Costs
How much does alloy wheel refurbishment cost in the UK?
Prices in this trade vary wildly, and the reason is that the word "refurbishment" describes about five different jobs. Here is what things actually cost and what you are paying for.
The headline numbers
| Powder coat, per wheel | £50–£90 |
| Powder coat, full set of four | £200–£340 |
| Diamond cut, per wheel | £80–£130 |
| Diamond cut, full set of four | £320–£500 |
| Crack repair / welding | £40–£90 per wheel, on top |
| Buckle straightening | £40–£80 per wheel, on top |
| Caliper painting, set of four | £120–£220 |
| Locking nut removal (no key) | from £20 per wheel |
| New tyre valve | Usually included; chrome ~£7.50 |
Typical UK ranges as of 2026.
Our own prices are set out in full on our price list — powder coating from £75 a wheel and diamond cutting from £100 a wheel, by size, with the extras priced up front rather than sprung on you at the end.
What pushes a quote up
- Wheel size. A 22in wheel takes more material, more time on the lathe and more oven space than a 16in. It is not a linear relationship but it is a real one.
- Diamond cut vs solid colour. Machining is a separate process on separate equipment with a consumable diamond tool. It costs more because it costs more.
- Custom colours. A colour we do not stock means buying powder for your job. Standard colours — silver, black, white, grey, anthracite — are what keep same-day turnaround possible.
- Hidden damage. The honest one. Nobody knows a wheel is cracked until the finish is off. We will always call you before doing anything that changes the price.
- No locking wheel nut key. From £20 per wheel, and it is entirely avoidable — check the boot before you set off.
- TPMS sensors that break on removal. Corroded stems snap. It happens. We will ask before replacing anything.
What a very cheap quote is usually hiding
If a full set is being quoted at well under two hundred pounds, something in the process is missing. Usually one of these:
- No chemical strip. The old finish is keyed and sprayed over. It looks great for a year, then the failure underneath comes through and you have paid twice.
- No tyre removal. The tyre is pushed back off the bead and the wheel is masked. That leaves the inner rim and barrel untouched — where corrosion starts — and it makes it impossible to see a crack.
- Wet paint, not powder. No oven, no cure, no cross-link. Cheaper to do, shorter life.
- Filler doing the work of a weld. Faster and cheaper than TIG. Also not a repair.
The comparison that actually matters
A single genuine replacement diamond-cut wheel for a modern German saloon is commonly £400–£900. Four is a number that makes people sit down. Aftermarket replicas are cheaper, but you are then buying an unknown casting to save money on a wheel you already own.
Refurbishment is cheaper because the aluminium is already yours and it is almost certainly fine — what has failed is a coating. Paying £75 to fix a coating on a £600 wheel is not a compromise; it is arithmetic.
The lease return case
If you are handing a car back, look up the fair wear and tear standard for your finance company. Wheel damage beyond a specified limit — commonly around 25mm of kerb damage per wheel — is chargeable, and the charges are set at retail replacement rates rather than repair rates. It is not unusual to be looking at several hundred pounds per corner.
A refurbishment before the inspection is very often less than the charge for one wheel. It is the single easiest money any lease customer saves.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to refurbish alloy wheels in the UK?
Typically £50–£90 per wheel for a standard powder coat, or £200–£340 for a full set of four. Diamond cutting runs around £80–£130 per wheel. Crack welding and buckle straightening add roughly £40–£90 per wheel where needed.
Is it cheaper to refurbish or replace alloy wheels?
Refurbishment, in almost every case. A single genuine replacement diamond-cut wheel for a modern premium car commonly costs £400–£900, while refinishing the wheel you already own is usually under £130 — and the aluminium itself is rarely the thing that has failed.
Why are some alloy wheel refurbishment quotes so cheap?
Usually because a step has been left out: no chemical strip (the old finish is sprayed over), no tyre removal (so the inner rim is never treated and cracks cannot be seen), wet paint instead of oven-cured powder, or filler used instead of welding. Asking whether the wheel is chemically stripped with the tyre off separates the quotes quickly.
Is refurbishing wheels worth it before returning a lease car?
Nearly always. Lease fair wear and tear standards typically allow only around 25mm of kerb damage per wheel, and charges beyond that are set at retail replacement rates. A full refurbishment often costs less than the charge for a single wheel.
Want a straight answer about your wheels?
Send a photo and your reg. We are in Wickford, and we cover Essex, Kent and East London.