Car detailing cost in the Bay Area, with the prices on the page.
A professional car detail in the SF Bay Area costs between $140 and $540 at Innovo, depending on the package and the size of the vehicle. A Basic Detail is $160 to $195. A Complete Detail, inside and out, is $225 for a compact car and $325 for a Model 3 or Camry. Here is every number, what each one includes, and how long the job takes.
“The honest way to compare detailing quotes is hours, not dollars. A Complete Detail on a Camry is five hours of work at our shop. If someone quotes you less than half that time for the same price, you are paying for a wash.”
Innovo detailing prices by vehicle size
Every detailing service is a flat price set by the vehicle's size tier. Compact is a Mini, 911 or Civic. Medium is a Model 3, Camry or Mazda 3. Large is a Model Y, RAV4 or 3 Series. XL is a Model X, Tundra, Suburban or G-Class. XXL is a Sprinter, Transit or ProMaster. The booking page shows your tier before you commit.
| Service | Compact | Medium | Large | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Detail | $160 | $160 | $195 | $195 | $195 |
| Interior Detail | $140 | $195 | $238 | $310 | $395 |
| Exterior Detail | $165 | $165 | $240 | $280 | $355 |
| Complete Detail (interior + exterior) | $225 | $325 | $375 | $465 | $540 |
| Maintenance Wash (coated cars) | $120, any size | ||||
Same price mobile or at the Oakland shop. These are the published prices as of October 2026; the pricing page is the live menu.
What each package includes
Basic Detail ($160 / $195). An exterior hand wash and dry, wheels and tires, windows, plus an interior vacuum and wipe-down of the hard surfaces. About two hours on a sedan, three on an SUV. It is the right choice for a car that is simply dirty. It does not include shampooing, stain work, pet hair or leather conditioning; on a Basic those are add-ons, and if you need more than one of them the Interior Detail is better value.
Interior Detail ($140 to $395). Everything inside: thorough vacuum including seat tracks and under the seats, all surfaces cleaned, leather cleaned and conditioned, glass inside, door jambs. Pet hair and surface stains are included. Carpet shampoo and steam extraction are done when the technician judges they are needed, which is assessed on arrival rather than promised in advance. Two hours on a compact, up to five and a half on a van.
Exterior Detail ($165 to $355). A proper decontamination, not a wash: foam pre-wash, hand wash, iron and tar removal, clay where needed, wheels and wheel wells, tires dressed, exterior glass, and a ceramic spray sealant that gives four to six months of protection. Compact cars are priced at the medium rate because the work does not get much shorter.
Complete Detail ($225 to $540). The Interior and Exterior Details together on one visit, at less than the two added up. Three hours on a compact, five on a medium car, seven on a large SUV, up to nine on a van.
Maintenance Wash ($120, any size). This one is for cars that already have a ceramic coating: a pH-neutral hand wash of the exterior that keeps the coating healthy. No interior, no vacuum. It is not a cheaper Basic Detail.
Add-ons
Exterior or Complete only. Single-stage; reduces swirls and haze.
$150 on its own.
$150 on its own.
$150 on its own.
Included in Interior and Complete.
Included in Interior and Complete.
Interior or Complete; shop only.
Worth doing every 15,000 miles.
A note on paint correction: the add-on is a single-stage machine polish. It reduces swirl marks, light scratches and haze. How much it can do depends on the paint; damaged clear coat and heavy sun fading limit the result, and the technician will tell you on inspection what is realistic.
How long a detail takes
Two numbers matter: the hours of labour in the job, and how long you are without the car. We usually send two technicians, so the second number is about half the first.
| Service | Compact | Medium | Large | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2 h | 2 h | 3 h | 3 h | 3 h |
| Interior | 2 h | 3 h | 4 h | 5 h | 5.5 h |
| Exterior | 1.5 h | 2 h | 3 h | 3 h | 4 h |
| Complete | 3 h | 5 h | 7 h | 8 h | 9 h |
Labour hours for one technician. With our usual two-technician crew, you have the car back in about half that time.
Worked examples
2022 Honda Civic, daily commuter, just dirty: Basic Detail, $160, about two hours.
2023 Tesla Model 3 with a dog: Interior Detail, $195. Pet hair is included. About three hours of labour, around an hour and a half with two technicians.
2021 Toyota RAV4, first detail in a year: Complete Detail, $375, plus paint correction to reduce the wash swirls, +$160. $535, seven hours of labour, about three and a half of your day.
2019 Chevy Tahoe before selling it: Complete Detail $465 plus headlight restoration +$95 and engine bay +$95. $655. See detailing for resale value for which of these actually move the offer.
Ceramic-coated BMW 3 Series, monthly upkeep: Maintenance Wash, $120.
Why quotes vary so much between Bay Area detailers
Three things explain most of the spread you will see when you call around.
- Hours. A "full detail" can mean two hours or seven. Ask for the time, not just the price. Our Complete Detail on a medium car is five hours; that is what the $325 buys.
- What is a package and what is an add-on. Some shops quote a low base and add pet hair, stains, leather and sealant on top. Ours includes those in Interior and Complete, and lists the add-ons that are genuinely extra above.
- Size tiers. A single "SUV price" hides a lot. We use five tiers so a Model Y and a Suburban are not charged the same.
What does not change our price: coming to you. Mobile and shop are the same number for detailing and ceramic.
Where detailing stops and protection starts
A detail cleans and restores what is there. If you want the result to last, the next step up is a ceramic coating ($725 to $1,200, which includes the exterior prep) and, for rock chips on the front end, paint protection film. The PPF vs ceramic guide walks through which one fits.
How to book
- Pick the service and your car on the booking page; it shows your size tier and the exact price before you confirm.
- Choose mobile (we come to you, anywhere in the nine Bay Area counties) or drop-off at 3425 Ettie St, Oakland.
- Pay on completion. Cash, card, Zelle or Venmo.
Prefer to text? (628) 212-2001 with your year, make, model and ZIP, and you will get the exact number back.
FAQ
Is $300 too much for a car detail?
It depends what the $300 buys. At Innovo a Complete Detail on a medium car (Model 3, Camry, Civic) is $325 and is five hours of labour: a full exterior wash and decontamination, a full interior clean with leather conditioning, and a ceramic spray sealant to finish. If a $300 quote elsewhere is a two-hour wash and vacuum, that is a different product. Ask how many hours and what is on the list.
How much does car detailing cost per hour?
We do not bill by the hour; every service is a flat price by vehicle size. Worked back from the labour, our detailing lands around $55 to $75 an hour of technician time depending on the package. The flat price means a car that takes longer than expected does not cost you more.
Why does the price change with vehicle size?
Surface area. A Tahoe has roughly twice the paint, glass and interior of a Civic, and every step takes proportionally longer. We use five size tiers: Compact, Medium, Large, XL and XXL. You can see which tier your car is on the booking page before you commit.
Is mobile detailing more expensive than bringing the car to the shop?
No. Detailing and ceramic coating are the same price mobile or at our Oakland shop. Our vans carry their own water and power. The only shop-only services are paint protection film and window tint, because film needs a dust-controlled space.
What is the cheapest detail you offer?
The Basic Detail: $160 for compact and medium cars, $195 for large and up. It is an exterior hand wash plus an interior vacuum and wipe-down, about two hours on a sedan and three on an SUV. It does not include shampooing, stain work or pet hair; those are add-ons on Basic and included in Interior and Complete.
Do you charge extra for pet hair or stains?
On an Interior or Complete Detail they are included. On a Basic Detail, pet hair removal is $40 and stain removal is $85. Deep or old stains and heavy pet hair are assessed on arrival; the technician tells you before starting if something needs more time.
Is there a cancellation fee?
With 24 hours notice there is no charge. Inside 24 hours it is $60, because the crew and the slot were held for you.
Do you offer financing for detailing?
Wisetack financing is available on larger jobs such as ceramic coating and paint protection film. A standard detail is paid on completion by cash, card, Zelle or Venmo.