Maaco offers some of the lowest prices for automobile paint jobs. A lot of people are enticed by the possibility of such low prices, and many people wonder if the prices they are reading about can be real, or if there is some kind of a gimmick that draws you in with the possibility of a lower-than-normal price, and then hits you with “extra” charges.
This article will try to answer the questions:
- How much does a Maaco paint job cost?
- How much does the typical paint job cost?
- Is Maaco as cheap as DIY
- How to keep the Maaco cost low?
- How to get a Maaco estimate?
How Much Does a Maaco Paint Job Cost
Normally Maaco charges between $300 and $1000 to paint a small to medium size vehicle. There are several factors that add to the cost of painting a vehicle. Such as:
- Vehicle size
- Condition of the vehicle; (it costs more to remove surface rust, dents, repair scratches, etc.)
- The quality of the finish you are asking for; (you can get a basic “scrape and spray” that repairs nothing and uses very little paint, a standard paint finish includes some repair to the surface, and some clear coat, but will only be paint applied on the most visible sections of the vehicle, and a showroom quality paint job is perfect, every portion of the car is covered, it has ample clear coat to create a superb shine)
- The location of the Maaco establishment as prices may differ from city to city
- The amount of prep work you do prior to bringing the car in
- The color of paint you select
Read our recent blog post on How Much Does it Cost to Paint a Bumper?
Maaco Labor Cost
| Painter Type | Average Low Charge | Average High Charge |
| Dealership | $1700 | $6000 |
| Paint & Body Shop | $1300 | $4500 |
| Independent Painter | $750 | $3250 |
Average Cost for Different Vehicles
| Vehicle Make | Average low-cost estimate | Average high-cost estimate |
| Sedan | $650 | $4000 |
| Truck | $800 | $5000 |
| SUV | $700 | $5000 |
| Semi-Tractor | $2200 | $6000+ |
How Much Does a Typical Paint Job Cost
If you take your vehicle to other establishments to get it painted you can expect the cost to be a great deal more than what Maaco will charge. You have to remember that in life you normally get exactly what you pay for. That means if you choose the cheapest tool or the cheapest contractor then the quality of that tool or contractor will be less than the higher-priced options.
Typical Cost for Automotive Painting
| Painter Type | Basic | Standard | Showroom Quality |
| Dealership | 450 – 1200 | 1,500 – 5200 | 7,500 – 20,000 |
| Paint & Body Repair | 300 – 900 | 1,000 -4000 | 6,300 – 17,000 |
| Independent Painter | 250 – 750 | 850 – 2,000 | 3,500 – 12,000 |
The most expensive part of having your car painted is the labor that the professionals charge for you to do the work. Labor rates are high, and that should be expected because the person doing the work is trying to support a family just like you are.
Dealerships generally charge the highest amounts for auto painting, then paint and body shops are the middle-priced places and lastly, the independent painter who works out of his home garage will normally charge less.
Is Maaco as Cheap as DIY
Maaco may be as close as they come at a price to paint your own car. You have to consider all of the materials and tools you will need in order to paint a car, and then compare those figures to what the Maaco estimate says about your car.
Comparison Tip
If your estimate covers a basic paint job then only consider the materials it will take for you to do a basic at home. If the estimate covers a top-of-the-line, showroom quality finish then you need to make sure the DIY you are considering will provide the same finish.
How Much Paint Does it Take to Paint a Car?
| Product | Minimum Amount Needed | Maximum Amount Needed |
| Paint in Quarts or Gallons | 2 quarts | 4 quarts or 1 gallon |
| Primer in Quarts or Gallons | 3 quarts | 5 quarts or 1 gallon |
| Clear-Coat in Quarts or Gal | 4 quarts | 1 gallon or more |
| Primer in aerosol cans | 30 cans | 40 cans |
| Paint in aerosol cans | 34 cans (1 coat) | 44 cans (1 coat) |
| Clear coat in aerosol cans | 60 cans (2 coats) | 80 cans (2 coats) |
Paint Cost Estimates of Maaco
| Primer | Base Paint | Clear Coat | |
| Quart | $25 – $100 | $25 – $150 | $25 – $150 |
| Gallon | $100 – $150 | $100 – $250 | $100 – $250 |
| Aerosol Can | $7.50 – $15 | $11.00 – $35.00 | $11.00 – $35.00 |
Must Have Tools List
- Electric sander
- Sandpaper that is wet and dry
- Eye protection in the form of goggles or safety glasses
- Spray paint gun (depending on this piece of equipment you may also need an air compressor)
- Masking tape or painters’ tape
- Newspaper to cover windows and other spots you do not want to paint
- Primer (enough for several coats)
- The base color (enough for at least 2 coats but ideally 3 to 4 coats)
- Clear coat (enough for multiple coats)
- Clean rags
- Face mask or respirator
DIY Painting Considerations
There is more to painting a car than most people think. The cost of the paint and supplies will allow you to do this work for between $100 and $1000 dollars. The real considerations come in the things other than the paint that you will need to do the work.
A Place to Paint
You will need to create a place to paint. Most people will say that they will do the work in their garage, but you have to know that even in your garage you have some preparations to make.
- Plastic needs to be hung so that no air movement can cause dirt, dust, or particulates to float through the air while the paint is wet. A typical 50’ x 100’ roll of plastic will cost you between $130 and $175 dollars at most building supply centers.
- You do need ventilation but cannot have air circulating from a fan
- The floor has to be 100% dust free. You can do this in a normal garage by sweeping and mopping to remove all dust and particulates. Then you need to wet mop the floor after each time that you do any sanding to keep the dust out.
Application Methods
You can use an air compressor and spray paint gun to create an auto paint job that is comparable to the ones that the professionals create. You can also use spray cans of paint that require no air compressor or paint gun use.
You have to choose the method of application before you buy your paint. You also need to understand that the method of application will affect the finish results you get.
Time is Money
It takes time to paint a car. The professionals can do this kind of work in a couple of days or in a week or less. Do not think that you can work as fast as the professionals if you have never painted a car before. Just learning to operate the equipment can be time-consuming.
During the painting process, the slowest part of the project will be waiting on the paint to dry. Your car will not be in service at that time so you need to arrange another method of transportation. You will typically get to work on the car for about 3 to 6 hours each day and the rest of the time will be spent waiting on the paint to dry.
You have to consider your time as a valued asset. Think about the number of hours you will spend sanding, cleaning, priming, and painting. Then think about how much you typically get paid per hour to do the work you normally do. You are valuable and sometimes you may discover that the amount your time is worth is far greater than what the local paint and body shop employee is going to charge to do the work for you.
Material Disposal
When you finish painting you have to dispose of leftover paint thinners and material containers. You cannot simply throw the containers that had paint and solvent in them in the normal household trash. Check to see where these containers can be disposed of, and how much it costs to dispose of them at these locations.
Pro Tips for DIY Painting
- Cover other vehicles so no spray from the paint gun can get on them.
- On the inside of the driver’s door, there is a sticker that will give you the color code to take to the dealership to buy a perfect color match if you are painting just a section or doing a touch-up paint job.
- If a pro asks for only $300 to paint a vehicle you need to be aware that the quality of the work is not going to be the best out there
- Preparation is the key to a flawless finish. Sanding and repairing small imperfections can cause a huge difference in how the vehicle will appear.
- Do not even consider skipping the primer
- Apply the paint in thin coats. Thin coats dry faster and they allow you to repeat the coverage until the surface is completely covered
- The more clear coat you put on the shinier the vehicle will be. The clear coat also protects the paint by creating a hard barrier that reduces chipping and peeling. Do not skimp on the quality of the clear coat or the number of coats you make.
- Never paint if the temperature is about 950 F and never paint if the temperature is at or below freezing
- High humidity makes the paint dry slower
- Actual paint remover is cheaper than turpentine or mineral spirits
- Mineral spirits are not as harsh as some other chemical paint thinners and solvents
Check out our latest post on all about the Cost of Painting a Truck
How to Keep the Maaco Cost Low
The paint jobs offered by this company differ in quality from the ones offered by most companies. There are things you can do yourself that will help to reduce your paint cost even more.
- All prep and bodywork should be done before you drop the car off; fix dents, sand off the old paint, remove bumpers and trim, and you can even tape the windows to reduce the cost even more
- Choose the cheapest paint version. The basic service is the least expensive package offered, then the preferred service and the premium services.
- Have the vehicle painted the same color it is?
- Do not choose specialty paints like metallics.
How to Get a Maaco Estimate on Your Car
You cannot get an online or over-the-phone quote on a paint job. The professionals need to see the car so they can see the size and determine the amount of preparation work required to create the finish you are asking for.
Maaco does not require you to have an appointment before you get a quote but if you make an appointment your waiting time will be shorter. These shops are very busy and if you just drop in you may find several customers ahead of you.
The estimates on the cost to paint your car are free of charge. You do need to ask the attendant how long the estimate is good for because some places will only honor the estimate for a period of 14 to 30 days.
FAQs
What is the Average Cost of a Maaco Paint Job?
The average Maaco paint job costs about $599.
How Does Maaco Paint Cars so Cheap?
The main reason why Maaco prices are so low is the prepping and sanding an automobile requires is NOT included in the cost of the paint job.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Maaco Paint Job?
The average Maaco paint job can be completed in two to three business days.
Final Thoughts
Getting a paint job at Maaco is a cheap way to get new paint on your car. These paint jobs are not the highest quality ones available, but they are not unsightly, and they do prolong the life of your car by giving you protection.
Seek a Maaco specialist out and ask them the details of what they can offer for your vehicle, and then consider all of your options before making your decision. Saving money is not a bad thing.
You can also read our article on the cost to paint a motorcycle.
