Short answer: coating a car yourself in the UK costs roughly £110 to £145 for the first car: a £79 bottle of Pure Gloss Pro 9H (enough for up to 3 cars, so about £26 to £40 of coating per car) plus about £30 to £65 of decontamination products and panel wipe. A professional job typically costs from around £300 to over £1,000, mostly for paint correction and labour. Prices checked November 2026.
What you pay for when you coat a car yourself
| Item | What it is for | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic coating | The protective layer | Pro 9H £79 per 50ml, up to 3 cars |
| Wash and decontamination products | Shampoo, iron remover, clay | Iron remover about £11 to £20; a clay and tar decontamination kit about £46 |
| Polisher, polish and pads | Paint correction where needed (not every car) | A budget dual-action polisher kit with pads about £70 to £120; branded kits £200+ |
| Panel wipe | Removes polish oils before coating | About £13 to £18 for 500ml, or about £7 for a 1 litre tin |
| Microfibre towels and applicators | Levelling and buffing | Applicator blocks come in the Pro 9H box |
| Your time | Prep, application, curing | Usually a full day or more for prep and coating, plus 15 days before the first wash |
Rough DIY total for a first car (November 2026 UK prices): the £79 bottle plus about £30 to £65 of decontamination and panel wipe, so roughly £110 to £145. Add about £70 to £120 once if the paint needs machine polishing and you don't own a polisher. The bottle still has enough for up to two more cars, and the 3 × 50ml bundle (£199) brings the coating cost down further if you coat several cars.
Why professional prices vary so much
- Paint correction: a new car may need a light polish; an older car may need a full machine polish first. This is where most of the hours go.
- Vehicle size: a large SUV uses more product and more time than a small hatchback.
- Layers and extras: wheels, glass and trim add time.
- Aftercare: some detailers include a maintenance wash plan.
What UK detailers typically charge (detailer price guides, November 2026):
| Job | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Coating with light prep, little or no paint correction (smaller car) | From around £300 to £500 |
| Single-stage paint correction plus coating | Around £500 to £1,000 |
| Multi-stage correction and a premium coating | £800 to £1,500 or more |
Larger vehicles such as SUVs and vans are often 20 to 50% more, and London prices tend to be higher. Two quotes that both say "ceramic coating" can be very different jobs, so ask what preparation and correction are included.
Is DIY or professional better value?
If the paint is in good condition and you have a clean, dry space and a free day, doing it yourself is far cheaper: you pay for products, not hours of labour. If the paint has swirls, oxidation or water marks that need machine polishing and you haven't polished a car before, a detailer is usually the better value, because correction is where the skill and the time go.
Our professional vs DIY guide walks through the decision, and is ceramic coating worth it? helps you decide whether a coating suits your car at all.
Protect what you spent
Whichever route you choose, the first two weeks matter most. With Pro 9H, allow about 3 hours before driving, keep the car dry for at least 8 hours and wait 15 days before the first wash. See the cure time guide for the full chart.
After that, careful washing keeps the finish at its best. The ceramic coating aftercare guide covers pre-washing, contact washing, rinsing and drying.
Find a detailer near you
Would rather pay a professional? Our Find a Detailer page lists independent detailers who use Pure Gloss Pro 9H. Enter your postcode to see who covers your area.
Frequently asked questions
How much ceramic coating do I need for one car?
About a third of a 50ml bottle of Pure Gloss Pro 9H for a small hatchback, half a bottle for a family car and a full bottle for a large SUV or van. See how much ceramic coating do I need? for the full breakdown.
Is a more expensive coating better?
Price reflects brand, bottle size and support as much as chemistry, so compare the price per ml and what is included. Pure Gloss Pro 9H is £79 for 50ml (£1.58 per ml) or £199 for 150ml (£1.33 per ml).
Does Pure Gloss offer trade prices?
Yes, for UK detailing businesses ordering from 10 bottles. See the trade page for how to apply.
Why are professional quotes so different?
Mostly because of paint correction. A light-prep coating on a new car takes far less time than machine polishing out swirls first, which is why UK prices run from around £300 to over £1,000.
Shop Pure Gloss Pro 9H: £79, free UK delivery, same-day dispatch on orders before 2pm and 30-day returns (terms apply).