How Much to Charge for Pressure Washing?

Price off measured surface area: $0.15 to $0.30 per sq ft for concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks, patios); $0.20 to $0.50 per sq ft for house and siding soft washing; $0.30 to $0.70 per sq ft for roofs. Basic light-soil jobs run lower; heavy mold and algae run higher.

Homeowners want one number. $100 to $250 for a standard driveway, $250 to $600 for a single-story house wash. Measure first so a big surface doesn't blow your number - and always hold a minimum.

$50 to $160 per hour depending on solo vs crew and equipment. Use it for heavy oxidation and rust, multi-stage soft washing, and commercial jobs where the scope is uncertain. Most pros quote by the job up front and keep an hourly rate in their back pocket.

Soft washing roofs, siding, and stucco uses a sodium-hypochlorite-and-surfactant mix, not just water and pressure. Bill the method, not "a wash" - soft wash is the skilled, surface-protecting work and earns a premium.

Build a trip charge into jobs outside your core zone. If you haul your own water in a tank, that's a premium; if you're on the customer's spigot, note it.

Second passes, oxidation and rust removal, and stubborn organic growth take real extra time. Price it as its own line rather than eating it on site.

Concrete sealing, deck brightening and sealing, and gutter brightening are natural upsells. Line-item them so the customer sees the value.

• Rate: $0.15 to $0.40 per sq ft, or $50 to $90/hr on heavy work.
• Quote by the job, not the clock. Customers hate an open-ended meter; you want credit for being efficient.
• Hold a $100 to $150 minimum so a single driveway is still worth the drive.
• Price for profit, not just to undercut. Startup is only $3,000 to $5,000, so don't race the flyer on the mailbox to the bottom.

• Rate: $0.30 to $0.70 per sq ft. It has to cover labor plus overhead plus equipment plus profit.
• Set a minimum job size. Mobilizing a rig and a crew for a single walkway loses money.
• Stack jobs by neighborhood. Route density, not raw speed, is where a crew makes money.

Still buying the rig? Our guide to how to start a pressure washing business covers the right machine, soft wash, licensing, and the first prices to set per square foot.

An eyeball number on a big driveway or a two-story soft wash is how you lose a Saturday for free. Measure the surface and price off it, every time.

A $40 driveway after gas and chemicals isn't a job, it's a favor. Set $100 to $250 and hold it.

Soft washing is the skilled, surface-saving method. Charge for the chemistry and the expertise, not just the water.

The mix and the drive are real costs. Bake them into the quote or they quietly eat your margin.

A handshake number disappears the moment a cheaper bid shows up. Send the price in writing, by text, before you unroll a hose.

The job you priced right can still turn into a refund if the homeowner blames you for siding that was already cracked or paint that was already failing. Photograph existing damage before you start and get it signed off - the free pressure washing contract template includes a walkaround sheet.