How to Measure Paint Thickness on a Car?

When measuring automotive paint, it is important to know that every car manufacturer uses a factory reference value for the paint thickness of their vehicles. The thickness of the original paint may even differ depending on the component of the car, for example, the thickness of the original paint the hood, not necessarily correspond to the thickness of the mudguard.

Basically, for most car manufacturers:

The standard thickness of the original paint on most car components is approximately 70 – 250 μm. For newer vehicles, the standard thickness can even be up to 400 microns. The original paintwork of the manufacturer may have a deviation of up to 40 μm at different points of the same vehicle component (e.g. mudguard). This is considered normal and is acceptable.

Car brand	Model	Paint thickness [μm]
Audi	A5, A6, A7, A8 Q3, Q5, Q7	100 114-147
BMW	X1 X3, M6, 5 X5, X6 5 (E60)	110 89-100 120-165 130-165
BYD	F3	100
Chery	Amulet Tiggo	110-120 105
Chevrolet	Lanos, Aveo Captiva, Epica Niva, Spark Lacetti, Cruze	75-150 90-100 94-98 110-140
Citroen	С5 С4 С3	110-130 75-125 90-120
Daewoo	Nexia Matiz	95-115 110
FIAT	Albea Punto	115-130 111
ford	Explorer, Kuga Focus Mondeo	135-145 156-160 119-127
Geely	MK Otaka	80-100 75-80
Honda	Accord 7 Civic 4D Fit, CR-V	130-145 100-135 87-98
Hyundai	Accent, IX 35 I30, Santa Fe I40 , Elantra Solaris, Sonata Tucson	70-75 100-110 70-100 85-100 90-130
Infiniti	FX35	116
Kia	Sportage , Cerato Picanto , Rio, Soul Venga , Optima Sorento , Cee’d	110-120 100-110 120-125 100-105
Lexus	RX, ES, LX CT, GX, LS	140-145 125-150
Mazda	CX-7, CX-5 3, 6	85-120 110-130
Mercedes Benz	C, E GL, ML	230-250 90-110
Mitsubishi	Lancer , Pajero L200, Outlander XL ASX	90-125 53-75 70
Nissan	X- Trail , Patrol Juke , Qashqai Murano Tiida , Navara Pathfinder Almera , Teana	75-120 110-125 95 105-115 100-110 130-150
Opel	Astra ( Turbo, GTC ) Corsa, Zafira	110-157 115-120
Peugeot	308, 508, 3008 4008 Occasions	100-115 58-61 98
Renault	Logan, Koleos Fluence , Megne Duster, Sandero	55-120 100-140 105-115
Skoda	Octavia, Roomster Fabia, Yeti, Superb	120-125 99-120
SsangYong	Kyron	100-110
Subaru	Forester, Legacy Imprezza , Outback Tribeca	110-115 125-140 120
Suzuki	Grand Vitara Splash , SX4, Swift	77-94 90-115
Toyota	LC 200, Camry Avensis , Highlander Auris , Verso Corolla LC Prado Prius , Rav4	110-130 80-120 110 106 77-93 80-90
Volkswagen	Passat new Multivan Highline Golf, Polo, Jetta Touareg , Tiguan	120-140 90-135 80-105 70-85
Volvo	S 60 S 60 II	110-130 95-115

How do I know if it has been repainted?

If the deviation of the car paint thickness amounts to approx. 200 μm at different points of the same component (e.,g. mudguard), repainting can be assumed. Repaired or repainted areas usually have a paint thickness of 250 μm or more. With the help of the coating thickness gauges on amazon.com, such places can be “unmasked” in no time.

We hope we could help you with this short description. In case of doubt, we recommend looking directly at Google for your car model to find out which exact standard thickness the manufacturer uses for the original finish.

On which values can I orient myself?

The following table shows the thickness of paints according to car brands. These are rough empirical values that we have measured over the years on various vehicles.

With a car paint thickness gauge, the thickness or thickness of the paint layer and filler layer can be measured in μm (microns). The result provides valuable information on the condition of the paint – original, trowelled and newly painted or thin – as well as the paint surface, e.g. for a pending car polish with the polishing machine.

The following guide values can be used to assess the condition of the paint or the coating structure:

• Paint layer thickness up to 100 μm: the paint layer is too thin
• Coating layer thickness 100-200 μm: Original lacquer layer
• Coating layer thickness 200-300 μm: The original paint was repainted
• Coating layer thickness 300-600 μm: a thin layer of filler and newly painted
• Paint layer thickness 600-750 μm: Thickness of filler layer and newly painted

With a car paint meter, there is no hidden repair and repainting – for more safety when buying used cars. A repainted vehicle does not have to be qualitatively inferior, but you should know before it’s been repainted.

Further possible use of this paint meter:

Material detection under the paint layer (sheet steel: magnetic, aluminum and plastic: non-magnetic). In particular, before the vehicle polish information about the substrate of the paint layer is important – to optimally adjust the polishing process and to avoid surface damage. Due to the magnetic function of the car paint thickness gauge, plastics and aluminum are immediately recognized (non-magnetic, indicator paint thickness gauge 0).

The identification of the paint underlay can take into account important parameters in vehicle polishing:

• Different temperature recordings of the painted base material: sheet steel, aluminum, plastic
• Temperature development of the material during polishing: Excessively high temperature or too rapid temperature development involves the risk of blistering on the paint surface, “tearing” of the paint surface from the painted base material and polishing through (in particular in the case of edges). Furthermore threatened structural changes of the painted surface in too hot or too hot polishing (so-called “frog formation”).

Background knowledge on the painted basic material:

• Steel sheet: very good temperature absorption. The temperatures on the paint surface should not rise above 50 degrees when polishing, in exceptional cases, 70 degrees are possible in the short term. Deformations of the material due to excessive polishing temperatures (“frog formation”) usually revert to their original form (memory effect).
• Aluminum (non-magnetic): Good temperature recording. The temperatures on the paint surface should not exceed 50 degrees during polishing. Deformations (“frog formation”) are no longer reflected in the original form.
• Plastic (non-magnetic): Poor temperature recording. The temperatures on the paint surface should not exceed 50 degrees when polishing, with edges this value is already critical. There is a risk of blistering of the paint surface, “tearing” of the paint surface of the painted plastic surface and polishing (the greatest danger with edges, e.g., on front and rear aprons).