How much does it cost to paint an unpainted bumper

Most of the time, we want to repaint our bumpers because there has been some damage. If this is the case, then repainting your bumper may also include the price of filling scratches and correcting dents. 

The average paint job for just your bumpers can start at $150. Several factors affect the price of painting your bumpers. First is the square footage of the paint job itself.

Second, are you getting one or both bumpers painted? And how much damage must be repaired? 

If you get a basic paint job that does not color match your vehicle’s existing paint, then you can spend an average of $200.

However, if you want a quality paint job where the paint color is matched, and your bumper looks as good as new, then expect to pay between $450 and $500 per cover.

Quick Navigation

• Bumper or Bumper Cover?
• Cost of Bumper by Make and Model 
• Can You Paint a Bumper Cover?
• Cost to Paint a Truck Bumper
• What Do You Need to Paint a Bumper Cover?
• How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Bumper Cover?
• How to Paint a Plastic Bumper Cover Yourself 

Bumper or Bumper Cover?

Your bumper is the metal component of your vehicle that is located under the bumper cover. Unless you drive a larger utility vehicle or truck, your bumper cover is the visible plastic part located at the front and rear of your car.

When in minor collisions, you may need repairs on these plastic parts, which may also involve a new paint job. You can take the time to DIY it, painting and installing a new bumper cover on your vehicle.

Expect to spend a minimum of three days on the project. You will need paint, sealants, a clear coat, an activator, and a hardener. You also need a safe place your bumper cover can sit while drying, away from dust or debris. 

Cost of Bumper by Make and Model 

The cost of repainting an existing bumper is mainly determined by the size of the bumper itself. If you are looking to buy a new bumper, you can purchase a primed bumper and DIY the paint yourself or buy a bumper to be painted to match your existing color. 

This chart estimates costs based on the average bumper cost found online as of September 2021. Prices are subject to change and do not reflect the year of the vehicle. 

Can You Paint a Bumper Cover?

You can paint your bumper cover yourself or pay a professional to do this for you. Professionals can have the job done between three and five days, depending on the number of coats required and the time needed for drying.

There are benefits to getting a job done by professionals. They usually can mix paint colors in shops to make sure they have an exact match to your vehicle’s existing paint.

They can also make sure that the paint is applied evenly and does not have any runs or air pockets throughout the process. You can paint your own bumper cover in roughly the same amount of time.

But there is a certain level of skill that is required to paint your own bumpers. If you are attentive to detail and have a creative streak, you may find it a desirable option.

However, if you are just looking to save a buck, remember that rushing or not focusing on detail can leave your paint job imperfect and may even result in the need to redo the project. 

The time required for painting a bumper cover is primarily spent in the time it takes to fix existing damage, prepare the bumper for paint, and the time spent on drying.

After applying the final coat of clear coat, you will need to wait a minimum of 24 hours before the final polish. 

Cost to Paint a Truck Bumper

Trucks come with either a standard plastic bumper cover or a black or chrome-plated bumper cover. Chrome plating is much more expensive than paint as it is a durable metal covering and withstands dents and scratches more than plastic. 

If you need to replace or touch up a truck bumper, you can use a chrome finish spray to cover up these imperfections in your truck’s bumper. Even though chrome finishing is not replating, if applied correctly, it can last for years. 

Replating an entire bumper will cost an average of $1000. However, purchasing a new chrome-plated bumper ranges from $750 to $1500, so it could be to your benefit to simply replace your bumper. 

If your truck has a plastic painted bumper, you can simply get it repaired and repainted. Repainting a plastic bumper cover for a truck averages $750.

However, as truck bumpers tend to be larger than car bumpers, you can expect to spend a little more than the average for bumper cover paint jobs. 

What Do You Need to Paint a Bumper Cover?

To complete the job at home, you will need to have the proper materials. This includes the paint, sandpaper, cleaning materials, and clear coat.

You may also need a spray paint gun if you do not already own one. It is advised to spray at 30psi when painting any plastic car part. 

How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Bumper Cover?

You will need at least a pint of paint to repaint a bumper. You will also need a pint of the clear coat. Make sure you use auto paint and not just any paint from the store.

If attempting to color match, try to find the color code associated with your vehicle. This can be found on the tag inside the driver’s door. 

It should be noted that the older the vehicle, the less the color code will match. This is because new paint will be noticeable against older paint that has faded due to sun exposure.

Therefore, if your car is more than five years old or is noticeably sun-damaged, you may want to get the color-matched by a professional. 

How to Paint a Plastic Bumper Cover Yourself 

Many people decide to paint their new or existing bumpers themselves. Remember, if working with an existing paint job, you will need to sand the clear coat off the bumper before moving on to painting.

The directions below are specifically for painting a new plastic bumper cover; however, if working with your existing bumper, start with step 17, after sanding your bumper and washing thoroughly. 

1. Wash thoroughly with water-based grease and wax remover. Make sure you are not using a chemical grease cutter. This can soak into the plastic bumper and cause harmful reactions with your primer. The car wash solution works best.
2. Make sure the bumper is rinsed thoroughly.
3. Dry with towels or compressed air. Both the bumper and the workstation need to be thoroughly dry before moving forward. 
4. Scuff the area of a brillo pad. You want to make sure the entire surface is scuffed up thoroughly, or the paint may peel later on.
5. Rewash the bumper cover. Make sure to get all debris off the area.
6. Rense off the bumper and completely dry. You can use towels or compressed air again. 
7. Use a tack cloth and tack up the entire panel to prepare it for the next step. 
8. Mix your adhesion spray with a hardener. Then spray adhesion on the entire bumper. Spray approx 12 inches away. 
9. Let this dry for five to ten minutes. 
10. Then add a second or even third coat of the adhesion spray. Make sure to let dry for ten minutes between each coat.
11. Allow this to sit for at least 20 minutes before moving to the next step. 
12. Add epoxy primer. This should be a mix of 2 parts epoxy with 1 part hardener.
13. Spray a thick coat of the epoxy hardener mix and wait five to ten hours to dry
14. Then sand with 400 grit paper.
15. After sanding is done, you will need to clean with a tack cloth.
16. Spray the first coat of sealer to the bumper cover. Let dry for fifteen to thirty minutes.
17. Wipe down with a tack cloth and add at least one, if not 2, more coats of initial sealer. Let dry for fifteen to thirty minutes between each coat of sealer. 
18. Then you can add the base coat of color. Spray approximately 12 inches from the bumper. 
19. Let sit for fifteen minutes.
20. Wipe down with a tack cloth and repeat the base color coat. Do this for at least 3 costs.
21. After your base color coat is finished, wait at least an hour but no more than 24 hours to apply a clear coat.
22. Use a tack cloth to wipe the bumper down.
23. Spray a clear coat thoroughly and let sit for 20 minutes 
24. Repeat this for at least 3 coats 
25. Wait for 24 to 48 hours to dry.
26. Give the bumper a final polish.

Is it worth repainting a bumper?

How much does it cost to color match a bumper?