If you’re attempting to price a paintless dent repair, you might wonder what metrics to go by. After all, you want to make sure you’re properly compensated for your time, expertise, and the tools that go into the trade. If you’re just starting out, you might wonder where to begin.

Below, we break down the main factors affecting PDR pricing, typical price ranges, and tips on setting your rates and explaining them to customers.

Key Factors That Affect PDR Pricing

Several core factors determine how you should price a dent repair. Understanding these will help you adjust your rates for each job:

Dent Size

Larger dents cost more to repair than smaller ones. This makes sense because a big dent covering a wide area requires more work to massage out than a tiny door ding. Many PDR technicians classify dent sizes using coin analogies or hand size. For example, a “dime-sized” dent (around 3/4" or less) might incur a minimum charge of around $125 as a baseline.

In contrast, a dent larger than the palm of your hand would be considered large and priced significantly higher. As dent diameter increases, so does the time and skill needed to fix it, which should be reflected in your price. It may also affect what tools you need to do the job. 

Dent Severity (Depth and Complexity)

Beyond just width, the severity of a dent matters. A shallow, round dent is easier to remove than a deep dent with sharp creases. Deeper or more complex dents that have stretched the metal or lie on a body line demand extra skill and time to repair. If the metal is heavily stretched or the paint is cracked, the damage may even be beyond PDR and require conventional body shop work.

For PDR-eligible dents, increase your rate for those that are very deep, creased, or particularly challenging. It is fair to charge more for complex dents to account for the additional effort and the expertise required to restore the panel without paintwork. You may need specialized tools, after all, like a PDR paddle.

Dent Location on the Vehicle

Where the dent is located will affect pricing. Easy-to-reach areas (like the center of doors, hoods, or fenders) typically cost less to fix because you can access them with tools fairly straightforwardly. On the other hand, dents on hard-to-reach spots or on panels with complex contours will justify a higher price. For instance, a ding on a flat door panel is simpler than one tucked near a door edge, wheel arch, or quarter panel close to the frame.

Dents near panel edges or on body lines require more precise work to avoid further damage. They often take more time and finesse, which raises the cost. Always consider how the dent’s location impacts the difficulty. If you know a spot will be tricky or risky to repair, quote a higher rate to cover the extra labor.

Accessibility and Additional Work

Closely related to location is accessibility. How easily can you get your tools to the back of the dent? If a dent is obstructed by structural bracing or inside a tight area, you might need to remove interior panels, trim pieces, or even drop a headliner to reach it. This remove-and-install (R&I) work adds time and labor, so it should add to the price. For example, if you must take off a door panel or taillight to gain access, factor that in.

Dents on a roof might require removing headliner and using special tension bars, making them more expensive than an equivalently sized dent on an open hood. In short, if you have to do extra work to access the dent, charge accordingly. Your estimate should account for any disassembly or reassembly needed to complete the PDR safely.

Panel Material

The material of the vehicle’s panel is another pricing factor. Working on aluminum panels or high-strength steel panels is more difficult than working on standard steel. Aluminum does not flex or "metal memory" back as easily, so it often takes more pushes and patience to remove a dent. Many PDR techs, therefore, apply a surcharge for aluminum panels.

In fact, insurance industry guidelines typically allow about a 25% higher charge for aluminum or high-strength steel panels due to the extra effort. For example, if a dent on a steel hood would cost $200, the same dent on an aluminum hood might be quoted at $250. This reflects the need for specialized tools or techniques and the greater skill involved in aluminum repair. Make sure you know the vehicle’s panel material when estimating. If it is aluminum or another tough material, adjust your price upward to compensate.

Number of Dents (Multiple Dings)

If you are repairing multiple dents on the same vehicle, the quantity will affect your pricing strategy. More dents mean more total work, so the cost will be higher than for a single dent. However, technicians often offer a bundle or discount for multiple dents repaired in one session. For example, you might have a base price for the first dent and a lower incremental price for each additional dent.

If one panel has three minor dings, instead of charging your full single-dent rate three times, you might charge 100% for the first dent and 50% for each additional one. This is both fair to the customer and efficient for you when you can fix several dents in one visit. Be careful with the math, though. Ensure the discounted rate still covers your time. Hail damage scenarios use this principle in a formal way via a matrix, but even for everyday door dings, consider the overall job scope. The key is to strike a balance: reward customers for giving you more work at once, but do not shortchange yourself by underpricing a labor-intensive multi-dent job.

Set A Price That Is Profitable For You

In general, paintless dent repair (PDR) technicians charge roughly $75 to $150 for a small dent, and $150 to $400 or more for larger or complex dents. Extensive hail damage jobs can run from around $1,000 up to several thousand dollars for an entire vehicle. The exact rates will depend on key factors like the dent’s size, location, severity, and even your regional market. The goal is to set a price that is fair to the customer while still profitable for your PDR business.