Trying to wrap a vehicle for your company is a more difficult task than you might think. When you arenโt experienced in vinyl wrapping and all of the procedures that go into it, trying to determine how much commercial vinyl wrap you might need to fully cover your vehicle is a giant guessing game that could cost you money in the long run if you get it wrong.
However, knowing the procedures involved in calculating measurements for vinyl wrapping when you head to make your purchase can save you quite a bit of time, money, and confusion. In no time, your commercial vehicle will be covered in a professional 3M vinyl wrap, and youโll have yourself to thank for taking the proper measurements.
How to Measure for a Full Wrap
The first issue to consider when deciding how much vinyl you need is determining how large your vehicle is. This may seem like an obvious point to make, but it should still be said: if you have a larger vehicle like a truck or a sprinter van, youโre going to need much more vinyl than you would if you were only wrapping a small car.
If you have a smaller van, like a sprinter van, youโre going to need about a 5ft by 59ft roll of commercial vinyl wrap to cover the entire area of your vehicle. Larger vans are going to need a bit more vinyl, so you should anticipate purchasing about 5ft x 82ft of 3M vinyl wrap if youโre anticipating covering a larger vehicle.
Because vinyl wrap typically comes in rolls, the rolls are often long and wide enough to cover the entire area of the vehicle youโre planning to cover, which means you only need to be focused on length. To get an accurate estimate of the length youโll need, measure the length of your vehicle from tip to tail. To account for the curvature of your vehicle, add six inches to the front and back. This extra vinyl is called โbleed materialโ, and itโs used to help stretch the vinyl accurately over your car.
If you intend to cover the bumpers, multiply the length of your car by 3.75. However, if you do not plan to cover them, multiply the length by 3. While this isnโt the most completely accurate way to measure how much 3M vinyl wrap you need, this gives you a great start.
Of course, these measurements are just estimates. The actual amount of vinyl youโll need to purchase depends heavily on the make and model of your van, the length, the height if youโve made any modifications and several other factors that you might not even consider to be important.
If you have any questions about the vinyl wrap on your car or are concerned about getting your measurements correct, donโt be afraid to contact professionals like Roadrunner Wraps for a more accurate estimate.
Considering Additional Wrapping Areas
Measuring the length of your car doesnโt always factor in the additional features you may want to have covered. If you want everything covered including the mirrors, fenders, bumpers, and other car features, youโre likely going to need to add more length onto the vinyl wrap estimate. All of these pieces will need to be cut from the vinyl separately, and theyโre always going to need some extra bleed material to stretch the 3M vinyl wrap over the vehicle to where there are no dips or bubbles.
When in doubt, purchase more vinyl. Always purchase more vinyl than you think youโre going to need. Even if you end up not using all of the vinyl you purchased, itโs not a bad idea to have extra lying around in case the vinyl on your car gets damaged or torn in any way. That way, youโll have a backup and can easily have the vinyl repaired with what you have on hand.
Other Tips to Keep in Mind
If you have all of the vinyl you need but donโt have the right tools to make everything look the best it possibly can, then your vinyl isnโt going to turn out the way you hoped it would. Taking the proper steps to install your vinyl correctly is going to make all the difference when you go to apply it.
Remember that any kind of rust, dust, or debris on your car is going to reflect on your vinyl. Ensure that you take care of any kind of cosmetic damage to your vehicle before you wrap it in vinyl. Buff out any rough spots and give your car a thorough wash before you apply your 3M vinyl wrap. Also, check that youโve got all of the tools you need before you start doing your work. Leaving in the middle of applying your vinyl isnโt an option if you forget a tool, so make sure that you come prepared.
If you have any doubts about installing the vinyl onto your vehicle yourself, donโt hesitate to reach out to a professional team like Roadrunner Wraps to give you a hand. Weโre in the business of vinyl, and weโre happy to help you get your vinyl installed so that it looks sleek and professional.
Working with Roadrunner Wraps
When you work with Roadrunner Wraps, you know that youโll be able to count on our team of professionals to do the vinyl wrap on your sprinter van or another commercial vehicle right and do it right the first time. We understand how important it is to do a job and do it well because the vinyl wrapping on your car doesnโt just reflect on youโit reflects on us and our companyโs work as well. We take pride in what we can do for you to help promote your business and help your fleet of vehicles look as professional as possible.
No matter what kind of design youโre hoping for with the vinyl wrap, whether itโs on your sprinter van or other commercial vehicles, our graphic design team can help you make your vision a reality. Theyโll be able to help you map out exactly how much vinyl you need and how to make it fit perfectly on your vehicle to have eye-catching branding.
If youโre interested in working with Roadrunner Wraps for your next vinyl wrap project, weโd love to work with you. Contact us today for more information.
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