What it costs · 10 min read
Dent repair typically costs between £60 for a small paintless dent removal and £400 or more for a larger dent needing filler and a full refinish, and our shorter page at /dent-repair-cost gives the quick version of this while we go into full detail here.
To expand on our shorter dent repair cost page with a deeper look at why size, location and method all move the price, for private motorists comparing options.
Start with our main dent repair cost page
If you want the short overview of dent repair pricing, our page at /dent-repair-cost covers the headline ranges. This guide is the longer version, going into why size, panel location and method combine to set the final price.
Cost by dent size
| Dent size | Typical method | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Coin sized, no paint damage | Paintless dent removal | £60 to £100 |
| Golf ball sized, no paint damage | Paintless dent removal | £90 to £160 |
| Tennis ball sized or paint cracked | Filler and refinish | £150 to £300 |
| Large dent or sharp crease | Panel repair and refinish | £250 to £450 |
Paintless dent removal versus filled and refinished
Paintless dent removal, often called PDR, massages the metal back into shape from behind the panel without disturbing the paint. It only works where the paint has not cracked and the metal has not stretched too far, which is common with rounded shallow dents like hail damage or gentle door dings.
Where the paint has cracked, or the dent has a sharp crease rather than a smooth curve, filler and a refinish are usually needed instead. This is a more involved process and costs more, but it is the only reliable option once the paint surface itself is broken.
Why the same size dent costs different amounts on different panels
A golf ball sized dent on a flat bonnet is often more straightforward to access than the same size dent tucked into a curved door skin near a crease line or close to a wing mirror. Panels with tight curves, ridges or nearby trim take longer to work on, and that extra access time is reflected in the price even though the dent itself is the same size.
Door skins, roof and bonnet
- Door skins are relatively thin and often respond well to paintless dent removal if the paint is intact.
- Roof panels are usually large and flat, which helps access, but sun damage and repeated heat exposure can make older roof paint more brittle to work with.
- Bonnets often have strengthening ribs underneath that limit where a paintless technician can reach, which can push a bonnet dent towards filler and refinish even at a moderate size.
Panel edges are harder and pricier
Dents that sit right on a panel edge, fold line or swage line are more difficult to correct because the metal has less give in those areas and the shape needs to be precise for the panel to sit correctly against its neighbours. Edge dents often cost more than a similar sized dent in the middle of a flat panel section.
Multiple dents and hail damage
Where a car has several dents, whether from hail or general wear, we price the job by the total number and size of dents rather than a flat per-panel fee, since the labour scales with the work involved rather than the panel count alone. Multiple dent jobs are usually more cost effective per dent than a single dent booked on its own, since setup time is shared across the job.
Getting an accurate quote
- 01Photograph each dent in good light from a couple of angles.
- 02Note whether the paint is cracked or intact at each dent.
- 03Send the photos to us by WhatsApp with your vehicle details.
- 04We will give you a free no-obligation estimate and explain which method suits each dent.
Where to go next
Want to know what your dent will cost before you book
Send us photos of the dent and we will tell you honestly whether it is a paintless job or needs filler and paint, with a free estimate either way.
Questions people ask us
- How is this different from your other dent repair cost page
- Our shorter page at /dent-repair-cost gives the quick overview, and this guide goes into far more depth on why size, panel and method all affect the price.
- Why would the same size dent cost more on one panel than another
- Panels with tight curves, ribs or nearby trim are harder to access, and that extra time is reflected in the price even when the dent size is the same.
- Is paintless dent removal always cheaper than filler and refinish
- Usually yes, but it only works where the paint has not cracked, so a cracked dent will need filler and refinish regardless of size.
- Do multiple dents cost less per dent than a single dent
- Often yes, since setup time is shared across several dents in one job, making multi dent repairs more cost effective per dent.
- Can a dent on a bonnet always be fixed without paint
- Not always, since strengthening ribs under many bonnets limit access for paintless techniques, which can push the job towards filler and refinish.
Dent pricing, the short version
- Paintless dent removal only works if the paint has not cracked.
- Panel curves and ribs affect price as much as dent size.
- Edge and crease line dents cost more than flat panel dents.
- Multiple dents are usually cheaper per dent than a single dent job.