Detail King
Detail King is a Pittsburgh-based, privately held e-commerce retailer founded in 1999 that sells auto detailing supplies, professional equipment, ceramic coatings, and PPF/window tint materials, and operates a training institute certifying professional detailers across the continental United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Detail King does
Detail King is a privately held, Pittsburgh-based e-commerce retailer founded in 1999 that supplies auto detailing products, equipment, and training to both professional detailers and DIY car enthusiasts across the continental United States. The company operates two Pennsylvania entities — Detail King LP for retail and Detail King Auto Detailing Training Institute, LLC for its certification programs — and runs a 25-year-old Shopify storefront with over 50 brands in its catalog (Rupes, Flex, Koch-Chemie, SONAX, DeWalt, Jade Ceramic, SB3, 3D, P&S, and others). Its product surface spans exterior wash and decontamination, paint correction and protection (compounds, polishes, ceramic coatings), polishers and pressure washers, interior cleaning and equipment, Paint Protection Film and Window Tint materials, plus specialty categories for Boats, RVs, and Aircraft. The company positions Jade Ceramic Coatings as an exclusive line and offers mystery boxes, clearance/overstock, and used/demo equipment to round out the assortment.
The business monetizes through one-time e-commerce purchases of consumables, durable equipment, and bundled Business Start-Up Kits (which include a custom website development package for new detailing shops). Pricing is unit-based across a wide ladder — chemicals $5-$50, polishers $300-$800, professional machinery $700-$5,000+, with free shipping over $115 and a $11.95 flat rate below. A secondary revenue stream comes from paid 1- to 3-day professional certification courses (Detailing Craftsman, PPF, Advanced Paint Correction & Ceramic, and Ceramic Coating Certification) operated through the training institute. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer via detailking.com with phone and chat support; customer acquisition relies on content marketing, organic SEO, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok), email, and paid advertising through Meta, Google, and TikTok pixels. No revenue, headcount growth, or external investment is disclosed.
Detail King firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Detail King
- Legal name
- Detail King LP
- Website
- https://detailking.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Detail King is a Pittsburgh-based, privately held e-commerce retailer founded in 1999 that sells auto detailing supplies, professional equipment, ceramic coatings, and PPF/window tint materials, and operates a training institute certifying professional detailers across the continental United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Detail King industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Auto Detailing Supplies
- NAICS
- Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Automotive Parts, Tires & Workshop Supplies Marketplaces (CRAFAHAD)
Keywords
Where Detail King is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Detail King business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales: One-time and recurring sales of auto detailing supplies, equipment, chemicals, tools, and accessories through e-commerce platform. Includes consumables (chemicals, towels, applicators), durable equipment (polishers, pressure washers, extractors), and specialty products (ceramic coatings, PPF materials, window tint).
- Training Programs: Professional auto detailing certification courses including 3-Day Auto Detailing Craftsman Program, 3-Day PPF Certification Course, 2-Day Advanced Paint Correction & Ceramic Certification, and 1-Day Ceramic Coating Certification. Operated through Detail King Auto Detailing Training Institute.
- Business Start-Up Kits: Bundled packages designed for entrepreneurs starting auto detailing businesses, including equipment, chemicals, and website development services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DIY Products - Consumables and small tools |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Equipment - Polishers and machinery |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Business Start-Up Kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Training Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mystery Boxes |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Detail King product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Detail King sells auto detailing supplies, equipment, chemicals, and accessories through its e-commerce platform detailking.com, sourcing products from over 50 brands such as Rupes, Flex, Koch-Chemie, Jade Ceramic, and SONAX. The company also operates the Detail King Auto Detailing Training Institute, providing professional certification courses (3-Day Craftsman, PPF, Ceramic Coating) and bundled Business Start-Up Kits for entrepreneurs entering the detailing industry.
Product overview
Detail King is an auto detailing supplies, equipment, and training e-commerce platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of products across multiple categories. The core offering includes Exterior Detailing Products (wash solutions, clay, dressings, brushes, towels), Correction & Protection Products (compounds, polishes, wax/sealant, ceramic coatings, wet sanding), and Polishers & Buffing Equipment (DA, cordless, orbital polishers from Rupes, Flex, DeWalt). Supporting categories include Interior Detailing Products, Interior Equipment (extractors, steamers, ozone generators), Pressure Washers & Water Equipment, Paint Protection Film, Window Tint, and Business Start-Up Kits. The company also operates a Training Institute offering certification programs (3-Day Auto Detailing Craftsman, PPF Certification, Ceramic Coating Certification). Products are sold from over 50 professional brands including Koch-Chemie, SONAX, Rupes, Flex, and Jade Ceramic. The platform targets both professional detailers and serious DIY enthusiasts through its e-commerce store at detailking.com.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Detail King Auto Detailing Training Institute: Professional auto detailing training and certification programs including 3-Day Auto Detailing Craftsman Program, PPF Certification, and Ceramic Coating Certification courses.
Products and services
- Exterior Detailing Products Complete line of exterior car detailing products including wash solutions, clay and decontamination products, dressings and conditioners, convertible top care, brushes, aerosols, towels, and value kits, designed for professional detailers and DIY enthusiasts.
- Correction and Protection Products Professional paint correction and protection supplies including compounds, polishes, wax/sealant, ceramic coatings, wet sanding products, metal polishes, and complete paint correction kits for achieving flawless finishes.
- Polishers and Buffing Equipment Professional car polishers and buffers including DA (dual-action), cordless, and orbital polishers from brands such as Rupes, Flex, DeWalt, Porter Cable, and GEM, used for paint correction and finishing.
- Pressure Washers and Water Equipment Electric and gas pressure washers for mobile auto detailing, along with water tanks (60-330 gallon), water filtration systems, water containment and reclamation equipment, and foam cannons.
- Interior Detailing Products Complete interior car detailing supplies including cleaning solutions, aerosols, brushes, towels, protectants and conditioners, pet hair removal products, odor removal and scents, carpet dyeing, cigarette burn repair, and leather and vinyl repair solutions.
- Interior Equipment Professional interior cleaning equipment including carpet extractors, vapor steamers, vacuums and accessories, and ozone generators for odor removal.
- Ceramic Coatings Professional-grade ceramic coating supplies including Jade Graphene, Jade Emerald, Jade Aquamarine, Jade Amethyst (glass ceramic), Jade Ruby spray coating, Jade Pearl (leather and vinyl coating), Jade Topaz trim coating, and fabric guard products.
- Training and Certification Programs Auto detailing training institute offering the 3-Day Auto Detailing Craftsman Program, 3-Day PPF Certification Course, 2-Day Advanced Paint Correction and Ceramic Certification, and 1-Day Ceramic Coating Certification, taught at the Pittsburgh, PA training facility.
- Business Start-Up Kits Bundled business packages for starting an auto detailing business, including Start-Up Kit 1, 2, and 3, the Weekend Warrior package, and a Custom Auto Detailing Website Development Package.
- Mystery Boxes Random product mystery boxes at various price points ($49.95, $99.95, $149.95, $249.95) containing assorted auto detailing supplies and equipment.
- Paint Protection Film (PPF) Paint protection film materials and accessories for vehicle paint protection, including pre-cut custom PPF kits ordered by vehicle Year/Make/Model/Trim Package.
- Window Tint Window tint film materials and accessories for automotive window tinting applications.
- Used and Demo Equipment Pre-owned and demonstration auto detailing equipment at reduced prices, including polishers, extractors, and other professional tools that are fully functional and inspected for resale.
- 2025 New Detailing Products Lineup
Companies that use Detail King
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Detail King technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Detail King partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RupescoreMajor brand partner selling Rupes polishers, pads, compounds, and sanding equipment. Products featured prominently with extensive inventory and bundle options.
- FlexcoreKey brand partner for Flex polishers and cordless tools. Featured brand with full product line available.
- Koch-ChemiecoreGerman manufacturer of professional detailing chemicals. Products include compounds, polishes, and sealants. Part of 12% promotional brand discount.
- Jade Ceramic CoatingscoreExclusive ceramic coating brand featuring Jade Graphene, Emerald, Aquamarine, Ruby, and specialty coatings for paint, glass, leather, and fabric protection.
- SB3 CoatingscoreBrand partner for SB3 coating products including wheel cleaner and glass cleaner. Part of 20% promotional discount offers.
- ShopifycoreE-commerce platform powering detailking.com online store. Handles payment processing, cookies, and analytics per privacy policy.
- TikTokminorAdvertising and analytics partner for TikTok Pixel, Events API, and targeted advertising campaigns.
- Meta (Facebook and Instagram)minorAdvertising partner for Meta Pixel and Conversions API for measuring ad effectiveness and audience targeting.
- GoogleminorMarketing and analytics partner using Google Analytics, Google Ads, Google Tag Manager, and YouTube advertising services.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Detail King competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Detail King social profiles
Digital presenceDetail King financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Detail King leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Detail King subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Detail King funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Detail King M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Detail King
What does Detail King do?
Detail King sells auto detailing supplies, equipment, chemicals, and accessories through its e-commerce platform detailking.com, sourcing products from over 50 brands such as Rupes, Flex, Koch-Chemie, Jade Ceramic, and SONAX. The company also operates the Detail King Auto Detailing Training Institute, providing professional certification courses (3-Day Craftsman, PPF, Ceramic Coating) and bundled Business Start-Up Kits for entrepreneurs entering the detailing industry.
Is Detail King a public or private company?
Detail King is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Detail King founded?
Detail King was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Detail King based?
Detail King is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Detail King make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are training Programs and business Start-Up Kits.
Does Detail King have an API?
No public API is recorded for Detail King.
What industry is Detail King in?
Detail King's product category is Auto Detailing Supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAHAD, Automotive Parts, Tires & Workshop Supplies Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 44133 and its SIC code is 5013.