What is PPF? Paint protection film explained
PPF, or paint protection film, is a clear or colored polyurethane film that a shop puts over a car’s paint so rock chips, scratches and stains hit the film instead of the paint. Films such as XPEL’s Ultimate Plus are about 8 mil thick and heal light scratches with heat, and the big makers warrant their main films for 10 years (STEK’s DYNO line 12, with conditions). At US shops, most published prices for full-body clear PPF on a Tesla fall between $5,500 and $6,000, and for a full front between $1,295 and $1,800.
See clear PPF in 3DBrowse 362 PPF films
What PPF is
“Paint protection film (PPF) is a transparent, durable polyurethane film” XPEL. It is also called clear bra: “a clear bra and paint protection film (PPF) refer to the same product” XPEL.
A shop cuts it to each panel and lays it over the paint. 3M’s Pro Series film is “Designed to protect automotive paint and other vulnerable surfaces of the vehicle from stone chips, scratches, bug damage, road tar, stains, automotive fluid stains and punishing outdoor weathering including harsh ultraviolet (UV) radiation.” 3M
It is thick for a film: “XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS is 8 mil thick” XPEL, and one Cybertruck shop says “All PPF classes below are 8-10 mil films with self-healing top coats, hydrophobic behavior, and stain resistance.” CybertruckWrap The makers describe a self-healing top coat: “XPEL Paint Protection Film can self-heal minor scratches and swirls through its advanced elastomeric polymer technology.” XPEL SunTek says its “film self-heals utilizing heat from a vehicle's engine or the sun” SunTek. It has limits: “deeper scratches that penetrate the film may not fully heal” XPEL.
Types of PPF: clear, matte and colored
Clear gloss
The usual kind. It is nearly invisible and keeps the paint’s own color and shine. See gloss clear PPF on a 3D Cybertruck.
Matte or satin (“stealth”)
A clear film with a flat finish that turns gloss paint satin. Stealth is XPEL’s name for it: “XPEL STEALTH has a satin finish that transforms glossy paint into a matte look.” XPEL Other makers call theirs matte. See satin clear PPF in 3D.
Colored PPF
Colored PPF changes the car’s color like a vinyl wrap and protects the paint like clear PPF. WrapColor carries 360 colored PPF films from 8 makers, 93 of them in matte or satin.
- XPEL COLOR PPF: 16 PPF films
- STEK DYNO PPF: 18 PPF films
- Avery Dennison PrismaPro: 10 PPF films
- 3M Protection Wrap Film: 26 PPF films
- PURE PPF: 98 PPF films
- Inozetek: 86 PPF films
- TeckWrap: 38 PPF films
- TMaxx PPF: 68 PPF films
What PPF costs
We collected 31 published prices from 13 US shops and guides. For full-body clear PPF, most fall between $5,500 and $6,000 (8 shops and guides), and the range runs from $3,000 to $7,500. For a full front (hood, fenders, bumper and mirrors), most fall between $1,295 and $1,800 (5 shops and guides). Every price we found is for a Tesla, a Model Y or a Cybertruck, so a small car can cost less and a big SUV more.
| Coverage | Most prices | Lowest to highest |
|---|---|---|
| Partial front 5 shops and guides | $899–$1,450 | $800–$2,400 |
| Full front 5 shops and guides | $1,295–$1,800 | $1,250–$2,500 |
| Full body, clear gloss 8 shops and guides | $5,500–$6,000 | $3,000–$7,500 |
| Full body, matte or satin clear 3 shops and guides | from about $6,200 | $3,500–$8,500 |
| Full body, colored 7 shops and guides | $5,500–$8,000 | $3,700–$12,000 |
- Partial front: bumper, part of the hood and fenders, mirrors.
- Full front: full hood, fenders, bumper, mirrors, often headlights.
- Full body, clear gloss: every painted panel.
- Full body, matte or satin clear: every painted panel, satin or matte film.
- Full body, colored: every painted panel, in a color.
How we count: every published figure goes in. A range gives its low and its high, a single price counts once, and a “from” price counts as a low. “Most prices” is the middle half of those figures (the 25th to the 75th percentile, nearest rank). Where a coverage has fewer than 5 price lists, it shows the median starting price instead. Many are “from” prices, so a car with complex panels or paint that needs correcting first can cost more. Prices retrieved October 2026.
Every price list
| Shop or guide | Vehicle | Coverage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClearPro, US guide | Model Y | Partial front | $800–$1,450 |
| ClearPro, US guide | Model Y | Full front | $1,800–$2,500 |
| ClearPro, US guide | Model Y | Full body, clear gloss | $5,000–$7,000 |
| Shine Design, Gilbert, AZ | Model Y | Partial front | $899–$1,199 |
| Shine Design, Gilbert, AZ | Model Y | Full front | $1,399–$1,799 |
| Shine Design, Gilbert, AZ | Model Y | Full body, clear gloss | $5,999–$7,500 |
| Rapid Window Tinting, Los Angeles | Model Y | Full body, clear gloss | $5,500–$7,000 (XPEL Ultimate Plus) |
| Rapid Window Tinting, Los Angeles | Model Y | Full body, matte or satin clear | $6,500–$8,500 (XPEL Stealth) |
| WrapJax, Silverdale, WA | Model Y | Partial front | $1,049 (Silver) |
| WrapJax, Silverdale, WA | Model Y | Full front | $1,799 (Gold) |
| WrapJax, Silverdale, WA | Model Y | Full body, clear gloss | $5,600 |
| WrapJax, Silverdale, WA | Model Y | Full body, matte or satin clear | $6,200 (Stealth) |
| Hussle Customz, Los Angeles | Model Y | Full front | from $1,250 |
| Hussle Customz, Los Angeles | Model Y | Full body, clear gloss | from $3,200 |
| Hussle Customz, Los Angeles | Model Y | Full body, matte or satin clear | from $3,500 |
| Hussle Customz, Los Angeles | Model Y | Full body, colored | from $3,700 (the Cybertruck from the same price) |
| Wrap Atlanta, Atlanta | Model Y | Full body, colored | $5,500–$6,000 |
| DIY Wrap Club, US guide | Model 3 or Y | Full body, clear gloss | $5,500–$6,000 |
| DIY Wrap Club, US guide | Model 3 or Y | Full body, colored | $8,000–$10,000 |
| CybertruckWrap, US | Cybertruck | Full body, clear gloss | from $5,899 (gloss or matte) |
| CybertruckWrap, US | Cybertruck | Full body, colored | from $5,299 |
| WrapJax, Silverdale, WA | Cybertruck | Full front | $1,295 (Gold) |
| WrapJax, Silverdale, WA | Cybertruck | Full body, clear gloss | $5,950 |
| WrapJax, Silverdale, WA | Cybertruck | Full body, matte or satin clear | $6,450 (satin or Stealth) |
| Rapid Window Tinting, Los Angeles | Cybertruck | Partial front | $1,800–$2,400 |
| Carisma Customs, Delafield, WI | Cybertruck | Partial front | from $1,300 |
| Carisma Customs, Delafield, WI | Cybertruck | Full front | from $2,300 |
| Graphics N Signs, US guide | Cybertruck | Full body, clear gloss | $3,000–$6,000+ |
| YesWrap, US guide | Cybertruck | Full body, colored | $6,000–$8,000 |
| Unplugged Performance, US | Cybertruck | Full body, colored | $8,000 |
| Tinterz, US guide | Cybertruck | Full body, colored | $8,000–$12,000+ |
For one vehicle: Cybertruck PPF with its packages, the Model Y price guide, and the car wrap cost calculator for vinyl.
How long PPF lasts
XPEL says “Paint Protection Film (PPF) typically lasts between 5 to 10 years” XPEL. “Driving style, road conditions, maintenance regimen, climate, and mileage all impact overall durability.” XPEL
The makers warrant their main films for 10 years (STEK’s DYNO line 12, with conditions):
| Film | Warranty | In the maker’s words |
|---|---|---|
| XPEL Ultimate Plus (clear gloss) | 10 years | “ULTIMATE PLUS is backed by our comprehensive 10 year warranty” XPEL |
| XPEL Stealth (clear satin) | 10 years | “Offers superior impact protection with a 10-year warranty.” XPEL |
| XPEL COLOR PPF | 10 years | “We offer an industry-leading limited 10-year warranty that covers against yellowing, blistering, cracking, and delamination.” XPEL |
| STEK DYNO (clear, color, pattern, carbon and chrome) | 12 years | “12 year warranty” STEK “Newly extended, with conditions applied.” |
| STEK FORCESHIELD (clear, color and matte) | 10 years | “10 year warranty” STEK “Conditions Apply” |
| 3M Scotchgard Pro Series | 10 years | “3M warrants that applied 3M ™ Paint Protection Film Pro Series will be free of defects in materials and manufacture — including yellowing, bubbling or cracking — for ten (10) years from date of purchase.” 3M |
| SunTek PPF Ultra | 10 years | “backed by a manufacturer's 10-year limited warranty” SunTek “against cracking, bubbling or yellowing” |
A warranty covers defects in the film, such as yellowing, bubbling or cracking. It is not a promise of how long the film looks good on your car, and it does not cover damage. 3M says: “This warranty does not apply to damage caused by misuse, accident, misapplication or ordinary wear, nor does it apply to dents caused by physical impact of rocks or road debris.” 3M Some are tied to a professional install, as SunTek’s is: “Professionally sold and installed PPF Ultra is backed by a manufacturer’s 10-year limited warranty” SunTek.
PPF vs ceramic coating
They do different jobs. XPEL puts it this way: “PPF is generally better for preventing physical damage like scratches and chips due to its thicker, impact-resistant layer.” XPEL “Ceramic coating excels at providing a hydrophobic surface that repels water, dirt, and contaminants” XPEL.
You don’t have to choose: “Yes, you can coat paint protection film (PPF) with ceramic coating to enhance its protective properties.” XPEL Many shops sell the two together. WrapJax lists a ceramic coating at $1,200, or $950 when it is done with a wrap or PPF. Carisma Customs starts Cybertruck coatings at $970 to $2,190, with 1-year, 4-year and 8-year warranties. Ask your installer which coatings the film’s warranty allows.
Is PPF worth it?
It depends on how you use the car and how long you keep it. PPF tends to make sense when:
- you drive a lot on highways and want the front of the car to stay free of rock chips;
- you plan to keep the car for years, or care about how the paint looks when you sell it;
- you want a new color and protection in one job: colored PPF does both, while a vinyl wrap only changes the color.
It may not be worth it on an older car whose paint already has chips, since film goes over the paint as it is, or if you only want a new color for a few years: a vinyl wrap usually costs less (see the car wrap cost calculator). A full front covers the front end, which faces the road. Most published prices for one fall between $1,295 and $1,800; for a full body, between $5,500 and $6,000.
See PPF on a car before you book
The WrapColor visualizer shows clear gloss, satin clear and 360 colored PPF films on 3D cars, in studio, sun, sunset or night light. It’s free and needs no account.
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Questions
What is PPF on a car?
PPF is paint protection film: a clear or colored polyurethane film a shop applies over the paint to take rock chips, scratches and stains. Films such as XPEL’s Ultimate Plus are about 8 mil thick and heal light scratches with heat.
Is clear bra the same as PPF?
Yes. XPEL: “a clear bra and paint protection film (PPF) refer to the same product” (XPEL).
How much does PPF cost?
In 31 published US prices from 13 shops and guides, all for Teslas, most prices for full-body clear PPF fall between $5,500 and $6,000, and for a full front between $1,295 and $1,800. Matte or satin clear starts from about $6,200, and most colored PPF prices fall between $5,500 and $8,000.
How long does PPF last?
XPEL says PPF typically lasts 5 to 10 years, depending on driving, roads, care and climate. The big makers (XPEL, STEK, 3M and SunTek) warrant their main films for 10 years (STEK’s DYNO line 12, with conditions) against defects such as yellowing and cracking. A warranty is not a lifespan.
What is stealth PPF?
Stealth is XPEL’s name for clear PPF with a satin finish, which makes gloss paint look matte. Other makers sell matte clear films too. On published Tesla prices, a full body in matte or satin clear starts from about $6,200.
Is PPF better than ceramic coating?
They do different jobs. PPF is a thick film that takes rock chips and scratches; a ceramic coating is a thin hydrophobic layer that makes dirt and water slide off. A coating can go on top of PPF, and many shops sell both together.
Is PPF worth it?
Often, on a new car you plan to keep, drive on highways or want to sell in good shape. A full front covers the front end, which faces the road; most published prices for one fall between $1,295 and $1,800. On older paint with chips already, or for a short-term color change, it is harder to justify.