# How Much to Charge for Pressure Washing in 2026 (Rates, Pricing Chart and Calculator)

Pressure washing is usually priced per square foot of surface, at roughly $0.10–$0.50 a square foot, according to Housecall Pro's October 2026 guide. Driveways and decks typically cost customers $100–$250 each, and a whole-house wash averages about $312. Set your own rate per surface from washing speed, chemicals, rig cost and drive time.

## Key takeaways

- Price by the square foot, with a different rate for each surface: concrete is fast, wood and siding are slow.
- On our illustrative inputs, a 600 sq ft concrete driveway comes to $172.16, or $0.29 a sq ft.
- Your rig (washer, surface cleaner, trailer, truck) is a real hourly cost. Put it in the price, not in your head.
- An 82% markup on cost here is a 45% margin. Mixing them up underprices every job.
- Set a job minimum. Small patios and walkways cost almost as much to set up as a driveway.

## How do you price a pressure washing job?

Measure each surface, divide the square footage by how fast you clean that surface, then add setup, drive time, chemicals and the hourly cost of running your rig. Gross that up for overhead and profit and you have a per-job price you can also express per square foot. The calculator below does it with the same engine as our [job pricing calculator](https://www.brix.so/tools/job-pricing-calculator).

**Pressure washing price per job**

```
Price = (labor + chemicals + rig hours × rig cost) ÷ (1 − overhead % − profit %)
```

Where:
- Washing hours = surface sq ft ÷ sq ft cleaned per hour × (1 + extra time for heavy staining)
- Rig cost per hour = fuel, wear on pump, hoses and surface cleaner, trailer and truck, spread over working hours
- Chemicals = sodium hypochlorite, surfactant and degreaser per sq ft, plus fixed fuel per job

> **Worked example: 600 sq ft concrete driveway, solo operator (illustrative inputs)**
>
> With a surface cleaner at 700 sq ft an hour, the slab takes 51 minutes. Add 30 minutes to set up, pre-treat and rinse down, and a 20-minute drive: **1.69 hours**.
>
> Labor at $28 an hour is $47.33. Chemicals and fuel add $22.00, and the rig at $15 an hour adds $25.36: **$94.69 direct cost**.
>
> Divide by 0.55 (30% overhead, 15% profit): **$172.16**, or $0.287 a square foot.
>
> Housecall Pro lists concrete at $0.20–$0.40 a sq ft and driveways at $100–$250, so this price sits in the market. A first wash on a badly stained slab (+40% time) comes to $198.97.

The $28 labor figure and the rig cost are illustrative. Work out your real rig cost by adding a year of fuel, maintenance and equipment payments and dividing by the hours you actually wash. If you're still picking equipment, the [equipment loan calculator](https://www.brix.so/tools/equipment-loan-calculator) shows what a new washer or trailer adds per month.

## Pressure washing price list by surface

Different surfaces clean at very different speeds, so one per-square-foot rate doesn't fit every job. The chart applies the worked example's costs to five common jobs, changing only the size, the washing speed and the chemical use, next to the market ranges for each.

**Calculated prices by surface, with market ranges**

| Job | Calculated price | Per sq ft | What customers pay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Patio, 300 sq ft concrete | $150.00 | $0.500 | Fixr: patio $50–$75 (50 sq ft); minimum charges $100–$350 common |
| Driveway, 600 sq ft concrete | $172.16 | $0.287 | HCP: driveways $100–$250; Fixr: $180–$240 |
| Two-car driveway + walks, 1,000 sq ft | $231.39 | $0.231 | HCP: concrete $0.20–$0.40 per sq ft |
| Wood deck, 400 sq ft | $244.79 | $0.612 | HCP: decks $100–$250; wood $0.30–$0.55 per sq ft |
| House wash, 2,000 sq ft siding | $387.88 | $0.194 | HCP: whole house $213–$449, about $312 average |

_Calculated prices use illustrative costs: concrete at 700 sq ft/hr, wood at 250 sq ft/hr and siding (soft wash) at 800 sq ft/hr. Market ranges: [Housecall Pro](https://www.housecallpro.com/resources/how-to-price-pressure-washing-jobs/) (updated Oct. 19, 2026) and [Fixr](https://www.fixr.com/costs/siding-cleaning) (updated Jan. 31, 2025), verified 2026-10-24._

The patio row is the minimum doing its job: a 300 sq ft patio calculates to $127.75, so the $150 minimum sets the price. The deck row lands above Housecall Pro's per-foot range for wood because a small deck still carries the full setup and drive; that's your cue to bundle it with the house wash. Bundling helps from the other side. A driveway and a house wash on one trip share the setup and drive, which brings the pair to about $472 instead of $560 booked separately. Passing part of that saving on is a good reason to quote both.

## Per square foot, flat rate, hourly or contract?

**Pressure washing pricing models**

| Model | Typical use | Upside | Downside |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Per square foot, by surface | Driveways, patios, siding, commercial flatwork | Scales fairly; easy to quote from satellite measurements | Needs a rate per surface and a minimum |
| Flat price per job | Standard driveways, one- and two-story house washes | Customers love one number; rewards fast crews | Oversized or stained jobs eat the margin |
| Hourly | Graffiti, rust, unknown conditions | Safe when you can't predict time | Customers can't compare; HCP lists $50–$100 per crew member |
| Recurring commercial contract | Dumpster pads, drive-thrus, storefronts | Steady monthly revenue ($100–$600 a month per HCP) | Night or early-morning work; water reclaim may apply |

## What customers typically pay for pressure washing

Customers typically pay $213–$449 for a whole-house wash (about $312 on average) and $100–$250 for a driveway or deck, according to Housecall Pro's October 2026 guide. Fixr's older figures run higher for houses, with a $700 average for a full exterior job.

**Third-party pressure washing price ranges**

| Figure | Range | Source and date |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Whole-house wash | $213–$449 (about $312 average) | [Housecall Pro](https://www.housecallpro.com/resources/how-to-price-pressure-washing-jobs/), updated Oct. 19, 2026 |
| Driveway or deck | $100–$250 each | Housecall Pro |
| Fence | $150–$300 | Housecall Pro |
| Two-story house | $400–$1,400 | Housecall Pro |
| Soft wash, house exterior | $250–$1,000 | Housecall Pro |
| Roof washing | $450–$700 | Housecall Pro and Fixr |
| Per sq ft by surface | Concrete $0.20–$0.40; vinyl $0.20–$0.50; wood $0.30–$0.55; roof $0.50–$1 | Housecall Pro |
| Hourly, residential | $50–$100 per crew member | Housecall Pro |
| House, national average | $700 ($500–$900 typical) | [Fixr](https://www.fixr.com/costs/siding-cleaning), updated Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Minimum charge | $100–$350 common | Fixr |

_Verified 2026-10-24. Neither source publishes regional price data, so check a few local competitors' posted prices before finalizing your sheet._

## Commercial pressure washing rates

Commercial flatwork is priced lower per square foot but in much bigger quantities. Housecall Pro lists basic commercial cleaning at $0.10–$0.35 a sq ft, intensive grease or graffiti work at $0.40–$1, parking garages at $0.10–$0.25 a sq ft and parking lots at $8–$20 per space. Dumpster pads run $0.75–$1 a sq ft because they're small, filthy and smell. Before you take restaurant or gas-station work, check your city's rules on wash water: many municipalities restrict what can go into storm drains, and the [EPA stormwater program](https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-stormwater-program) sets the federal framework.

## Add-ons that raise the ticket

- **Gutter washing.** Housecall Pro lists exterior gutter washing at $50–$150 as an add-on to a house wash. (Cleaning debris out of gutters is a different job; see [gutter cleaning prices](https://www.brix.so/how-much-to-charge/gutter-cleaning).)
- **Concrete sealing.** Fixr puts driveway resealing at $355–$600. Seal after the wash, while you're already on site.
- **Oil and rust stain treatment.** Price per stain or by time with a minimum. Results vary, so promise improvement, not removal.
- **Second-story access.** Add time in the calculator (the heavy option is +40%) or quote the house by story.
- **Roof soft washing.** A specialty with its own chemicals and fall risk. Housecall Pro and Fixr both put roofs at $450–$700.

## Minimums, trip charges and deposits

Every job pays for loading the trailer, hooking up water and rinsing down, so set a minimum. A 150 sq ft walkway calculates to $105.54 on our inputs, below the $150 minimum. Fixr says minimums of $100–$350 are common. Add a trip charge beyond your normal radius, and confirm the customer has a working outdoor spigot and enough water pressure before you drive out. Take a card on file for one-time residential jobs and a deposit on large commercial work.

## Common pressure washing pricing mistakes

1. **Treating margin as markup.** If you want 45% and add 45% to your costs, the driveway goes out at $137.30 instead of $172.16, a 31.0% margin. Use the [markup and margin calculator](https://www.brix.so/tools/markup-margin-calculator) or read [markup vs. margin](https://www.brix.so/learn/markup-vs-margin).
2. **Leaving the rig out of the price.** A washer, surface cleaner, hoses and a trailer wear out on a schedule. If they're not in the hourly cost, every job is subsidized by your next equipment loan.
3. **One rate for every surface.** Pricing a wood deck at concrete rates loses money; pricing a driveway at deck rates loses the job.
4. **Not measuring.** Guessing square footage from the curb is how 900 sq ft driveways get quoted as 600.
5. **No price for chemicals.** Bleach, surfactant and degreaser are small per job but add up over a season. Put them in per square foot.

## How to present the quote

1. **Measure from a satellite map, then confirm on site.** Note surface type, stains, plants that need wetting down, and water access.
2. **Quote by surface on one page.** "Driveway $172, house wash $388, or $472 for both on the same visit."
3. **Say what you won't promise.** Old oil stains and rust may lighten rather than disappear. Writing that down prevents disputes.
4. **Follow up and offer a yearly slot.** Most houses need a wash once a year. Book next year's visit when you finish. See [how to follow up on an estimate](https://www.brix.so/learn/how-to-follow-up-on-an-estimate).

Starting a pressure washing business? See [how to start a pressure washing business](https://www.brix.so/start/pressure-washing), and how an [AI receptionist for pressure washing](https://www.brix.so/for/pressure-washing/ai-receptionist) catches calls while the washer is running.

BRIX answers the calls you can't hear over the washer, sends the quote by text, and follows it up until the customer books. Finished jobs turn into invoices with a payment link.

- [AI receptionist](https://www.brix.so/features/ai-receptionist): Answers every call 24/7, qualifies the caller, books the job and texts back anyone it misses.
- [Quotes and estimates](https://www.brix.so/features/quotes-estimates): Builds accurate quotes on site and follows up on every open estimate.
- [Sales automation](https://www.brix.so/features/sales-automation): Follows up every lead and open estimate automatically by text and email, and asks every customer for a review after the job.
- [Invoicing and payments](https://www.brix.so/features/invoicing-payments): Turns finished jobs into invoices and politely chases unpaid ones until the money is in your account.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much should I charge to pressure wash a driveway?

Housecall Pro puts driveways at $100–$250 and concrete at $0.20–$0.40 a square foot. On our illustrative costs, a 600 sq ft driveway comes to $172.16; enter your own washing speed and rig cost in the calculator.

### What is the going rate for pressure washing per square foot?

Housecall Pro's October 2026 guide gives $0.10–$0.50 a square foot overall, with concrete at $0.20–$0.40, vinyl siding at $0.20–$0.50, wood at $0.30–$0.55 and roofs at $0.50–$1. Charge more per foot on slow surfaces and small jobs.

### How much should I charge to wash a house?

Housecall Pro reports $213–$449 for a whole-house wash, with about $312 as the national average, and $400–$1,400 for two-story homes. A 2,000 sq ft siding soft wash calculates to $387.88 on our example inputs.

### Should I charge by the hour for pressure washing?

Charge per square foot or per job for driveways and houses, and keep hourly for rust, graffiti or jobs you can't size. Housecall Pro lists residential hourly rates of $50–$100 per crew member. Use your hourly target to sanity-check flat prices.

### What minimum should a pressure washing company charge?

Enough to cover setup, drive and rinse-down on the smallest job you'll take. Fixr says $100–$350 minimums are common. Our illustrative calculator uses $150, which a 150 sq ft walkway triggers.

### How much do you charge for soft washing a house?

Housecall Pro lists soft washing a home's exterior at $250–$1,000, and Fixr gives $0.25–$0.35 a square foot. Soft washing uses more chemical and less pressure, so put the extra chemical cost in your per-square-foot materials.

## Related

- [How to Start a Pressure Washing Business in 2026 (Costs, Licenses and First Customers)](https://www.brix.so/start/pressure-washing)
- [AI Receptionist for Pressure Washing and Soft Washing Companies](https://www.brix.so/for/pressure-washing/ai-receptionist)
- [Job Pricing Calculator for Contractors](https://www.brix.so/tools/job-pricing-calculator)
- [Markup and Margin Calculator](https://www.brix.so/tools/markup-margin-calculator)
- [Markup vs. Margin: What's the Difference?](https://www.brix.so/learn/markup-vs-margin)
- [Equipment Loan Calculator for Contractors (Trucks, Vans, Machinery)](https://www.brix.so/tools/equipment-loan-calculator)
- [Overhead Rate Calculator](https://www.brix.so/tools/overhead-rate-calculator)
- [How Much to Charge for Gutter Cleaning in 2026 (Per Foot Rates, Chart and Calculator)](https://www.brix.so/how-much-to-charge/gutter-cleaning)
- [How Much to Charge for Window Cleaning in 2026 (Per Pane Rates, Chart and Calculator)](https://www.brix.so/how-much-to-charge/window-cleaning)
- [How Much to Charge for House Cleaning in 2026 (Rates, Pricing Chart and Calculator)](https://www.brix.so/how-much-to-charge/house-cleaning)

## Sources

- [Housecall Pro, How to price pressure washing jobs (updated Oct. 19, 2026)](https://www.housecallpro.com/resources/how-to-price-pressure-washing-jobs/) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [Fixr, Cost to pressure wash a house (updated Jan. 31, 2025)](https://www.fixr.com/costs/siding-cleaning) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Janitors and building cleaners (pay, May 2025)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/building-and-grounds-cleaning/janitors-and-building-cleaners.htm) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [EPA, NPDES Stormwater Program](https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-stormwater-program) (checked 2026-10-24)

Talk to BRIX: call or text (518) 588-1122, email eeharris2004@gmail.com, or book a 15-minute call at https://cal.com/ethanharris/15min.

---
Written by BRIX Editorial Team. Last updated 2026-10-24.
Canonical: https://www.brix.so/how-much-to-charge/pressure-washing