One morning you go to the garage to bring out your car. Suddenly you notice some small dent or ding over the fender. Or unfortunately, you had a collision and it damaged the fender bender of your vehicle.
Now you have to replace it and paint it to give it a fresh look. Now you may be thinking about how much it will cost you to replace and paint a fender of your vehicle. In this article, we will help you to find the answer.
How Much Does it Cost to Paint a Fender in 2024?
A fender paint job can cost you around $200 to $1,000. Depending on the location labor can cost $50 to $250 (per hour). It may take 3 to 5 days to finish painting the vehicle at the body shop.
Normally the cost doesn’t go beyond a thousand dollars. It can be a little more or a little cheaper depending on the design, quality, and time. Usually while painting a fender it may be required to paint a bumper or a can door of your car.
A bumper painting job or bumper cover paint job can cost you around $150 to $400. Bumper repair jobs cost even more. A car door or rear door painting job can cost you around $100 to $600.
Fender Painting Cost Summary
We tried to include all the related costs suggested by our pros. Here is the rough estimate of the cost of painting a fender.
| Cost Type | Price Range |
| Paint Scratch Over Fender | $50-$200 |
| Labor Cost | $50-$250 (per hour) |
| Body Shop Painting Job | $200-$400 |
| DIY Painting Work | $100-$600 |
| Professional Painting Job | $300-$1,000 |
What is Vinyl Wrapping in a Car?
A vinyl wrap is a series of vinyl decals used over the panels of a car as an alternative to painting. The cost of vinyl wrap is much lower compared to a custom paint job.
The benefit of using wrap is that you will have many alternative colors and standard design options. It is usually used for the passenger car but now many private owners are considering it as a “better” option.
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Body Shop Fender Painting Job
It’s okay to don’t have the courage or enough time to do it yourself. You can take your car to the nearby auto shop or body shop. From prep to giving the final finishing a body shop printer can charge $200 to $400 or they can charge based on per hour.
They can charge even more if there is any damage on the surface and has big damage. It can be a little more or a little less depending on your location too.
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Professional Job for Fender Painting
For a perfect and factory-like finish, you can take it to a professional. A professional painter can cost you around $300 to $1000 or more depending on the damage.
Or they can charge $50 to $250 per hour. It may seem costly, but it’s worth it. They will take less time to finish the work compared to an average body shop.
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Average Paint Scratch Repaint Cost
If the vehicle has a small scratch or paint scratch over the fender, you can repair it in a high-end body workshop or by a professional. It can cost you $50 to $200 or more for the big-size scratch in 2022.
You can do it yourself. It will help to save you valuable money. If it has a dent, read more here and details about dent repair costs.
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Fender Painting Labor Cost
If you are not ready to compromise on the look of your vehicle, the best way is to hire an expert painter. An expert mechanic can charge $50 to $250 per hour for the job. If you are looking for a cheap option, you can take your car to the nearest auto shop. An auto shop mechanic can charge $70 to $150.
Please note that labor costs are not fixed. It varies from location to location. Everyone is running his own business. They can offer the service by asking for more labor costs or fewer labor costs according to their will and competition.
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DIY Cost for Fender Painting Work
A DIY job will help you to save labor costs. If you are ready for it and have enough time and materials on your hand, you can go for it.
It can cost you around $100 to $600 depending on the quality of the material like a high-quality paint or primer costs you more compared to a regular one.
But if you are not confident enough and don’t have the time and patience too, we recommend leaving the work to the professionals.
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DIY Method to Paint a Fender Easily at Home in 2024
After replacing the damaged fender you have to paint it to match it with your vehicle’s color. If you choose to do it yourself at home you will need some tools to complete it at home. Make sure you have chosen an area for painting that is dust-free.
Carefully choose the color code. You can buy it from an online shop or automotive store. You can have the color code serial from the information sticker. Look for it on your driver’s side door. There are a series of numbers starting with ABA or ABB.
Note the code and the next two lines of code too and take it to the paint shop or automotive shop. Mix the two gallons of custom paint. If you have previously left out paint, you can use it too.
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10 Pro Tools: You Will Definitely Need
Before jumping into the painting process, make sure you have all the tools or instruments in your hand.
- 100 or 200 grit sandpaper.
- 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper.
- Primer.
- Microfiber cloth, tack cloth, or rubbing compound.
- Clearcoat, paint.
- spray gun or paint gun.
- Plastic or paper.
- Masks, goggles, and gloves.
- Automobile tape.
- Air compressor.
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How to Paint a Fender by Yourself by Using 9 Easy Step-by-step Guide
Here is the step-by-step process to have your vehicle’s fender painted at home. We tried to keep it simple.
Step 1: Before starting the painting you have to prep the area. Wash the car and fender perfectly to make the surface dirt and debris-free. Before starting the sending, dry the area completely.
Step 2: Use tape and plastic or newspaper to cover the 3-foot area around the fender. Otherwise, it can make a mass.
Step 3: it is time to sand the surface and make it smooth for painting. Use 100 or 200-grit sandpaper lightly to smooth the surface. It is a very important step. If you don’t smooth the surface, the final result will be very disappointing.
Step 4: Now apply a coat of spray on the primer over the fender. You will have the automotive primer in any local body shop.
Step 5: You can use a painting brush or spray gun for painting but we recommend using a spray gun. Make the paint spray gun ready for work and check the connection of the air compressor. Fill up the painting gun with four-thirds of the paint.
Step 6: Apply the first coat of paint over the funder. Carefully spray paint over the surface. Leave it to chill for an hour before applying another coat of paint. Apply two or three coats or more for deep color finishing. Make sure to dry the surface properly by applying every coat. If you are not satisfied with the color use 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper to smooth the surface.
Step 7: You can mix the hardener with the clear coat and apply it over the fender. It will give a classy look and protect the paint from damage. Mix the quantity according to the instructions given in the packaging. Before spraying, the clear coat washes the color gun perfectly.
Step 8: Apply a layer of clear coat over the painted surface. If you are not satisfied with the result again, lightly use the 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper to smooth the surface before applying the final touch.
Step 9: Remove all the covered areas and compare the final result with the whole vehicle. If you are happy with that, give me a big smile. You deserve it.
Pro Suggestion: Still, if you have any confusion go to the internet and watch video tutorials on different video streaming sites before starting the painting work.
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What are the Factors to Increase a Fender Painting Cost 2024
When you know exactly which factors are directly involved in raising the cost, it will be easier to avoid it and save money.
Our pros identify 5 major factors that are liable for increasing costs.
- Take it to a high-end body shop or a professional paint shop.
- Replacing it with a brand new pre-paint fender.
- Painting other damaged parts with it like the door and bumper.
- Wasting paint and primer.
- Not preparing the surface before going to a professional.
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How to Save Costing on a Fender Painting in 2024
Apply it according to what you need and what you want. Here are 7 super tips that will be very useful for reducing the cost.
- The best way to save money from any type of work is to choose a DIY job. It can cut the total cost by 20 to 60 percent.
- You can use saved paint and primer from the previous use. Before applying it make sure it perfectly matches the old color.
- You can take it to an average body shop. They will cost you less compared to a professional.
- You can buy painting-related materials and Fender kits from a renowned online shop. You can have a good deal from an online shop and also save the searching cost.
- You can buy a used fender or an aftermarket fender to replace the damaged one. It will be very budget-friendly compared to a brand-new one.
- Vinyl wrap can be a better alternative to paint. It is very budget-friendly.
- See if there is any room for the insurance or car insurance to cover the entire fender damage or body damage cost. It can save you valuable money.
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Some Relevant Questions Frequently Asked About Paint A Fender (FAQs)
We try to list some of the most commonly asked questions related to fender paint. If you want any specific answer beyond these you can ask in the comment section. You are most welcome.
What is a Fender Flare?
A fender flare and a fender are not the same. It is an extension and adjacent panels of most trucks and SUVs. it was placed over the wheel well. It looks the same as a car fender but the fender flares are bigger than a regular one. The cost is not the same as a fender paint cost.
How much does it cost to paint a hood?
A professional company charges around $200 to $1,000 to paint a hood. They can charge more depending on the damage to the hood. An average body shop will cost you less compared to a professional company.
How much does it cost to replace a Front Fender?
To replace a damaged front fender you may need to cost between $150 and $1,000 or $70 to $150 per hour in a body shop. It does not include the painting charge. To paint it, an auto body shop painter can charge $200 to $400.
How long does it take to paint a fender or a front fender?
An expert technician can take three to five hours to replace a small damaged fender. It can take 3 to 7 days to cure the paint and make the vehicles ready to take out. It can take more time for a brand-new Fender if you try to do it yourself.
How much does it cost to Paint Fender Flares?
Professionally painted fender flares can cost you around $200 to $400 or more depending on many factors. You can paint fender flares in a body workshop.
How much does it cost to wrap a fender?
It can cost $50 to $150 to buy the wrapping kits. If you take it to an auto body shop, they can charge you approximately $150 to 300 for vinyl wrapping the fender.
How much does it cost to repair minor dents and dings on a fender?
Professionals can charge you around $50 to $200 to repair hidden damage, minor dents, paint scratches, or dings to a fender bender. It can cost you more depending on the size of the damage.
How much does it cost to replace the inner fender?
To have the inner fender or fender liner on your hand you can need to cost between $50 to $150 or more depending on the market. You will have to spend around $70 to $150 to install it in an average auto shop.
“Analyses of Final Costs” About Paint a Fender in 2024
We tried to mention all the information related to painting a fender. You can either hire an expert or do it yourself. But our automobile experts suggest,” You shouldn’t risk your vehicle’s appearance by trying DIY just in order to save a few hundred dollars.”
Hope you are benefiting from it. We are open to taking any kind of criticism or advice. Happy learning.
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