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Glossary Films & coatings

Full-body PPF

Definition

What does full body PPF cover?

  • Full-body PPF — PPF coverage of essentially every painted panel on the vehicle.
  • It uses several times the film and days of install time versus a full front, so it should be quoted from real film feet and labour hours rather than a flat multiple of the front-end price.

Why it matters to a shop

A full body is the biggest ticket on most PPF menus and the easiest to underprice, because film waste and install hours both scale faster than the price usually does. Cost it from real per-foot roll cost and real bay hours, or it will quietly be your least profitable big job. For what six installers publish by coverage, see how much does ppf cost.

FAQ

Full-body PPF questions, answered

How much does full body PPF cost?

Across the six installers that publish prices, a full body lands roughly between four and ten thousand dollars or more, and the spread is real rather than sloppy: it is the most film, the most hours, and the coverage where installer skill shows. The dated, sourced table is on our PPF cost page. As a shop, quote it from your own film feet and bay hours, never from a multiple of the front-end price.

Is full body PPF worth it over a full front?

It depends on what the car is for. A full front covers the panels that take highway debris; a full body also covers rockers, doors, roof and rear quarters, which is what matters on a car that is tracked, garaged as an investment, or finished in a paint that is expensive to repair. For an ordinary commuter, the front end is where nearly all the damage lands.

Why do full body quotes vary so much between shops?

Because the package name is not a standard and the vehicle is not a constant. Panel count, film tier, whether edges are wrapped or trimmed, and how much of the car has to come apart all move the number, and a large SUV is simply more square feet than a compact. Ask for the panel list and the film before comparing two quotes that use the same three words.

Go deeper

Related terms

More from films & coatings — The products themselves — PPF, ceramic, tint and wrap vinyl.

Paint protection film (PPF)A clear (or coloured) thermoplastic urethane film applied over a vehicle's paint to absorb rock chips, scratches and road debris. Also called a clear bra. Sold and installed by the linear foot off a roll, usually 60 inches wide.Ceramic coatingA liquid polymer (often silica/SiO₂-based) that cures to a hard, hydrophobic layer bonded to the paint or over PPF. It adds gloss and makes the surface easier to clean, but — unlike film — it does not stop rock chips.Self-healing filmPPF with an elastomeric topcoat that flows back to smooth when warmed, so light swirl marks and fine scratches disappear with heat from the sun or warm water. It repairs the topcoat only — not a deep cut through the film.TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)The material modern PPF is made from. TPU is elastic, clear and abrasion-resistant, which is why it can be stretched over curves and (with the right topcoat) self-heal. It largely replaced older, more brittle PVC films.Vinyl wrapAn adhesive-backed vinyl film applied to change a vehicle's colour or finish (gloss, matte, satin, chrome, colour-shift) or to carry commercial graphics. Reversible, unlike paint. Cast vinyl conforms to curves; calendered vinyl is cheaper but flatter.Window tintA thin film applied to glass to reduce light, glare and heat. Common types are dyed (budget), carbon (no signal interference, better fade resistance) and ceramic (best heat rejection). Darkness is measured as VLT.

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