How to Quote a Vehicle Wrap: Step-by-Step for Wrap Shops
A systematic approach to wrap quoting — what to measure, how to price materials and labor, and how to present quotes that close.
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A good wrap quote isn't just a number — it's an explanation of value. Customers who understand what they're paying for object to the price far less. And shops with a consistent quoting process win more jobs and waste less time.
Here's how to quote a vehicle wrap, start to finish.
Step 1: Gather the Basics
Before you calculate anything, you need:
- •Vehicle year, make, and model (affects surface area and complexity)
- •Coverage scope: Full wrap, 3/4 wrap, partial wrap, or spot graphics?
- •Material preference: Standard, premium, specialty (chrome, matte, PPF)?
- •Design situation: Customer supplying print-ready files, needs minor tweaks, or needs a full custom design?
- •Timeline: When do they need the vehicle?
Get this information before your first quote conversation. A form on your website, a quick intake call, or a text thread with a few specific questions.
Step 2: Calculate Material Quantity
Material cost is based on surface area. Approximate square footage by vehicle type:
| Vehicle | Full Wrap Sq Ft |
|---|---|
| Compact car | 170–200 |
| Full-size sedan/coupe | 200–230 |
| Mid-size SUV | 250–280 |
| Full-size SUV/truck | 280–320 |
| Cargo van (Transit, Sprinter) | 300–360 |
| Box truck (16 ft) | 350–430 |
Add 15% for waste (cuts, overlap, mistakes). Multiply by your material cost per square foot:
- •Premium (3M IJ180mC + overlaminate): ~$3.50–$4.00/sq ft
- •Commercial (Arlon SLX + overlaminate): ~$2.80–$3.20/sq ft
- •Specialty (chrome, color shift): $5.00–$8.00/sq ft
Example: Full wrap on a cargo van - 340 sq ft × 1.15 waste factor = 391 sq ft - × $3.75/sq ft premium material = $1,466 material cost
Step 3: Estimate Design Cost
- •Print-ready files supplied: $0
- •Minor adjustments to existing files: $75–$150
- •Custom design with supplied branding: $200–$300
- •Full custom from scratch: $300–$500+
If you're unclear what the customer means by "I have a logo," assume you'll need time to prep their files. "I have a logo" often means a low-res JPEG from Facebook.
Step 4: Calculate Production
Production includes printing, cutting, weeding, taping, and prep:
- •Print time: ~$0.35–$0.50/sq ft on a wide-format printer (accounting for ink, media, and machine time)
- •Production labor: 2–4 hours at your shop rate ($60–$75/hr for most markets)
- •Typical production total: $150–$300 depending on coverage
Step 5: Calculate Installation Labor
Installation is your biggest variable:
| Vehicle | Install Hours | @ $125/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car | 10–14 hrs | $1,250–$1,750 |
| Mid-size SUV | 12–16 hrs | $1,500–$2,000 |
| Cargo van | 14–20 hrs | $1,750–$2,500 |
| Box truck | 12–16 hrs | $1,500–$2,000 |
| Pickup truck | 10–14 hrs | $1,250–$1,750 |
For your first installs on a new vehicle type, track actual hours carefully. Your estimate for install time should tighten with experience.
Step 6: Add Overhead and Margin
Your material + design + production + install = your cost. You need to add:
- •Overhead: 15–20% of total cost (rent, utilities, insurance, tools)
- •Profit margin: 20–30% net margin target for a healthy wrap shop
If your costs come out to $3,200, adding 15% overhead = $3,680, then 25% margin = $4,600 quoted price.
Step 7: Present the Quote Clearly
A quote that closes breaks down: - What's included (vehicle, coverage, material grade, design) - What's excluded (changes after approval, additional design rounds) - Deposit required (typically 50%) - Timeline - Validity period (30 days is standard)
Send it in writing with a way to accept and pay the deposit electronically. A quote with a "pay deposit" button closes faster than one that requires a callback.
Common Quoting Mistakes
Quoting over text: Customers can't evaluate what they're agreeing to from a number in a text. Send a proper quote document.
Not specifying material grade: "Premium wrap" means different things to you and your customer. Name the material (3M IJ180mC, Avery MPI 1105) so there's no ambiguity.
Including unlimited design revisions: Scope the design work explicitly. Unlimited revisions is an undefined liability.
Quoting before seeing the vehicle: Complex curves, previous wrap or paint condition, existing body damage — these affect your quote. For jobs over $2,000, try to see the vehicle first.
Using Software to Quote Faster
A quoting tool with vehicle presets and saved pricing templates can get a basic quote from 20 minutes to under 5. If you're doing more than 10 quotes a month, it's worth setting up.
See Wraptor's built-in quote builder — it has vehicle sq ft presets built in and converts directly to an invoice when the job is approved.
Sal Lara
Founder, Wraptor
Sal runs a vehicle wrap and tint studio and built Wraptor to handle the operations work he was sick of doing in spreadsheets. Writes about pricing, materials, and shop ops from inside the trade.
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