Headlight Restoration Cost — What You Actually Pay in the Denver Metro
Mobile service across the Denver metro · $50–$150 · 30–60 minutes
Headlight restoration cost is the first thing almost everyone wants, and most shops make you call to get it. Here is the whole picture in plain numbers: a single headlight is $50, a pair starts at $80, and the large majority of vehicles finish between $80 and $150.
The spread inside that range is not arbitrary. It comes down to how much lens surface there is, how deep the oxidation has gone into the polycarbonate, and whether the housing has any damage that changes what is possible.
Every quote is given and agreed before a technician touches the car, and mobile service inside 35 miles of Commerce City carries no travel fee.
Mobile service near you
Book headlight restoration in the Denver metro
We come to your driveway, office, or job site with everything needed. Most vehicles are restored in 30–60 minutes for $50–$150.
Short answer
Headlight restoration costs $50 for a single lens and starts at $80 for a pair, with most vehicles finishing between $80 and $150. Price depends on lens size and oxidation depth. A replacement OEM headlight assembly typically runs $400–$1,200 per side, so restoration is usually a fraction of the alternative.
Cost by vehicle type
Bigger lenses take longer to sand and polish, and heavier oxidation adds a grit stage. That is the entire reason a pickup costs more than a compact car.
| Vehicle | Typical cost | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Single headlight, any vehicle | $50 | 20–30 min |
| Compact / sedan (pair) | $80–$110 | 30–45 min |
| Crossover / small SUV (pair) | $95–$130 | 35–50 min |
| Full-size truck / large SUV (pair) | $110–$150 | 45–60 min |
| Luxury or complex housing (pair) | $120–$150 | 45–60 min |
What raises the price — and what does not
- Oxidation depth: a lens that has gone chalky white needs a lower starting grit and more stages than one that is lightly hazed.
- Lens surface area: a full-size truck lens can be more than double the area of a compact car lens.
- Housing condition: internal moisture or cracks mean restoration is not the right fix, and we will say so rather than take the job.
- Not a factor: your location inside our 35-mile radius. There is no trip charge, and no shop-overhead markup, because there is no shop.
Our price floor
We do not restore a pair of headlights for less than $80, or a single for less than $50. Below that, the work cannot be done with a full sanding progression and a real ceramic UV sealant — and a job without the sealant re-yellows in months.
Restoration cost vs. replacement cost
The honest comparison is not restoration against a $20 kit. It is restoration against the price of a new assembly, which is what you are eventually facing if the lens keeps degrading.
OEM headlight assemblies commonly run $400 to $1,200 per side on modern vehicles with projector or LED optics, plus labor and, on some models, a module calibration. Aftermarket assemblies are cheaper but frequently fit imperfectly and yellow faster than the original.
| Option | Cost | Lasts |
|---|---|---|
| DIY kit | $20–$40 + your afternoon | 4–8 months |
| Professional restoration | $80–$150 per vehicle | Up to 3 years |
| One OEM assembly | $400–$1,200 + labor | Years, until it oxidizes too |
Why the cheapest quote is usually the expensive one
A $40 headlight job exists, and what it buys is a polish. The lens looks clear when the technician leaves, then re-oxidizes faster than it originally did, because polishing removes whatever factory UV coating was left and nothing replaced it.
At Front Range elevation, where UV runs roughly 25% stronger than at sea level, an unsealed lens is the shortest-lived version of this service. Paying twice in one year costs more than paying once.
Get your instant quote in 30 seconds
Mobile service across the Denver metro. Most vehicles finished in 30–60 minutes, right in your driveway.
People also ask
How much does it cost to fix cloudy headlights?
Professionally, $50 for one lens and $80–$150 for a pair. Replacing the assembly instead usually starts around $400 per side.
Is it cheaper to restore or replace headlights?
Restoring, by a wide margin, as long as the lens is not cracked and the housing is dry inside.
How much do dealerships charge to restore headlights?
Dealer pricing is commonly higher than independent mobile service, and many dealers quote a replacement assembly instead of restoring.
Frequently asked questions
How much does headlight restoration cost?
+
$50 for a single headlight and from $80 for a pair. Most vehicles finish between $80 and $150 depending on lens size and how deep the oxidation goes. You get the exact number before any work begins.
Is headlight restoration worth the cost?
+
For a hazed but structurally sound lens, yes — it is typically one-fifth to one-tenth the cost of replacing the assemblies, and it restores most of the light output the haze was scattering.
Why is professional restoration more than a DIY kit?
+
A kit gives you light sanding, a polish, and a wipe-on sealer that lasts months. Professional work is a full grit progression, machine polishing and a ceramic UV sealant rated up to three years, plus a 1-year re-restoration guarantee.
Do you charge extra to come to me?
+
No. There is no travel fee anywhere within 35 miles of Commerce City, CO, which covers the Denver metro.
Does the cost change for trucks and SUVs?
+
Yes, modestly. Larger lenses take more time, so full-size trucks and large SUVs typically land in the $110–$150 range for the pair.
Can you quote me without seeing the car?
+
Usually. The instant quote calculator prices your year, make and model in about 30 seconds, and a photo of the lens lets us confirm it before we arrive.
Is there a discount for more than one vehicle?
+
Multi-vehicle and fleet appointments are priced per visit rather than per trip, so yes — call with how many vehicles and we will quote the set.
What payment do you take?
+
Card or cash on site, and we can send a card link remotely if you are not with the vehicle during the appointment.
Why Colorado drivers book us
5.0 Google rating
Rated by verified local customers across the Denver metro.
UV ceramic sealant
Designed to hold OEM clarity for up to 3 years, not months.
1-year guarantee
Noticeable fading inside 12 months? We re-restore free.
Colorado-specific process
Built for high-altitude UV, hail grit and winter mag chloride.
The numbers behind cloudy headlights
22%
of the light output of new headlights is all that badly oxidized lenses still deliver
Source: AAA headlight researchup to 70%
of original light output recovered after professional restoration
Source: AAA headlight research~50%
of U.S. traffic fatalities happen in the dark, even though far less driving does
Source: NHTSA crash data+4–5%
more UV intensity for every 1,000 ft of elevation — Denver sits a mile up
Source: EPA UV guidance$250–$2,000+
typical cost of replacing a single modern headlight assembly
Source: Repair cost ranges by assembly typeOur warranty
Every restoration includes a 1-year free re-restoration guarantee. If your lenses fade noticeably within 12 months of service, we come back out and redo them at no charge. The ceramic UV sealant we finish with is rated for up to three years of Colorado sun — and if a lens turns out to be cracked or holding internal moisture, we tell you before we start rather than selling you a restoration that can't fix it.
Where we come to you
We are fully mobile within a 35-mile radius of Commerce City, CO, covering 20 Denver metro and Front Range cities. We bring our own power and water — all we need is a flat place to park at your home, office or job site.
Keep reading
Sources & further reading
- NHTSA — Headlight performance and nighttime crash risk — Federal guidance on lighting and visibility equipment.
- AAA — Deteriorated headlights study — Independent testing on light loss from oxidized lenses.
READY TO RESTORE YOUR HEADLIGHTS?
Call us today or book an appointment online. We come to you, anywhere in the Denver metro.