How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Truck?

Maybe you've just bought a used truck with a faded or damaged original paint job, or maybe your own truck's paint job has seen better days. That means it's time to look into what it would entail to get your truck repainted. There are two main options for painting a truck--doing it yourself, or paying to have a professional shop do it.

As you might suspect, a professional paint job will cost a lot more than doing it yourself. However, a DIY paint job is not particularly easy. You'll need a clean, covered, and well-ventilated area, plus you'll need some specialized tools and equipment.

A professional paint job has different levels of service, including basic paint jobs and showroom-quality paint jobs. Let's take a closer look.

Why Paint Your Truck?

There are a few different reasons why you might want to paint your truck. Probably the most common reason is simply that your old paint job is worn and faded. Paint definitely fades over time and it stands out like a sore thumb. Another reason might be that you've bought an old truck and are restoring it.

A new paint job is usually the final step in the restoration process. Yet another reason might be that your truck was in an accident and instead of having a single mismatched body panel with a fresh paint job, you've decided to get the whole truck repainted to match.

A less common reason for painting your truck is changing the color. This might seem simple on the surface, but it typically involves a lot of extra work to repaint every painted area on the inside and outside of your truck into a new color. Compared to a repaint of your factory color, this scenario will cost more due to extra labor.

Photo copyright: Ethan Llamas

Basic Professional Paint Job Cost

If you want to go for the cheapest route to paint your truck, then a basic professional job fits the bill. These typically cost less than $1,000 and involve a few coats of synthetic enamel paint. Compared to a standard paint job, there's a lot less attention to detail and quality.

Standard Professional Paint Job Cost

A standard professional paint job typically includes sanding and rust removal. You can expect good quality paint from a well-known brand. The final cost will generally depend on how much work is required for prep, but it's likely to be somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000. The size of your truck also matters since you'd need a lot more paint for a Ford F-250 vs an old Ford Ranger.

Showroom Quality Professional Paint Job Cost

If you want a show-stopping paint job for your truck, then the cost will be a lot more than a standard paint job. You might consider this type of paint job if you're restoring a classic truck and plan to enter it in vintage car shows or to get the highest price at auction.

This typically involves dent removal, rust removal, sanding, and the application of 20 to 24 layers of paint and six to eight layers of clear coat. It may also involve airbrushing and a metallic finish. This option naturally involves a lot of labor and can cost up to $20,000 depending on various factors.

Cost of a DIY Paint Job

If you decide to paint your truck yourself, the cost will generally be a lot less than a professional job. However, it's important to be aware of everything that goes into a DIY paint job before you take on the task.

The actual supplies to paint your truck might cost as little as a few hundred bucks, or it might go up to around $1,500 depending on the quality you pursue. The main cost of a DIY paint job is how much time and effort you'll spend completing it.

How To Prepare For a DIY Paint Job

The first thing to consider in painting your truck yourself is where to do it. An automotive paint job requires a well-ventilated and clean area to work. For example, you can't just do it in your garage or the driveway as dust and debris will fly onto your wet paint and ruin it before it can dry.

It's somewhat possible to do it in your garage if you're able to hang plastic curtains in a section to protect your truck and install adequate ventilation. In most cases, a DIY paint job will require renting a paint booth somewhere.

The next step is to gather your equipment. You'll need sandpaper to remove grime and rust, and you'll need to mask off all areas that you don't want paint on. Finally, you'll need a spray gun, primer, car paint, and a clear coat.

A basic paint job can be done with an air compressor that provides 15 psi of air pressure and 10 horsepower. This will allow you to paint roughly 20 cubic feet per minute. A stronger air compressor will obviously be faster and more efficient.

How To Choose Between a DIY and Professional Paint Job

Ultimately, it's your specific situation that will decide whether you should get a professional paint job or do it yourself. However, there are a few variables to consider that might help you make a decision.

Start with the cost. Get a quote for the type of professional paint job that you want and compare it to how much you'd have to spend on DIY supplies. Aside from the paint, there are various specialized tools as mentioned above, plus potential paint booth rental costs.

You'll also need to consider how much time you have to complete the job and whether you feel you can do it well. Consider the quality.

Do you want a paint job that will last a long time? Do you need something that's showroom quality? Or, are you simply looking for something basic? How will your DIY job look compared to a professional job?

Finally, consider the convenience. Is it more important to save money-- or time and effort?

Paints and Finishing at H&H Trucks

Whether you decide to get a professional paint job or DIY, you can add stylish accents like custom brake caliper paint or wrap colors with paints and finishing materials at H&H Truck Accessories.