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Which car has the thickest paint?

When it comes to automotive paint, the thickness of the coating can vary significantly between different car models. The car with the thickest paint is the Rolls-Royce Phantom, which boasts a paint thickness of up to 500 microns (0.5 millimeters). This exceptionally thick paint is the result of a meticulous and labor-intensive application process that ensures a flawless, high-gloss finish.


Understanding Paint Thickness


The thickness of a car's paint is an important factor that contributes to the overall quality and durability of the finish. A thicker paint layer provides better protection against environmental elements, such as UV radiation, bird droppings, and minor scratches. It also enhances the depth and clarity of the paint color, resulting in a more vibrant and luxurious appearance.


The average paint thickness for most production cars ranges from 100 to 150 microns. However, some high-end and luxury vehicles, like the Rolls-Royce Phantom, feature significantly thicker paint applications to meet the exacting standards of their discerning customers.


The Rolls-Royce Phantom's Exceptional Paint


The Rolls-Royce Phantom's paint is applied in a multi-step process that involves several layers of primer, basecoat, and clearcoat. The entire process can take up to six weeks to complete, with each layer carefully sanded and polished to achieve a flawless finish.


The final paint thickness of the Rolls-Royce Phantom can reach up to 500 microns, which is more than three times the thickness of a typical production car. This exceptional level of detail and craftsmanship is a testament to Rolls-Royce's commitment to delivering the highest quality and most luxurious vehicles on the market.


Other Cars with Thick Paint


While the Rolls-Royce Phantom stands out as the car with the thickest paint, other high-end and luxury vehicles also feature relatively thick paint applications:



  • Bentley Continental GT: 300-400 microns

  • Aston Martin DB11: 300-400 microns

  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 200-300 microns

  • BMW 7 Series: 150-200 microns


These cars, like the Rolls-Royce Phantom, prioritize paint quality and durability to deliver a premium, long-lasting finish that reflects their brand's commitment to excellence.

What car brands have hard paint?


German-made and luxury brands tend to be on the harder side. This could include brands like BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. Japanese car brands like Mazda, Nissan, and Honda, on the other hand, tend to be softer. In the middle of the spectrum, Aston Martin, Ford, Jeep, and Jaguar tend to be intermediate.



How thick is the paint on an Audi?


Typical audi thickness is 120-150 microns including primer, color and clear. That is my personal rule based on measuring a lot of audis, it is a generalization and generalizations can be dangerous. 30 microns of variance on a car is not uncommon.



How thick is the paint on a Ford?


The Ford/industry standard is that paint should be 4.0 to 5.0+ mil in thickness. Thin paint in this area of the body makes it more susceptible to chips, flaking and eventually rusting.



How thick is Honda paint?


Standard paint thickness of vehicles by car brand

Car BrandModelPaint Thickness approx.
GeelyMK Otaka80-100 75-80
HondaAccord 7 Civic 4D Fit, CR-V130-145 100-135 87-98
HyundaiAccent, IX 35 I30, I40 Santa Fe, Elantra Solaris, Sonata Tucson70-75 100-110 70-100 85-100 90-130
InfinitiFX35116



Is Honda paint hard or soft?


Take, for example, German marques, such as Mercedes, Audi, BMW and Volkswagen. Typically, their paint is moderately hard to very hard. Japanese marques, such as Subaru and Honda generally have medium soft to very soft paint.



What is the thickness of paint on a car?


Typically however a vehicle from the factory will have between 4–7 mils (100–180 microns). Consistency is what is important. Measurements taken across a panel should show only small variations in thickness. Areas of reduced thickness may be a cause for concern.



What cars have the thickest paint?


Tesla: Known for applying thicker paint layers, Tesla vehicles often have impressive paint thickness, offering better correction capabilities. Mercedes-Benz: Renowned for their attention to detail, Mercedes-Benz cars typically have thicker paint layers, allowing for effective auto paint correction.



How thick is Audi paint?


Standard paint thickness of vehicles by car brand

Car BrandModelPaint Thickness approx.
AudiA5, A6, A7, A8 Q3, Q5, Q7100 114-147
BMWX1 X3, M6, 5 X5, X6 5er(E60)110 89-100 120-165 130-165
BYDF3100
CheryAmulet Tiggo110-120 105



How thick is Kia paint?


Before choosing a model, I measured the paint thickness on the B segment models that interested me in showrooms. On Rio it was similar to most other models, i.e. about 80um. The Swift was a minus (about 60um), and the Micra was a plus (about 100um). When I picked up my copy of Rio (21/22), it was also around 80um.



What is the toughest automotive paint?


Urethane Paints
Urethane Paints
Chemical Resistance – Urethane is resistant to many chemicals, including gasoline and oil, making it a popular choice for both automotive exteriors and high-wear areas like floors.


Kevin's Auto

Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.