Boat Detailing Cost Calculator

This calculator prices a professional detail job the way most marine detailers actually quote it: a per-foot exterior rate that scales with hull condition, plus flat add-ons for the extras you select. Hull condition drives the base number the most — a light wash-and-wax at $12/ft (good condition) roughly triples to $38/ft once the gelcoat is oxidized enough to need heavy compounding and restoration, since cutting through oxidation is slow, abrasive work rather than a quick wipe-down. Interior detailing, when selected, is estimated at 65% of whatever the exterior cost comes to — not a flat rate — because cabin size and surface count scale with the boat, same as the hull does. Canvas/Eisenglass cleaning and metal polishing are simple per-foot add-ons layered on top when selected.

Labor hours follow the same condition-based logic (0.15 to 0.40 hours per foot), with a smaller bump added when interior work is included, and a flat 10% is added to the subtotal for products and consumables (wax, compound, interior cleaners, microfiber). The result is a rough professional-service estimate, not a quote — real detailers price site visits, extreme oxidation, or gelcoat that needs wet-sanding differently, and a DIY job skips labor entirely in exchange for your own time. Use it to sanity-check a quote or budget before calling around, keeping in mind actual local labor rates and boat-specific complications (teak trim, extensive brightwork, multi-hull layouts) can push the real number meaningfully higher or lower than this per-foot model.