The short answer
Powder coating a single alloy in the UK typically costs around £50–£100 per wheel, with a full set of four usually between £200–£400. The price covers stripping the old finish (often by chemical dip or blasting), any kerb repair, applying the dry powder electrostatically, and curing it in an oven to fuse a tough, even coat. Tyre removal and refitting, and balancing, may be charged on top if the tyres have to come off. Powder coating costs a similar amount to good wet paint but is generally more durable and chip-resistant because the oven-cured film is thicker and harder. It cannot reproduce a diamond-cut machined face, so diamond-cut wheels are usually re-cut or converted to a solid powder-coated colour.
Powder coating is a popular, hard-wearing way to refinish alloys in a solid colour. The sections below give indicative UK costs, explain what the figure covers, and set out where powder coating fits against wet paint and diamond-cutting.
At a glance
- Single wheel~£50–£100
- Full set of four~£200–£400
- Tyre off / balancingSometimes extra
- DurabilityGenerally high, chip-resistant
- Diamond-cut faceNot reproducible by powder coat
Powder coating costs per wheel and per set
The cost of powder coating scales with wheel size, finish colour and how much prep the wheel needs. A standard wheel stripped, repaired, coated and cured sits in the ranges below. A full set is cheaper per wheel because stripping, coating and curing happen as a batch. Special finishes — candy colours, multi-stage metallics or a clear lacquer over the colour — add cost, as does removing heavy corrosion before coating. Figures are indicative and vary by region.
| Job | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single wheel, standard colour | £50–£100 | Strip, coat, oven cure |
| Full set, standard colour | £200–£400 | Batched, cheaper per wheel |
| Special / candy / multi-stage | Add per wheel | Extra coats and lacquer |
| Tyre off and refit + balance | Often extra | If tyres must be removed |
| Heavy corrosion prep | Top of range | More blasting/cleaning |
Indicative figures for guidance only. Prices vary by wheel size, colour and condition.
What the powder-coating price covers
A typical powder-coating job starts by stripping the existing finish, either by chemical dipping or by media blasting, back to bare metal. Any kerb damage or corrosion is then repaired and the surface keyed so the coating adheres. The wheel is heated, and the dry powder is applied with an electrostatic gun so it clings evenly to every contour. Finally the wheel is cured in an oven, where the powder melts and fuses into a continuous, hard film.
What may not be in the headline price is the tyre work. If the wheel has a tyre on it, the tyre has to come off before the wheel can be stripped and oven-cured, then be refitted and the wheel rebalanced afterwards. Some shops bundle this in; others quote coating-only and add it. The same goes for valve replacement and any TPMS sensor handling on cars fitted with tyre-pressure monitoring. Reading the quote line by line is the fair way to compare, because a low coating price with tyre work bolted on can end up similar to a higher all-in figure.
Is powder coating worth the cost?
Powder coating's main appeal is durability. The oven-cured film is thicker and tougher than typical wet paint, so it resists chips, scuffs and the corrosion that road salt causes over a UK winter. That hard-wearing finish is why many owners choose it for a solid colour change or a refresh of tired wheels, and why it tends to hold up well to brake dust, jet washing and kerb brushes.
The limitation is that powder coating produces a solid, uniform colour and cannot recreate the bright machined face of a diamond-cut wheel. If your wheels are diamond-cut and you want to keep that two-tone look, they need re-cutting on a lathe rather than powder coating. Many owners with worn diamond-cut wheels deliberately switch to a powder-coated solid colour at refurbishment time precisely because it removes the recurring lacquer-peel problem and lasts longer. On cost, powder coating is broadly comparable to good wet paint per wheel, with the durability usually tilting the value in its favour for everyday driving.
Frequently asked questions
Is powder coating cheaper than painting alloys?
It is broadly comparable in price per wheel to good-quality wet paint. The value usually comes from durability rather than a lower upfront cost — the oven-cured powder film is thicker and more chip-resistant, so it tends to last longer between refurbishments.
Do tyres have to come off to powder coat alloys?
Yes, for a full powder-coat the tyres must be removed because the wheel is heated in an oven, which would damage a fitted tyre. Tyre removal, refitting and rebalancing are sometimes included in the quote and sometimes charged separately, so check before you book.
Can you powder coat diamond-cut wheels?
You can powder coat them in a solid colour, but powder coating cannot reproduce the bright machined diamond-cut face. To keep the two-tone diamond-cut look the wheel must be re-cut on a lathe instead. Many owners switch worn diamond-cut wheels to powder-coated colour for durability.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific wheels. They are guidance, not a quotation.