See the real cost per month of protection — and when a coating actually pays off vs. wax or sealant.
Transparent assumptions · Editable inputs · No affiliate pressure
Context only — it does not change the cost maths.
Pro pricing and correction are multiplied by 1.00×.
Your size multiplier: 1.00× → $1,200 per application.
Zero it out if you plan to skip correction.
Applications per year at your settings: 0.23
Pro 5-year coating
MarginalCost per protected month
$46.67
Over 60 months
Break-even vs. wax
50 mo
Cheaper than wax from here
Total 5-year cost
$2,800
Incl. $0 correction
Modeled estimate based on your inputs and published industry ranges. Real-world durability varies by prep quality, product, and conditions.
These are modeled estimates, not manufacturer claims. Real-world results vary. Every multiplier below is centred on 1.00 for the reference case: a garaged, daily-driven sedan in a moderate climate, hand-washed four times a month.
Baseline life × climate × storage × use pattern × wash method × wash-count penalty. Above four washes a month, each extra wash removes 1.2% of effective life.
Your selection: 52.2 months from a 48-month baseline.
DIY cost per application is product cost plus hours × your hourly rate. Pro cost is the quoted price × the vehicle-size multiplier. Total cost adds the one-time correction and annual maintenance across the ownership window, using the ceiling of ownership ÷ effective life for the number of applications.
Cumulative spend is compared month by month against a wax baseline. Break-even is the first month the selected option costs less in total. If that never happens inside your window, we report no break-even.
Score = 100 × e^(−1.6 × months ÷ effective life), so the curve reaches roughly 40 at end of life — our reapplication threshold. It is a rough health indicator, not a measurement.
Climate
| Mild | 1.10 |
|---|---|
| Moderate (reference) | 1.00 |
| Harsh sun | 0.80 |
| Coastal salt | 0.75 |
| Snow-belt road salt | 0.78 |
Storage and use
| Garaged | 1.15 |
|---|---|
| Outdoors | 0.90 |
| Daily driver | 0.90 |
| Weekend car | 1.10 |
Wash method
| Two-bucket hand wash | 1.05 |
|---|---|
| Rinseless | 1.00 |
| Touchless automatic | 0.95 |
| Tunnel / brush | 0.70 |
Vehicle size and correction
| Compact | 0.90× |
|---|---|
| Sedan | 1.00× |
| SUV / truck | 1.15× |
| Full-size / 3-row | 1.30× |
| Light swirls | $250 |
| Moderate defects | $600 |
| Heavy defects | $1,200 |
FAQ
It depends on how long you keep the car, where it lives, and how you wash it. For a garage-kept car held four or more years, a professional coating usually costs less per protected month than repeated waxing. For a lease or a car headed for a tunnel wash every week, the maths often favours a sealant or an SiO2 spray. Run your own numbers above rather than trusting a blanket answer.
Manufacturer claims are best-case ceilings. In the field, a consumer 9H DIY coating typically holds up for roughly 12 to 24 months, a professional two-year product for around two years, and premium professional coatings for four to six years with maintenance. Harsh sun, salt, outdoor parking and brush washes all pull those numbers down.
A coating locks in whatever is underneath it, including swirl marks and etching. If your paint has visible defects, correction first is strongly recommended. It is the single largest one-time cost in the model, which is why it is a separate, editable input you can zero out if you decide to skip it.
DIY wins on cash cost and loses on time and prep risk. Set your hourly rate honestly in the calculator: at $0 per hour a DIY 9H coating is very hard to beat, and at $50 per hour the professional options often close the gap entirely.
No. A coating reduces marring risk from wash-induced swirls and makes contamination easier to remove. It does not stop rock chips or deliberate scratches. If chip protection is the goal, paint protection film is the honest comparison, not a coating.
They solve different problems. PPF is a physical barrier against chips and deeper scratches, at several times the cost. A coating is a chemical layer that improves cleaning, gloss and UV resistance. Many owners use PPF on high-impact panels and a coating over everything.
Wash with a pH-neutral shampoo using a two-bucket or rinseless method, decontaminate once or twice a year with an iron remover, and use a compatible topper or booster spray. That maintenance budget is a line item in the calculator because it materially extends effective life.
Stated durability usually assumes ideal prep, ideal cure conditions, garage storage and gentle washing. Real cars sit in the sun, collect bird droppings and go through automatic washes. The model uses realistic mid-range baselines and then adjusts for your conditions instead of quoting the ceiling.
Treat every output as a modelled estimate. The most valuable thing you can do is replace our defaults with your own quote, your real ownership window and your actual wash habits. The verdict chip is shorthand for how your choice compares on cost per protected month, not a recommendation.
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