Signage Education | Vehicle Wrap Facts: Part 2 – What Drives the Cost of a Vehicle Wrap

Most of us would probably assume that a big truck would cost more to wrap than a small car. Well, one is bigger and uses more material so that sounds logical, right? Not so fast. The factors that drive cost of a wrap may not be what you think.

There are three main components to a wrap that must be considered when pricing:

1. the quality and quantity of material used for the wrap
2. the complexity of the installation being considered
3. the amount of design work to be completed.

Let’s take these one at a time.

Quality and Quantity:  Vehicle vinyl comes in a variety of grades and is offered by a number of manufacturers. The type of vehicle vinyl, its pliability, adhesive qualities and life expectancy, will all drive the raw material cost. Most vehicle vinyl needs to be laminated if it is to withstand UV and weather conditions (We are assuming here that this is not a temporary wrap) so you need to use the corresponding laminate that is engineered specifically for the vinyl chosen for the job.  Vinyl is priced by the square foot or area being covered. The larger the area, the more material you will need for the job.

Complexity of Installation: A large box truck is far less complicated to install than a curvy Chevy HRR or the tight spaces of a Mini Cooper. The more badging, chrome/trim parts that need to be removed in preparation for the wrap (and then reinstalled, of course) the longer and more complicated the installation will be. A flat surface is easier to wrap than a highly contoured surface. The flat surface can uses a less aggressive (read less expensive) vinyl product than a vehicle that is very curvy. Curvy vehicles need adhesive primer applied to deep recesses and edges to ensure that the vinyl won’t pull away or pop up. All of this adds to the complexity of the install meaning more time, more skilled/experienced installers and therefore, more money.

Design Time: Well, this is pretty straightforward. The more concepts and changes you need to get to that perfect design, the more it will cost you. Most sign companies and/or wrap shops will offer package pricing for wrap designs – usually a flat fee for 2 or 3 concepts and 3 or 4 revisions to one of the concepts. This is really helpful in budgeting but, you need to bring your own logo files and some ideas to the table. Look around at the wraps you see around town. What catches your eye? Which ones don’t you like? Look on-line at the portfolios of sign shops in different markets to get some fresh ideas. All of this will help you to focus on a design concept and will ultimately save you money on your wrap.

For more information on vehicle wraps, contact us at info@richmondsignscapes.com or download our free vehicle wrap tip sheet. We’ll be happy to answer any questions.