Window Tinting vs. Auto Detailing: Which Trade Should You Learn?

If you're looking to enter the automotive trades, two options consistently come up: window tinting and auto detailing. Both have low barriers to entry, both are in demand, and both can generate good income. But when you compare them side by side, one stands out significantly.

Income Comparison

A full detail on a sedan takes 4-6 hours and typically earns $150-$300. A full tint on a sedan takes 1.5-2 hours and earns $300-$500. Do the math: per hour of actual work, tinting earns 3-5x more than detailing. In a full day, a tinter can complete 3-4 cars while a detailer completes 1-2.

Physical Demands

Detailing is hard on the body. You're scrubbing, polishing, vacuuming, and working in awkward positions for hours. It's physically exhausting work. Tinting is moderate — you're standing, using your hands, and doing precise work, but it's far less taxing on your body over time.

Profit Margins

Detailing requires a significant investment in products — cleaners, polishes, waxes, coatings — that eat into margins. Tinting margins are 75-90% because the only consumable is the film itself, which costs $25-$40 per car. Detailing margins typically run 40-60% after product costs.

The Verdict

Both are legitimate trades, but window tinting wins on income per hour, profit margins, and physical sustainability. The smart play? Learn tinting first, then add detailing as an upsell service if you want. Many tinting businesses offer a basic detail as an add-on, capturing both revenue streams.