On a pressure washing job, the price is the whole game. Bid too low and a driveway eats your afternoon for gas money; bid too high without breaking down the surfaces and the homeowner calls someone else. This guide covers how pros price pressure washing, what to charge per square foot, and how to turn an estimate into a paid invoice.
How pressure washing pros price: per square foot, per hour, or per job
- Per square foot. The most common and defensible method. Measure each surface, multiply by a rate for that surface, and add it up. It scales with the real size of the job and is easy to justify to a client.
- Per hour. Useful for odd or heavily soiled jobs where area alone does not capture the effort, but clients usually prefer a fixed number.
- Flat per job. A single price for the whole property. Great for the client once you can estimate square footage and effort accurately.
Most established washers quote per square foot and always apply a minimum charge, so a small job still covers travel and setup.
Typical pressure washing rates per square foot
Rates depend on the surface and your market, but these are common starting points. Flat concrete is the cheapest; anything that needs soft washing or extra care costs more.
| Surface | Typical rate (per sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Concrete driveway, patio, sidewalk | $0.15 to $0.25 |
| Brick or pavers | $0.20 to $0.30 |
| Fence | $0.20 to $0.30 |
| Wood or composite deck (soft wash) | $0.25 to $0.40 |
| House siding (soft wash) | $0.25 to $0.45 |
| Roof (soft wash) | $0.30 to $0.60 |
Adjust for water access, travel, chemicals, and how badly the surface is soiled. These are floors to build from, not a fixed price list.
Soft washing costs more than blasting concrete
Not every surface can take high pressure. Roofs, house siding, wood decks, and painted surfaces are cleaned with a low-pressure soft wash and a cleaning solution, which takes more product, more care, and more time. Price those higher than a concrete driveway you can simply blast, and never quote a roof at flatwork rates.
Always keep a minimum charge
Loading the truck, driving out, setting up, and packing down costs the same whether the job is 200 square feet or 2,000. A minimum service charge protects you on small jobs so a quick driveway never runs at a loss. Add-ons such as gutter cleaning, sealing, or rust and oil stain treatment should be separate line items on top.
Do the math in seconds
Instead of running the numbers by hand on every enquiry, our free pressure washing estimate calculator does it for you. Add each surface and its square footage, set your rate, tick any add-ons, and it applies your minimum to produce an itemized estimate you can send on the spot.
From estimate to paid invoice
Winning the job comes down to a clear, professional estimate, not a number over the phone. Turn the calculator total into a quote in one click, send it, and convert it to an invoice once the work is done. Start with the free quote generator, or bill a finished job with the pressure washing invoice template.
The short version
- Quote per square foot for a price you can defend.
- Start from typical surface rates, then adjust for your market and how dirty the job is.
- Price soft washing (roofs, siding, decks) higher than flat concrete.
- Always apply a minimum charge, and list add-ons separately.
- Send a clean estimate and convert it to an invoice to get paid faster.
Know your rate for every surface, and every pressure washing bid gets faster and more profitable.
