The short answer
Respraying a single panel in the UK typically costs from a low-to-mid three-figure sum for a door or wing in a solid colour, rising toward several hundred pounds for larger panels, metallic or pearl colours, or where the colour must be blended into the panels either side. A panel respray covers removing trim and handles, repairing any dents or scratches, masking, priming, applying colour matched to the paint code, lacquering and polishing. The key cost driver people miss is blending: to make a metallic repair invisible, the painter usually has to fade the new colour into the adjacent panels, so a 'single panel' job can involve spraying part of two or three panels. Panel size, type and paint all move the price.
A single-panel respray is the most common bodyshop job, but the price varies more than you might expect. The sections below explain what is involved and why blending changes the cost.
Panel respray at a glance
- Small panel, solid colourLow to mid three figures
- Door or wing, metallicMid three figures
- Large panel + blendingSeveral hundred pounds
- Hidden costBlending into adjacent panels
- Matched byFactory paint code
What a panel respray includes
Respraying one panel is a multi-stage job. The panel is prepared by removing badges, handles, trim and rubbers where possible, then any dents or scratches are repaired with filler and sanded flat. The surrounding areas are masked, the panel is keyed and primed, and the colour — matched to the car's paint code from the VIN plate or door-shut sticker — is sprayed in base coat, followed by clear lacquer. Finally it is flatted and polished to match the gloss of the rest of the car.
Because so much of the cost is labour, the size and shape of the panel matter. A flat door is quicker than a complex panel with swage lines, vents or curves. The amount of preparation — how much damage there is to repair before paint goes on — is often the biggest variable, which is why a panel with a dent costs more than the same panel with just faded paint.
| Panel / situation | Typical UK range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Door or wing, solid colour | Low to mid three figures | Simplest case |
| Door or wing, metallic | Mid three figures | Needs blending to match |
| Large panel (bonnet, roof) | Mid to high three figures | More material and labour |
| Panel with dent/rust repair | Higher end | Bodywork before paint |
Indicative UK ranges for guidance only; cost varies with panel, colour, condition and blending.
Why blending matters on metallic colours
The detail that catches people out is blending. On a solid colour, a painter can sometimes spray a single panel edge to edge and the match is good enough that the join is invisible. On a metallic or pearl colour, the way the flakes lie and the slight fade of paint with age make an edge-to-edge respray show as a visible step against the next panel — the repaired panel looks subtly brighter or a different shade in certain light.
To avoid that, the painter fades (blends) the new colour into the adjacent panels, spraying the repaired panel solid and then tapering the colour out across part of the neighbouring panels so the eye cannot see where old meets new. That means a 'single panel' respray in metallic often involves spraying into one or two adjacent panels as well, which adds masking, materials and labour. It is the difference between a repair you can spot and one you cannot, and it is why a good metallic panel respray costs more than a basic one.
How different panels affect the price
Not all panels are equal to respray. Bolt-on panels such as doors, wings and bootlids can sometimes be removed from the car and sprayed off the vehicle, which gives the painter easier access and a cleaner edge, but adds removal and refitting time. Welded-on panels and large areas like the roof, quarter panels and the rear three-quarter have to be painted in place, with careful masking of glass, seals and surrounding bodywork. A roof is also a large, highly visible horizontal surface, so any imperfection or colour mismatch shows clearly, raising the standard required.
The finish on the panel matters too. A door with a simple flat face is straightforward; a panel carrying a sharp swage line, a moulded vent, a fuel-filler flap or complex curves takes longer to prepare and spray evenly. Panels low on the car — sills, lower doors and the front bumper area — also tend to carry more stone chips and kerb damage, so they often need more preparation before paint. All of this feeds into why two single-panel quotes for the same car can differ: the painter is pricing the access, the complexity and the prep, not just the square footage of paint.
Doing it properly versus a cheap respray
A panel respray is one place where cutting corners shows quickly. A cheap job might skip removing the trim and handles, mask roughly, apply fewer coats and not blend the colour — faster and cheaper, but it can leave overspray on rubbers, a colour mismatch, and a finish that does not last. A proper job takes the panel down, repairs defects, matches and blends the colour, and polishes the result so it is indistinguishable from the factory paint.
Whether to do it depends on the car and the damage. On a daily car with a scuffed or dented door, a tidy panel respray restores the look for a sensible price. On a higher-value or newer car, paying for proper colour matching and blending is worth it so the repair is invisible and does not hurt resale. As with other cosmetic work, paying cash is often cheaper than an insurance claim for a single panel, since the repair may cost less than a typical excess and a claim can affect your no-claims discount. Getting the panel assessed lets a bodyshop tell you exactly how much prep and blending it needs.
Frequently asked questions
Why does respraying one panel sometimes mean painting two or three?
On metallic and pearl colours, an edge-to-edge respray of a single panel can show as a visible step against the next panel because of how the metallic flakes lie and how paint fades with age. To make the repair invisible, the painter blends the new colour out into the adjacent panels, so part of two or three panels may be sprayed.
Is a solid colour cheaper to respray than a metallic?
Generally yes. Solid colours are easier to match and can sometimes be sprayed to the panel edge without blending, while metallics and pearls usually need blending into adjacent panels and careful colour matching, which adds labour and materials. A tri-coat or pearl is dearer again.
What makes one panel cost more than another to respray?
Size, shape and condition. Large panels like bonnets and roofs use more material and labour than a small door. Complex panels with body lines and curves take longer to prepare and spray, and a panel that also needs dent, scratch or rust repair adds bodywork time before any paint is applied.
Sources & further reading
- Which? — car bodywork and paintwork advice
- National Body Repair Association (VBRA) — accredited bodyshops
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific car and damage. They are guidance, not a quotation.