Quick answer: Car detailing takes 1 to 8 hours depending on the service. A standard interior takes 2–2.5 hours, a premium interior 3–4 hours, an exterior hand wash 1–1.5 hours, and a full interior + exterior detail 4–6 hours on a sedan. Ceramic coating is a full day. SUVs and trucks take 30–90 minutes longer.
These are real working times from the jobs we do every week across Toronto and the GTA, so you can plan your day around the appointment. With a mobile service you don't have to wait around — we work in your driveway or condo garage while you get on with your day.
Car Detailing Time by Service
| Service | Sedan | SUV / Minivan |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Interior | 2–2.5 hrs | 2.5–3.5 hrs |
| Premium Interior (Steam + Shampoo) | 3–4 hrs | 4–5.5 hrs |
| Standard Exterior (Hand Wash) | 1–1.5 hrs | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Wash & Wax (Clay + Sealant) | 2–2.5 hrs | 2.5–3.5 hrs |
| Full Interior + Exterior | 4–6 hrs | 5–7 hrs |
| Headlight Restoration | About 1 hr | Up to 1.5 hrs |
| Engine Bay Detailing | About 1 hr | 75–90 min |
| Paint Correction (1-Step) | 3–4 hrs | 4–6 hrs |
| Paint Correction (2-Step) | 5–7 hrs | 6–9 hrs |
| Ceramic Coating (with full prep) | 6–8 hrs | 7–9 hrs |
Note: These are working times. After a shampoo, allow 1–2 hours for seats and carpets to dry. A ceramic coating needs to stay dry for 24 hours after it's applied.
How Long Does Interior Car Detailing Take?
Standard Interior — 2 to 2.5 Hours
A standard interior detail covers a full vacuum of seats, carpets, mats and trunk, the dashboard and console, interior glass and door panels. On a regularly cleaned sedan it's about 2 hours. If it's been a few months — crumbs, dust, winter salt — budget 2.5 hours.
Premium Interior — 3 to 4 Hours
The premium interior adds a steam clean throughout, seat and carpet shampoo, and stain and odour treatment. Shampooing is done seat by seat and panel by panel, which is where the extra time goes. Heavy pet hair, salt stains or old spills push it toward 4 hours.
Drying time: After a shampoo, carpets and seats need 1–2 hours to dry. Leave the floor mats out until they're fully dry — usually later the same day.
How Long Does Exterior Car Detailing Take?
Standard Exterior — 1 to 1.5 Hours
A hand wash with foam pre-wash, wheels and tires, glass and tire dressing takes 1 to 1.5 hours on a sedan. It's a careful two-bucket wash, not a quick rinse.
Wash & Wax — 2 to 2.5 Hours
Wash & wax adds clay bar decontamination and a spray sealant. Claying is done panel by panel to lift bonded grime like brake dust and road film, and the sealant adds another 30–45 minutes. Total: about 2 to 2.5 hours on a sedan.
How Long Does a Full Car Detail Take?
A full interior and exterior detail takes 4 to 6 hours for a sedan and 5 to 7 hours for an SUV or minivan. It's the most popular booking for spring and fall.
You don't need to be there the whole time. Most clients hand over the keys in the morning and come back to a clean car in the afternoon.
Book Around Your Schedule
We come to your home, condo or office 7 days a week, 8 AM–8 PM. Tell us what you need and we'll give you a clear time window with your quote.
How Long Does Ceramic Coating Take?
Ceramic coating is a full-day job. Most of the time goes into prep, not the coating itself:
- Wash and decontamination: foam wash, iron remover and clay bar so the coating bonds to clean paint.
- Panel wipe and application: every panel is wiped down, coated and levelled by hand.
- Paint correction, if needed: adds 3–7 hours before the coating goes on, so correction plus coating can run into a second day.
With full prep, expect about 6–8 hours for a sedan, 7–9 for an SUV and 8–10 for a truck or minivan. Afterwards the coating needs to stay dry for 24 hours, so a garage or covered spot is ideal.
How Long Does Paint Correction Take?
Paint correction — sometimes called machine polishing or buffing — is done panel by panel to remove swirls, light scratches, water spots and oxidation.
- 1-step polish (light swirls, dull paint): about 3–4 hours on a sedan
- 2-step correction (moderate swirls and light scratches): about 5–7 hours
- Multi-stage (heavy defects): a full day or more
SUVs add 1–2 hours. See our paint correction cost guide for prices.
How Long Does It Take to Detail an SUV?
SUVs and minivans have more surface area, more seats and bigger cargo areas. Add 30–60 minutes to any sedan time for crossovers and small SUVs, and 60–90 minutes for full-size SUVs and minivans.
| Service | Full-Size SUV / Minivan |
|---|---|
| Standard Interior | 3–4 hrs |
| Premium Interior | 4.5–6 hrs |
| Full Detail (Interior + Exterior) | 6–8 hrs |
How Long Does It Take to Detail a Truck?
Pickup trucks have large cabs, big wheels and more exterior surface, and the beds and wheel wells often hold a lot of mud and salt. Plan on roughly the same times as a full-size SUV:
- Exterior hand wash: about 1.5–2 hours
- Standard interior: about 2.5–3.5 hours, depending on cab size
- Full interior + exterior: about 6–8 hours
- Ceramic coating: about 8–10 hours with full prep
Work trucks with heavy mud, tools or pet hair in the cab run toward the long end.
What Makes a Car Detail Take Longer?
- Heavy pet hair — adds 30–60 minutes; embedded hair takes specialized tools and extra passes.
- Severe stains or odours — may need several treatments. Add 30–60 minutes.
- A long time since the last detail — a car that hasn't been done in a year or two has more built-up grime.
- Winter salt buildup — heavy salt in the carpets takes longer to shampoo out properly.
- Vehicle size — SUVs, minivans and trucks add time to every service.
Want to know what each service costs too? See our car detailing price guide.
How Long Does Car Detailing Take — FAQ
A full interior and exterior detail takes 4–6 hours for a sedan and 5–7 hours for an SUV or minivan. Full-size SUVs and trucks can take 6–8 hours.
A standard interior takes 2–2.5 hours and a premium interior with steam and shampoo takes 3–4 hours on a sedan. Allow 1–2 hours of drying time after a shampoo.
About 1.5–2 hours for an exterior hand wash, 2.5–3.5 hours for a standard interior, and 6–8 hours for a full interior and exterior detail. Heavy mud or pet hair adds time.
It's a full-day job: about 6–8 hours for a sedan with full prep, 7–9 for an SUV and 8–10 for a truck or minivan. Paint correction beforehand adds more time. The coating then needs to stay dry for 24 hours.
An interior detail usually stays fresh for 2–3 months with normal use. A wash & wax sealant lasts up to 6 months, and a ceramic coating lasts 3+ years with basic care. Most GTA drivers book a full detail twice a year.
Yes, after exterior services. After a shampoo, give the seats and carpets 1–2 hours to dry. After ceramic coating, keep the car dry for 24 hours.
No. With mobile detailing you just give us access to the car at the start. Most clients hand over the keys and come back to a clean car a few hours later.
Book Mobile Car Detailing
Our mobile car detailing in Toronto comes to your home, condo or office across the GTA. Same-day quotes, 7 days a week.