How many spray cans to paint a car hood

I have an older car and I went off-roading with it. I made some huge scratches and chips in the hood but was fortunate enough not to dent it. I want to repair the paint, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money. Can I repaint my hood with spray paint?

Answer provided by

You must have had a really great time off-roading! Fortunately, you can paint the hood of your car with spray paint rather than getting a professional paint job, effectively saving between $300 and $500 in the process.

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the paint job, first decide whether you want to take the hood off or leave it on. Leaving it on is far easier, but you’ll have to tape off the windshield, headlights, and trim to ensure you don’t spray paint them on accident. If you take the hood off, you can spray paint with reckless abandon (to some degree at least).

Now that you’ve made your decision, start by cleaning the hood of the car using water and a car-friendly detergent. Don’t use dish soap, as it is too abrasive for your vehicle’s paint.

Once you’ve washed the hood, rub it with a sanding sponge and let it dry completely, preferably in the sun.

Then, follow these steps:

  • Provided you don’t have any rust spots, prime the hood with spray paint primer
  • Allow it to dry
  • Spray paint the hood, then let it dry for 20 minutes
  • Apply additional coats as necessary

In the future, consider comprehensive coverage for your vehicle. With a low deductible, you may be able to get the paint job done with little or no money out of pocket.

Check out the Jerry app to shop around for the best rates quickly and easily. Sign up in seconds, and Jerry will collect quotes from over 50 top-rated car insurance providers for free, delivering the best deals straight to you in minutes.

Browse More Content

What others are asking

Read advice from car experts at Jerry

Browse by topics

Car Insurance by Make

Car Insurance by State

I once spray painted an entire SN95 Mustang (flat black) and it took around 40 cans. That's two coats with no primer or clear coat. If you want primer I'd say that's another 20 cans for one coat, and then you'll probably need two coats of clear, so another 40 there. So around 100ish, depending on the size of the car? Easily 150ish if you want more than two coats.

As a person who's done it before I recommend you don't do it. I was okay with a raggedy looking finish because I was going for a rat rod kind of style, but if you actually want it to look good then spray paint is not the right way to do it.

Besides, at $5 to $7 a can for good paint, you're looking at spending at least $500 on the low side and close to $1000 on the higher end. For that money you can get a cheap-ass Maaco's paint job and it'll still look better.

An old or rusted hood can be reconditioned to look as good as new by applying a fresh coat of paint. First, wash the car and treat any rust stains so the paint sticks properly. Either spray paint or liquid paint can be used, but always work slowly to apply several even layers of primer and paint

How many spray cans do I need to paint a hood?

Applying a coat with one can would be time consuming. Approximately 30-40 cans would be needed.

How can I paint the hood of my car?

Most shops will charge anywhere a price range of $200-$1000 to paint just the hood. Painting the hood of your vehicle will take a professional anywhere from 1-4 hours for painting your hood, and we use hours because most body shops charge their customers in increments of service hours.

How much does it cost to spray the hood of a car?

Spray painting is an inexpensive way to paint a car. Clean and sand the surface of the car to create a smooth base on which to apply the primer. Apply multiple primer coats and top coats in order to achieve a quality finish.

Can I paint my car with spray paint?

You will not get the smooth, even appearance of paint. Applying a coat with one can would be time consuming. Approximately 30-40 cans would be needed.

How many cans of paint does it take to paint a car hood?

Applying a coat with one can would be time consuming. Approximately 30-40 cans would be needed.

How much paint do I need to paint my truck hood?

For an average-sized car hood, you will need at least 1 quart of base coat, and 1 quart of clear coat. But it is recommended to use at least two layers of paint, so that would mean 3 quarts of paint as an average estimation. (You might use a lot more than that).

How many cans of spray paint does it take to paint a car?

Usually, you’ll need about 20 cans to apply three coats of fresh paint. The bumper can take as many as four cans, plus you’ll need more cans for the primer and clear coat.

Can you paint a car hood with spray cans?

An old or rusted hood can be reconditioned to look as good as new by applying a fresh coat of paint. First, wash the car and treat any rust stains so the paint sticks properly. Either spray paint or liquid paint can be used, but always work slowly to apply several even layers of primer and paint

What do I need to paint a hood?

Spray paint can improve the look of a rusty or old hood by coating it fresh. Whether it be spray paint or liquid paint, only work lightly to apply a couple of layers of primer and paint on top of each other.

Can you paint a hood with spray paint?

$200 to $1000

What does it cost to repaint a hood?

Follow these general steps:

  • Wet your buffing pad with clean water.
  • Apply buffing compound to the soaked pad and the faded paint area.
  • Begin to buff the impacted area.
  • Complete this process a minimum of three times.
  • Inspect the faded paint surface by cleaning it with fresh water.

How much does it cost to fix hood of paint?

A mid-range paint job for a car hood will cost from $300-600, depending on how much repair work and blending is required.

Can I spray paint my car hood?

An old or rusted hood can be reconditioned to look as good as new by applying a fresh coat of paint. First, wash the car and treat any rust stains so the paint sticks properly. Either spray paint or liquid paint can be used, but always work slowly to apply several even layers of primer and paint

Will spray paint last on a car?

4) The Paint Job Won’t Last Long The heat of the engine operating can result in paint flaking off the hood, rocks and debris kicked up by other vehicles can chip paint on the front of the car; and constant exposure to snow and rain will make your spray paint job fade much more quickly than automotive paint.

What kind of spray paint can you use to paint a car?

If you are looking for the best automotive spray paint on a budget, we recommend Rust-Oleum Automotive Enamel. This paint is not only suitable for vehicles but also for other metal surfaces.

Can I spray paint over old car paint?

Yes. You can paint over existing auto paint, especially with modern paints. However, ensure that the existing paint is in good condition before you paint over it. Also, lightly sanding the surface makes the whole process a success.

How do you spray paint a car yourself?

Preparation

  • Step 1: Choose Your Location Wisely. Before you begin any actual painting, you will need to find a suitable location for your DIY project.
  • Step 2: Remove rust, dents, and trim.
  • Step 3: Sand.
  • Step 4: Clean.
  • Step 5: Tape Surfaces.
  • Step 6: Prime.
  • Step 7: Allow primer to cure.
  • Step 8: Sand once more.

How many cans of paint do you need for a hood?

Applying a coat with one can would be time consuming. Approximately 30-40 cans would be needed.

How much paint does it take to paint a car hood?

For an average-sized car hood, you will need at least 1 quart of base coat, and 1 quart of clear coat. But it is recommended to use at least two layers of paint, so that would mean 3 quarts of paint as an average estimation. (You might use a lot more than that).

How many ounces of paint do I need for a hood?

On average the car hood needs 200 to 600 grams (7 to 11 ounces) of undiluted paint. The hood is a bigger car part than other body parts and the amount of paint needed is up to 2 times more.

How much paint is required to paint a hood of a car?

How Much Spray Paint Do I Need For A Car Hood? Painting the hood of an automobile generally costs $20-50 per quart of paint. Materials for the project include 1-7.5% base coat and 1-7.5% clear coat. In addition, if you are painting a new hood that won’t receive any primer, you’ll need 1 quart of it.

How much paint is needed for a truck hood?

On average the car hood needs 200 to 600 grams (7 to 11 ounces) of undiluted paint. The hood is a bigger car part than other body parts and the amount of paint needed is up to 2 times more. It should be borne in mind that the car hood must be painted on both sides.

How much clear coat do I need for a truck hood?

Size15 oz.15 oz.Coverage14 sq ftUp to 350 feet (1.5 inch marks)Dry to the Touch25 Minsx26lt; 5 MinsFully Dry24 HoursAvailable Colors3101 more rowx26bull;14-Feb-2022

How many quarts of paint do I need to paint my truck?

Large Vehicles Painting a large truck or vehicle would take a professional about six to seven quarts of paint. If you are inexperienced, two or three coats of paint on a car would require about two gallons. If you are painting your vehicle the same color, 2 gallons should work.

How much does it cost to spray paint a car hood?

If you have decided to get your car hood painted, you have two choices to get this paint job done, either you can do it yourself or you can hire a professional to do it for you. Having it done professionally can cost upwards of $500, but the do it yourself method could cost as low as $70.

How much can a 12 oz can of spray paint cover?

The coverage will vary based on the paint viscosity and application method, but typically the 4.5 oz covers about 7 square feet, the 11-12 oz net weight covers about 20 square feet, and the 16 oz covers about 30 square feet.

How much can I spray paint with one can?

One can of spray paint generally has enough paint to fully cover a 3.5 ft x 3.5 ft area (1 coat, blending etc). Depending upon the size of your project you may need several coats of basecoat paint to obtain full coverage and the best color match.