How much wrap do I need for my car roof and other parts?

Do you want to add a cool and colorful design to your car? Consider wrapping it with vinyl. You can print any design on vinyl wrap film and stick it on your car’s body. When wrapping your car, you might ask, How much wrap do I need for my car? Read this guide to get an answer to this question and understand how much wrap you need for each part of your car. Here, you will learn the amount of wrap needed for various car types and individual parts.

Table of contents

• What is car wrapping?
• Understanding the wrapping process
• Formula for calculating wrap size
• How much wrap do I need for my car?
• Measuring Wrap for the Car Roof
• Calculating Wrap for Other Car Parts
• Tips for an efficient wrap installation
• Conclusion
• FAQs

What is car wrapping?

Car wrapping is the process of applying vinyl film to a car to change its look without paint. The vinyl sheet is available in different colors, and you can print any design on it. Vinyl is a soft and flexible material that easily sticks to the body of a car and gives it a nice look. Car wrapping also protects the original car paint from sunlight, dust, and other dangers.

Understanding the wrapping process

First, understand the wrapping process to find the answer to the question, “How much wrapping do I need for my car?”. The first step is to clean the outer surface of the car to make sure there is no dirt. After that, measure the size of each part or side of the car body and cut the vinyl film accordingly. Then, print the required design on vinyl film and stick it to the car body.

Formula for calculating wrap size

Measuring the required size of wrap materials is a very easy process. Measure the length of your car and multiply the whole length by 3. You need to multiply the length by 3 because of the three sides of a car, including the top of the car and the two sides.

Also, around 10 % of the total length should be added to manage the small car parts such as bumpers, side mirrors, etc. Finally, multiply the whole length and width of the car, which is usually 5 feet. So the formula will be:

(Length of the car * 3) + 10 feet) * Width of car

How much wrap do I need for my car?

The amount of wrap you need depends on the type of car you have. Let’s look at some common types of cars and how much wrap they need. Please remember to include an additional 10% wrapping film for small parts such as side mirrors and bumpers, as well as for managing any unexpected additional requirements.

Please note that these measurements are approximations based on the average sizes of cars. For accurate measurement, you must measure the amount of wrapping materials for your car using the provided formula.

Hatchback

Hatchback bags are small cars with a rear door that opens upward to access storage. The average length of a hatchback car is around 14 feet, and the width is around 5 feet. So, according to the above formula, a hatchback requires around (42 * 5) square feet of vinyl wrap film.

Pickup truck

Pickup trucks are larger than normal cars and have a length of around 25 feet. Therefore, you will need around (75 * width of truck) square feet of film for wrapping.

Sedan

Sedans are medium-sized cars with a length of around 18 to 20 feet. These cars require around 60 * 5 square feet of film to wrap the whole body.

SUVs

SUVs are larger vehicles that can carry more people and cargo. The small SUV is around 21 feet long, which will require around (63 * width of the small SUV) square feet of wrap. In comparison, the average length of a large SUV is 25 feet, and it requires around (75 * width of the large SUV) square feet of vinyl wrap.

Convertible

Convertibles are small cars with an average length of around 14 feet. Therefore, the average size of car wrap you will need is (42 * width of convertible) square feet.

Other vehicles

Other commonly used vehicles are minivans, MPVs, and wagons. The average length of a minivan is 20 feet, and it will require around (60 * width of minivan) square feet of wrap. MPVs are around 25 feet long and require (75 * width of MPVs) feet of wrap. Hopefully, these measurements help you know the answer to “How much wrap do I need for my car?”.

This table provides a quick reference for the estimated amount of vinyl wrap.

Car Type	Estimated Wrap Needed
Hatchback	(42 * width of hatchback) square feet
Pickup Truck	(75 * width of pickup truck) square feet
Sedan	(60 * width of Sedan) square feet
SUV	(75 * width of SUV) square feet
Convertible	(42 * width of convertible) square feet
Minivan	(60 * width of minivan) square feet
MPV	(75 * width of MPV) square feet

Measuring Wrap for the Car Roof

When wrapping your car roof, you need to measure its length and width. Then, add a few extra inches to each side to make sure you have enough wrap to cover the edges. This will help you figure out how much wrap you need for your car roof. If you are thinking about painting your car before applying a wrap, my guide on how much paint is needed to paint a car could be really helpful.

Calculating Wrap for Other Car Parts

There are several other parts that require wrapping, such as mirrors, bumpers, and spoilers. These parts are small but still require a certain amount of vinyl wrapping film. Wrapping these additional parts also affects the time needed to wrap the entire car. Let’s look at how to calculate the wrap for some common parts of your car.

Mirrors

The average size of a side mirror for medium-sized cars is around 1 foot. When calculating the amount of wrapping material, measure the height and width of the mirrors and add extra for the curves.

Bumpers

Bumpers protect your car from minor accidents, but you can wrap them to protect their paint. The amount of wrapping material will depend on the length, width, and size of the curves in the bumper.

Spoilers

The spoiler is usually located on the back side of a sports car. On average, the spoiler needs around 2-4 square feet of wrap, depending on its size and shape.

Door handles

Door handles are very small and can be wrapped with around 0.5 square feet. You can also utilize the small pieces you cut down while wrapping the car body.

Tips for an efficient wrap installation

Hopefully, you have now found a detailed answer to your question, “How much wrap do I need for my car?” Now, let’s look at some effective tips for saving time and smooth wrapping.

• Clean the car body with soap and water to remove dirt, dust, and stains. Wrapping the car without washing it first can lead to bubbles and uneven surfaces.
• Always purchase at least 10% more wrap than the calculated surface area of the car to account for curves and potential mistakes.
• To apply the wrap properly, use appropriate tools like a squeegee and heat gun. Using the right tools correctly can help you wrap the car more easily and achieve a smooth finish.
• Wrap the car in a clean and dust-free environment to keep the vinyl wrap free from dust particles.
• If you’re not skilled in wrapping cars, it is best to hire professionals to do the job.

Conclusion

Wrapping a car can give it a fresh look and protect its body. You must accurately calculate the surface area of your car and buy the right amount of wrap film. This will help you avoid wasting money on extra material or running short during the wrapping process. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to determine how much wrap you need for your car.