Average driveway: 600 sq ft
Industry avg for driveway: $0.20/sq ft
Estimated Time
3.0 hrs
Water Usage
~720 gal
Effective Rate
$0.20/sqft
Hourly Rate
$40/hr
Driveway (600 sq ft) in your area
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You just calculated: Pressure washing — $120.00 (600 sq ft)
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Quick answer: pressure washing cost per sq ft
Pressure washing typically costs $0.15 to $0.75 per sq ft depending on the surface. Driveways run $0.15-$0.30 per sq ft ($100-$200 average job), house exteriors $0.25-$0.50 per sq ft ($200-$600), decks and patios $0.30-$0.50 per sq ft ($150-$400), and soft-wash roofs $0.35-$0.75 per sq ft ($300-$700). Sidewalks are lowest at $0.10-$0.20 per sq ft. Heavy staining adds 25-50 percent. To estimate a job, measure the surface square footage, pick the per-sq-ft rate by surface type, adjust for staining, and set a minimum job price of $100-$150 to cover drive time and setup.
Pricing pressure washing jobs accurately is the difference between a profitable business and working for free. The industry standard is to charge per square foot, with rates varying by surface type, staining level, and your local market.
Most pressure washing contractors charge between $0.15 and $0.75 per square foot. Driveways and sidewalks are on the lower end ($0.15-$0.30/sqft), while house exteriors ($0.25-$0.50/sqft) and roofs ($0.35-$0.75/sqft) command higher rates due to the skill and chemicals required.
| Surface | Price/Sq Ft | Avg Job |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway | $0.15 – $0.30 | $100 – $200 |
| House Exterior | $0.25 – $0.50 | $200 – $600 |
| Deck / Patio | $0.30 – $0.50 | $150 – $400 |
| Roof (Soft Wash) | $0.35 – $0.75 | $300 – $700 |
| Sidewalk | $0.10 – $0.20 | $50 – $100 |
| Fence | $0.30 – $0.60 | $150 – $400 |
Pressure washing a house costs $200 to $600, and the average 2,000 sq ft home runs about $300. Price tracks the home's square footage at roughly $0.15 to $0.25 per square foot for the exterior, with a minimum charge of $100 to $150 on small jobs.
| Home size | Single storey | 2 story |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $150 – $250 | $190 – $350 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $225 – $375 | $280 – $525 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $300 – $500 | $375 – $700 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $375 – $625 | $470 – $875 |
| 3,200 sq ft | $480 – $800 | $600 – $1,120 |
A 2 story house adds roughly 25-40%: the wash itself is no bigger, but reaching the second storey safely costs time. Most siding needs soft washing rather than high pressure, which is a chemistry job, not a PSI job — high pressure drives water behind siding and strips paint.
If you are the one quoting rather than buying, the homeowner numbers above are your ceiling, not your target. Estimate a pressure washing job in this order:
The most common estimating mistake is quoting from a photo. Contamination level is the single biggest driver of how long the job actually takes, and it is the one thing a photo will not tell you — which is why the same 2,000 sq ft house can be a three-hour job or a full day.
Charge $0.15 to $0.75 per square foot depending on the surface: about $0.20 for driveways and flatwork, $0.35 for house exteriors, $0.50 for decks, and $0.30 to $0.60 for fences. Add 25-40% for a second storey and 25-50% for heavy mould, algae or rust. Apply a $100 to $150 minimum to cover drive time, setup and teardown — a job that does not clear the minimum loses money regardless of the rate.
Pressure washing a 2 story house costs about $375 to $700 for a 2,000 sq ft home, roughly 25-40% more than the same house on one level. The wash area is not much larger; the added cost is the time to reach the upper storey safely. Most siding should be soft washed rather than pressure washed at height, because high pressure drives water behind the siding.
A 1,500 sq ft house costs about $225 to $375 to pressure wash on a single storey, or $280 to $525 for a two-storey home of the same size. That reflects $0.15 to $0.25 per square foot of home size for the exterior. Driveways, decks and fences are quoted separately by their own square footage rather than being included.
Measure the surface you will actually clean rather than the property, apply the per-surface rate, then add for height, access and contamination. Second storey adds 25-40%; heavy mould or rust adds 25-50%. Finish by checking the total against your minimum charge. The most common estimating error is quoting from a photo, because contamination level drives how long the job really takes and a photo will not show it.
Pressure washing typically costs $0.15 to $0.75 per square foot depending on the surface type. Driveways average $0.20/sq ft, house exteriors $0.35/sq ft, decks $0.40/sq ft, and roofs (soft wash) $0.50/sq ft. Heavy staining can add 25-50% to the base price.
A standard 600 sq ft driveway costs $100-$200 to pressure wash. Most contractors charge $0.15-$0.30 per square foot for driveways, with a minimum job price of $100-$150 to cover drive time and setup. Heavily stained driveways with oil or black marks cost 25-50% more.
To estimate a pressure washing job: 1) Measure the square footage of the surface, 2) Choose your per-square-foot rate based on surface type, 3) Adjust for staining level (light, moderate, or heavy), 4) Add tax if applicable, 5) Set a minimum job price of $100-$150. Use our free calculator above to automate this process.
Pressure washing a house exterior typically costs $200-$600. The average 2,000 sq ft home costs about $300 at $0.15/sq ft for basic cleaning. Two-story homes, heavy mold/algae, and soft washing (required for most siding) increase the price. Expect to charge $0.25-$0.50/sq ft for house washing.
Pressure washing uses high-pressure water (2,000-4,000 PSI) for hard surfaces like concrete driveways and sidewalks. Soft washing uses low pressure (under 500 PSI) with specialized cleaning solutions for delicate surfaces like roofs, vinyl siding, and wood. Soft washing typically costs 10-20% more due to chemical costs but is necessary to avoid damage on softer surfaces.
A standard pressure washer uses 2-5 gallons per minute (GPM). A typical driveway job (30-45 minutes) uses about 120-225 gallons of water. Larger jobs like house washing can use 400-600+ gallons. Water costs are negligible (under $2 for most jobs) but some areas require water reclamation systems.
