What's Included in a Full Car Detail? (Every Step, Explained)
A full car detail is an interior reset and an exterior reset in one appointment. Inside: vacuum, dashboard, console, door panels, glass, vents, seats. Outside: hand wash, wheels and tires, glass, and a quick wax or sealant. At Boise Bros Detailing that is the Premium Interior and Exterior bundle at $174.99, and it takes about 90 minutes. Clay bar, machine polishing, steam extraction, and ceramic coating belong to the Elite packages, which run 3 to 6 hours. Here is the whole list, step by step, including what is not on it.
What "full detail" actually means
A full detail is interior plus exterior in one visit. It is not just a wash, and it is not paint correction or ceramic coating. Think of it as a comprehensive reset for daily-driven vehicles.
The detailing industry uses "full detail" loosely. Some shops mean a basic wash and vacuum. Others mean the works including paint correction and ceramic. At Boise Bros Detailing, a full detail is specifically the combination of our Interior Detailing and Exterior Detailing services in one appointment. Paint correction and ceramic coating are separate upgrades you can add.
What is included in the interior portion
Full vacuum, every surface wiped and treated, every crevice cleaned. Steam and extraction available on Elite packages.
For the interior side of a full detail, here is exactly what happens:
Full vacuum. Carpets, seats, mats, under-seat areas, trunk, cargo space, headliner if needed. Pet hair removal included.
Dashboard and console. All surfaces cleaned and conditioned. Buttons, switches, gear selector, infotainment screen wiped carefully.
Door panels and trim. Every surface wiped, plastic conditioner applied to prevent UV cracking.
Interior windows. Streak-free cleaning on every glass surface, including the inside of the windshield where most drivers cannot reach.
Air vents. Compressed air through every vent to clear dust and pollen. Vent slats wiped clean.
Cup holders and storage. Removed and cleaned where possible. Crevices treated with detail brushes.
Seats. Vacuumed thoroughly. Leather conditioned. Cloth seats spot-treated for stains.
Air freshener. Light scent applied to finish.
For Elite Interior at $295.00, the work expands to include steam cleaning and extraction, deeper leather treatment, fabric protection, odor elimination, and headliner cleaning.
What is included in the exterior portion
Hand wash, wheel and tire care, exterior windows, wax or sealant protection. Clay bar decontamination on Elite packages. Done in your driveway.
The exterior side covers every painted, plastic, and metal surface outside the car:
Hand wash. Two-bucket method with pH-neutral soap. No brush wash dragging grit across the paint.
Clay bar decontamination (Elite packages). Pulls embedded contaminants (industrial fallout, brake dust, tree sap residue) out of the clear coat. This is the step that makes paint feel glassy when you run a bare hand across it.
Wheel cleaning. Brake dust removed from every spoke. Wheel wells cleaned out.
Tire dressing. Non-greasy black finish applied to all four tires.
Exterior windows. Streak-free cleaning on every glass surface.
Door jambs. Cleaned and wiped.
Trim restoration. Faded black plastic trim treated with UV-protectant dressing.
Wax or sealant. Hand-applied wax for shine. Lasts 6 to 8 weeks under Idaho UV.
Paint correction + ceramic coating is a separate service at $595.99 (Elite Exterior with 1-step correction + ceramic) or $849.99 (full Elite Interior & Exterior). Both packages include multi-year ceramic protection for the corrected paint.
The full detail process step by step
Inspect, wash, decontaminate, treat, protect, finish. About 90 minutes start to finish for a Premium full detail, 3 to 6 hours for Elite packages.
Here is what the actual day looks like when we show up:
Inspection (5 to 10 minutes). We walk around the vehicle with you, note any condition concerns, confirm the package, and quote any add-ons.
Pre-rinse and foam (5 minutes). Knocks loose dirt off before any contact.
Hand wash (20 minutes). Two-bucket method. Wheels and tires done separately to avoid cross-contamination.
Clay bar pass (Elite packages, 30 minutes). Embedded contaminants pulled out of the clear coat before paint correction.
Interior vacuum and prep (15 minutes). Every carpet, seat, and crevice.
Interior detail (30 minutes). Dashboard, console, door panels, vents, windows, seats, leather.
Exterior dry and trim (10 minutes). Hand-dried with microfiber. Trim restored.
Quick wax or sealant (10 minutes). Hand-applied protection.
Final inspection (5 minutes). Walk around with you, explain maintenance, hand over a clean car.
Total: about 90 minutes for a Premium full detail on a sedan. Larger vehicles and heavier condition jobs take longer, and Elite packages run 3 to 6 hours because they add clay bar, steam extraction, paint correction, and ceramic coating.
What is NOT included in a standard full detail
Paint correction, ceramic coating, engine bay deep clean, headlight restoration, smoke odor remediation, and biohazard cleanup are separate services or quoted on inspection.
To set expectations, here is what a standard full detail does NOT include:
Paint correction. Removing swirl marks, scratches, and oxidation requires machine polishing and specialized compounds. Starts at $595.99 (Elite Exterior, 1-step correction with ceramic coating). Two-step correction is a custom quote.
Ceramic coating. Multi-year protective coating that includes paint correction as prep. Starts at $595.99 (Elite Exterior with 1-step correction + ceramic) or $849.99 (full Elite Interior & Exterior).
Engine bay deep cleaning. Degrease, rinse, and protectant on the engine bay. Optional add-on.
Headlight restoration. Yellowed plastic lens restoration. Optional add-on.
Heavy smoke odor remediation. Needs a deep clean of every fabric surface plus an odor treatment such as ozone or chlorine dioxide after the detail. Quoted on inspection.
Biohazard cleanup. Quoted on inspection.
Pet hair (heavy). Light pet hair is included. Multi-pet households or heavy shedding takes significant extra time. Heavier jobs quoted on inspection.
Set-in stains. Most stains come out in the standard interior process. Older or deeper stains may require additional extraction or chemical treatment.
We confirm any add-ons before starting work, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
What you can expect to pay
The Premium Interior and Exterior bundle starts at $174.99 and saves you about $50 versus booking each separately. Elite Interior & Exterior (the full Elite Interior plus 1-step paint correction and ceramic coating) is $849.99. Two-step correction with the full Elite package is a custom quote.
If you want paint correction or ceramic coating, plan to spend $595.99 to $849.99 for an Elite package, which includes the full detail plus the upgrade. See our full pricing page for every number.
How a full detail differs from a basic wash
A wash removes loose dirt. A detail removes embedded dirt, restores surfaces, and protects against future damage.
A drive-through car wash is a 5-minute service that removes loose dust. A full detail is a 90-minute to 6-hour service, depending on the tier, that:
Removes embedded contaminants the wash cannot reach
Restores faded trim, vinyl, and leather
Cleans every interior crevice and surface
Adds protective wax or sealant
Resets the vehicle to a like-new feel and appearance
A weekly wash keeps maintenance easy. A quarterly full detail keeps the vehicle from aging visibly. Together they extend a daily driver's appearance by years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a full car detail?
A full car detail includes a complete interior reset (vacuum, dashboard, console, door panels, windows, vents, seats, air freshener) and a complete exterior reset (hand wash, clay bar decontamination, wheel and tire care, exterior windows, door jambs, trim restoration, wax or sealant). At Boise Bros Detailing, the Premium Interior and Exterior bundle starts at $174.99.
How long does a full detail take?
A Premium full detail on a sedan takes about 90 minutes. Larger vehicles or heavier-condition jobs take longer. Elite Interior takes about 3 hours, Elite Exterior about 4, and the full Elite Interior & Exterior about 6. Two-step paint correction can take 8 to 12 hours.
Is paint correction included in a full detail?
No. Paint correction is a separate service starting at $595.99 (Elite Exterior, 1-step correction with ceramic coating). Two-step correction is a custom quote. It is a machine polishing process that removes swirl marks, scratches, and oxidation. Standard full detailing includes hand wax or sealant but not paint correction.
Is ceramic coating included in a full detail?
No. Ceramic coating is a separate service starting at $595.99 (Elite Exterior, 1-step correction with ceramic coating) or $849.99 (Elite Interior & Exterior). Two-step correction with ceramic is a custom quote. Both packages always include the matching paint correction as preparation, since the coating bonds permanently to whatever paint is underneath. A standard full detail is the interior plus exterior reset without the multi-year ceramic protection.
What is the difference between Premium and Elite full detail?
Premium Interior and Exterior at $174.99 covers the standard reset on both sides. Elite Interior & Exterior at $849.99 adds steam cleaning and carpet extraction, leather conditioning, headliner cleaning, clay bar decontamination, 1-step paint correction, and ceramic coating. Elite is the comprehensive package for vehicles in higher condition or owners who want every step done at the highest level.
How often should I get a full detail?
Every 3 to 6 months is reasonable for a daily driver. Boise's combination of foothill dust, high-elevation UV, and wildfire smoke season means more frequent detailing keeps vehicles looking new longer. Specialty vehicles (boats, RVs, UTVs) typically need 1 to 2 full details per season.
What is the cheapest full detail you offer?
The Premium Interior and Exterior bundle at $174.99 is the most affordable full detail. It covers both sides of a standard reset and saves about $50 versus booking each service separately.
Can you do a full detail at my house?
Yes. Boise Bros Detailing is fully mobile. We come to your driveway, your office parking lot, or your storage facility anywhere in Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Star, Garden City, Middleton, Kuna, Nampa, Caldwell, or Dry Creek Ranch.
Book a full detail in the Treasure Valley
We bring the entire process to your driveway anywhere in the Treasure Valley. See our full pricing page for every starting price, or read our pricing guide and our take on whether mobile detailing is worth the money.
Book online or call/text (208) 863-1442. Same-day and next-day availability across the Treasure Valley.