How many square feet of wrap do I need to wrap my car?

Wrapping a car can completely transform its appearance, allowing you to customize the color and design. But before starting any wrapping project, it’s important to determine how much vinyl wrap you’ll need to purchase. The amount depends on the size and shape of the car being wrapped.

How to Calculate Square Feet Needed

Figuring out square footage for wrapping a car is straightforward: you just need to measure and add up the surface area of all the parts being wrapped. Here are the key steps:

1. Measure the length and width of each side of the car in feet. This includes the front, back, both sides, and the roof.
2. For curved areas like the hood and trunk, estimate surface area by dividing them into manageable rectangular sections and measuring each section.
3. Multiply the length by width for each section to get its area in square feet.
4. Add up the square footage measurements for all sections.
5. Add a 15-20% overage to allow for mistakes, seam overlaps and wrinkles.

This will provide your total estimated square footage needed. Some other tips:

• For sunroofs, measure the entire opening even if partially covered.
• Include wing mirrors, door handles, emblems, trim and any other areas being wrapped.
• Use a soft measuring tape to follow curves and get accurate measurements.

Estimating Wrap Needed for Different Car Sizes

As a general rule of thumb, here are the average amounts of vinyl wrap needed for different car sizes:

Car Size	Average Square Feet
Small/compact car	50-65 sq ft
Midsize sedan	65-85 sq ft
Full-size sedan	85-115 sq ft
Luxury sedan	100-140 sq ft
Small SUV	85-110 sq ft
Midsize SUV	100-135 sq ft
Full-size SUV	130-165 sq ft
Pickup truck	125-180 sq ft

Keep in mind that special paints like matte, chrome or textured finishes may require purchasing 10-20% more material due to the thicker vinyl used.

Factors That Affect Square Footage

Several factors influence precisely how much wrap you’ll need for your specific car:

• Car size and shape: Larger vehicles require more vinyl. Complex curves, sharp angles and lots of contours also increase square footage.
• Partial vs full wrap: Doing just a hood wrap requires much less material than a full body wrap.
• Decorative elements: Stripes, graphics and other designs add to the wrap size needed.
• Windows: Adding wrap to door/rear windows increases total coverage area.
• Textured vinyl: Textured or matte finishes use thicker more rigid vinyl that requires extra material.
• Color: Darker colors and busier patterns conceal flaws better requiring less overage.
• Experience level: Beginners need more excess material for mistakes and redo’s.

Ordering Vinyl Wrap

Once you’ve estimated your square footage:

1. Order vinyl wrap from a reputable supplier like 3M, Avery Dennison or Arlon.
2. Vinyl is sold in widths up to 60 inches wide. Choose the width you’re most comfortable working with.
3. Have at least 10% overlap between seams to allow for stretching and alignment.
4. Order an extra 10-20% as overage to be safe.
5. Consider getting small samples first to test colors and textures.

Also be sure to order other wrap installation supplies like squeegees, knives, magnets, gloves, cleaners and heat guns all at once.

Getting an Accurate Measurement

The best way to get a precise vinyl wrap estimate is to measure the car yourself or have a professional installer do it. Some options include:

• Use a soft measuring tape to manually measure all sections.
• Create a diagram marking all dimensions to add up later.
• Use a 3D scanner if available to digitally map the car’s surface.
• Use wrapping simulation software to model the vehicle and output square footage.
• Hire an experienced wrap shop to measure for you.

If physically measuring the car yourself isn’t practical, you can use the car make, model, year and dimensions to come up with a rough estimate online. There are also vinyl wrap calculators that provide square footage estimates based on basic car info.

Tips for Measuring

Follow these tips to ensure you get an accurate measurement when measuring a car for vinyl wrap:

• Work methodically section-by-section so you don’t miss any parts.
• Follow the contours slowly keeping the tape taut for curved areas.
• Note down dimensions as you go to avoid re-measuring.
• Have an assistant help record numbers while you focus on measuring.
• Take photos of each section measured for reference.
• Mark problem areas like deep crevices that may need extra material.
• Measure mirrors, handles, trim and other small parts separately.
• Account for antennae, door jambs and under-hood areas that will be wrapped.
• Consider using chalk, painter’s tape or masking tape to section off areas.

Wrapping Difficult Areas

Some parts of a car are especially tricky to wrap and will use more material. Make sure to account for:

• Wheel wells and bumpers: The inner wheel wells and intricate bumper contours take extra vinyl and skill to wrap cleanly.
• Headlights and taillights: Wrapping lights requires extremely tight stretching and cutting that can lead to waste.
• Door jambs: The crevices where doors open and close are hard to measure and wrap smoothly.
• Mirror undersides: The undersides of side mirrors have deep angles that are challenging to cover fully.
• Badge indents: Small spots for badges and logos sink into the body and require wrapping down into the cavity.
• Roof pillars: The A, B and C pillars around windows have tight rounded and angular transitions.

Being thorough with measurements in these areas ensures you order enough material on the first try. Having an installer do these parts can also minimize waste and issues.

Estimating Wrap for Non-Standard Vehicles

For non-standard vehicles like:

• Vans
• Trucks
• SUVs
• RVs
• Trailers
• Boats
• Planes
• Construction equipment

The process is very similar but on a larger scale. The key steps include:

1. Break the vehicle down into individual logical sections.
2. Measure length, width and height for each section.
3. Calculate surface area by multiplying dimensions.
4. Add up totals for each section.
5. Factor in windows, wheels, bumpers and hardware.
6. Include 20%+ overage for a non-standard shape.

For very large vehicles, scaffolding or a lift may be needed to reach all areas for measurement. Wrapping non-standard vehicles takes significant skill, so leave it to experienced professionals whenever possible.

Conclusion

Determining square footage requirements for wrapping a car involves carefully measuring and calculating all surface areas being covered. In general, you can expect to need 50-180 square feet of vinyl for a typical car. Larger vehicles, complex shapes, and full wraps require much more material. Be sure to measure methodically, account for tricky areas, and add at least 15% overage. Ordering the right amount of high quality vinyl wrap the first time saves money and headaches down the road.