How Much Does Boat Detailing Cost in Fort Lauderdale? (2026 Price Guide)

Ask three Fort Lauderdale detailers what a detail costs and you'll get three versions of the same answer: it depends on the boat. That's not evasion — almost every pro here prices by the foot, so the honest answer is a rate, not a number. The good news is the rates are consistent enough across Broward County that you can estimate any job yourself in about ten seconds, and spot an out-of-line quote just as fast.

The short answer

For a boat in decent, regularly maintained condition, expect roughly:

• Wash & wax: ~$30 per foot
• Full detail: ~$45 per foot
• Marine ceramic coating: ~$50–125 per foot

Multiply the rate by your boat's length overall and you have a realistic ballpark. A 35-foot center console, for example, lands around $1,050 for a wash & wax and about $1,575 for a full detail. Below are the full tables, plus the factors that push a real quote above or below these lines.

Wash & wax prices (~$30/ft)

A wash & wax is the maintenance service: a thorough wash of topsides and hull, chamois dry, and a coat of wax to protect the gelcoat, usually with basic attention to metal and non-skid. It's the service most South Florida boats need several times a year — our guide to how often you should detail a boat in South Florida explains why the Florida cadence is shorter than up north.

Full detail prices (~$45/ft)

A full detail is the reset button: machine compounding and polishing to remove light oxidation and restore gloss, wax or sealant on top, plus detailed attention to compartments, metal, glass, and often the interior. This is the once-or-twice-a-year service for most local boats, and the one that makes the biggest visible difference on a boat that's gone chalky.

Ceramic coating prices (~$50–125/ft)

Ceramic coating is the premium option, and it has the widest price range because so much of the bill is preparation: the gelcoat has to be compounded and polished to a finish worth sealing before any coating goes on. At $50–125 per foot, a 30-footer typically runs $1,500–$3,750, a 35-footer $1,750–$4,375, and a 40-footer $2,000–$5,000. Whether that premium is worth it depends on how you use and keep the boat — we compare the math honestly in ceramic coating vs. wax.

What moves the price up or down

Condition is the biggest variable. Heavy oxidation, staining, or a boat that hasn't been detailed in years takes more compounding passes and more hours; a neglected boat can price well above the standard per-foot line, while a lift-kept boat on a regular wash program can come in under it.

Layout matters. A flybridge or an express cruiser with lots of levels, glass, and upholstery takes longer per foot than an open center console of the same length.

Where the boat sits matters. Dockside work at a marina or a private dock is standard in Fort Lauderdale — most local detailers are mobile — but tight access, no water or power at the dock, or marina vendor rules can add friction. (Our Fort Lauderdale marinas guide covers what to expect at the big local marinas.)

Add-ons add up. Deep interior work, teak treatment, metal polishing beyond the basics, and engine-room cleaning are usually quoted separately from the base per-foot service.

How quotes work locally

The normal pattern in Fort Lauderdale: you give the boat's length, type, location, and condition, and get a per-foot ballpark first; the detailer then confirms an exact price after seeing the boat (in person or from good photos) — before any work starts. Be wary of anyone who demands full payment up front or won't confirm a final number in writing. And if a quote comes in far below the tables above, ask what's not included; the usual answers are the compounding step or the interior.

Keeping the cost down

The cheapest detail is the one you don't need yet. Boats on a regular wash routine keep their wax alive longer and rarely need heavy compounding, which is where the real money goes. Staying ahead of oxidation — rather than paying to reverse it — is the single most effective cost strategy for a South Florida boat, and it's the reason many local owners put the boat on a recurring wash program after a full detail instead of starting over from chalky gelcoat every year.