Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

June, 2004

Paint Thickness of a Car

Q. I bought a Cielo 5 months ago (Its color is white). I want to know the (dried) thickness of the paint and if possible related standards? With Best Regards

A. When considering the paint thickness of an automobile, the total thickness includes a primer coat. The primer is very consistant when considering thickness. The primer provides protection against corrosion. The top coat classified as more decorative than protective is spray applied to a specific range of dry thickness measured in thousandths of an inch considering production line processes and quality control standards the total paint thickness would be 5 to 7 one thousandths of an inch. The thickness is measured with a magnetic device with a factor for error of less than .005 inch.

Best regards,

Tom Burke