered formula for painting your vehicle.
Yes, you can think of it as the McDonald's of paint shops because that's what it is.
Even the worst of horror stories online about Maaco doesn't sound all that bad, and with the cheap price that they offer customers, there is no reason why you shouldn't opt for it.
So, after checking out all viable options in your area, go check out Maaco to see what they can do for you. And don't forget to leave a review on Google after the job is done.
Read More >> How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Van (DIY vs. Pro)?
Average Cost To Paint A Vehicle If You Do It Yourself?
How much for doing it yourself? We say anywhere from $100-$1000+.
Whether you spend your limited budget on a few spray paint cans to cover your car up or your whole tax refund on some ridiculously good paint quality, calculating the average cost for DIY painting is a broad range that really goes beyond paint costs.
Creativity and precision also play a role in the way people are inspired to paint their cars, and you can always artistically paint your vehicle and make it look good.
For example, you could tape a stripe down the middle and paint it white like a classic muscle car.
And don't forget that painting the car yourself is a time-consuming activity. You will definitely lose time when painting yourself, but the good part is that you will save money DIYing.
Tip: Don't forget to cover up other vehicles and objects when painting your car to avoid overspray.
You can find the color match of your vehicle on the color paint code that is typically located inside the driver's side door.
Average Cost To Paint A Vehicle If You Hire a Professional Company?
Hiring a professional will cost you a minimum of $300 and can easily reach up into the thousands depending on:
Quality of the vehicle
Quality vehicles require a quality paint job to maintain value. If you have a vehicle that is worth $50k+ and your insurance tells you to go to Maaco, you might want to try and milk your policy for a higher-end auto painting professional to maintain the value.
Repair work
Bodywork needed always affects the cost of painting. Whether the door has a small ding, the bumper needs to be replaced, or there is a huge dent in the quarter panel or fender, repair work can sometimes be the time-consuming part of the paint job.
Not every paint job is an easy cover-up. Some paint jobs need holes to be covered with Bondo and sanding also needs to happen so that the paint job turns out smooth to the touch.
Quality of paint used
Quality of paint plays a role in how much your paint job will cost, however, it isn't the largest factor. A wise painter once said, "materials never cost as much as labor in the painting" and it's true. Painting materials don't cost hardly anything compared to the labor it takes to paint.
Artistic factors
Maybe the artist isn't totally okay with just painting the car a bold new car. And why should we as consumers tell them otherwise? Besides, do we want to drive around looking at each other in boring capsules, or do we want to see each other as beautiful pieces of art that glide across the road?
Is $300 Too Cheap? Probably
Let's be clear, $300 is the very minimum price for a professional automotive paint job. That's like the cheapest price if you were to get your smart car painted.
For $300, you could certainly purchase some decent quality paint materials for a DIY paint job, but we think that $300 is too cheap to hire a pro.
Paying such a cheap price for professional services means you are probably exploiting cheap labor, and the result won't be what it could be.
And if you do come across a company that is willing to do a reputable job for such a cheap price, you should be giving the painters a cash tip(but only if they do a good job).
Average Cost To Paint A Sedan?
A reasonable bid for painting a sedan is from $500-$700.
Painting your sedan with a company like Maaco is a great idea if the engine runs great but it is lacking in cosmetic quality.
Because when selling your vehicle, how it looks on the outside greatly influences the purchaser. If it has rust spots and looks like it has been down the block a million times, it's likely the nobody is going to want to buy it. On the contrary, however, if it has a nice solid color of paint, the buyer might jump on the deal right away.
And even better that you didn't spend a whole lot of money on the paint job by hiring a chain company like Maaco.
Average Cost To Paint An SUV?
Hiring a pro to paint your SUV could cost up into the thousands, but a reasonable price would be from $600-$900.
Collision repair and additional prep are common price variables when painting SUVs because they are taken offroad more than sedans when performing repaint, so this will make the price fluctuate.
Average Cost To Paint A Truck?
Painting a truck will cost from $700-$100 because it has a larger area than a regular car.
Having said that, it's not that much larger of an area, so don't let the painter take advantage of you.
Average Cost To Paint A Commercial Vehicle?
A commercial vehicle could cost a lot more than a regular sedan because of the area.
The cheapest commercial vehicle paint job will start you around $1000 and could range all the way up to $5000+.
When designing the vehicle for your company, you may not even want to use paint at all; another good option would be a vinyl wrap that has your company's logo and other images on it.
Vinyl wraps are generally pretty expensive, and you can get them designed to cover your whole vehicle with installation included.
Magnets that have your business info on them are also a great idea for an alternative to a paint job, or you could even put them over the top of the new Maaco paint job to make your business look more professional.
Average Cost To Paint A Semi-Truck?
Painting a semi-truck will cost you significantly more than a vehicle.
A pro will charge you anywhere from $2000-$10,000 for a decent paint job on your semi-truck.
Read More >> How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Truck (DIY vs. Pro)?
Is it worth it to hire a pro for the job?
There are a few scenarios where it's completely worth it to hire a pro for your vehicle's paint job, including:
- If your insurance covers it
- If your vehicle is expensive or classic
On the contrary, if your vehicle is depreciating, or if the insurance isn't going to cover the cost for your auto paint job, we highly recommend that you do it yourself.
How To Estimate The Cost To Paint A Vehicle?
Estimating DIY Price
Estimating the price of a DIY paint job can be as accurate or vague as you want it to be.
For example, are you going to use spray paint? Then buy 10 spray pans and get to work.
Are you a passionate painter that wants to know an exact price for a decent paint job? Well, in that case, you'll want to measure the square footage of the area you are painting.
After you know the square footage, you'll have to decide on the paint you are going to use. You'll need ~2 gallons of basecoat and ~2 gallons of clear coat.
You could always buy a kit for about $150 dollars that include 1 gallon and 1 pint of polyurethane paint off of sites like Amazon.
Estimating a Maaco Price
After assessing the physical body damage, Maaco will give you a pretty standardized price on your car, anywhere from $300-$1000.
Because Maaco is more of a chain company, you might find that their price estimates are more consistent compared to other companies.
~ $5.33+ Cost To Paint Per Square Foot?
Say we are painting a sedan that is 75 square feet in painting surface, and we paid $400 for the Maaco job. That's the minimum price you are going to be paying for a Maaco job.
$400 total cost / 75 square feet = $5.33 per square foot.
And remember, this price will fluctuate depending on the size of your car and the actual price that Maaco bids you for the paint job.
Read More >> How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Car Door (DIY vs. Pro)?
Estimated Cost of Paint For A Maaco Paint Job?
Estimated DIY Cost
Let's take a look on Amazon at how much it costs to purchase a paint product that is similar to what they use in Maaco shops.
For example, here's a cheaper Rust-Oleum automotive base coat that costs about $20 per quart.
You'll also need a clearcoat like the one in the hyperlink that also costs about $20 per quart.
And you'll need about 3 quarts of each, so that means you'll be spending $120 on paint for your DIY paint job.
On the contrary, here is a polyurethane one-coat formula that is exactly what Maaco uses that costs about $150.
Estimated Pro Cost
Maaco uses a simple single-stage urethane paint for their new paint jobs that don't cost very much (a paint kit similar costs about $150 on Amazon)
We estimate that the cost of paint is about the same as this one-step polyurethane one-coat formula.
Is a single-stage paint a good option?
Polyurethane and urethane paints are extremely durable to tough weather conditions, so they are a great option for a single coat on your vehicle.
How is urethane paint different from enamel paint?
Synthetic enamel paint is an oil-based paint that is traditionally used with painting vehicles because of its tough finish, however, the urethane adds more plasticity to the mix for a more flexible and durable finish.
For example, most boats are painted with polyurethane paint because it stands up to the elements better than any other.
Besides, oil-based paints are a type of paint that is used less and less nowadays considering that there are water-based acrylics, lacquers, and urethane paints that dry hard as a rock and are a more viable option for your auto paintwork in the modern-day era.
Estimated Cost of Labor For A Maaco Paint Job?
We did some research on how much a Maaco employee makes, and it is somewhere between $10-$30 an hour. You could be paying up to $50/hour in labor to cover the cost of doing business with Maaco.
How long does a Maaco paint job take? A quick search will tell you that they usually take 2-3 business days to get you your car.
And does it really take them 40 hours like some people say it does? Probably not. We would guess the more experienced painters can have a car painted in just a matter of a few hours.
Let's get hypothetical. Say an experienced Maaco painter did the job in 4 hours, and you paid $500 for the paint job.
That would mean the franchise is making most of the money on the deal, and the workers are making just a fraction.
Remember, the franchise has to make money too.
Besides, the business owners are the ones who have a successful business model for bringing in customers, maintain the insurance policy for doing business, and are responsible for correcting errors when they are made(which is more often than you might think.)
Let's just say this is a bit less than what a typical professional body shop painter makes.
That's because some pro body shops charge up to $100+ per hour for their labor time. And if it's a privately owned shop, well, you do the math on that one.
How To Save Money When Painting A Vehicle?
You could always paint yourself. Look, we're not going to tell you to paint your luxury vehicle in the event of an incident - that's up to the professionals.
But hey, if you own an old Ford Mustang, or if you have an old commuter car that has some sort of catastrophic paint damage, then we don't discourage you from trying a DIY paint job on your car.
There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to paint your vehicle to show car standards.
And if you do decide to paint the car yourself, here are a few supplies you'll want to bring along to get the job done right:
Paint masker
Masking the paint job correctly is vital to its outcome. Buy a masker, some automotive paint tape, and some masking film and paper to cover up all the parts that you don't want to get paint on.
HVLP Paint Sprayer
Ideally, you'll need a paint sprayer and an air compressor?
HEA paint sprayers are great for painting surfaces with large areas, but for paints that dry harder you'll want to use an HVLP sprayer, one that hooks up to a vacuum system---or even better an air compressor.
You'll be surprised at how easy it is to paint with a sprayer, and we bet you'll end up using it on more than one project, so it's worth the money.
Body filler
You'll want something like this Bondo body filler and body filler spreaders to get rid of dents and imperfections before painting.
The technique for using body filler is difficult, but we're sure you can do it successfully on lower-pressure projects just by checking out some Youtube videos.
Sandpaper
Wet sanding is a must when painting vehicles. Buy a kit like the one linked here, and you'll have a paint job that has a smooth to the touch finish.
Online video tutorials will help you get a good idea of how much you should sand your vehicle before painting.
If you are painting over the previous paint, you may not have to sand very much. Do some research based on the paint you are using, and the type of paint your current vehicle is painted with.
In some cases, you'll want to grind the paint all the way off with a paint and rust stripper, and in other cases, you'll just want to rough up the paint with a quick wet sand job to allow for a smoother finish.
Paint and Rust Stripper
Paint and rust strippers are a great tool to have around when painting vehicles.
You won't need this when painting a vehicle that is already in good condition, but it is a lifesaver for those rusted out vehicles.
Remember, any material that seems loose or rusted will likely fall off shortly after painting--you want to apply paint to body panels that have a solid and smooth surface when repainting to avoid the need for a touchup afterward.
Plastic Razor Blades
You don't want to penetrate any layer of paint with a regular blade.
Use plastic razor blades to help you get the job done without doing damage.
Plastic razor blades are good for everything from removing adhesives from the paint to assisting you in taping accurately.
Drop Cloth
A drop cloth will help you to keep spray off the floor, which will make your cleanup faster.
Masking Film
Throw some masking film onto your paint masker, and easily cover-up windows, trim, and surrounding objects that you don't want to get paint on.
Power Sander
You will need a power sander if you plan on completely removing the old coat of paint. And don't forget to ask our Pro Paint Corner page if you have any questions concerning your paint project.
Check out some of our other pages for good ideas on paint projects and other paint tips. We do all we can to keep you updated on the best products and ideas for your project because we want your project to turn out impeccable.
Minimize Prep Time
Whether it's hustling to get the job prepped yourself or simply setting the right appointment at a price you agree on, this is something that you should consider when looking to save money on your paint project because of course, time is money.
Avoid Dealerships
Car dealerships have no business in you getting your car painted.
Think about it; when you take your vehicle to a dealership, there is a 99% chance that the dealer you are taking the car to doesn't do bodywork in-house--that means they are going to charge you the middleman fee for sending your car to a body shop.
Do yourself a favor and avoid the dealership at all costs for services other than CPO and recalls. You'll save a bunch of money.
Hire Maaco
Looking for a color change? We're not going to discourage you from using your local Maaco for the job, but your satisfaction depends on what you are looking to get out of a good paint job.
We will say if you are looking to quickly paint your vehicle a solid color that doesn't stand out from the crowd in looking either good or bad that going with Macco is a great choice.
From the door jams to the entire car, Maaco will paint your vehicle a different color for an affordable price.
Get Multiple Bids
Call different painting companies, and ask them what they would charge for painting your vehicle; they'll be able to give you a decent answer over the phone.
Doing this creates competition between paint companies, and allows you to get the best possible price on your project. Trust us,
Hire A Handyman
Never rule out the skilled eye of a handyman. Hiring locals is always a great idea.
It's not a bad idea to browse in places like local classifieds, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or other websites to find a handyman to do the job for you.
Just remember that hiring an amateur is a little bit riskier because they may not be insured, and the outcome of the project isn't guaranteed.
Do The Prep Work Yourself
You could always try pulling out dents yourself beforehand with a dent puller kit to avoid any extra costs.
You could even try the body filler work beforehand to hide smaller imperfections.
And of course, if your bumper or other body parts need to be replaced, you can always purchase used parts yourself or pull parts from a junkyard to make your car complete again.
Search Online For Old Paint, Supplies, Sprayers, Etc.
New paint isn't always necessary when painting a surface. You could try browsing the online marketplace for all the paint and supplies necessary to get a coat of paint on your vehicle without spending an overwhelming amount on paint products.
As the old saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Be A Good Customer
Painting services are a privilege. When you hire a professional or even an amateur for a painting service, please take into consideration the hard work that person is putting into providing you with a quality paint job.
Sure, it's okay to be slightly picky, but try not to be a jerk to the painters. And who knows, they might even cut you some slack on paint service price if they like your personality.
Read More >> How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Motorcycle (DIY vs. Pro)?
Is Maaco Worth It?
When doing some online research, there are a lot of pages that will discourage you from using Maaco for a few reasons.
Hiring a professional for the job is worth it for a few reasons. Here are a few:
- Professionals pay close attention to detail
- Pro painters are insured
- You are guaranteed a good paint job
Here at Pro Paint Corner, we say that Maaco is worth it in some scenarios.
Whether it's the entire car/full body on something like a Honda, Chevy/Chevrolet, or any other common model, the online reviews speak for themselves.
Go read what others have to say about Maaco online.
You'll find that most people don't have very much bad to say about them - which is good.
Questions?
We want you to succeed on your next paint job. Don't forget to hit us with all of your questions on our Pro Paint Corner page.
We give our readers a fast response to all questions. We hope this helped!
