Best Ceramic Coating for Your Car in 2024

Car Talk's Expert Advice

Ceramic coating your car will make it look its best and keep it looking cleaner. In this article we’ll help you decide which products are best based on your abilities and your budget, and whether to apply the ceramic coating yourself or hire a professional for this service.

Car Talk's Top Recommendations for Best DIY Ceramic Coatings

At-home ceramic coating kits can save you a lot of money but they are not as simple to use as wax, nor are they as forgiving of misapplication. Be prepared that if your attempt doesn’t produce the results you want, you may end up hiring a pro to complete the coating application. Expect a DIY coating kit to cost between $25-125.

• Best Overall: System X Renew Ceramic Coating Spray »

• Best Value: 20H Advanced Graphene Ceramic Coating for Cars »

• Best For Skilled DIY Car Owners: 10H Adam's Polishes Advanced Graphene Ceramic Coating »

• Best Budget Choice: Chemical Guys WAC22916 HydroSlick Intense Gloss Sio2 Ceramic Coating Hyperwax, Hyper Gloss Shine »

• Best Brand For All Car Care Needs: Meguiar's Ultimate Ceramic Coating »

Top Recommendations for Best Professional Ceramic Coatings:

Professionals apply a product that bonds directly with the clear coat and offers a long-lasting result. Nearly every customer we communicated with was very pleased with the professional results. The preparation work is why the job is so expensive, averaging between $2K and $3K.

• Ceramic Pro is the brand preferred by many top detailers.
• System X also has a respected name in the industry.

What Car Talk Experts say about ceramic coating your car yourself:

• The preparation work is key to a good result.
• Be sure you have an enclosed clean space in which to work.
• If it’s your first time, try a product that does not bond to the clear coat.
• Don’t skimp on cleaning and paint prep products.

Car Talk's Top Picks

#1 System X Renew Ceramic Spray Coating: Best Overall

About System X Ceramic Coating

System X had a great reputation among the detailers we spoke with - even ones who were Ceramic Pro affiliates. Homeowners who have reviewed this product say it is easy for DIY application and offers a great shine.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 8 oz
• One bottle can coat approximately two to three vehicles
• 9 months of protection
• Price range: $59

#2 20H Advanced Graphene Ceramic Coating for Cars: Best value

About 20H Advanced Graphene Ceramic Coating

When we checked the Amazon pricing of 20H Advanced Graphene it was just under $70. That helped make it our best value pick. This coating has earned many strong reviews from DIY vehicle owners, and the 10-year promise is as long as anyone can expect in the business.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 70 ml
• 10-year expected lifespan
• 60% graphene resin by weight
• 20 H hardness
• Price range: $69

#3 10H Adam's Polishes Advanced Graphene Ceramic Coating: Best for DIY application

About Adam's Polishes Ceramic Coating

While every product that makes our list is available to DIYers, some are easier to apply, and have less risk of misapplication. Adam's Polishes made our list because the pros told us this is a great place to start for those who are not experts at applying such coatings.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 2 oz bottle
• 10H hardness
• $49-$115

#4 Chemical Guys WAC22916 HydroSlick Intense Gloss: Best budget choice

About Chemical Guys Ceramic Coating

If you are on a tight budget, Chemical Guys is your DIY coating. At under $40, how can you go wrong? This is a coating that does not bond to the clear coat, so mistakes are more easily corrected.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 16 ox
• Approximate 3 month coating duration
• Price range: $24-$55

#5 Meguiar's Ultimate Ceramic Coating: Best Brand For All Car Care Needs

About Meguiar's Ultimate Ceramic Coating

At Car Talk, we know that with Meguiar's, everything this brand produces is top notch. If you are already using the brand and happy with the results, give this a try. Users say it lives up to the hype and compares to the pricey brands.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 8 oz
• Made in USA
• Price range: $24-$35

What Car Talk Experts say about ceramic coating your car yourself:

• The preparation work is key to a good result.
• Be sure you have an enclosed clean space in which to work.
• If it’s your first time, try a product that does not bond to the clear coat.
• Don’t skimp on cleaning and paint prep products.

What is ceramic coating and what does it do?

Modern vehicles come with paint that has a clear coat over the pigmented layer of paint. Its job is to protect the paint from surface scratches, microabrasions, chips, and pigment oxidation. It works, but not that well. Many owners want a more durable coating over their paint to help keep it clean and free from blemishes that can be caused by such things as commercial car washes, bird droppings, hard water stains, and road dirt. Many owners want that “freshly waxed and polished” look all the time, not just when a wax job is completed. This is where ceramic coating comes into play.

Ceramic coating is a silicon dioxide-based material applied to your paint’s clear coat. The material is a liquid that hardens or cures to provide a very hard outer surface, thus providing a protective benefit. There are two basic ways to ceramic coat a vehicle. First, professional detailers can do the job. Second, there are at-home DIY kits for doing this job. Professional ceramic coatings bond directly with the clear coat.

Ceramic coatings must be applied to a super-clean surface free of any dirt and wax. That is not as simple as it sounds. For any coating to work best, significant preparation work is required first. Professional detailers can do this work using the special tools they have on hand paired with a lot of experience and a lot of elbow grease. Paint preparation is the first step. Pros will touch up, buff, and correct any paint defects that came from the factory or may have happened after vehicle delivery. Any wax is removed after washing using special chemicals. Using a clay bar, or clay treatment is often an important step in this process. It’s time consuming and labor intensive. Applying a ceramic coating over chips, dings, swirls, and scratches simply ensures they will be there forever. Unlike cleaner waxes and waxes with polishing compounds, ceramic coating itself does not help smooth out, improve, or hide your paint’s many defects.

After this difficult but important preparation is completed, the ceramic coating is applied using the manufacturer’s instructions. There may be multiple steps, and the entire process can take multiple days to complete.

Car Talk's take on DIY ceramic coating products

We looked at a range of sources online to determine which DIY products scored highest in reviews. Below is a list of the most highly reviewed and recommended brands of DIY ceramic coating and car care products.

• System X Renew Ceramic Coating Spray
• 20H Advanced Graphene Ceramic Coating for Cars
• 10H Adam's Polishes Advanced Graphene Ceramic Coating
• Chemical Guys WAC22916 HydroSlick Intense Gloss Sio2 Ceramic Coating Hyperwax, Hyper Gloss Shine
• Meguiar's Ultimate Ceramic Coating

Car Talk experts on ceramic coating brands and products

During Car Talk’s research, the brand Ceramic Pro came up often. Even those detailers who use other brands mentioned Ceramic Pro. It is easy and appropriate to refer to the company as a leader in the industry. Shops that use Ceramic Pro offer multiple services, not just one, so there isn't one fixed price. The level of paint correction and prep needed and the size of the vehicle also matters. We heard from some detailers that the approximate cost of the hand-applied Ceramic Pro product they use is in the hundreds of dollars range. The labor makes up much more of the total cost of the job.

Another name the pros mentioned was System X. A division of Element 119, System X provides hand-applied professional-grade ceramic coatings to professional detailers. As we mentioned above, the company also sells a spray-applied product for DIYers.

Straight from our Car Talk Detailing Experts:

Zane’s personal choice for DIY ceramic coatings is Adams Polishes brand products.

Zane Merva, GM-Trucks.com

“Adams Polishes for DIYers and Ceramic Pro for a professionally done job make my list. Be sure you have a clean, climate-controlled workspace and stock up on new microfiber towels if you tackle this job yourself.”

Luis, who uses Ceramic Pro with ION technology at his shop, told us that there are a number of good DIY ceramic coating products. However, he cautioned that waxing offers DIYers a safer path to a shiny car.

Luis Castro, Castro Oasis

“Ceramic Pro is a top-quality product trusted by professional installers. Its ION technology is the best in the business, and that’s why we use it. My advice to DIYers is to use a non-bonding wax-based product instead of attempting to ceramic coat your own vehicle at home.”

What to consider when having a vehicle ceramic coated

Budget

Professional ceramic coating is expensive. It costs between $2,000 and $3,000. This will yield the best results, but you can apply a type of ceramic coating yourself if you have time, the right space in which to work, and the physical ability and skills to do hard work.

Goals

What do you really wish to achieve? Ceramic coatings can help your vehicle look cleaner longer. The process will make your vehicle’s paint look its very best. Your car will have that “just polished” look after every wash. Your paint will gain some UV protection. Now for the list of what ceramic coating cannot do. It will not protect your car from stone chips. Ceramic coating will not prevent scratches from off-roading through brush, or mishaps in public car washes.

Life Expectancy

Most ceramic coatings will not last the full life of the car. There are some sprays that prolong its effectiveness, but warranties vary. Be sure you understand how long the coating you purchase will do its job.

What costs are associated with DIY ceramic coating a car?

The largest expense when ceramic coating a car yourself is time. Preparing a vehicle can take many hours, and applying the product is just one of many steps. Ceramic coatings range in price from roughly $25 to roughly $125.

What costs are associated with professionally ceramic coating a car?

The cost to have a vehicle professionally ceramic coated ranges from $2,000 to $3,000. Much of the cost associated with professional ceramic coatings is preparation work done by the detailer. This includes washing, clay-bar treatment, paint correction, polishing, clear coat application by hand, and post-application buffing and polishing.

You can read more about the Cost of Ceramic Coating your car here.

Can I DIY a ceramic coating on my own car?

On a scale of 1-5 where 1 is a proper hand-washing of a car, and 5 is a repainting job, DIY ceramic coating is a 3. If you have used a polishing compound, know how to buff a car, and are familiar with clay bar application, stepping up to a bonded ceramic coating product is a logical step. However, this is not a job that a person who has never waxed a car should attempt as a first try. Take the advice of Car Talk Expert Luis Castro who sees poorly coated cars at his shop and try a wax product instead.

“It is possible to do a proper bonded ceramic coating yourself if you know how to polish and prep a car’s paint surface. However, it takes three or four times before you really get the hang of it," said Luis.

Luis told Car Talk that for DIYers, a wax with a “ceramic coating” name may be better if the product isn't actually bonded to the paint. “We have a lot of customers bring in cars that were done poorly at home. If they are bonded ceramic coatings, we have to strip the car down and start over.” Luis suggests that most DIYers may be happier with a wax product to achieve some good results that don’t risk a bad outcome. “You see a lot of high and low spots, as we call them,” said Luis. “These are areas that are too shiny or too matte in appearance. It takes experience to properly apply ceramic coatings that bond to the clear coat.”

In addition to the ceramic coating product you buy, plan to also have your car as clean as it can be prior to starting the work. You are also going to need a fat stack of the best cleaning and polishing microfiber cloths you can buy. Car Talk Expert Zane Merva told us, “The number of new and high-quality microfiber cloths needed and consumed when applying ceramic coatings is surprising, often costing us as much as $50.” Zane cautions that it is important to use new cloths to get a good result. This is not an area in which to skimp.

Zane emphasized that a dust-free climate-controlled garage or similar is a must. Any airborne contaminants that land on your car while the ceramic coating is being applied will become part of your coating.

Budget a full day or more to apply an at-home ceramic coating from start to finish. If you plan to use a professional, budget three business days unless told otherwise by your detailer.

Conclusion

Ceramic coating a car can be done either by a local professional dealer or yourself. The outcome will be heavily dependent on the preparation work before the ceramic coating product is applied. Ceramic Pro and System X are the two top brands used by the detailers we spoke with, and our online research also supported that. The budget for a professionally performed ceramic coating is in the $2,000 to $3,000 range. The vehicle’s size and paint condition matter more than the brand of coating.

There are many at-home DIY ceramic coating products available online or at your local auto parts retailer. The prices top out at around $125 with many being significantly lower. However, our research reveals there are few shortcuts to a great outcome. The work you do before applying the product is key to the successful outcome. Find an enclosed garage, buy a pile of new microfiber cloths, and be sure you have all the cleaning and polishing products and tools at hand before starting. If this is your first ceramic coating job, it makes sense to find a person with some experience to help you and guide you before you apply the ceramic coating. If in doubt, use a wax-based product which is forgiving of errors, not a bonded product.

Who Are Car Talk’s Detailing Experts?

While our Car Talk staffers live the car life and have many special skills, none of us are experts in every single area of car ownership. For our vehicle maintenance and repair focus stories, we interview ASE-certified mechanics who perform car repairs and have a long history in the industry. Our experts know how to do these repairs at a very detailed level, and they know what products work and can be trusted and which to avoid.

This story is a bit different in that detailers are the experts on ceramic coating, as opposed to mechanics. So, we spoke to leading experts on this subject who are also business owners specializing in professional ceramic coating. These folks have extensive training and experience in this area. For this story, Car Talk communicated with numerous experienced folks who have performed Do-It-Yourself (DIY) application of ceramic coatings. We quote our experts in our story where they offer specific statements, but we also want to reveal to our readers that much of the insight offered in the body of the story also came directly from these sources.

Luis Castro - Castro Oasis, West Haven, CT Details Expert * This business has a 4.9-star Google Rating with over 100 customer reviews. Luis has been applying ceramic coatings professionally for many years and offered some great advice about how such coatings work when applied professionally versus doing it yourself. He added detailed knowledge on which brands are the best based on having used many over his career.

Zane Merva - GM-Trucks.com, Co-Owner of A Detailing Shop, Experienced With Ceramic Coating Application * Zane, along with his brother Josh, has experience successfully applying ceramic coatings to long-term test vehicles such as Buick SUVs, Chevy Silverados, and GMC Hummer EVs.

Gary Pargen - Ottos Garage West Haven, CT, Expert auto body repair & painting technician * Gary, along with his brother John, co-owns and operates a body shop called Ottos. Gary offered key insights in this story about what products work best, and who in his area does the best work. Gary also helped us understand how ceramic coatings work.

Andrew Feeney, Director of Sales, System X, Thomaston, CT, Expert advisor on coatings manufacturing and applications * We found System X after learning that the brand is a popular choice online and among some of the professional detailers we spoke with. Andrew helped clarify for us how DIY and professional ceramic coatings differ. System X offers both. Andrew has also helped us understand how the ceramic coatings interact with the clear coat. We had chosen System X as a top brand before reaching out for information.

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