When a bumper gets damaged, most people assume the same thing: buy a replacement bumper cover, then paint it to match the car. That is the standard approach, but it is not always the most cost-effective one. In many cases, painting is optional, and skipping paint can save a surprising amount of money while still looking clean and intentional—especially if you choose the right strategy.

If you are shopping for a replacement bumper online, the starting point is usually an unpainted bumper cover. That is normal. Most aftermarket bumper covers are sold in a primed, paint-ready finish or in raw textured plastic. You can browse options by vehicle and category on FITPARTS.com, including front bumper covers and rear bumper covers.

Typical costs: the bumper is affordable, the paint is what gets expensive

For many common vehicles in the U.S., an aftermarket bumper cover often costs roughly $120 to $200. Prices vary by make, model, and trim, but that range is a realistic baseline for many front and rear bumper covers. The bigger cost usually comes after the purchase: paint.

Body shops typically charge around $250 to $400 to paint a bumper cover. In large metro areas, and especially with metallic or pearl colors, the price can go higher. This is why people are often surprised when the paint job costs as much as (or more than) the bumper itself. A very common total ends up around $400–$600 once you add the bumper and paint together.

DIY painting: cheaper, but the finish depends on patience and process

Painting a bumper yourself can reduce the cash cost significantly. If you buy color-matched paint and basic supplies, DIY materials often land around $70 to $120 total (paint, clear coat, prep items). If you follow the steps carefully—cleaning, sanding, proper adhesion, multiple light coats, and enough drying time—the results can be perfectly acceptable for a daily driver.

The honest truth is also important: a DIY paint job will not look exactly like a professional finish sprayed in a controlled booth. A skilled painter using professional equipment can achieve deeper gloss, more consistent metallic flake orientation, and a smoother final surface. But if the vehicle is older, used for work, or you simply want the car to look decent again without spending a lot, DIY paint can be a reasonable trade.

The overlooked option: what if you do not paint the bumper at all?

Here is the alternative most people never consider: not painting the bumper cover. Many replacement bumper covers come in a raw textured black finish (or a neutral finish that still looks “purposeful” on certain vehicles). On the right car, an unpainted bumper can actually look intentional instead of unfinished—especially when the design is simple and the vehicle is not built around color-matched aero styling.

This approach becomes even more convincing when you think in pairs. If your front bumper is damaged (or torn off) and you replace it with an unpainted textured bumper, the car may look odd if the rear bumper is still body-colored. But if you replace both the front and rear bumpers with matching unpainted bumpers, the look often becomes cohesive. Front and rear match each other, and it reads like a consistent design choice rather than a shortcut.

Cost comparison: two unpainted bumpers can cost less than one painted bumper

This is the part that makes people stop and do the math. One painted bumper often looks like this: a $120–$200 bumper plus $250–$400 paint, which commonly lands around $400–$600 total.

Two unpainted bumpers, front and rear, can sometimes cost roughly $240–$400 total depending on the vehicle. That means replacing both bumpers in a matching unpainted finish can be cheaper than painting just one bumper at a body shop. If your goal is a clean and consistent look on a practical vehicle, the economics are hard to ignore.

You can start by pricing your vehicle’s options on FITPARTS front bumper covers and FITPARTS rear bumper covers, then compare that total against local paint quotes.

When this works well (and when it does not)

This “no-paint, matching bumpers” approach works best when the bumpers are relatively simple and not visually tied into painted grilles, large gloss-trim packages, or complex styling elements. It often makes sense for older vehicles, base trims, work vehicles, and daily drivers where function and reasonable appearance matter more than showroom-level gloss.

It usually does not work well on vehicles where the bumper is tightly integrated with other painted elements (for example, designs where the bumper shape blends into a painted grille surround or a large painted center section). In those cases, painting is still the cleaner solution.

A quick note on wheel-well protection while you are there

If a bumper was damaged badly enough to break mounting points, it is also worth checking the surrounding wheel-well area. Fender liners often take impact damage in the same incidents that damage bumper corners. A missing or cracked liner can lead to more debris, moisture, and corrosion inside the wheel well. You can check replacements here: FITPARTS fender liners.

Bottom line: paint is a choice, not a requirement

If you want the best possible finish, a professional paint job in a proper booth will always win. But if you are repairing a practical vehicle, managing costs, or simply do not care about perfect gloss, you have options. DIY paint can cut the bill dramatically, and in the right cases, replacing both front and rear bumpers with matching unpainted versions can look surprisingly natural while saving hundreds of dollars.