How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Motorcycle?

Painting a motorcycle can breathe new life into a ride. A lot of people find that they can save money by purchasing a previously owned motorcycle that has a few imperfections. Often these older machines need a little paint and polish to make them as magnificent as they have the potential to be.

When it comes to painting a motorcycle, many people want to do this work themselves because they love the challenge of the restoration, and they want a sense of accomplishment when the job is complete. Other people want a professional to paint their bikes. Many people hire the pros to do the paintwork because they do not have the time or the equipment to do justice to the work.

We talked to an automotive paint specialist, and many restoration experts, to try and discover exactly how much it costs to paint a motorcycle, and if there were any tips the experts could share. We were very pleased with the advice, and information the experts shared with us.

Average Cost of Having a Motorcycle Painted

There are a lot of variables that can make the cost of painting your bike go up or down. For the purpose of this article, we are looking at both the basic paint job offered by paint & body shops and the more expensive custom paint jobs. Besides Motorcycle paint job cost you may also like our guide on How Much Does it Cost to Paint a Bumper?

Basic Paint Jobs are:

• A single color of no thrill paint
• No repairs to bike components
• A minimum amount of clear coat or gloss
• Can be finished relatively quickly

Custom Paint Jobs are:

• One-of-a-kind designs and color combinations that will set your bike apart from all other machines
• Often include graphics like flames or skulls
• Are only done after the bike components are rendered flawlessly smooth
• Often includes multiple clear coats to give the bike a deep shine or to give the bike a protective barrier that allows the paint to remain flawless for longer periods of time
• May include pearl paint, metallic flake paint, candy paint, and more

Tips on Hiring the Right Professional to Paint your Bike

If you are uncertain about whether you would like to do the work for yourself, or you want to consider hiring a professional paint and body technician to do your paintwork for you then we have some advice on how to select the right shop.

• Ask your friends for recommendations. If one of your friends has used someone before then you can get a true review of the painter’s work and can probably see the results of their work.
  
• Look for businesses that are accredited by the Better Business Bureau. The BBB keeps records of complaints filed against companies and of how the company responded to the complaints or resolved the issue. If the BBB has never heard of the individual or the business there is a good chance that you might be gambling with the look of your ride.
  
• Ask the shop to give you a detailed and itemized list of the service they are offering, the kind of paint they are using, the length of time they will have your bike, and any special charges that might incur. You want this list in writing.
  
• Ask the shop how long their estimates are good for. Many places will only honor a price estimate for a specific amount of time, so do not get a quote and then wait for months to return.
  
• Ask when the shop will have time to fit you into their schedule. Some chops are so busy that you may have to wait weeks to take your bike in.
  
• Ask if they guarantee their work. A guarantee could be very important.

DIY Motorcycle Tips and Cost Estimate

There is no doubt that you can save a lot of money by doing the paintwork yourself. Labor is more than half of the cost of a paint job. There are still a lot of factors that go into the cost of the paint job even if you remove the labor factor.

The paint is one of the deciding factors in the cost of a DIY painting. You also have to consider the primer and the clear coat. You cannot get a professional-looking paint job unless you are ready to prime the surface first and ready to cover that paint with a clear coat. 

Primer is more than just a paint saver. It smooths the surface out and reduces or improves minor imperfections in the material. It also makes the paint that you use adhere better so your paint job lasts longer.

Clearcoat is not just the shiny finish that puts the icing on the proverbial cake. Clearcoat actually serves to protect the paint and make it last longer. Clearcoat is a covering that stops the rays of the sun or the daily grind of dirt and debris from being able to penetrate the paint and create chips or flaws. It also seals the paint so water, humidity, and other moisture sources cannot get to the metal of your bike and cause corrosion, rust, or other damages.

How Much Does Paint Cost for Your Motorcycle?

When you go to buy your primer, paint, and clear coat you will normally find that a 400ml container of paint will be adequate to cover the bike. This paint estimate is based on you using spray equipment for your application. There are really no other application methods that will satisfy you with a smooth and impeccable surface.

If you use spray paint in an 11-ounce can then you are probably going to need 3 to 6 cans of each substance. Aerosol eliminates the need for the air compressor or the paint sprayer equipment, but the cans of automotive spray cans come in different sizes, and most of them are only 6-ounce cans because they are intended for touch-up paint, not as a new covering.

When you buy your paint make sure to buy slightly more than what you think you will need. By buying a little extra paint you will be protecting yourself from coming up short if you use more than expected, or have a spill.

Equipment for DIY Motorcycle Painting

If you paint the bike yourself you are going to need some equipment to do the work with. If you do not own the equipment then you have to consider this cost as part of the paint job. Of course, once you buy the equipment it is yours and it can be used for other purposes or future paint jobs, so it is a one-time-only expense.

Tools to have:

• A paint sprayer (cordless units are fabulous because you do not have to have an air compressor, air hose, or electric cord connected and can do the work anywhere you please) Cost: between $200 and $700
• Spray guns that are powered by an air compressor air the least expensive and the air compressor could be handy for many other tasks around your house. Cost: between $130 and $1500
• Spray guns that work with air compressors can normally be purchased for less than $75

Ways to Save Money on Motorcycle Painting

There are a few things you can do to help you reduce the average cost of getting your motorcycle painted.

• Consider doing a touch-up of the paint that is already in place. This can be done with aerosol paint or touch-up paint pens.
• Use a cheaper paint and heavier clear coat to protect the less expensive paint
• Do only one coat of paint instead of coating until everything is perfectly uniform
• Do your own painting instead of hiring a pro
• Rent the equipment to do your own painting from a tool rental shop, or borrow it from a friend.
• If you take the bike to a pro do all of the removal, sanding, and preparation work yourself to reduce the number of hours that the person will have to work on the motorcycle
• Do not buy red paint
• Do not buy a metallic, pearl, or specialty paint
• Do a basic one-color paint job rather than a custom paint job with great detail

Final Thoughts

Painting a motorcycle can be a necessity to make the bike look better, it may be needed to protect the metal of the bike, or it may be something you just want to do. It is advised that you take your time while deciding who will paint your bike and deciding what features you want to include in the paint.

This is your personal ride so make it your own and do only the paint you want. You only live once.

Some Automotive Paint Cost Related Articles>>
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