William Lipovsky
Short Answer — Vinyl wrap costs for trailers vary depending on whether you want a full or partial wrap and whether you do the work yourself or hire a professional. Prices can range from a couple hundred dollars for a DIY wrap to several thousand dollars for a full, professionally-installed wrap. For more about vinyl wrapping a trailer, see below.
Benefits of Wrapping a Trailer
You may want or need to wrap a trailer for several reasons. The paint job may be fading, or you may want to advertise your business using your trailer.
Since most trailers come in a solid color, usually white or black, wrapping is a cost-effective way to change the trailer’s color temporarily.
For less than the cost of a new paint job, you can cover your trailer in a vinyl wrap, which will make it look nicer and protect it from the elements. You can even print graphics or logos onto the vinyl.
Vinyl wrapping is popular due to its affordability and variety of finishes, such as carbon fiber print.
Also, while vinyl wraps aren’t specifically intended for protection, they can protect the paint from chipping and damaging UV rays.
Typically, vinyl wraps last for around three years if the trailer is left out in the sun and rain, but they can last up to five years or longer if the trailer is covered when not in use and is not subject to drastic temperature changes.[1]
Vinyl is also removable, unlike paint or Plasti Dip, so if you want to change it up or sell the trailer, simply peel the vinyl off and reveal the protected paint underneath.
Trailer Wrap Cost
Whether you choose to wrap your trailer yourself or want to pay a professional to do it, the cost will mostly depend on two factors: the size of the trailer and what type of vinyl you decide to use.
Trailers come in a wide range of sizes, from small, single-axle trailers that can be pulled with almost any modern passenger car, van, or SUV to three-axle trailers that require a special license (and truck) to pull. There are even mini-trailers for motorcycles.
The larger the trailer, the more expensive it will be to wrap.
Additionally, the wrap may be more expensive if your trailer has many curved panels, fenders, or other parts that require the installer to take more time to get just right.
DIY Vinyl Wrap
With some patience and research, you can wrap your own trailer for just the cost of vinyl and some basic tools like a special knife and a squeegee.
You’ll also need a heat source like a heat torch to help stretch the vinyl out during the installation.
If you choose to do a full wrap, common trailer sizes include:
- 4′ x 6′ trailer: 120 to 140 square feet
- 6′ x 12′ trailer: 280 to 300 square feet
- 8′ x 24′ trailer: 630 to 670 square feet
Wraps come in many different colors and styles and are typically sold in rolls that are five by 25 feet for a total size of 125 square feet.
Getting smaller rolls is possible, but you can typically get a better deal buying larger ones.
A roll of glossy or matte vinyl will typically be similarly priced regardless of color, while a roll of carbon fiber-style vinyl can cost almost twice as much.
Below are some examples from three popular brands in vinyl you can find on Amazon:
- 3M Matte Black: About $2 to $3 per square foot
- 3M Carbon Fiber: About $3 to $5 per square foot
- Avery Glossy Blue: About $3 per square foot
- Avery Carbon Fiber in White: About $4 per square foot
- Oracal Matte Silver-Gray: About $2 per square foot
So, for a six- by 12-foot trailer with 300 square feet to cover, you’ll need three rolls of 125 square feet each.
This comes out to around $750 to $1,125 for vinyl alone if you opt for 3M matte black. For carbon fiber vinyl, the cost could increase to $1,500, $1,875, or more.
Also, keep in mind that the cost will increase if you want graphics printed on the vinyl.
You’ll need to find a printer or a vinyl shop to do this work for you since it involves both printing the graphics and laminating them, so the paint is also protected.
If you do need graphics, it may be challenging to find a vinyl supplier in your area who will do a custom print job for you and let you do the installation yourself — most printers will also want to install the vinyl.
Professional Vinyl Wrap
While it’s possible to install a vinyl wrap yourself, many people choose to have a professional vinyl shop handle the installation for them.
A shop also charges based on how much area they’ll cover with vinyl, so you can expect to pay $2,000 to 5,000 or more for vinyl and labor depending on the size of the trailer, the color options, and whether or not the trailer has a simple shape that will make the installation easier.[2][3]
If you only need to apply a single graphic to advertise your business, the cost will be much lower — between $200 and $900 depending on the options you choose.[4]
To find a shop that can apply a vinyl wrap to your trailer, you can start with a Google search for decal and graphics shops in your area.
