How Much Does It Cost to Wrap a Truck?

Many truck owners don’t like to drive around with a dull factory paint job, which makes sense. They want to leave a lasting impression on the road, and while investing in a new paint job might be pricey, wrapping your truck might be a better option and can last a very long time. So, how much does it cost to wrap your truck?

The average cost to wrap a truck is between $1,500 and $5,000. This all depends on the size of the wrap, the complexity of the design, and the type of truck you have.

Costs for professional truck wraps range from $2,500 to $6,000 for a full wrap or from $1,000 to $3,000 for a partial wrap. DIY wraps can range from $500 to $3,000, but you will probably only spend between $200 and $600 if a simple decal is all you want on your truck.

Read on to learn more about the costs of wrapping a truck and how you can save money without compromising quality.

How Much Does It Cost to Wrap a Truck

how much it cost to wrap a truck

The cost of wrapping a truck can vary significantly depending on many factors. The wrap application’s complexity is probably the factor affecting costs the most. 

For instance, if your truck’s bumper covers are difficult to remove, you will spend more money on a wrap kit. Generally speaking, a wrap for a compact truck can cost as little as $1,500. 

However, if you want a full wrap with many layers on a bigger truck, it might cost you up to $5,000. Obtaining a quote from a reliable company is the only way to get an exact estimate for your truck.

You will need to prepare your truck properly before you start the wrapping procedure, so make sure you wash all of it. A clean truck will have far better results and take less time to wrap. 

Plus, the wrap you apply may not turn out perfectly if the truck’s body is full of dings and dents. The regions where the wrap meets the dent may have obvious flaws there.

Furthermore, rust is a big problem for truck owners as it can still eat away at your truck even when you are done wrapping, which is why many professional installers would decline to wrap a rusted truck, as doing so puts the quality of their work at risk.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Wrapping a Truck

As mentioned earlier, many factors affect the cost of wrapping a truck, such as:

1. Truck Size

The size of your truck will significantly impact how much you will pay for the wrap. Of course, a smaller truck will be far less expensive than a bigger truck. The price will go even higher if the truck has a roof.

2. Coverage of Artwork

The cost of graphics will vary depending on how much effort you put into them and how much of the truck they will cover. Depending on your budget, you can choose between a full or partial wrap that covers a portion of the sides and back doors.

3. Number of Trucks

If you wrap more than one truck, you will get a good price. This is because there will be no need to continually design new artwork since it would be used for all trucks combined.

However, the cost can vary if you have trucks of different sizes, and you will normally pay more for trucks with a bigger surface area. For instance, you will pay a little more than someone with twelve 4.2 m trucks if you have six 4.2 m trucks and six 8.5 m trucks.

4. Nature of the Paintwork

If you have damaged paintwork, it may require additional preparation before you install the wrap because vinyl wraps need a smooth surface, which could increase the overall cost.

The installation will be less expensive, simpler, and quicker on a surface with decent paint, and the effects will be nicer and last longer.

How Much Does a Professional Truck Wrap Cost

Expect to Pay Between $2,500 to $6,000 for a Full Wrap

The make and model of the truck, the person or company installing the wrap, the vinyl’s finish and design, and whether you’re getting a full or partial wrap will all impact the final cost.

On average, you should expect to pay between $2,500 to $6,000 for a full wrap, including expert installation.

Partial wrap costs between $1,000 and $3,000. This price includes installation by qualified professionals.

Full Wrap vs. Partial Wrap vs. Decal

Partial wraps typically cover 25% to 75% of a truck, which is why you will pay much less for one than a full wrap.

Even less expensive than a partial wrap, a vinyl graphic or decal typically costs between $200 and $600, depending on the size and complexity of the design.

Like full or partial wraps, you can easily customize the vinyl graphics with any logos or designs you wish to have. Moreover, you can use them as business adverts, so you hit two birds with one stone.

How Much Does It Cost to Wrap a Truck Yourself?

how much does it cost to wrap a truck yourself

If you want to wrap your truck, expect to pay between $500 and $3,000 on the vinyl alone.

The price of additional equipment, such as trim removal tools and extra vinyl to account for mistakes, should also be considered.

Overall Cost

When you put them all together, the cost will be between $700 and $3,200.

Preparation

Moreover, remember that you will need to prepare the truck before you wrap it properly. This may include a full detailing treatment to ensure nothing on the paint surface could prevent the wrap from adhering to the truck correctly.

You may need to remove many truck parts to properly install the wrap, depending on the type of wrap and what truck you have. 

For instance, you may need to temporarily remove the bumpers and lights on your truck to have proper access before you install the wrap.

After that, gently apply the wrap on each panel while smoothing out any air bubbles and wrinkles that form along the way.

Also, you might need a heat gun to help with adhesion and shrink the wrap into its final position. Eventually, you may need to apply many layers to get that perfect finish.

Cost of Vinyl

There are several different finishes available when choosing solid-colored vinyl. The most popular varieties are:

  1. Matte,
  2. Gloss,
  3. Carbon fiber, and
  4. Chrome.

Prices vary depending on the type of finish as well as the manufacturer. 

It’s essential to choose a reputed company to guarantee a high quality of your vinyl wrap. 3M, Avery Dennison, Oracal, or Arlon often have the best vehicle-grade vinyl available.

Make sure to measure the size of your truck to determine how much you’ll need before placing your order for vinyl if you apply the wrap yourself.

Rvinyl provides the amount of vinyl required to cover some of the most popular truck models. 

Below are the rough costs for vinyl brands and the price per square foot. It is just what a professional installer would do.

We used pricing for black vinyl wrap as a baseline instead of the nearest neutral hue unless black was not an option.

How Much Does a Carbon Fiber Wrap Cost?

3M Carbon Fiber Vinyl Wrap Black

  • $7 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $2,285
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $3,145

Avery Carbon Fiber Vinyl Wrap Black

  • $4 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $1,308
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $1,800

VViViD XPO Black Carbon Fiber Vinyl Wrap

  • $3 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $978
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $1,345

Are Chrome Wraps More Expensive?

Avery Chrome Vinyl Wrap Silver

  • $8.50 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $2,780
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $3,825

How Much Is a Gloss Wrap?

Avery Gloss Vinyl Wrap Black 

  • $2.60 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $850
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $1,170

Oracal Gloss Vinyl Wrap Black

  • $1.60 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $523
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $720

Is Matte Wrap More Expensive?

3M Matte Black Vinyl Wrap

  • $2.60 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $850
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $1,170

Avery Matte Black Vinyl Wrap 

  • $2.30 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $752
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $1,035

Oracal Matte Black Vinyl Wrap

  • $1.70 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $555
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $765

VViViD Matte Silver Vinyl Wrap

  • $3.20 per square foot
  • Cost for a small two-door truck: $1,046
  • Cost for a large four-door truck: $1,440

Again, how much does it cost to wrap a truck? Several factors affect the cost of wrapping a truck, including vehicle type, wrap size, and the intricacy of the design. On average, it costs $1,500 to $5,000 to wrap a truck.

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5 Ways to Save Money On Your Truck Wrap

how much would it cost to wrap a truck

Most truck owners who want to add vinyl wraps to their trucks wish to spend as little money as possible while still getting a high-quality result. So, how do you go about doing that? 

1. Know the Design You Want Before You Start

Even if you hire an expert graphic designer to help you with the layout, they still cannot read your mind. So, you must be very specific about what you want before you start the wrapping project.

You can, for instance, have an initial drawing of the piece of art. It doesn’t have to be computer-generated or something. A simple hand sketch can do it all.

Search the web for different truck designs and choose one that appeals to you the most if you are unable to draw something or are unsure of the type of design you have in mind.

2. Avoid Covering the Roof

As mentioned earlier, the project’s cost will increase if you wrap up a huge area. Now, wrapping the roof will not be essential unless you plan to park the truck in a valley where people can see it from the top. 

Instead, you can extend the side and rear vinyl a few inches above the top rather than encircling it. It will complete your truck’s appearance without costing extra money for covering.

3. Consider Partial Wrapping

You do not always need to apply a full wrap to convey a message or advertise your company.

A partial wrap would be fine if you are starting out or on a low budget. It will provide decent protection while spending significantly less. 

Moreover, if the color of your truck fits the graphics layout, partial wrapping can be just as effective as full wrapping.

It is always a good idea to go for contrasting colors. For instance, if your truck is blue, you can choose orange for a partial wrap. Contrasting colors will save you the expense of repainting your truck now and then.

4. Opt for the Right Material

You will not need to lay the more expensive casting grade vinyl if the body of your truck is flat and smooth. Regular vinyl will do the trick.

Also, choose a material you can easily peel off without damaging the truck’s paint if you do not want to keep the wrapping on for a long time. Quite often, this will have a reduced price tag.

Similarly, if you’re using your wrap for a long time, choose something high-quality that lasts between 5 and 10 years. Such vinyl coverings might be slightly more expensive, but since you will not need to replace them more often, you will save quite a bit of money.

5. Check Out Different Service Providers

Do your homework and check out the truck wrap prices of different service providers. You do not always have to go with the first one you come across.

How Do You Maintain a Truck Wrap?

A well-maintained truck wrap can last for several years. However, extreme cold and heat can stress the vinyl wrap, causing it to form microscopic fissures and cracks over time.

It will be a good idea to keep a wrapped truck parked in a shaded area during summer. This will shield it from the extreme heat.

Moreover, it is vital to regularly wash your wrapped truck if you live in a cold area where road salt is pervasive. Salt can damage your truck’s wrap and eat away at the underside.

FAQs

What Is a Truck Wrap?

A truck wrap is a sizable sticker made of a highly moldable material that you can apply to either the full body of your truck or a part of it. Moreover, you can use it to add brand messaging, patterns, and images to the truck’s body. 

What is great about it is that this kind of sticker can fit the body of any truck. Even more so, you can easily remove it whenever you want without actually harming the truck’s original paint job. 

How Much Do Full Wraps and Partial Wraps Cost?

Full wraps cost anywhere between $1,500 to $5,000, and that includes the cost of expert installation.

Partial wrap costs between $1,000 and $3,000, including installation. If you want to set up the whole thing yourself, the cost of vinyl alone can get up to $3000. This does not include the cost of extra materials needed, such as trim removal tools.

How Much Does It Cost to Wrap a Semi-trailer?

A class 8 semi-trailer wrap can cost between $3000 and $4000 for a full wrap. But the thing is, you might not need a full wrap to get the point across. Moreover, the trailer’s condition and whether there is any rust will have a big impact on the final cost.

Conclusion – Truck Wrap Prices

The cost of wrapping your truck can vary depending on many factors, such as the size of your truck, the type of design, and the surface area covered. On average, expect to pay as little as $1500 for a partial wrap and up to $5000 for a full wrap. 

On the other hand, a vinyl graphic or decal can even be less expensive than a partial wrap, and it usually costs between $200 and $600, depending on the size and complexity of the design.

Keep in mind that you do not always need a full wrap to change the look of your truck, let alone you can save lots of money by simply doing a partial wrap. 

Above all, “expensive” does not always mean “better.” So, when it comes to the material, choose the right one, not necessarily the most expensive one.

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