Guide content
Opening a small body shop, or just upgrading your DIY garage to something closer to professional? This is the supply list a working shop actually uses, broken down by category with specific SKU-level recommendations.
We've left out the obvious infrastructure (compressor, lift, downdraft booth, paint mixing scale) and focused on consumables and supplies you'll reorder regularly. The goal: a starting baseline that gets a one-tech operation through 4–8 vehicles a month for the first 60 days, without buying things you don't need.
How to use this checklist
For each category we list:
- Must-have — buy this before you start
- Standard add — add within the first month as the workflow stabilizes
- Specialty / situational — buy when a specific job needs it
We've estimated 60-day quantities for a 1–2 tech operation doing primarily collision and refinish work. Scale up proportionally for a 4-tech shop, scale down for hobby work.
1. Body repair materials
The foundation. Get these right and the rest of the workflow runs smoothly.
Must-have
- Evercoat Rage Gold body filler — 1 gallon ($32–38) — general dent and surface work
- USC All-Metal body filler — 1 quart ($25–35) — welds, joints, edges
- Evercoat Z-Grip Glaze — 1 quart ($22–28) — final glaze to fill pinholes before primer
- Cream hardener (red or blue) — 2 tubes — for both fillers above
Standard add (within month 1)
- Evercoat Rage Ultra — 1 gallon — lighter-weight option for overhead and large panel work
- 3M Acryl Putty (05096) — 1 tube — fine spot glazing
Specialty
- Evercoat Rage Xtreme — for direct application over OEM e-coat or aluminum
- Polyvance plastic repair kit — for plastic bumper and trim repairs
→ See our Rage Gold vs All-Metal guide for the workflow detail on these two.
2. Abrasives
The single biggest reorder category in any shop. Stock multiple grits in DA discs and a few key wet-sand grits.
Must-have (DA sander discs, 5" or 6" depending on your sander)
- 80 grit — pack of 50 — rough shape on body filler and All-Metal
- 120 grit — pack of 50 — block down filler
- 150 grit — pack of 50 — finish filler before glaze
- 220 grit — pack of 50 — primer prep
- 320 grit — pack of 50 — final primer sand before paint
- 400 grit — pack of 50 — basecoat prep
Recommended brand options: - 3M Cubitron II Hookit — premium choice, best cut and life, ~$48–55/pack - 3M Stikit Gold — solid mid-tier, ~$30–35/pack - Norton BlueFire or Black Ice — competitive premium alternative - Mirka Gold — popular for net-style dust extraction setups
Wet-sand papers (for color sanding and pre-buff)
- 800 grit Stikit — pack of 25
- 1500 grit (Trizact-style or P-grade) — pack of 25
- 2000 grit — pack of 25 — final before machine polish
Roloc / Fibre discs (for grinding welds, paint removal)
- 24 grit 3" Roloc — pack of 25 — paint stripping
- 36 grit 5" fibre disc — pack of 10 — weld grinding
- 60 grit 4.5" fibre disc — pack of 10 — weld smoothing
Standard add
- Sanding blocks — soft pad for hand sanding, flat block for body filler shaping
- Sanding sponges — Indasa, Sunmight, or 3M — for contoured panels
→ See our 3M Auto Body Buyer's Guide for the Cubitron II detail.
3. Masking — tape, paper, film
Must-have
- 3M 233+ premium masking tape, 3/4 inch — 6 rolls — the workhorse, paint masking
- 3M 233+ premium masking tape, 1.5 inch — 4 rolls — for wider edges
- 3M 218 stencil tape, orange — 3 rolls — for curved lines, two-tone breaks
- 3M Hand-Masker Premium masking film (or equivalent) — 1 dispenser + 2 refills — for door jambs and full-panel masking
- 3M 06900 / 06901 masking paper — 1 dispenser + 2 rolls — solvent-resistant
- Plastic sheeting (50ft x 12ft roll) — for booth masking and floor protection
Standard add
- 3M 2080 delicate surface tape — 2 rolls — for masking on fresh paint or sensitive surfaces
- Pre-folded backless masking film (smaller dispenser size) — for quick edge masking
4. Refinish primer, paint, hardeners, reducers
Your paint system is the biggest decision in shop setup. The brand you commit to dictates a lot of downstream choices. The three main professional systems used in US small shops:
- Pro-Spray Automotive Finishes (European AmTech) — value-tier pro system, simpler color line, well-suited for single-stage and collision repair work
- AXALTA (Cromax) or Sherwin-Williams (Ultra 7000) — premium tier, deeper color libraries, more matchable to OEM
- PPG Refinish — premium, very deep color library, common in larger shops
For a small shop starting out, Pro-Spray is the most practical pick because the system pricing is approachable, the color line is manageable, and a wider range of distributors (AutofxMart included) carry the full system.
Must-have (Pro-Spray example — adapt to your chosen system)
- 2K Urethane Primer (DTM) — 1 quart — direct-to-metal primer for repairs
- 2K High-Build Primer — 1 quart — for finer panel work
- Activator/Hardener for primer — 1 pint
- Reducer (medium temperature) — 1 quart
- Single-stage or basecoat in 2-3 common colors — black, white, silver to start
- Clearcoat (2K) — 1 quart
- Clearcoat activator — 1 pint
- Custom color matching — done via your paint distributor (Eagle National Supply is the specialist; some shops also work with their paint rep directly)
Standard add
- DTM epoxy primer (e.g., Pro-Spray ProEpoxy) — for over-bare-metal areas requiring rust resistance
- Sealer — between primer and basecoat for better color holdout
- Flex agent — for spraying flexible bumpers and trim
5. Spray equipment maintenance
Even with a quality spray gun, you'll need consumables.
Must-have
- Paint strainers (190 micron) — box of 100 — strain everything that goes in the gun
- Mixing cups (graduated, 32oz) — 50-pack — for accurate ratios
- Mixing sticks — 100-pack
- Spray gun cleaner / solvent — gallon
- Air cap and nozzle cleaning brushes
- Replacement air cap / nozzle / needle for your primary gun — keep one set of consumables for when you wear yours out
6. Detailing — compound, polish, pads
Must-have
- 3M Perfect-It EX Rubbing Compound (36060) — 1 quart — pre-polish, cuts P1200+ scratches
- 3M Perfect-It Machine Polish (06064) — 1 quart — removes compound haze
- Compounding wool pad (8") — 2 pads — for rubbing compound step
- Polishing foam pad (8") — 2 pads — for polish step
- Microfiber towels — pack of 25 — clean removal
Standard add
- 3M Perfect-It Ultrafina SE Polish (06068) — final swirl removal for high-end work
- Meguiar's Final Inspection — fast detail spray, removes light dust between steps
- Headlight restoration kit — common upsell on customer cars
7. PPE and safety
Non-negotiable. Don't skip these.
Must-have
- Full-face supplied-air respirator (for paint spraying) — $400–800 one-time. Critical. Don't use a cartridge respirator with modern isocyanate hardeners.
- N95 / P100 cartridge respirator (for sanding, prep, masking work)
- Tyvek paint suits — pack of 10
- Nitrile gloves (Box of 100) — multiple boxes, size them
- Safety glasses — 2 pairs
- Hearing protection — for grinder/sander use
Standard add
- Eye wash station — for chemical exposure
- First aid kit — properly stocked
- Fire extinguisher (ABC, multi-purpose) — 2 minimum in any paint shop
8. Tools and shop supplies
We won't list every hand tool (that's a separate guide). Here's the consumables that pair with the tools:
Must-have
- K Tool International basic socket set — for general bodywork mounting
- Body hammer and dolly set — for metal shaping
- DA sander (5" or 6") — primary sander
- Mini-DA (3") — for tight spots and edge work
- Random orbital polisher — for the detailing workflow
- Mixing scale (digital, gram-accurate) — for measuring paint ratios
- Air tools regulator and filter — clean dry air is critical for paint
- Magnetic parts trays — for hardware management on disassembled vehicles
- Heavy-duty shop towels (red, rags) — case quantity
- Aluminum body filler spreaders — set of 10, various sizes
9. Solvents and prep chemicals
Must-have
- Wax & grease remover (gallon) — pre-paint surface prep, every panel
- Final wipe / panel wipe — for last-minute degreasing
- Acetone (gallon) — gun cleaning, surface cleaning
- Tack rags — pack of 12 — final dust removal before paint
- Isopropyl alcohol — for sensitive cleaning, electronics
10. Reorder rhythm
The "one big initial order" stocks the shop. After that, here's the typical reorder pattern for a working 1–2 tech shop:
- Weekly: abrasives (especially DA discs, often runs out fastest)
- Bi-weekly: body filler, cream hardener, masking tape
- Monthly: primer/clear/hardener, paper, films
- Quarterly: PPE consumables (suits, gloves, respirator cartridges)
- Annually: big-ticket replacement (spray gun rebuild kit, polisher pad replacement)
Build the muscle memory of ordering supplies before you run out, not after. A Wednesday-morning order for Thursday delivery is much better than realizing Friday morning that you're out of cream hardener.
Total starter order — ballpark
For a 1-tech small body shop ordering everything in the must-have lists above, the all-in total is roughly $1,800–$2,800 depending on paint system choice. The biggest variance is the paint system (Pro-Spray vs PPG/AXALTA pricing).
Once stocked, monthly reorder typically runs $400–$800 for the consumables that turn over fastest.
These numbers are conservative. Shops doing heavy collision volume (8+ vehicles/month) typically run 2–3x that consumable cost. Hobbyist DIY work, of course, runs much lower.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to stock a small body shop's supply pantry?
For the must-have consumables in the categories above (body filler, abrasives, masking, refinish, detailing, PPE, mixing supplies), expect to spend $1,800–$2,800 on the initial stocking order for a 1-tech operation. The biggest variable is the paint system — Pro-Spray is the value pick at around $400 for the starter pieces, while premium systems like PPG or AXALTA can be $800+ for the equivalent starter set.
What should I buy first when setting up a body shop?
Start with PPE (especially a supplied-air respirator), body filler (Rage Gold gallon + All-Metal quart), and a baseline of DA sander discs in 80–320 grit progression. Add masking and refinish next once you have a job lined up. PPE before anything else — no shop should spray paint without proper respiratory protection.
Can I run a body shop without a trade account?
Yes. AutofxMart and several other professional distributors sell to non-trade customers at standard distributor pricing. There's no requirement to open a commercial trade account to get pro-grade supplies. Some manufacturers offer additional tiers for high-volume accounts, but the baseline access is open.
What's the difference between Pro-Spray and PPG paint systems?
Pro-Spray (made by AmTech in Europe) is a value-tier professional system with a more limited but practical color library, lower system cost, and good for general collision repair and refinish work. PPG is a premium-tier system with one of the deepest color libraries in the industry, used in most larger collision centers and OEM-certified repair networks. For a small shop just starting out, Pro-Spray is the more economical entry point; PPG is the move once you're handling OEM-certified work that requires their specific color codes.
How often should I reorder body shop supplies?
Set a weekly reorder rhythm for abrasives (the fastest-turnover category in most shops). Body filler, masking, and cream hardener typically reorder bi-weekly. Refinish materials (primer/paint/clear) reorder monthly. PPE consumables reorder quarterly. The biggest cost of running out is downtime — order before you actually need it.
Where can I get a starter stocking quote?
Email support@autofxmart.com or call (415) 798-6167 with your shop size, paint system, and estimated monthly volume. We can put together a starter quote with pricing on the specific SKUs and quantities. Most small-shop starter quotes come back same business day.
Is it worth buying premium abrasives (Cubitron II) vs. mid-tier?
For shops doing volume, yes — Cubitron II's 2–3x longer life and 30–50% faster cut more than offsets the 1.5–2x per-disc price premium. For occasional hobbyist work, standard Stikit Gold or equivalent mid-tier abrasives are fine. The break-even is roughly 10–15 vehicles a month — above that, Cubitron II saves money; below that, the math is more balanced.
AutofxMart is an authorized distributor of professional auto body and refinish supplies, shipping same-day from South San Francisco, California. Questions, custom quotes, or starter-pack pricing: support@autofxmart.com, (415) 798-6167.
Shop AutofxMart → Read: The 3M Auto Body Buyer's Guide → Read: Rage Gold vs All-Metal → Read: Same-Day California Shipping →
