Guides · Pricing guide · Facts checked 2026-09-05
How much to charge for pressure washing
Per-square-foot vs flat rates, what drives the price, what to add for, and what to put on the estimate so the number holds.
Pressure washing is priced two ways and the good operators use both: per square foot for flatwork you can measure, flat rates for houses and roofs where the square footage is only part of the story. The ranges below are starting points a working operator would recognise — not a survey, and not what you should charge. Your market, your equipment and your overhead set the number. Where these ranges come from: the line bank on our pressure washing invoice template.
Typical ranges
| Job | Common range | Priced by |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway and walkways | $0.12–$0.30 per sq ft | Square footage, with a minimum |
| House soft wash — single story | $200–$450 | Flat, by size and siding |
| House soft wash — two story | $350–$650 | Flat; a second story is more than double the time |
| Roof soft wash | $400–$900 | Flat; pitch and staining |
| Pool deck and screen enclosure | $125–$300 | Flat |
| Gutter face brightening | $1–$2 per linear ft | Linear feet |
| Rust or oil stain treatment | $50–$200 | Per stain or area, plus chemical |
| Water tank fill surcharge | $25–$60 | When there is no on-site water |
Ranges are rough starting points for a blank estimate, not quotes and not a survey of what anyone charges.
What moves the price
- Surface. Concrete is fast; pavers need care and sand; wood decks need low pressure and more time.
- Soiling. Black algae on a north-facing wall, red clay, rust from irrigation — each is a chemical and time question, not a pressure question.
- Height. A second story means a ladder, a wand extension or a softwash pump, and roughly double the time.
- Water. No spigot means you bring a tank, and the fill is a real cost — charge it as a line.
- Access and setup. A gated community with a 15-minute check-in, a long hose run, parking a trailer — time is money before the trigger is pulled.
- Minimums. A $75 driveway is a loss once you count the drive there. Set a minimum job charge and say it up front.
Per-square-foot or flat rate?
Per square foot is honest and easy to explain on flatwork: measure, multiply, done. It falls apart on houses, because a 2,000 sq ft two-story with heavy algae is not the same job as a 2,000 sq ft ranch with light dust. For houses and roofs, quote flat by size band and condition, and say what the flat rate includes. Whichever you use, write it on the estimate the way you will bill it; quoting per square foot and invoicing flat is how a customer decides you moved the number.
Add-ons worth charging for
- Sealing after cleaning — pavers and concrete; a separate line with its own price.
- Gutter interiors — different job from brightening the face.
- Windows after a house wash — spot-free rinse or a squeegee pass.
- Stain treatment — rust, oil, tannin. Say which, and that results vary with age of the stain.
Writing the estimate so the number holds
List each surface as a line with its price. Say what is excluded ('does not include sealing or gutter interiors'). Note that stain removal is best-effort. Put the water surcharge on if it applies. Give it a 30-day validity. Then send it so the customer can accept it with a tap — the pressure washing estimate template has these lines ready, and acceptance turns it into the invoice.
Common questions
Should I charge by the hour for pressure washing?
Rarely. Hourly punishes you for being fast and makes the customer watch the clock. Price the job, and let your speed be your margin.
What minimum should I set?
Enough to cover the drive, the setup and an hour on site with a margin. Many operators land somewhere around a hundred dollars and say so on the website, so small jobs self-select.
Do I charge for the estimate visit?
Most residential pressure washing is quoted from photos or a drive-by. If a job genuinely needs a site visit, either fold it into the price or say up front that there is a visit charge credited back if they book.