How much would it cost to do a basic paint job on a Cessna 172?

Depends on how “basic” you want to get… Aircraft painting requires lots of labor and preparation, which all costs money. Did you want to strip the old paint off, or just scuff and spray? Any trim color, or just plain white? Decals for new registration numbers or painted on? Painted by a specialty shop, or your friendly local A&P?

Depending on the shop you have do the work, a quick scuff & spray in plain white could cost as little as $2,000, while a well detailed professional paint job could run $20,000 or more.

Landing Cessna on Orcas Island, WA