Auto detailing and car wash statistics.
Census counts, job prices, missed calls and how customers reach a shop. Every number carries its source, its year and a link.
The phone figures cover all businesses, not detailing alone, and each one says so.
Last updated October 20, 2026. Maintained by DetailFront; corrections to hello@badline.ai.
The headline numbers
| Statistic | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employer car wash and detailing establishments, US | 19,807 | US Census Bureau, 2023 |
| Employer car wash revenue, US | $16.27 billion | US Census Bureau, 2022 |
| Consumers who say they'd call a competitor after an unanswered call | 82% | CallRail, 2025 |
| Consumers who say they leave a voicemail | 42% | CallRail, 2025 |
| A typical ceramic coating job | $700 to $2,000 | Housecall Pro, 2026 |
How big is the US car wash and detailing industry?
The Census Bureau counts car washes and detailers together; we computed these counts from its raw files.
In 2023 the US had 19,807 employer car wash establishments, up from 19,463 in 2022. The Census code for car washes, NAICS 811192, includes detailing and mobile washing.
19,807Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023)
Computed from the Census Bureau's raw national file. Employer establishments only.
Cite: 19,807, US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#in-2023-the-us-had-19807-employer-car
Those establishments employed 172,644 people in 2023 and paid $5.07 billion in annual payroll.
172,644Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023)
Computed from the Census Bureau's raw national file. Employer establishments only.
Cite: 172,644, US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#those-establishments-employed-172644-people-in-2023-and
52% of employer car wash establishments had fewer than five employees in 2023: 10,352 of 19,807.
52%Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023)
Computed from the Census Bureau's raw national file. Employer establishments only.
Cite: 52%, US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#52-of-employer-car-wash-establishments-had-fewer
Employer car washes took in $16.27 billion in revenue in 2022, up from $10.9 billion in 2018.
$16.27 billionSource: US Census Bureau, Service Annual Survey, via FRED (2022)
FRED series REVEF811192ALLEST, employer firms. 2022 is the latest year published.
Cite: $16.27 billion, US Census Bureau, Service Annual Survey, via FRED (2022), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#employer-car-washes-took-in-1627-billion-in
In 2023 there were 97,480 nonemployer businesses, with no paid staff, in NAICS 81119, up 5.0% from 92,860 in 2022. They took in $4.75 billion, about $48,700 each on average.
97,480Source: US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics (2023)
Computed from the raw national file. Nonemployer data stops at the five-digit code, so 81119 also counts quick lube and other auto maintenance.
Cite: 97,480, US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics (2023), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#in-2023-there-were-97480-nonemployer-businesses-with
California (2,231), Texas (1,858) and Florida (1,668) had the most employer car wash establishments in 2023.
2,231Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, by state (2023)
Computed from the raw state file.
Cite: 2,231, US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, by state (2023), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#california-2231-texas-1858-and-florida-1668-had
Window tinting falls under NAICS 811122, automotive glass replacement shops, which had 7,201 employer establishments in 2023.
7,201Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023)
Computed from the raw national file. The code mixes glass replacement and tint shops.
Cite: 7,201, US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#window-tinting-falls-under-naics-811122-automotive-glass
How many car washes are there, by type?
Trade counts run higher than the Census, because many in-bay and self-serve washes have no staff.
The International Carwash Association estimates about 17,500 conveyor washes, 29,000 in-bay automatics and 16,250 self-serve washes in the US.
17,500Source: International Carwash Association, from a study it commissioned (2020)
In-bay and self-serve washes often have no employees or are counted as gas stations, so these counts do not compare with the Census.
Cite: 17,500, International Carwash Association, from a study it commissioned (2020), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#the-international-carwash-association-estimates-about-17500-conveyor
About 68% of car wash companies still operate fewer than five locations.
68%Source: Matthews Real Estate Investment Services (2026)
Published June 10, 2026.
Cite: 68%, Matthews Real Estate Investment Services (2026), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#about-68-of-car-wash-companies-still-operate
What does a detailing job cost?
Shops price by package, vehicle size and condition. These are market ranges, not any one shop's menu.
Professional ceramic coating typically runs $700 to $2,000 for most vehicles.
$700 to $2,000Source: Housecall Pro detailing price guide (2026)
Updated October 19, 2026. Housecall Pro compiles its ranges from CARFAX, Autodetailer and HomeGuide.
Cite: $700 to $2,000, Housecall Pro detailing price guide (2026), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#professional-ceramic-coating-typically-runs-700-to-2000
Paint correction averages $250 to $750 or more, per HomeGuide, as Housecall Pro cites it.
$250 to $750+Source: Housecall Pro detailing price guide (2026)
Updated October 19, 2026.
Cite: $250 to $750+, Housecall Pro detailing price guide (2026), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#paint-correction-averages-250-to-750-or-more
Detailing a small truck, a Jeep, a 2-row SUV or a van runs $225 to $400, against $50 to $175 for a small car, per HomeGuide, as Housecall Pro cites it.
$225 to $400Source: Housecall Pro detailing price guide (2026)
The size table covers detailing in general, not only full details.
Cite: $225 to $400, Housecall Pro detailing price guide (2026), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#detailing-a-small-truck-a-jeep-a-2row
Mobile detailing for a midsize SUV averages $158 for a basic package, $278 for a standard one and $443 for a premium one, plus any travel fee.
$158 to $443Source: Housecall Pro, citing Autodetailer.com's 2026 analysis (2026)
Cite: $158 to $443, Housecall Pro, citing Autodetailer.com's 2026 analysis (2026), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#mobile-detailing-for-a-midsize-suv-averages-158
Tinting a whole car averages about $350 nationally, with ceramic film from $400 to $800.
$350Source: Glass and Auto window tint cost guide (2026)
A cost guide, updated February 1, 2026.
Cite: $350, Glass and Auto window tint cost guide (2026), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#tinting-a-whole-car-averages-about-350-nationally
Full-body paint protection film runs $5,000 to $8,000 or more, and full-front coverage $2,000 to $3,500.
$5,000 to $8,000+Source: UPPF paint protection film cost guide (2025)
A film maker's own guide. It carries no date; 2025 is the year in its URL (read October 2026).
Cite: $5,000 to $8,000+, UPPF paint protection film cost guide (2025), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#fullbody-paint-protection-film-runs-5000-to-8000
What happens when a call goes unanswered?
No published study measures detailing alone, so these are consumer and cross-industry figures.
In a CallRail survey of 1,000 US consumers, 82% say they'll call a competitor if a business doesn't answer, 78% have abandoned a business after an unanswered call, 42% leave a voicemail and 21% immediately call another business.
82%Source: CallRail consumer survey (2025)
Published September 25, 2025. US consumers, all business types, self-reported.
Cite: 82%, CallRail consumer survey (2025), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#in-a-callrail-survey-of-1000-us-consumers
In a study of 85 small businesses across 58 industries, monitored for a month, about 6 in 10 calls went unattended: 37.8% answered live, 37.8% sent to voicemail and 24.3% with no response.
6 in 10Source: 411 Locals (2016)
Published January 18, 2016. A small sample.
Cite: 6 in 10, 411 Locals (2016), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#in-a-study-of-85-small-businesses-across
In Invoca's analysis of more than 60 million calls, 61% of callers to businesses spoke with a person, and answer rates ranged from 54% to 69% by industry.
61%Source: Invoca Call Conversion Industry Benchmarks Report (2025)
Released June 10, 2025. Invoca counts a call an automated system resolved as not reaching a person. All industries, not detailing.
Cite: 61%, Invoca Call Conversion Industry Benchmarks Report (2025), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#in-invocas-analysis-of-more-than-60-million
How do customers reach a shop?
By phone and by text: Google's Business Profile chat is gone.
Google ended Business Profile chat on July 31, 2024. It now points customers to a business's phone number, to text or WhatsApp links for eligible accounts, and in some places to Reserve with Google.
July 31, 2024Source: Google Business Profile Help (2024)
Cite: July 31, 2024, Google Business Profile Help (2024), via detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics#google-ended-business-profile-chat-on-july-31
What nobody has measured
Where no primary source exists, we say so.
- How many calls and texts a detail shop or a wash gets in a week: we found no credible public benchmark.
- How detailing jobs split between calls, texts and social messages: no survey gives the share.
- How many ceramic, PPF and tint studios operate in the US: no Census code counts them.
Numbers we do not publish, and why
These circulate on detailing and car wash pages. None traces to a source a reader can open.
- 80 to 85%
80 to 85% of callers won't leave a voicemail.
No primary study exists: the figure traces to a 2014 column that cites none. The surveyed figure is 42% who say they do leave one (CallRail, 2025).
- 85%
85% of callers who don't reach you never call back.
No primary study exists.
- 30 to 35%
30 to 35% of calls are missed at peak times.
Repeated on vendor pages, with no study behind it.
- 60%
60% of detailing calls arrive while the detailer is mid-job.
A vendor figure with no method or sample published.
- 40%
40% of detailing bookings come in after hours.
A vendor figure with no method or sample published.
- $2.3 billion
Mobile detailing is a $2.3 billion market, up 9.1% in 2023.
Found only on aggregator blogs, with no report behind it.
How to cite this page
Cite the original source named on each statistic; that is what the links are for. To reference this collection: DetailFront, "Auto detailing and car wash statistics," detailfront.com/auto-detailing-statistics, updated October 20, 2026.
What to do about these numbers: what a missed call costs, how to price a detail and how DetailFront answers.