How Much Does Car Detailing Cost in 2026?

If you've ever searched "how much does car detailing cost," you already know the answer ranges wildly — from $50 to $500+ depending on what you need. The truth is that car detailing pricing depends on several factors: vehicle size, condition, the type of service, and whether you choose a mobile detailer or a shop.

Here in Castle Rock and Douglas County, Colorado, you can expect pricing that reflects the local market. We'll break down every tier so you know exactly what you're paying for — no surprises.

At Spruce Mobile Detailing, we offer transparent pricing because we believe you should know what a detail costs before booking. Here's the full picture for 2026.

An express detail is the entry-level option. Think of it as a thorough car wash with extras — a hand wash, tire dressing, window cleaning, and a quick interior vacuum. It's ideal for maintenance between full details or when your car just needs a refresh.

What's included in an express detail:

• Hand wash and dry
• Tire and wheel cleaning
• Window cleaning (interior and exterior)
• Quick interior vacuum
• Dashboard wipe-down

An express detail typically takes 1–1.5 hours. For a sedan or small SUV, you'll pay around $99. Larger vehicles like trucks and full-size SUVs run closer to $149.

Best for: Monthly maintenance, pre-event clean-ups, quick refreshes between full details.

An interior detail goes deeper than the express option. This is where you get thorough vacuuming, steam cleaning, leather conditioning, stain removal, and odor treatment. If your car has kids' crumbs embedded in the seats or pet hair woven into the carpet, this is the service you need.

What's included in an interior detail:

• Deep vacuum of all surfaces including under seats
• Steam cleaning of upholstery and carpets
• Leather cleaning and conditioning
• Dashboard, console, and door panel detailing
• Air vent cleaning
• Window cleaning (interior)
• Odor elimination treatment

Interior details take 2–3 hours for a standard vehicle. Pricing starts at $149 for sedans and can reach $249+ for large SUVs, trucks, or heavily soiled interiors.

Colorado's dry climate creates a unique challenge: dust builds up quickly, especially if you're near construction areas in Castle Rock or Parker. Regular interior details keep your cabin fresh and protect surfaces from UV damage — which is more intense at altitude.

Exterior detailing focuses on your car's paint, wheels, and glass. A proper exterior detail includes decontamination, clay bar treatment, polish, and wax or sealant application. This removes embedded contaminants that a regular wash can't touch.

What's included in an exterior detail:

• Hand wash with pH-neutral soap
• Iron decontamination
• Clay bar treatment
• Machine polish (single-stage)
• Wax or sealant application
• Tire and wheel detailing with dressing
• Exterior glass treatment
• Trim restoration

Colorado's intense UV rays, road salt in winter, and gravel from mountain roads take a toll on paint. An exterior detail every 3–6 months protects your investment and keeps your car looking showroom-fresh.

A full detail combines interior and exterior services into one comprehensive package. This is the most popular option for customers who want their vehicle looking and feeling brand new.

Full detail pricing depends primarily on vehicle size:

• Sedan / Compact SUV: $249–$299
• Mid-size SUV / Truck: $299–$349
• Full-size SUV / Truck: $349–$399
• Lifted truck / Large SUV: $399–$449+

A full detail takes 4–6 hours for a standard vehicle. This is why mobile detailing is so convenient — we work at your home or office in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial, and throughout Douglas County while you go about your day.

Beyond standard detailing, premium services provide long-term protection for your vehicle's paint.

Ceramic Coating: $500–$2,500+

Ceramic coating creates a permanent protective layer over your paint. It repels water, resists UV damage, and makes washing easier. At Spruce, we're System X and Glidecoat certified — the same coatings used on luxury yachts and supercars. Pricing depends on the coating tier and vehicle size: entry-level packages start around $500, while multi-layer System X coatings with extended warranties can reach $2,500+.

Paint Correction: $300–$1,200+

Paint correction removes swirl marks, scratches, and oxidation using machine polishing. Single-stage correction starts around $300; multi-stage correction for heavily damaged paint can reach $1,200+. This service is typically done before ceramic coating for the best results.

Paint Protection Film (PPF): $800–$6,000+

PPF is a transparent film applied to high-impact areas (hood, bumper, fenders, mirrors) to protect against rock chips and scratches. We install Suntek PPF with a 10-year warranty. Partial front-end coverage starts around $800; full-vehicle wraps can reach $6,000+.

Several factors influence the final price of a car detail:

• Vehicle size: A Honda Civic costs less than a Ford F-350. Larger vehicles have more surface area and take longer to detail.
• Vehicle condition: A well-maintained car costs less than one that hasn't been detailed in years. Heavy pet hair, stains, or paint damage require extra time and products.
• Service type: An express wash is a fraction of a full detail with ceramic coating.
• Mobile vs. shop: Mobile detailing often costs 10–20% more than a shop — but you save time and gas, and your car never sits in a parking lot waiting.
• Location: Pricing varies by region. Here in Douglas County, prices are competitive with the broader Denver metro area.

Our advice: get a quote based on your specific vehicle and needs. At Spruce, we provide free quotes — tell us your vehicle, its condition, and what you're looking for, and we'll give you an honest price.

A few strategies to keep detailing costs manageable:

• Detail regularly: A car that's detailed every 3–4 months stays cleaner between visits, which means less work and lower cost each time.
• Join a membership: Our Spruce Shield Club saves members 30% on all services. If you detail 3+ times per year, the savings add up fast.
• Protect your paint: Ceramic coating and PPF reduce the need for aggressive correction later. A $1,000 coating now can save you $3,000+ in paint correction and repainting over 5 years.
• Bundle services: Full details cost less per service than booking interior and exterior separately.

Mobile detailing costs slightly more than a brick-and-mortar shop, but the convenience factor is significant. We come to your home, your office, or your storage facility anywhere in Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch, and surrounding areas. You don't have to drive anywhere, wait in a lobby, or rearrange your day.

For busy families in Castle Pines and professionals in Lone Tree, that time savings is worth far more than the modest price difference. We bring everything — water, power, products, and equipment — and leave your driveway cleaner than we found it.