LVL Creative · Competitive analysis
Calgary auto detailing market: competitors and prices
2,400monthly searches for "car detailing calgary" (plus 1,300 for "calgary car detailing")
$219median entry price for a full interior and exterior detail on a car
$799median entry price for a ceramic coating
$1,499the price most PPF shops charge for full front protection
What stands out
Pricing
- A full detail on a car runs about $200 to $300 at most shops and mobile operators. Budget shops and dealers start near $150; top tiers that add a polish sit around $350 to $650.
- Mobile is not the cheap option. Mobile full details ($219 to $299) cost the same or more than shop entry tiers ($149 to $280).
- SUV and truck surcharges are small, usually +$20 to $50 on a full detail.
- PPF prices have converged: partial front around $649, full front $1,495 to $1,599, full body $4,499 to $5,999.
- Ceramic is sold on warranty years. Entry coatings start at $399 to $899; lifetime or 7 to 10 year tiers run $999 to $2,999.
Competition
- 43 of 51 businesses publish prices. In PPF and ceramic it is near universal; several shops put the price in their Google title ("PPF from $399").
- Ratings do not separate anyone: almost every shop sits at 4.8 to 5.0. Review volume does. Leaders: ZR Auto (1,397), The Local Detailers (837), Obsidian Auto (695), Calgary Window Tinting (600+), YYC Detail (534).
- Calgary PPF Pros and Obsidian Auto share an address (239 61 Ave SE) and identical packages, so one operator holds two spots in search. ZR Auto is also the Ceramic Pro Calgary dealer.
- Most shops cluster in SE and NE industrial areas. The NW has very few studios (Ceramic Evolution, Calgary Window Tinting).
Gaps
- Recurring revenue. Express washes sell memberships at $36 to $60 a month. Among detailers only X Detailing sells a monthly plan ($199.99 to $599.99). Maintenance plans are mostly missing.
- Winter. Several mobile operators stop or need a heated garage below 0°C. The ones that work in winter (Glam, Mobile Detail Squad, parkade studios downtown) say so loudly. The City spreads 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of road salt a year.
- Hail. The August 2024 storm caused nearly $1B in insured vehicle damage. Few shops tie PPF or post-repair detailing to hail.
- Clear correction pricing. Most shops quote multi-stage correction on inspection or bundle it into coatings.
Price ladder
Grey bar: lowest to highest published price. Shaded band and dot: median entry price to median top-tier price across businesses that list the service. Log scale.
| Service (car unless noted) | Businesses | Lowest | Median entry | Median top tier | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior detail, car | 21 | $65 | $150 | $199 | $399 |
| Full detail, car (entry tier) | 27 | $80 | $219 | $349 | $999 |
| Full detail, SUV or truck | 12 | $100 | $260 | $300 | $700 |
| Paint correction, 1-step | 9 | $180 | $395 | $395 | $799 |
| Paint correction, multi-step | 12 | $249 | $562 | $587 | $950 |
| Ceramic coating | 20 | $399 | $799 | $1,124 | $2,999 |
| Window tint, full car | 8 | $199 | $380 | $449 | $799 |
| PPF, partial front | 11 | $375 | $649 | $799 | $1,599 |
| PPF, full front | 10 | $950 | $1,499 | $1,597 | $2,000 |
| PPF, full body | 7 | $4,499 | $4,999 | $5,100 | $5,999 |
| Full detail, car (top tier, often with polish) | 15 | $110 | $350 | $549 | $999 |
| Express wash membership, per month | 6 | $36 | $40 | $55 | $90 |
Entry = each business's lowest listed price for the service; top tier = its highest. Interior-only ceramic, single-panel polish and vacuum-only services are left out.
Search demand
Semrush, Canada database, monthly searches. "Near me" terms are national and shown for scale only.
| Keyword | Searches / mo | Difficulty | CPC (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| car detailing calgary | 2,400 | 25 | $2.15 |
| car wash calgary | 1,600 | 24 | $1.34 |
| calgary car detailing | 1,300 | 57 | $1.69 |
| window tinting calgary | 1,300 | 14 | n/a |
| ppf calgary | 1,000 | 13 | $3.12 |
| calgary ppf | 880 | 18 | n/a |
| auto detailing calgary | 720 | 53 | $1.69 |
| mobile car detailing calgary | 720 | 53 | $2.18 |
| ceramic coating calgary | 590 | 17 | $1.98 |
| paint protection film calgary | 590 | 9 | n/a |
| detailing calgary | 480 | 60 | $1.98 |
| mobile detailing calgary | 480 | 24 | $2.18 |
| paint correction calgary | 320 | 8 | $1.30 |
| interior car detailing calgary | 210 | 34 | $1.50 |
| interior detailing calgary | 170 | 52 | $1.50 |
| truck detailing calgary | 110 | 11 | $1.65 |
| Canada-wide car detailing near me | 14,800 | 39 | $1.37 |
| Canada-wide auto detailing near me | 2,900 | 42 | $1.40 |
Detailing terms read November 5, 2026. Tint, "calgary ppf" and "paint protection film calgary" from LVL's October 2026 Semrush pulls. Clicks are cheap: $1.30 to $3.12, with PPF the most expensive.
Detail studios (fixed location)
Shops selling interior and exterior details, correction and coatings. Sorted by Google review count.
| Business | Area | Pricing | Interior | Full detail, car | Full detail, SUV | 1-step correction | Ceramic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZR Auto | NE, 2219 32 Ave NE | 4.9 (1,397) | From prices | $229 to $399 | $149 to $650 | - | - | $1,039 to $1,359 |
The Local Detailers | SE, two studios: 412B 36 Ave SE | 4.9 (837) | From prices | $99 to $249 | $150 to $269 | - | - | $699 to $899 |
Obsidian Auto | SE, #2 239 61 Ave SE | 4.9 (695) | From prices | $199 to $299 | $149 to $549 | - | $699 to $799 | $899 to $1,699 |
YYC Detail | SE industrial, 4041 74 Ave SE | 4.9 (534) | From prices | $150 | $200 to $600 | $250 to $700 | - | $799 |
Lux Detail | SE industrial, 7003 30 St SE unit | 4.9 (371) | From prices | - | $180 to $500 | - | $350 | $900 |
X Detailing | SE/SW central, 4312 Macleod Trail | 5.0 (265) | From prices | $200 | $250 | - | - | $800 |
Car Spa Pro | SE, 3627 15a St SE | 5.0 (218) | Full menu | $199 | $279 to $799 | $299 | - | $399 to $699 |
Luminous Auto Salon | NE, 5305 McCall Way NE #113 | 4.9 (205) | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - |
Shine Bros Ltd. | Downtown parkades: 520 3 Ave SW | 5.0 (176) | From prices | - | $250 to $500 | - | $500 | $1,250 |
AVA Detail Solutions (Ava Detailing) | NE, 700 Moraine Rd NE | 4.6 (84) | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - |
Ceramic Evolution | NW, 4804 Vandyke Rd NW | 5.0 (61) | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - |
Calgary Car Detail | NE, 2520 Centre Ave | 4.7 (56) | Full menu | $119 to $199 | $149 to $349 | $174 to $369 | - | - |
Royal Auto Detailing Services | Downtown, Calgary Tower Parkade lo | 4.9 (48) | Full menu | $175 | $260 to $350 | - | - | $699 |
Sunshine Detail | Downtown, 205 5 Ave SW | 5.0 (40) | Full menu | $65 to $180 | $200 | $220 | $180 | $650 |
Shimmer and Shine Paint Correction and Detail Studio | SE, Auburn Bay | 4.8 (35) | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - |
Extra Care Auto Spa | NE, 3200 14 Ave NE Bay 12 | 5.0 (13) | Full menu | $140 | $260 | $310 | - | - |
Mobile detailers
Most absorb travel inside Calgary and charge $25 to $40 for pet hair. Winter is the split: Glam, SunWash, SS Auto, Dr. Shiny and Your Mobile Detailer carry their own water and power, Cleen runs mobile only April to November, Steam Clean may decline below 0°C, Car Spa Pro needs a garage or +5°C. Mobile Detail Squad, the biggest by reviews, publishes only a "$150 to $400" range.
| Business | Pricing | Interior | Full detail, car | Full detail, SUV | Correction | Ceramic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SS Auto Mobile Detailing (SS Car Detailing Calgary) | 5.0 (437) | Full menu | $190 to $210 | $240 to $270 | $280 to $300 | $499 | - |
Mobile Detail Squad | 4.9 (392) | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - |
Dr. Shiny Mobile Auto Detailing | 5.0 (227) | From prices | $130 to $170 | $235 | - | - | - |
SunWash Mobile Auto Detailing | 5.0 (177) | From prices | $120 to $225 | - | - | $350 | $600 to $700 |
Glam Detailing | 5.0 (156) | From prices | $105 to $265 | $145 to $315 | - | $350 | $750 to $1,550 |
Steam Clean Auto Detailing | 4.9 (155) | Full menu | $179 to $199 | $219 to $249 | $269 to $309 | - | - |
Your Mobile Detailer | 5.0 (109) | Full menu | $125 to $250 | - | - | $800 | $2,000 |
PRSTN Autos | 4.8 (36) | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - |
Detaily | 4.8 (23) | From prices | $219 | $299 | - | - | - |
Detail Pals | 4.8 (18) | From prices | $169 | $229 to $259 | $269 to $289 | - | - |
Cleen Detailing (Calgary) | n/a | From prices | $150 to $250 | $720 | - | $250 | $650 |
Masters Auto Cleaners | n/a | Full menu | $170 | - | - | - | - |
Dynamic Detailing YYC | n/a | Full menu | $80 to $120 | $110 to $220 | $240 to $270 | - | - |
PPF, ceramic and tint specialists
XPEL is the most common film (5 shops). Others back one brand: 3M (Calgary PPF), Ceramic Pro and SunTek (ZR Auto), SunTek (Executive Wraps). A 10-year film warranty is standard.
| Business | Area | Pricing | PPF partial front | PPF full front | PPF full body | Ceramic | Tint, full car | Brands | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calgary Window Tinting | NW Calgary | 5.0 (600) | Full menu | $499 to $799 | $1,499 | $5,100 | $989 to $1,980 | $440 to $640 | XPEL Fusion Plus, 3M ceramic, XPEL Ultimate Plus, XPEL Steal |
Calgary Paint Protection Film (Calgary PPF) | SE Calgary | 4.9 (422) | Full menu | $499 to $1,599 | $1,599 to $1,999 | - | $999 to $2,999 | - | 3M Ceramic Coating, 3M PPF, 3M Ceramic IR / Colour Stable / |
CHD17 Customs | NE Calgary | 4.9 (379) | From prices | $649 to $999 | $1,699 | $4,499 | $749 to $999 | $319 | |
Motor Bay Auto Repair (NAPA AutoPro) | SE Calgary | 4.9 (312) | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - | |
Executive Wraps PPF Tint Coatings | SE Calgary | 5.0 (118) | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - | SunTek |
Calgary PPF Pros | SE Calgary | 5.0 (100) | Full menu | $399 to $699 | $1,499 | $4,999 | $899 to $1,699 | $449 | Gyeon Q2 Mohs, Gtechniq Crystal Serum / Crystal Serum Ultra, |
PPF LTD (The PPF Company) LVL | SE Calgary | 4.9 (47) | Full menu | $649 to $799 | $1,499 | - | - | - | Ceramic Pro (ION, LUX), Avery Dennison (vinyl), 3M (vinyl) |
YYC Wraps | Calgary | n/a | From prices | $999 to $1,299 | $1,799 to $1,999 | $4,999 to $5,999 | $899 to $1,399 | $599 to $799 | Gyeon, XPEL Fusion Plus, Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light, XPEL |
Ultimate Auto Protection | SE Calgary | n/a | Full menu | $375 to $750 | $950 | - | - | - | XPEL Fusion Plus (implied by XPEL mentions), XPEL Ultimate P |
Phantom PPF | SE Calgary | n/a | From prices | $695 | $1,499 to $2,000 | $5,495 | $795 to $1,250 | $199 | Revivify, Gyeon (detail products), XPEL Ultimate Plus |
Shadow Tinting | Calgary | n/a | Quote only | - | - | - | - | - | XPEL Fusion Plus, XPEL Ultimate Plus, XPEL Ultimate Fusion, |
Washes, chains and dealers
Not direct competitors for a full detail, but they compete for the same maintenance spend. Kijiji's 56 Calgary "car detailing" listings show the floor: $45 to $119, median $74, mostly mobile side operators.
| Business | Single wash | Plan or pass | Entry interior | Full detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mint Smartwash (Calgary) | $15.99 to $29.99 | $39.99 to $58.99 | - | - |
Great White Car & Truck Wash | $16 to $23 | $38 to $51 | - | - |
Seton Car Wash | $12 to $16 | $36 to $49 | - | - |
Top Gear Car Wash | - | $39.95 to $89.95 | - | - |
Dreams Eco Xpress Car Wash | $15 to $21 | $40 to $50 | - | - |
Calgary Co-op Car Wash (gas stations) | $11.99 to $15.99 | - | - | - |
Petro-Canada car wash (SuperWash / GlideWash) | $16.99 | $239 | - | - |
Shell Canada car wash (incl. Shell Car Wash+ Calgary) | - | $59.99 | - | - |
Bubbles Car Wash & Detail Centre stale source | $19.95 | $59.99 to $84.99 | - | $1,000 |
Super Shine Auto Detailing Center and Carwash stale source | $15.95 | - | - | $79.95 to $380 |
Village Honda (dealership detail) | - | - | $79.95 to $200 | $170 to $300 |
Charlesglen Toyota AutoSpa (dealership detail) | - | - | $80 to $99 | $300 to $320 |
Westrun Auto Detail Ltd (Groupon deal) | $22.50 | - | - | - |
LVL client in this market
PPF LTD
Priced right at the market median: partial front $649, full front $1,499, one flat price for every vehicle size. Its ceramic, tint and wraps are quote only while most PPF competitors publish them.
Market context
Size
- About 1.1 million vehicles registered in Calgary in 2025, up 1.82% from 2024 (Alberta Regional Dashboard). 1,020,752 as of March 31, 2023, about 28% of Alberta.
- Alberta has 654 car wash and detailing businesses (NAICS 811192): 364 with employees, 290 without. About 80% of employer ones have under 10 staff (Statistics Canada, December 2025). No Calgary-only count is published.
Seasons
- Winter: 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of road salt a year (City of Calgary). Calgary Car Detail notes winter prices can rise for salt removal.
- Summer hail: the August 5, 2024 storm reached $3.25B in insured losses, nearly $1B of it vehicles, with about half of damaged vehicles written off.
- A spring detailing rush is likely but no published data quantifies it.
Caveats
- Several sites contradict themselves: Obsidian lists its Signature detail at $549 and $499; Calgary PPF's ceramic says "from $999" on cards and "from $499" in its FAQ; Calgary Window Tinting's FAQ and price cards disagree on PPF.
- Bubbles prices come from a 2021 Edmonton article and Super Shine's from an undated roundup. Treat both as stale.
- Ratings for PPF shops partly come from the shops' own sites; mobile and studio ratings were checked on Google Maps. Blank means not found.
- Car Spa Pro's 3-stage correction at $549 is unusually low for that work.