Spray Paint Booth Rental Cost

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

If you’re thinking of buying your very own paint booth, then you should know that they aren’t cheap, especially if you’re just starting out or plan to paint just one car. People that are only interested in painting their own car from time to time or have the occasional paint job contract should consider renting a booth instead.

This will enable them not only to try different paints, tools and products first, but it also ensures that they know exactly what they need and have the necessary funds when they eventually get on to buying their own booth.

If you’re thinking about starting your own car paint business then instead of purchasing a rental booth, it would be a lot more economically sane to rent the booth, buy all of the necessary tools and materials, do a wicked paint job on your own vehicle, and then just use it as a marketing technique. Driving it through town should be enough to catch the attention of friends, family, and even passersby who slowly should start to ask about makeovers for their cars.

If you want to rent a spray paint booth then you should be prepared to spend on average anywhere between $80/day and $175/day, if not more. This price will usually be influenced by a few factors, out of which the size of the booth is the most important one.

We say average because you can find rental opportunities both below and above these price points. As an example, you could spend around $50 for two days if you’d want to rent a double-wide booth with heat as a feature. This price can go a lot higher if you also want to get any necessary materials and paint tools.

So How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Spray Paint Booth?

When doing the research on your own, you will notice that the prices are all over the place in terms of spray paint booth rental.

The final amount will usually depend on factors like the level of competition in the area, where you live, the size of the booth, and the features you need it to have. You will also find that common rates will be anywhere between $80 and $175 per day, if not more.

You might also like our articles about the cost of spray paint, to paint a whole car, or to paint just the car hood.

You should know exactly what you’re looking for and how much you are willing to spend before starting to call around, to ensure that you’re not overwhelmed by all the different answers you will get. Getting to know and befriend people in the business might enable you to rent the facility for a small job for a 6-pack at some point, but don’t expect to get these types of deals when looking for a first-time rental.

If you’re set on starting a car painting job and you’re sure you’ll have an increasing number of clients, then it would be a great idea to sign a flexible contract that would enable you to either switch the booth with a bigger one in the future or rent it cheaper for longer periods of time. If you are or were part of the military, then you might even be able to get a discount, depending on who you’re talking with.

Paint Booth Rental Questions to Ask

Below you will find some questions you should ask when trying to rent a paint booth, to make sure you get your money’s worth:

• Should I expect a clean-up deposit fee that would be above the rental price?
• Expected drying time – is there any limit on the usage time of the booth? Is there a 12, 24, or 48 hour limit on a single paint booth project? Can the car, truck, or any other project be left inside the booth overnight to dry properly? Will I have to consider the additional time needed for air drying or will the booth come with its own heating system?
• Is this paint booth compliant with all of the EPA rules?
• Do you have a store where I can buy the necessary supplies and masking tape or should I come prepared with everything I need?
• Does the booth come with a prep area?
• Will I get an approved spray tool at my disposal? Will I be able to either rent or buy one from you or should I come with my own? Keep in mind that most rental companies won’t allow you to use a paint tool that isn’t approved. You might lose a rental contract if you use an unauthorized tool. Most locations, if they are reputable, will simply reject a contract instead of risking having their licensing agreements canceled.
• Are you associated with any automotive paint store? Renting a paint booth from a location that is associated with an automotive paint store could turn out to be an advantage. You might be entitled to all kinds of discounts if you’ll get paint or other supplies from the store they work with.

Final Words

Knowing what to ask and making sure you’re not leaving anything to chance will ensure that there is no miscommunication and that you won’t pay more than you should. You should always ask to either sign a contract or to at least get a receipt as proof of payment to make sure that you won’t get scammed. Although a reputable business will not only expect you but also greet you in the best possible way, a lot of lower-tier places will either have a quick turnaround that they might forget about you or they’ll straight up try to scam you.

You should also know that most often, renting a paint booth will only mean that you get a booth that is hooked up for piped-in air. If you don’t already have all the necessary materials and a paint tool, then ask if they can provide them and how much this would cost on top of the rental expense. Calling a number of different places can be very time-consuming, but it might turn out to be very rewarding in the end. You can also look around for discounts and coupons, as some places offer those as well.