Paintless dent repair costs about $75 to $450 for small dents in 2026
Paintless dent repair, or PDR, costs about $75 to $450 for one or a few small dents in 2026. A large or creased dent runs $300 to $800. Hail damage across a whole car usually costs $1,500 to $5,000. PDR only works when the paint is not broken.
What paintless dent repair costs
| Small dent, dime to quarter, per panel | $75 to $150 |
|---|---|
| Small dents, one or a few | $75 to $450 |
| Single door ding, one shop, average | $195 to $350 |
| Medium dent, golf ball size | $150 to $400 |
| Large or creased dent | $300 to $800 |
| Severe damage, per panel | $600 to $1,500+ |
| Cluster of small dents on 1 or 2 panels | $300 to $600 |
| Hail, whole car | $1,500 to $5,000 |
| Hail, per dent, spread over the job | $50 to $150 |
| Small ding at a body shop, for comparison | $300 to $600 |
| One panel at a body shop, with paint | $600 to $2,000+ |
Shops price by size, depth and how easy it is to reach the back of the panel. Get a quote for your car. Sources: Dent Repair Calculator, paintless dent repair cost (July 2026); Car Repair Cost Guide, paintless dent repair cost (August 2026); Dent Evo, how much does PDR cost (April 2026); AutoBodyLab, paintless dent repair cost (May 2026); The Dent Eraser, PDR pricing guide (June 2026); Autobahn Collision, hail damage and paintless dent costs (April 2026); PR Dents, hail damage repair cost in 2026 (2026).
What changes your price
- Dent size. Dent Repair Calculator says size is the biggest lever.
- Depth and creases. A sharp crease or a dent on a body line takes longer.
- Access. Car Repair Cost Guide says PDR costs least when the dent can be reached from behind.
- Panel material. Aluminum panels and roof dents cost more.
- Number of dents. Hail damage is often priced per dent or per panel.
- Your vehicle. Dent Evo says hail, multi panel jobs and EVs push the average up.
When PDR works, and when it does not
Car Repair Cost Guide explains that PDR reshapes the panel without sanding, filler, primer or paint. That keeps cost down, but it only works when the paint is intact and the dent can be reached. Dent Repair Calculator says a single panel takes 1 to 3 hours. When the paint is cracked, a shop uses traditional repair with filler and paint, which costs more.
Dent Repair Calculator also says the tools and result are the same for a mobile tech and a shop, but shops give written warranties tied to an address, while mobile techs often give verbal or text ones. It says a mobile tech usually wins for a $150 door ding, and a shop is safer for a $500 hood dent.
For insurance, The Dent Eraser says most comprehensive policies cover PDR for hail or vandalism. Dent Evo says a claim makes sense when the repair is several hundred dollars above your deductible. Sources: Car Repair Cost Guide, paintless dent repair cost (August 2026); Dent Repair Calculator, paintless dent repair cost (July 2026); PR Dents, hail damage repair cost in 2026 (2026); The Dent Eraser, PDR pricing guide (June 2026); Dent Evo, how much does PDR cost (April 2026).
Other car costs
If your car cannot be driven, see our towing page. For other common repairs, see our brake pads and truck lift pages, and our state inspection page.
How to judge the price you are quoted
- Ask if the price is per dent, per panel or for the whole car.
- Ask if your paint is safe for PDR.
- Ask if the price includes any panels that need extra work.
- Ask if you get a written warranty.
- For hail, ask how many dents they counted.
- Compare with $75 to $450 for a few small dents.
Ways to pay less
- Choose PDR if your paint is intact. The Dent Eraser puts a small ding at $75 to $150 with PDR and $300 to $600 at a body shop.
- Use a mobile tech for small dents.
- Ask about a volume rate after a hail storm, says Dent Repair Calculator.
- Use insurance for large hail damage, but weigh your deductible.
- Get 2 or 3 quotes. Some shops let you send photos first.
How we got these numbers
Shops set their own prices. The ranges come from 2026 dent repair guides and shop pages, as dated below. Most sources sell dent repair, so treat them as asking prices. We do not add our own guesses. All numbers were checked on September 28, 2026.
Common questions
How much does paintless dent repair cost?
About $75 to $450 for one or a few small dents in 2026. Large or creased dents run $300 to $800.
How much does hail damage repair cost?
About $1,500 to $5,000 for a whole car, per The Dent Eraser. Guides range from $1,000 to $10,000.
Is PDR cheaper than a body shop?
Yes. The Dent Eraser puts a small ding at $75 to $150 with PDR and $300 to $600 at a body shop.
When does PDR not work?
When the paint is cracked or the dent cannot be reached from behind. Then a shop uses filler and paint.