How to Price Pressure Washing Jobs (2026 Guide)

Figuring out what to charge for pressure washing jobs is one of the hardest parts of running the business. Charge too much and you lose the job. Charge too little and you lose money. This guide breaks down exactly how to price every type of pressure washing service in 2026.

The Quick Answer

Most pressure washing jobs are priced per square foot. Here are the typical ranges:

• House wash: $0.15 - $0.30 per sq ft (minimum $150)
• Driveway: $0.10 - $0.20 per sq ft (minimum $100)
• Deck/Patio: $0.20 - $0.40 per sq ft (minimum $125)
• Roof (soft wash): $0.30 - $0.60 per sq ft (minimum $250)
• Fence: $1.00 - $2.50 per linear ft (minimum $100)
• Concrete/Sidewalk: $0.10 - $0.25 per sq ft (minimum $75)
• Commercial building: $0.10 - $0.20 per sq ft (minimum $300)

These are averages. Your actual prices depend on your market, equipment costs, and experience level. Keep reading for how to figure out the right price for YOUR business.

4 Ways to Price Pressure Washing Jobs

1. Per Square Foot

This is the most common method. You measure the area, multiply by your rate, and that's the price. It works great for flat surfaces like driveways, patios, and siding.

Example: A 2,000 sq ft house at $0.20/sq ft = $400. Simple.

When to use it: Driveways, house washing, decks, roofs, commercial buildings.

2. Flat Rate

Set a fixed price for common jobs. "Driveways start at $150. Standard house wash is $300." Customers love this because there are no surprises.

When to use it: When most of your jobs are similar sizes. Works well for residential neighborhoods where houses are roughly the same.

3. Hourly Rate

Charge $75-150 per hour. This protects you on tricky jobs where you don't know how long it will take. But most customers hate hourly pricing because they don't know what the final bill will be.

When to use it: Only for unusual jobs where you genuinely can't estimate the time. Avoid this for standard work.

4. Per Job Estimate

Walk the property, assess the work, and give a custom quote. This takes more time but lets you factor in difficulty, staining, access issues, and other variables.

When to use it: Commercial jobs, heavily stained surfaces, multi-service packages.

How to Calculate Your Minimum Price

Every job has a floor. Even if a driveway is tiny, you still have to load up your truck, drive there, set up, and pack up. That costs time and money no matter what.

Here's how to figure out your minimum:

1. Calculate your hourly cost. Add up: fuel, equipment wear, insurance, chemicals. For most operators this is $30-50/hour.
2. Set a minimum time. Most jobs take at least 1 hour including drive time and setup.
3. Add your profit margin. You're not doing this for free. Add 50-100% on top of costs.
4. That's your floor. Never go below it, no matter how small the job.

Pricing by Service Type

House Washing

The bread and butter of most pressure washing businesses. A standard 2-story house runs $200-500 depending on size and condition. Price per square foot: $0.15-0.30.

Factors that increase price: Multi-story (add 20-30% per floor), heavy mold/mildew, difficult access, wood siding vs vinyl.

Driveway and Concrete

Quick jobs with high margins. A standard 2-car driveway (400 sq ft) runs $80-120. Price per square foot: $0.10-0.25.

Tip: Bundle driveways with house washes. "Add your driveway for just $75" is an easy upsell that takes 20 minutes.

Deck and Patio Cleaning

Needs more care than concrete. Lower pressure, sometimes chemicals. $0.20-0.40 per sq ft with a $125 minimum. Wood decks are on the higher end because you risk damage if you're not careful.

Roof Soft Washing

Higher risk = higher price. Soft wash only (low pressure + chemicals). $0.30-0.60 per sq ft. Minimums start at $250 because of the setup and chemical cost.

Fences

Priced per linear foot since height varies less than length. $1.00-2.50 per linear foot. A 100-foot fence runs $100-250.

The Fastest Way to Give Quotes

Here's the thing most pressure washers get wrong: they take too long to give a price. A customer fills out a contact form, and you call them back 4 hours later. By then they've already called 3 other guys.

The businesses that close the most jobs are the ones that respond first. Studies show 70-80% of quotes get zero follow-up. The bar is low.

That's why we built QuoteSnap. It's a free calculator you embed on your website. Customers pick their service, enter the square footage, and get an instant price range. You get their contact info as a lead.

No waiting. No phone tag. They get a price in 30 seconds, and you get the lead before your competitors even see the message.

Common Pricing Mistakes

• Pricing too low to "get experience." You'll burn out doing $75 house washes. Price fairly from day one.
• Not having a minimum. Small jobs eat your time. Set a floor and stick to it.
• Forgetting to account for drive time. A $150 job an hour away is a $75 job.
• Quoting over the phone without seeing the property. At least look at Google Maps/Street View before throwing out a number.
• Taking too long to respond. Speed wins. The first person to give a price usually gets the job.

Bottom Line

Price per square foot for standard jobs. Set minimums so you never lose money. Respond fast so you never lose the lead. And if you want to automate the quoting process, try QuoteSnap for free. It takes 5 minutes to set up and your customers will get instant prices right on your website.