How Much Does It Cost To Powder Coat Wheels?
If you want to protect a metal surface and enjoy a high-quality, long-lasting finish, powder coating may be an excellent alternative to painting. Any metal can be coated: steel, aluminum, scandium, manganese, and titanium are all suitable. This is why the powder coating is used in thousands of products, including wheels, but how much is it?
The average cost to powder coat wheels is $105 per wheel, or $420 total. It costs $65 per wheel to powder coat 13” wheels, $70 per wheel for 14” wheels, $110 for 22” wheels, and $130 to powder coat 26” wheels. You can powder coat your wheels at home for $40 per wheel if you apply it yourself.
In this guide, we’ll include pricing charts so you know what to expect when powder coating your wheels, or another part of your vehicle. We also compare the costs of powder coating and traditional painting, as well as the pros and cons of powder coating your wheels.
How Much Does Powder Coating Wheels Cost?
Cost To Powder Coat Wheels (Per Wheel) | ||
Low | Average | High |
$65 | $105 | $180 |
The cost of powder coating your wheels will significantly vary depending on the size and number of wheels you get done. When people talk about powder coating their ‘wheels,’ they’re usually talking about the rim of the wheel.
On average, most people will spend about $105 per wheel, but this price can be as low as $65 or around $130 on the high end. However, some individuals will pay up to $180 per wheel, depending on the shop.
Wheel Powder Coating Cost Per Vehicle
Powder Coating Cost Per Vehicle | ||||
Wheel Size | 1 wheel | 2 wheels | 3 wheels | 4 wheels |
13″ | $65 | $130 | $195 | $260 |
14″ | $70 | $140 | $210 | $280 |
15″ | $75 | $150 | $225 | $300 |
16″ | $80 | $160 | $240 | $320 |
17″ | $85 | $170 | $255 | $340 |
18″ | $90 | $180 | $270 | $360 |
19″ | $95 | $190 | $285 | $380 |
20″ | $100 | $200 | $300 | $400 |
21″ | $105 | $210 | $315 | $420 |
22″ | $110 | $220 | $330 | $440 |
23″ | $115 | $2,300 | $345 | $460 |
24″ | $120 | $240 | $360 | $480 |
25″ | $125 | $250 | $375 | $500 |
26″ | $130 | $260 | $390 | $520 |
Powder Coating Maintenance Cost For Your Wheels
It will cost you around $40 per year to maintain your powder coated wheels. If the coating was done by someone who knows what they’re doing, you might not even need maintenance. However, if you decide you’d still rather keep on top of it, that’s okay too.
There are a few things that you can do to take care of the coating on your wheels:
- General Cleaning: Use a mild phosphate-free soap with hot water to wash your wheels
- Deep Cleaning: Use an orange-based cleaner and dilute it per instructions to clean your rims
- Daily Protection: Spray your rims with WD-40 or another emollient, to keep it free from dirt and grime in between cleanings.
- Lasting Finish: Use a spray-on sealer that’s car-friendly to keep the coating waterproof
Vehicle vs. Motorcycle Wheel Powder Coating Cost
Car vs. Motorcycle Powder Coating Wheel Cost | ||
Price for all tires | ||
Vehicle | Motorcycle/Dirtbike | Harley Davidson |
$420 | $200 | $200 – $300 |
Motorcycle rims cost less to powder coat than the rims for a standard-size car. Plus, with a motorcycle, you only have two wheels to coat as opposed to four. Motorcycle rims cost about $50 per wheel to have powder-coated instead of $105 per wheel for a vehicle.
Although the price really depends on the grade of powder. If you opt for a high-grade powder, you can expect the cost to increase by 35%.
Powder Coating Harley Davidson Wheels
To powder coat Harley Davidson wheels, you can expect to pay between $200 and $300 for both. The price is higher because Harley Davidson uses the highest grade of powder. If you have a Harley, you should take it to a nearby Harley shop for powder coating. Using a lower quality of powder can ruin your wheels.
Powder Coating Your Vehicle: Price Chart By Part
Powder Coating Vehicle Cost By Part | |
Car Part | Price |
Dipstick | $5 |
Oil Cap | $5 |
Coil Bracket | $5 – $10 |
Pulleys | $10 – $15 |
Dust Cover | $10 |
Linkage | $10 |
Spacer | $10 |
Timing Chain Cover | $25 |
Valve Covers Small Block | $40 |
Bell Housings | $45 |
Valve Covers Big Block | $55 |
Exhaust Headers | $125 – $275 (set) |
$110 (set) | |
Read End Housing | $200 |
$325 | |
Vehicle Frame | $600 |
Tube Chassis | $600 |
Powder Coating Your Motorcycle: Price Chart By Part
Powder Coating Motorcycle Price By Part | |
| Part | Price |
| Motorcycle Rims | $50 |
| Brake Calipers | $50 – $75 each |
| Rocker Covers | $120 – $210 |
| Transmission Case | $175 |
| Motorcycle Frame For Street Bike | $200 |
| Motorcycle Frame For Dirt Bike | $200 |
| Harley Davidson Frame | $275 – $325 |
Powder Coating vs. Painting Cost
Powder coating is an excellent alternative to painting, especially when you want to color a metallic surface. The good news is that it’s not all that much more expensive than painting. Comparing the average prices for both powder coating costs only $100 more. It may be better to pay the extra $100 for that durable, protective finish.
On average, people will pay about $2,000 to powder coat their entire car. Except costs can range from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the grade of powder used. On the other hand, it costs around $1,900 to paint your car. The price of painting can range from $300 to $3,500.
Pros & Cons Of Powder Coating Your Wheels
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Higher Resistance To Damage | Problems With Color Application |
Better Durability | Thickness May Be A Problem |
Better For The Environment | Rim Grinding For Solid Coating |
More Coverage For Rims | Less Control Over Smooth Coating |
Pros Of Powder Coating Your Wheels
Higher Resistance To Damage
Different seasons call for different issues with your rims, such as:
- Flaking
- Chipping
- Corrosion
- Road Grime
Over time, the debris and gravel on the road will eventually cause damage that needs to be repaired. Powder coating helps to create a non-porous surface. This will shield your wheel elements more than paint will.
Better For The Environment
The paint that is applied to rims contain VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds.) This product has been known to be harmful to your lungs and also for the ozone layer. When you choose powder coating, you eliminate the VOCs. If you have excess powder, you can easily recycle it. However, if you have extra paint, this isn’t as easy to dispose of.
Save More Money
Paint tends to chip off rather quickly. If you have a $600 paint job on your wheels, expect this to chip off within the first couple of years. This is cause for another paint job, in which you will dump another $600.
If you opt for powder coating, this will last you a lot longer. Plus, there are maintenance tactics you can provide to make the finish last even longer. You may not need to pay for more powder coating for 15 to 20 years with good upkeep.
Cons Of Powder Coating Your Wheels
Problems With Color Application
If you’re looking for precision color, then powder coating may not be the choice for you. Your rims are baked at 400 degrees in a large industrial style oven to set the powder coating. Sometimes, recycled particles can affect the color of your rims. Usually, this doesn’t happen, but it is a possibility.
Thickness May Be A Problem
The coating is typically 6mm thick. If you’re looking for something thinner, you will need an alternate process other than powder coating. There is no way to make the powder coating thinner.
Rim Grinding For Solid Coating
For the powder coating to stick, then grinding your rims is necessary. The grinding process helps to get rid of the previous paint that may be on your wheels. If you have powder coating, your rims will still need to be prepared. The only issue with this is increased labor fees, unless you do this yourself.
What Else Can I Powder Coat?
Powder coating is not just for vehicles; in fact, millions of people use it for other objects, such as:
- Chairs
- Barstools
- Beds
- Patio Tables
- Cribs
Each of these prices depends on the style of furniture. For example, a side chair is $10 less than an armchair. Below is a chart reflecting the different prices for powder coating projects. So, if you fall in love with your powder coating wheel job, you’ll know the costs for any additional belongings you want to be coated!
Cost To Powder Coat Furniture | |
Furniture Piece | Price |
Side Chair | $75 |
Arm Chair | $85 |
Low Rocking Chair | $95 |
High Back Rocking Chair | $105 |
High Back Spin-Base Chair | $105 |
Two-Person Love Seat Or Glider | $125 |
Barstool | $100 |
Queen Bed | $100 |
King Bed | $200 |
Crib | $200 |
Patio Table | $180 |
DIY vs. Hire A Professional
Powder coating as a DIY project is virtually impossible if you don’t have the tools, especially when it comes to your rims. Your rims will need to be baked in an oven at 400 degrees. You should not use any oven that you cook food in as ingesting any of the powder is harmful. The startup costs for supplies will run about $5,000 to $25,000 depending.
Many professionals will give you a good discount if you bring in multiple objects at once. As far as the wheels of your car go, they may offer a discounted price when you powder coat all of your wheels at once. It’s a good idea to check around different shops before making your choice. Ask them if they have any discounted package deals.
Related Questions
What is the process of powder coating?
The process involves using electrostatically charged particles to apply on the surface of your object. Usually, a feeder unit will feed this into an electrostatic gun. The unit will also control the flow of the powder into the gun, which then will blast onto your object.
How long does powder coating last?
Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.
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