A cargo van is mostly a flat canvas with three problem areas: the wheel arches, the door-jamb access between cargo and cab, and the rear doors that don't sit flush when closed. Everything else (the side panels, the roof, the cab doors) wraps about as easily as a flat sheet. That's why vans are the best ROI vehicle in a service fleet's lineup, and why we usually recommend a full wrap on vans even when a partial would do for a pickup.
What's different about wrapping a van
- Side panels are big and flat. A long-wheelbase Sprinter or Transit has 50+ square feet of side panel uninterrupted by glass. Full-resolution graphics, large logos, photographic imagery: all of it reads well at highway distance because the canvas is big.
- Wheel-arch flares vary by trim. Most cargo vans have minimal flares, but premium-trim Sprinters and high-roof Transits sometimes have plastic flare extensions that don't paint-match. We wrap flares in matching vinyl as part of the install.
- Rear-door alignment. When the rear barn doors close, they don't always sit perfectly flush at the centre seam. Graphics that cross the centre seam need a small alignment buffer: we leave a ⅛″ gap so the doors close cleanly without stressing the vinyl.
- Roof rails and ladder racks. If you've got a roof-mounted ladder rack or rails, they come off for the wrap and go back on after. Permanent roof equipment (Maxxair fans, vents) gets masked.
- Refrigerated van skin. Insulated and reefer vans have a slightly textured exterior skin that vinyl adheres to fine, but the bumpers and lower panels are still smooth steel; they wrap normally.
What we wrap
The four common cargo van platforms in our Edmonton shop:
- Ford Transit (regular, medium, high roof; 130/148″ wheelbase): wraps like a flat panel; the easiest van to install on
- Mercedes Sprinter (144/170″ wheelbase): taller side panels, more vertical canvas
- RAM ProMaster (low/high roof, 136/159″ wheelbase): boxier than Transit, wraps similarly
- Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana: older platform, body lines slightly more pronounced
Pricing for a single van
Same as the fleet-wraps hub ranges but specific to vans:
| Work | Price |
|---|---|
| Cut-vinyl lettering (doors + rear) | $400–$1,200 |
| Partial wrap (doors + rear panel) | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Partial wrap (doors + rear + side branding) | $2,500–$3,500 |
| Full wrap, cargo van | $3,500–$5,500 |
Fleet pricing for 3+ vans drops the per-vehicle cost: see fleet wraps for the volume math.
Related work
- Fleet wraps overview: multi-vehicle pricing and process
- Box trucks: bigger boxes, same logic but more panel area
- Delivery and courier: industry page for delivery fleets
- HVAC and plumbing: the trade most commonly van-equipped
Common questions
Will the wrap survive years of loading and unloading at the back?
Yes, the rear panel takes scuffs from cargo handling, but vinyl is more forgiving than paint here. Light scuffs polish out; deeper damage is patchable for $150–$400 per panel. We'd rather replace a wrap patch than respray a rear panel.
Can you wrap a refrigerated cargo van?
Yes. The reefer compressor and condenser components stay untouched; the body panels wrap normally. Insulated van skins have a slightly different texture than standard steel but vinyl bonds fine.
What about windows on the side or rear?
Side cargo windows: we'll perf-print over them if you want one-way-visibility branding, or wrap around them if you'd rather keep them clear. Rear windows on barn doors: same options.
How long does a van wrap take?
3–5 working days for a full wrap, depending on van length and how much branding crosses the rear-door seam. Long-wheelbase Sprinters and 170″ Transits push toward the longer end. Partial wraps and cut-vinyl lettering usually finish in one to two days.