National average for self-employed pressure washing pros, 2026

How Much to Charge for Pressure Washing?

$0.15 - $0.50 / sq ft

Typical 2026 rate per square foot of surface for a solo pressure washing operator - concrete flatwork like driveways and sidewalks at the low end, house and roof soft-washing at the high end. Most pros also hold a job minimum of $100 to $250 so small jobs still pay.

On a 2,000 sq ft job: about $300 - $1,000 in labor before travel and chemicals.

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Typical $0.15-$0.50
You $0.15
$0.10$0.30$0.50$0.70

At $0.15/sq ft you’re right in the typical range for your area.

Surface
Condition
That job: about $500 before chemicals and travel.

Per Square Foot, Per Job, or Hourly?

Most pressure washers quote one job number. How you get to that number is what separates a profitable bid from a guess.

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.

Common Job Prices (2026 Benchmarks)

National averages for common pressure washing jobs, labor included. Adjust up 30 to 50 percent for coastal metros, down 10 to 20 percent for rural areas.

JobTypical price
Driveway (2-car, concrete)$100 - $250
Sidewalk / walkway$0.15 - $0.30 / sq ft
Single-story house wash (soft wash)$250 - $500
Two-story house wash (soft wash)$400 - $700
Roof soft wash$250 - $600
Deck or patio$100 - $300
Wood fence (per side)$0.15 - $0.40 / sq ft
Concrete patio$0.15 - $0.30 / sq ft
Gutter brightening (exterior)$1 - $2 / linear ft
Commercial flatwork$0.08 - $0.20 / sq ft
Fleet / vehicle wash (per vehicle)$30 - $75

Sources: aggregated from HomeGuide, Angi, Thumbtack, and industry rate surveys, 2026.

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The Other Half of Pricing: Knowing Your Real Margin

Pricing is the easier half. The harder half is knowing what each job actually cost you - the gas to get there, the chemicals (sodium hypochlorite, surfactant), the water, and your hours. FastEstimateMaker's job costing tool attaches real costs to the estimate you built - snap receipts and log your hours as you work, and it shows your real margin per job, not just the number you quoted.

Chemicals, Travel, and Add-ons

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.

Rates by Region

RegionPer sq ft
Coastal metros (SF, NYC, Seattle, Boston, LA)$0.30 - $0.70 / sq ft
Mid-size markets (Denver, Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte)$0.20 - $0.45 / sq ft
Smaller cities and rural areas$0.10 - $0.25 / sq ft

The bigger lever is not geography alone. It is the cost of living for your customers and how much competition has rolled into your market. A residential job in California averages around $384; the same job runs $200 to $250 in many rural markets.

Solo Operator vs Established Crew

Most pricing advice assumes a crew with a trailer rig and a full route. If you're working alone, your capacity is the constraint, and the math is different.

  • 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.

Pricing Mistakes That Cost You Money

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.

Pressure Washing Pricing - Common Questions

$0.15 to $0.50 per square foot for most residential work: $0.15 to $0.30 for concrete flatwork like driveways and sidewalks, $0.20 to $0.50 for house and siding soft washing, and $0.30 to $0.70 for roofs. Heavy mold, algae, and oxidation push it higher.

$50 to $160 per hour depending on solo vs crew and equipment. Most pros quote by the job up front and keep hourly as the backstop for heavy or unpredictable work.

$250 to $600 for a typical single-story soft wash (around $320 average), $400 to $700 for two stories. Price by siding area, not floor footprint, and add for heavy algae or mildew.

$100 to $250 for a standard 2-car concrete driveway, or $0.15 to $0.30 per square foot. Oil stains, rust, and heavy mildew justify a second-pass charge.

Pressure washing uses high pressure for hard surfaces like concrete and pavers. Soft washing uses low pressure plus biodegradable detergents for delicate surfaces like roofs, stucco, and painted siding. Soft wash is the skilled, surface-protecting method and commands a higher rate - price it for the chemistry and the care, not just the water.

Yes. Set a $100 to $250 minimum so small jobs still cover gas, chemicals, and your time. Most profitable operators won't roll a hose for less.

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