Your vehicle is an important part of your life. Whether you’re driving an older car or a newer model, you should always be proud of what you are driving.
For a quick answer, the estimated average value of a professional completing a full set is around $500 to $1000 compared to DIY costs of around $100 to $200. I will talk in detail about what to look for if you are going the professional route. I will also talk you through all the materials needed to do it yourself and how to paint the rims yourself.
Looking after your vehicle should be a priority as it needs regular maintenance to continue running smoothly. This doesn’t just include looking under the hood. The paintwork and aesthetics of your motor should always be kept in great shape.
Many believe that your automobile is a reflection of you and your personality. This is why you don’t want to drive around in a beat-up car with chipped paint and rust showing throughout.
One part of your car which will need maintenance throughout its lifespan is its rims. This is the outer edge of the wheel which holds the tire. Over time, these can become worn, and their colors can fade, having a negative impact on your overall car’s appearance.
Luckily, there is an excellent way to enhance your vehicle: by having the rims painted. This will make them look stylish and can even increase your motor’s value.
With so many rim painting options available, you can create a distinct finish for your personal preference. However, the more options there are, the more confusion there is. It can be difficult to find what the average price should be for this spray paint job as many offer their services at varying prices.
To help you, I have delved into the world of rim painting and discovered how much it costs. The following article will discuss factors to consider, such as the average cost of painting rims, the professional costs vs. DIY paint jobs, the best way to save money on rim paint jobs, and much more.
Let’s find out the actual cost of painting rims below!
How Much Does it Cost to Paint Rims?
There are a range of variables to consider when looking to paint rims. One factor that can greatly affect your wheels’ rims is brake dust.
Over time, your brakes will form a coating of dust that marks the rims, leaving them looking dull and dirty. If you have driven off-road on occasion, this can leave the rims dirty and become worn over time too.
Whether you just want your car rims to look fresh again or you plan on selling it soon, sprucing up the rims can have a huge impact.
Showing that you have taken care of the car will let the potential buyer feel that the vehicle should be in good condition overall and, therefore, would be less likely to drive down the asking price.
To enhance your rims, there are two main options; paint the surface area or purchase new rims.
Most alloy wheels don’t need to be replaced, which is good news for your bank balances as they can be quite expensive. Even cheaper models can be rescued with some paintwork and maintenance.
If you decide to spray paint your rims, read on to find some key recommendations and things to consider to help you through this process efficiently.
DIY supplies
Before you begin to tackle the professional Jeep paint job yourself, you will need either a primer coat, basecoat, or clear coat. Other options include Plasti Dip or Rhino Liner spray.
The cost of these DIY depends on various factors, such as the types and quality of the paints or primers you will be using.
The price is also dependent on the number of spray cans you need. If you end up using five or six cans of spray paint (with index cards between the rims and wheels to avoid spraying the tires), you may be able to paint the rims in no time at a little cost.
DIY average costs
As with most DIY projects, it is typically cheaper than hiring a professional. The average cost for a DIY rim paint job is around $30 to $100. However, this depends on the quality and quantity of the materials you are using.
To complete a satisfactory paint job on your wheels, it should take you around 3 to 4 hours. Although professionals have all the equipment at their disposal, you will be paying for the paints and manual labor, so doing it yourself will be more cost-effective.
Professional Average Costs
Overall, professional costs for painting your alloy wheels or having a full alloy wheel powder coating are about $100 to $200. It is fully recommended that you get estimates from multiple professional painters to ensure you get the fairest and best price for a top-quality paint job.
If you hire a professional company, the price can range from $130 and more per wheel. There is also the option to have your wheels repaired or painted by some car dealerships from where you bought your car.
This is generally included in the warranty or through insurance, but this will usually include additional costs, depending on the extent of the damage.
Again, get a range of price estimates from professional rim specialists before deciding who to go with for a fair deal.
The Average Cost to Paint Rims Per Square Foot
A cheap method of getting a great paint job on your wheels is by painting per square foot. This looks great and usually has longer-lasting results.
DIY Square Foot Average Cost
Here is how to work out the average cost if you decide to paint per square foot yourself:
- If you are painting 16” tires, there are 1.3963 square feet in each rim.
- 1.3963 x 4 tyres = 5.5853 square feet.
- If you use four cans of rhino liner spray costing $24 each, you will spend $96 on paint.
- $96 / 5.5852 square feet = $17.18 per square foot.
Professional Square Foot Average Cost
If doing it yourself sounds a bit too tricky, let’s take a look at the estimated costs of hiring a pro:
- If each wheel costs $140, you would be paying $560.
- $560 / 5.5852 = $100.26 per square foot.
As you can see, painting by square foot yourself is much cheaper than hiring a professional and quite simple.
The Estimated Cost of Different Paints for Rim
As we mentioned, different materials can be used when painting your wheel’s rim. Let’s take a look at the estimated costs of each one below.
Plasti Dip
Depending on the brand and quality you buy, the prices of plastic dip can vary. However, on average, these should cost around $22 a can; you will probably need four to complete your painting rims project. Therefore, the overall paint cost with Plasti Dip would be $88.
Specialized Spray Paint for Wheels
It is possible to buy spray paint that is specially designed for wheels. One example is the high-gloss Dupli-Color wheel paint which is $15 a can. If you decide to go with this, you will probably need four cans, so your overall paint cost should be $60.
If you want to make your black wheels glimmer more brightly, try gloss black for the best result.
Truck Bed Liner
Another option is to use a truck bed liner to add a stronger, textured finish.
One 32-ounce can cost far less than Plasti Dip, saving you money all around. Therefore, if you decided to purchase two cans of Rust-Oleum Truck Bed Coating at $30 each, you would be able to cover 35 square feet, which is more than enough.
Powder Coat
One fantastic option for getting high-quality paintwork on your wheel’s rim is to use a powder coating.
This will give your wheels the best finish compared to other methods, but the process is a little more complicated than when using a spray can.
This is because the paint is applied electrostatically before being cured with heat. This may take some time to get to grips with, but it is a favored method by many professionals.
If you have hard-to-remove dust on the rims, a coat will easily clear it away because of its different, strong bonding when applied to the wheel.
When it comes to estimating a price for powder coating, it usually turns out to be quite reasonable. A gallon typically costs around $20, but you will need to purchase a powder coat paint gun as well which can cost $100 and more.
If you want to coat your wheels yourself, the price is estimated to be around $150 to $250, but this is if you don’t have any tools and need to purchase them new.
The Average Total Cost of Labor
For DIY labor, you should be able to complete the paint job in around four hours.
If you hire a professional, they should be able to paint a set of rims within a couple of hours. This can depend on whether they need to repair the wheels, too, as this can take somewhat longer.
The estimated average value of a professional completing a full set is around $500 to $1000 compared to DIY costs of around $100 to $200.
Tips on How to Save Money When Painting Rims
There are several things you can do to drive down the cost of painting your wheel’s rims. The number one tip is to do it yourself! This is typically a simple task, and there are abundant sources of help on the internet, including videos to guide you through the process.
You can easily buy all the supplies and have them shipped to your home in a little time, so you can get sparkling new rims in no time!
The type and color of the paint you use can determine the number of coats you will need to apply. Once the paint has dried, you should be able to judge whether the wheel needs another coat or not.
Here is how to paint rims yourself:
- Power wash the rims. You may need to demount the tire, but this isn’t usually necessary.
- Brush off dirt and debris and remove the paint from wheels (you may need to sand it off if it is stubborn).
- With chrome wheels, you can use a spinning wire brush attached to a drill to prep them for the paint. For alloy wheels, use a plastic-bristled brush scrubber or 80-grit to 220-grit sandpaper for older wheels to make the surface smooth.
- Cover up the tire using tape, paper, index cards, or playing cards to avoid overspray.
- Apply the paint by beginning to fill the cracks that are usually harder to reach before covering the rest of the exposed areas. Then, you’re done! Easy!
Final Thoughts
Painting rims is not an arduous task and can be cost-friendly if you take the right steps.
The DIY route is a cheaper option, but hiring a professional will ensure the job is done to the highest standards.
