The right car detailing tools will help you reach every corner of the vehicle you’re cleaning, leaving cars shining inside and out and your customers gleaming with satisfaction.
Whether you’re a mobile car detailing service or working out of a detailing shop, the right equipment helps you preserve every car’s value, extend the life of its body and interior, and provide the best services.
Use this auto detailing equipment list to purchase tools for jobs and other gear you’ll need to start or grow your car detailing business.
Bookmark this page when you’re finished so you can revisit this guide whenever you’re ready to grow your auto detailing tools box.
What tools do you need to start a car detailing business?
Having the right auto detailing tools and investing in quality equipment ensures every vehicle you detail looks its best and is properly protected while in your care. Professional-grade gear also boosts your team’s efficiency, allowing you to scale your business and take on more clients without sacrificing quality.
At minimum, you need buckets, microfibre towels, wash mitts, brushes, cleaning chemicals, and a vacuum to provide basic auto detailing services.
If your business is mobile, you’ll need to add a vehicle and a steady supply of water and power—a water tank and pump system will give you the water and pressure you need, while a generator or batteries will keep your tools charged and working.
Your toolkit will vary based on your services and the size of your business, so keeping an up-to-date auto detailing equipment list (like our list below) is key to staying organized and running smoothly.
If you’re looking to start your detailing business, you really do not need that much money to get started.
So that might look like buying a bucket, a wash mitt, a drying towel, a few chemicals, and maybe a few brushes to clean the wheels and tires.
Exterior car detailing tools
You’ll use the following tools and equipment to clean the exterior of vehicles:
Pressure washer
Easily clean any kind of dirt and grime from the exterior of a vehicle with a quality pressure washer. You can find a range of electric (cord or cordless) and gas models that will provide what you need.
Be careful about the power though—it’s recommended that 1800-2200 psi is more than enough pressure to clean a vehicle without the worry of causing any damage.
Cost: $100-$400
Foam cannon
Soak the car in suds with a foam cannon that connects to your pressure washer or hose. A good foam cannon allows you to change the density of the foam (more liquid or not) and the spread to get more or less coverage as you apply the soap.
Cost: $20-$150
Hose
A durable hose will serve you well. Since you’ll be bringing it with you everywhere, you’ll also want one that is lightweight and kink-resistant.
Make sure you’ve got enough length to reach any primary water source (50-100 feet) as well as the right connection to hook up to any resident or commercial building faucet or your pressure washer, if necessary.
Cost: $20-$70
Wash mitts
For lifting dirt and debris from the surface of a vehicle without causing any damage to the exterior. A good microfibre wash mitt will safely capture all the grime without leaving a mark. You can also buy individual wash mitts or packs with backups.
Cost: $5-$30
Buckets with grit guards
Buckets with grit guards let you avoid dirt and debris on your wash mitts while you clean the exterior of the car. Any residue on your wash mitts could cause streaks or scuffs on the car’s paint. You can purchase bucket and grit guard kits or each item separately.
Cost: $20-$100
Washer bucket
The two-bucket method is common practice for auto detailing, so an extra 5-gallon bucket to separate cleaning supplies used on dirtier parts of the car, like brakes or tires, is a good idea.
Cost: $5-$15
Sponges
A classic sponge can be used on less sensitive areas of the vehicle, like brakes, wheels and trim. However, you’ll want to avoid using sponges on the car’s paint as they aren’t as soft as wash mitts.
Cost: $3-$10
Car wash soap
Look for pH-balanced or pH-neutral soap for your auto detailing work in order to protect the sealant on the exterior of the paint. Common soaps will eat away at the paint. You can also find combo wax and wash options to add more shine to your finished product.
Cost: $10-$40
Clay bars
Use a clay bar to pull other embedded contaminants from the surface of the vehicle’s exterior. Tougher dirt and debris can cling to the paint after the initial wash. The clay bar needs to be used with a clay lubricant to allow it to move smoothly across the paint without causing any scratches. You’ll also want to polish or wax after to restore the gloss finish, as the clay can leave the paint looking dull.
Cost: $8-$25
Degreaser
For deep cleaning of areas on the car such as the undercarriage or engine bay, you’ll want a non-corrosive degreaser to loosen up tougher grime. Dilute as needed and you’re ready to wash.
Cost: $10-$30
Waterless wash
Waterless wash is great for small cleaning and detailing, especially when a hose or water source isn’t available. It’s as easy as spraying and wiping gently. Pricing depends on the size of the bottle you buy and whether it is a combination of waterless wash and wax.
Cost: $10-$60
Drying towels
Grab a pack of microfibre drying towels to dry off all parts of the exterior after washing, including the body, trim and plastics, wheels and tires, glass, and other easy-to-reach areas. These towels are very absorbent and don’t leave any streaks or marks. They are also much safer for the paint than your everyday bath towel.
Cost: $10-$50
Blowers
Blowers let you properly dry hard-to-reach areas of the car, such as mirrors, emblems, and wheels, without leaving watermarks.
Cost: $70-$220
Interior car detailing tools
Wet and dry vacuum cleaner
Clean up dust, dirt, and even spilled liquids with a good wet and dry vacuum cleaner. Make this tool even better with a variety of attachments, long hose to reach all areas of the car interior, and strong enough suction for the toughest jobs.
Popular wet and dry vacuum cleaner models to consider are the RIGID NXT series, the Vacmaster Beast Series, Metrovac Vac N Blo, and DeWalt vacuums.
Cost: $50-$250
Carpet and upholstery extractor
Deep clean your interior fabrics with a carpet and upholstery extractor. Easily soap and suction any painful stains to restore the new-car feel.
Popular carpet and upholstery extractor models to consider are the 8070 Mytee Lite, the Bissell LittleGreen ProHeat, the Fortador Volt Mini, and the RugDoctor Pro Deep Carpet Cleaner.
Cost: $100-$300
Steam cleaner
Another helpful tool to deal with interior stains, a steam cleaner is also handy for cleaning and sanitizing vents, creases, leather, and plastics.
Cost: $100-$300
Interior cleaning brushes
A collection of different-sized interior cleaning brushes make it easy to get into every crevice within the interior of a car. Look for kits that can connect to a drill (or that come with a drill) to improve your scrubbing power.
Cost: $10-$30
Leather cleaners and conditioners
Use a cleaner to remove dirt and oils, and a conditioner to keep the leather soft and avoid cracks. Be sure the product you choose is pH-balanced and automotive grade to ensure you don’t wear down the leather over time. Cleaners and conditioners come in sprays or wipes.
Cost: $5-$10
Plastic and rubber protectants
Similar to leather cleaners and conditioners, plastic and rubber protectants keep the interior more resistant to wear and tear. These products are applied after cleaning and protect plastics and rubbers from UV damage and fading.
Cost: $8-$25
Glass and window cleaner
Glass and window cleaner is pretty straightforward, but you want to make sure you’re using automotive-grade products that are safe to use on tinted windows. Use a dedicated glass towel for the best shine and clearest view.
Cost: $5-$30
Chemical cleaning products
You’ll need a variety of chemical cleaning products to work with your auto detailing tools. These products help you with both the exterior and interior of the vehicles you service. In addition to the many cleaning properties, they also have protective properties to maintain the vehicle’s material and surface quality.
The key chemical cleaning products you’ll need include:
- All-purpose cleaner ($10-$20): Versatile cleaner for most surfaces.
- Wheel cleaner ($10-$25): Breaks down dirt without damaging wheel finish.
- Tire dressing ($8-$20): Restores finish to tires and protects against common damage.
- Trim restorer ($10-$25): Revives plastic and rubber trim and prevents fading.
- Wax and sealants ($15-$40): Shines vehicle and adds a layer of protection from UV, water, and dirt.
- Polish ($10-$30): Restores clarity and adds gloss while removing small scratches and blemishes.
Safety equipment for auto detailing
Car detailing is dirty, wet, and deals with a handful of potentially harmful chemicals. It’s important to understand the safety equipment you need to protect yourself, your clients, and your team members on the job.
The basic safety equipment you need includes:
- Gloves ($10–$20): Keep your hands clean while protecting them from chemicals and cleaners—unprotected hands will become increasingly irritated over time.
- Respirators ($15–$40): These are important for filtering out vapors and particles from potentially harmful chemicals and aerosols.
- Safety Goggles ($5–$15): Protect your eyes from dust, dirt, debris, and chemical splashes that are common throughout a detailing job.
Auto detailing business software
With your auto detailing tools in hand, you’ll need a platform that helps you manage the business side while you work. Auto detailing business software like Jobber keeps your schedule, job details, and clients organized all from your phone.
Jobber helps you reduce administrative work throughout the entire job cycle with quoting, scheduling, invoicing, and payment collection all in one place. Helping you save up to 7 hours of admin work a week
Here’s how Jobber can improve your daily operations and help you organize your auto detailing business:
- Build professional-looking quotes and suggest premium packages or additional services in minutes based on the needs of your customer
- Organize your schedule to keep your team and customers on the same page
- Manage all your client and job details in one place—including service history, photos of scratches and stains, and vehicle condition
- Send professional invoices with one click and get paid 4x faster
- Create an auto detailing website to describe your services, show off your great work, and make it easy for customers to book your services online
How to choose the right auto detailing tools
You know what you need for your auto detailing tools, but there are a lot of options to choose from. That can be overwhelming when you’re starting a business or looking to take your business to the next level.
Here are a few helpful tips to consider for choosing the right auto detailing tools:
- Read product reviews. One of the best measures of a tool is what customers feel about it. Look at product reviews on retailer websites or talk to other detailers to see what is working best for others.
- Pick tools that are comfortable to use. You’ll be using your tools often, so you want them to feel comfortable. Whether it’s the weight of the tools or handle grips, make sure you enjoy using them before committing.
- Don’t cheap out. While a cheaper price might be appealing, it isn’t always the answer. Lower-grade tools that are often less expensive will break easily, and you need your equipment to last.
- Plan your spending. Start with a basic set of tools to do the job properly. As you grow and need better (or more) tools you can upgrade your existing equipment or look to purchase new items.
At the end of the day, you want a set of auto detailing tools that fits you and allows you to provide the best service to your customers. With the right research and planning, you’ll be in a comfortable position to get everything you need and focus on growing your business.
Watch this video for real-world examples of what it takes to start your own auto detailing business and the equipment you need to get the ball rolling:
Frequently Asked Questions
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To effectively detail the interior of a car, you need:
• Wet and dry vacuum
• Interior detailing brushes
• Microfiber towels
• Steam cleaner
• Carpet and upholstery extractor
• All-purpose cleaner or interior-safe cleaners
• Blower -
To clean tires and wheels, you need:
• Acid-free wheel cleaner
• Iron remover
• Tire cleaner
• Degreaser
• Stiff-bristle tire brush
• Soft wheel brush
• Tire shine
• Wheel sealant or protectant -
To clean carpet and upholstery, you need:
• Carpet and upholstery shampoo
• Carpet and upholstery extractor
• Steam cleaner
• Upholstery brushes
• Spot cleaner
• Fabric protectant spray -
To restore faded or dull trim, you need:
• Plastic and trim cleaner
• Plastic restorer
• Trim dressing
• Detailing brushes
• UV protectant
• Applicator pads -
To restore and clear up headlights, you need:
• Headlight restoration kits—sanding discs, compounds, and sealants
• Plastic polish
• UV sealant or protectant
• Polishing pads -
To effectively detail the exterior of a car, you need:
• Pressure washer
• Car wash soap (pH-balanced)
• Foam cannon
• Microfiber wash mitts
• Buckets with grit guards
• Clay bar
• Microfiber drying towels
• Paint sealant, wax, or ceramic coating