The average cost of car detailing in Australia varies depending on vehicle size, service type and location.
For most cars, basic detailing services range from $150 to $250, while full interior and exterior packages can cost between $300 and $600. Premium treatments like paint correction or ceramic coating may exceed $1,000.
Car detailing prices are influenced by factors such as vehicle condition, service depth (interior, exterior, or full detail), and whether the service is mobile or at a detailing studio.
Regular detailing helps protect paintwork, preserve resale value, and maintain a cleaner interior, keeping your car showroom fresh.
Getting your car professionally detailed is one of the best ways to protect your automobile investment. Not only will the look and feel of your car be dramatically improved, you will also enhance your car’s resale value while protecting your paintwork from wear and tear.
While an automated car wash may be less expensive than professional car detailing services, it simply cannot restore your car to its original pristine condition. During professional car detailing, an expert detailer will use specialised products and tools to wash, polish and protect your vehicle, restoring that “like-new” feeling.
Keep reading to learn more about the average cost of car detailing and what services you can expect from the car detailing experts at Star Car Wash.
What is Car Detailing?
A professional car detail is the art and craft of restoring a car to its showroom look and feel, both inside and out.
Detailing is much more thorough and labour intensive than a simple automated car wash. A detail technician will meticulously clean, polish and protect both the exterior and interior of your vehicle by hand, including hard-to-reach areas like the trunk jambs and wheel wells.
While an automated car wash simply cleans the exterior of your vehicle, car detailing focuses on preserving its value. Car detailing can remove stains, odours and blemishes, revitalise interiors, restore paintwork and protect it from wear and tear.
What is Involved in Car Detailing?
When you choose to have your car detailed, there are many different services available. Most professional detailers offer an interior detailing package and a full-detailing package that combines both the interior and exterior detailing of your car.
Interior detailing services can include:
- A thorough vacuum of all mats, footwells, seats and boot
- Leather seat cleaning and conditioning treatments
- Upholstery cleaning
- Cleaning and conditioning of dashboard and internal trims
- Interior glass cleaning to remove smears and streaks
Exterior detailing services can include:
- Wheel cleaning
- Tyre shine
- Clay bar and buffing restoration
- Protective wax polish to clean and enhance paintwork
- Conditioning of external trims
- Exterior glass cleaning
Additional services may also be available like premium paint protection.
Is Professional Car Detailing Worth It?
Absolutely, professional car detailing is well worth the investment if you care about maintaining your vehicle’s appearance, performance and resale value. Unlike a standard car wash, detailing goes beyond surface cleaning to restore and protect every part of your vehicle, inside and out.
Professional detailers use high-quality products and techniques that not only make your car look like new but also help preserve your paintwork, upholstery and trim from long-term wear and tear.
Regular detailing can also increase your car’s resale value, improve comfort, and even prevent costly repairs caused by neglect or buildup of dirt and grime.
How Much Does Car Detailing Cost?
Car detailing typically costs between $185 and $400 depending on the service you choose. Naturally, interior detailing only will be less expensive than a full car detail. This cost may be influenced by your vehicle’s size and condition.
Remember that while price is an important factor, it is not the only one you should consider. An automated car wash is much cheaper at face value, but car detailing is performed by hand and provides better and longer lasting results.
What Affects the Cost of a Car Detail?
The cost of a car detail can vary depending on several key factors, including your vehicle’s size, condition and the level of service you choose. Larger vehicles like SUVs, 4WDs and vans typically cost more to detail than smaller cars because they require more time, effort and products to clean thoroughly.
The current condition of your vehicle also makes a big difference. Cars with heavy dirt build-up, stains or neglected paintwork may need extra treatments such as deep cleaning, polishing or stain removal, which can increase the overall price. Additionally, the detailing package you choose, whether it’s an interior-only, exterior-only or full detail, will impact cost.
Premium add-ons such as paint protection, leather conditioning or clay bar treatments also contribute to a higher price.
How Much Does it Cost to Detail a Small Car Vs a Large Car?
As a general guide, detailing a small car is usually at the lower end of the price range, while larger vehicles fall toward the higher end. At Star Car Wash, you can expect to pay between $185 and $250 for a small car detail, depending on the service you choose. For larger vehicles like SUVs or 4WDs, the price may range from $250 to $400, as these cars take more time and materials to clean and polish properly.
Ultimately, investing in professional detailing, whether for a compact city car or a family SUV, helps preserve your vehicle’s value, protects against wear and tear, and ensures it always looks its best.
Ready to Enjoy that ‘New Car Feeling’?
Star Car Wash is Australia’s leading professional hand wash & detailing provider. We offer a variety of premium 100% hand wash and car detailing services that will fit your needs and your budget.
Our unrivalled knowledge of hand washing and vehicle detailing techniques will leave your car with a showroom look and feel that is protected to last. Unlike regular car washes that simply surface clean your vehicle, our expert car detailers will remove stains, swirl marks and blemishes, restore the shine to your paintwork and leave your car in its best possible condition.
We also offer a premium paint protection detailing service that will provide your vehicle with unparalleled protection against the elements.
For over 19 years, we’ve been helping our customers enjoy that ‘new car feeling’ once more. If you would like your own vehicle professionally restored by our expert detailers, book online today or visit your nearest Star Car Wash branch.