COST GUIDES
How much does alloy wheel painting cost in 2026?
Updated 10/26
Scuffed, kerbed or faded alloys and wondering what a respray will cost? Painting one alloy wheel with a standard finish usually costs around £55 to £90, and a full set of four £200 to £320, depending on wheel size. Chrome finishes and split rims cost more.
Fast Facts
One wheel with a standard finish: Averages £72.50
Four wheels with a standard finish: Averages £260
Four split-rim wheels: Averages £480
Chrome finish: Averages £119.50 per wheel
Alloy wheel painting is affordable for most people and offers fantastic results. It's even possible to have only one wheel painted, which is a great option if the paint and metal are still perfect on your other three wheels.
So how much will it cost you? In this guide, we'll cover how much you can expect to pay for different alloy wheel finished.
How much does alloy wheel painting cost?
| Type of finish | Cost + VAT (Range low - high) | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard finish (one wheel) | £55 (up to 18 inch) - £90 (22 inch) | £72.50 |
| Standard finish (four wheels) | £200 (up to 18 inch) - £320 (22 inch) | £260 |
| Standard finish for split rims (one wheel) | £110 (up to 18 inch) - £130 (21 inch+) | £120 |
| Standard finish for split rims (four wheels) | £440 (up to 18 inch) - £520 (21 inch+) | £480 |
| Chrome finish (one wheel) | £92 (up to 18 inch) - £147 (22 inch) | £119.50 |
| Chrome finish (four wheels) | £349.60 (up to 18 inch) - £558.60 (22 inch) | £454.10 |
| Last updated: October 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | ||
The average alloy wheel painting price is £72.50 for one wheel or £260 for four wheels.
Wheel size is the main driver for the cost, with a standard finish ranging from £55 (up to 18 inch) - £90 (22 inch) per wheel.
The cost will also rise if you pick a different finish - a chrome finish will set you back about £92 (up to 18 inch) - £147 (22 inch) per wheel, for instance.
How much does it cost to paint alloys black?
Painting alloys black usually costs the same as any other standard finish, around £200 (up to 18 inch) - £320 (22 inch) for a set of four.
Gloss, satin, and matt black are all common, and your painter can often match the exact shade you want.
Alloy wheel colour change cost
The average alloy wheel colour change cost is £260 for four wheels. Whatever colour you're after, there will likely be a wheel painter who can match it.
Painting a whole alloy always costs more than a touch-up. Whether the old paint is stripped before a colour change depends on the specialist and the condition of the wheel, so ask what prep is included.
Each finish is priced differently. A chrome finish costs around £349.60 (up to 18 inch) - £558.60 (22 inch) for four wheels, for instance.
If you're changing the look of the whole car, you could consider wrapping your car instead, or see what car paint repair costs for the bodywork.
How much does alloy wheel refurbishment cost?
| Cost provided item | Price range - low | Price range - high | Average UK cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single wheel refurbishment (up to 20") | £54 | £106 | £80 |
| Single wheel refurbishment (21"+) | £60 | £120 | £90 |
| Set of 4 alloy wheels (up to 20") | £216 | £384 | £300 |
| Set of 4 alloy wheels (21"+) | £250 | £430 | £340 |
| Alloy wheel scuff repair | £48 | £120 | £89 |
| Single diamond cut wheel | - | - | £115 |
| Tyre fitting per wheel (including balancing) | - | - | £9 |
| Last updated: October 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |||
Refurbishing an alloy wheel usually costs around £54 to £120 per wheel, depending on the size of wheel.
When wheels are old and damaged, a new coat of paint may not be enough. Whether they're scuffed, corroded, dented or damaged by potholes, you may be able to refurbish them rather than replace them.
For a cracked wheel, see the cost of welding a cracked alloy wheel instead.
Factors affecting the cost of alloy wheel painting
Wheel size, the finish and the condition of your wheels have the biggest effect on the price.
Wheel size: The bigger your wheels, the more you can expect to pay for painting
Condition and prep: If your wheels are suffering from kerb damage, corrosion, or peeling lacquer, they'll need more preparation, which can add to the cost
Area to be painted: A touch-up will be much less expensive than painting the whole wheel
Number of wheels: The cost per wheel can be lower if all four are done at once
Level of damage: Badly damaged wheels may need refurbishing rather than painting, or replacing if they can't be refurbished, which costs more
Paint and colour: Costs vary depending on the colour and finish you choose - a standard finish will be cheapest
Custom finish and designs: If you have a specific finish and design in mind, it may cost more to achieve it
New tyres: If your tyres are old or damaged, replacing them is an extra cost. See the cost of replacing worn tyres
Split rims or standard: Painting split rims costs more. For example, the average price for four standard rims is £260, while split rims average £480
Can you paint alloy wheels?
Yes, you can paint alloy wheels - and it's usually much cheaper than buying new ones.
An alloy wheel painter cleans and preps each wheel, sprays it in your chosen colour, and seals it with lacquer.
If a wheel is cracked, bent, or badly corroded, it needs repairing first before it can be painted.
Most people respray their alloys to cover scuffs, kerb marks, or faded lacquer, or simply to give the car a new look.
If the bodywork has marks too, see the cost of repairing scratches on the bodywork in our guide.
Alloy wheel painting vs powder coating
Painting is sprayed on and cured, while powder coating is a baked-on finish that is usually tougher against chips but costs more.
If your wheels are in good condition and you just want a new colour, paint is normally the cheaper route. A specialist can tell you which suits your wheels.
How long does alloy wheel painting take?
A full alloy wheel colour change usually takes one to two days, because each wheel needs prepping, painting, lacquering, and curing time.
Ask your painter how long your job will take when you book.
Can I paint alloy wheels myself?
You can touch up small scuffs yourself with alloy wheel paint, but a full colour change is a longer and more involved job - it's best left to a specialist painter.
Each wheel needs cleaning, sanding, priming, painting and lacquering, and an uneven finish shows up straight away. For a clean, even result, most people hire a wheel painting service.
Before you decide, consider:
Hiring a professional gets you a high-quality, smooth finish
Alloy wheel painting is much harder than it looks, with lots of hard-to-reach, easy-to-miss places
You may need to get your wheels rebalanced if you remove and refit them yourself
Alloy wheel painting cost: job estimator tool
Use our job estimator tool to get a guide price for painting your alloys.
Job Estimate Calculator
How to find an alloy wheel painting service
Finding an alloy wheel painters is easy with Checkatrade. We check and verify all of our members, so all the tradespeople in our directory meet our standards.
To get started, just enter your postcode. We'll show you the Checkatrade companies who offer alloy wheel painting in your area.
Find an alloy wheel painting specialist
You can also use our quick and easy request a quote feature and we'll get local alloy wheel specialists working in your area to contact you directly. To get accurate quotes, be as detailed as you can:
Say how many wheels you want painted and what size they are (the number stamped on the tyre sidewall)
Say what finish and colour you want (standard, chrome, gloss, satin, or matt)
Mention any scuffs, kerb damage, cracks, or corrosion, and attach photos
Say whether you have split rims, diamond-cut wheels, or standard alloys
Ask if the quote includes lacquer, tyre removal and refitting, and VAT
Compare a selection of quotes from checked tradespeople. For more advice, browse our car repair costs and guides.
Alloy wheel painting cost checklist
Run through these points before you hire an alloy wheel painter.
Alloy wheel painting cost checklist
Alloy wheel painting cost FAQs
Painting one alloy wheel usually costs around £55 to £90 for a standard finish, and a set of four between about £200 and £320. Chrome finishes, custom jobs, and split rims cost more.
Yes, you can paint alloy wheels in almost any colour. Black, anthracite, gunmetal, and gold are particularly popular, though there's also a growing demand for bolder shades like orange and purple.
To paint your wheels, a specialist preps and sprays each wheel and seals it with lacquer.
Spraying alloys black usually costs around £200 to £320 for a set of four with a standard finish. Gloss, satin, and matt black options are all common.
An alloy wheel colour change usually takes around one to two days. Booking ahead is normally quicker than turning up on the day.
You can touch up small scuffs on your wheels yourself, but a full colour change is hard to get right. Each wheel needs cleaning, sanding, priming, painting, and lacquering, so most people hire a painting service for an even finish.
Alloy wheel paint can last up to 5 years, depending on the prep, the paint and lacquer used, and how you treat the wheels.
Kerb scrapes and harsh wheel cleaners wear a finish faster, so ask your specialist what they use and whether they guarantee the work.
Yes, you can get just one alloy wheel painted, which is handy if the other three are still in good condition. A painting service can match the colour and finish to the existing wheels.
A good local mechanic is worth their weight in gold. When you find someone you trust, they become your go-to for everything from wheel alignment and servicing to MOTs and diagnostics, helping to keep your car running smoothly year after year.
See the tradespeople we've checked for your job