How Much to Charge for Pressure Washing

A step-by-step method to set pressure washing prices that cover your costs, without relying on price tables.

Search for pressure washing prices and you'll find national averages that don't match your area, your equipment or your costs. Prices vary by region, competition and season, and they go out of date quickly. Instead of copying a table, use a method: work out what each hour of your time really costs, figure out how fast you work on each surface, then turn that into prices customers understand.

1. Know your costs

Start with what it costs you to run the business, not what competitors charge. List:

• Equipment: pressure washer, surface cleaner, hoses, ladders, trailer or truck setup, and how long you expect them to last.
• Chemicals and supplies: detergents, degreasers, sodium hypochlorite for soft washing, sealers, safety gear.
• Vehicle and fuel: driving to jobs and estimates.
• Insurance, licenses and marketing.
• Your pay: what you need to earn per year, and taxes.

Then count how many hours a year you'll actually be washing. Pressure washing is seasonal in many regions, and estimates, driving and admin take time you don't bill. The freelance hourly rate calculator helps you turn yearly costs and billable hours into a minimum hourly rate.

2. Measure your production rate

On your next few jobs, time yourself on each type of surface: concrete driveways with a surface cleaner, house siding with a soft wash, wood decks, fences. Write down square feet per hour, including setup and cleanup. This is your most valuable pricing data. It's specific to your equipment and your way of working, and it lets you convert any job into hours.

3. Choose a pricing model

Most pressure washing businesses use one or a mix of these:

• Per square foot. Divide your hourly rate by your production rate for that surface. For example, if your rate is $100 an hour and you clean 1,000 sq ft of concrete an hour, your base is about 10 cents per sq ft before chemicals and margin. Those numbers are only an illustration; use your own.
• Per job or per house size. Simpler for customers, especially for house washes where measuring siding exactly isn't practical. Build it from your square-foot math, then round.
• Hourly. Useful for unusual jobs, like heavy equipment or commercial cleanups, where production is hard to predict.

4. Adjust for what makes a job harder

Two driveways of the same size aren't the same job. Adjust for:

• Condition: heavy mildew, oil stains, rust and years of buildup need pre-treatment and more passes.
• Height and access: second stories, steep lots and tight side yards slow you down.
• Surface sensitivity: wood, painted surfaces and roofs need soft washing and more care.
• Water access: no spigot or low flow means bringing water.
• Travel: jobs far from your base cost more to reach.

5. Set a minimum job charge

Every job has fixed costs: driving there, unloading, setting up, cleaning up. A small sidewalk can take nearly as long to set up as a large driveway. A minimum charge makes sure small jobs are still worth doing, and it's normal in the industry.

6. Price add-ons separately

Add-ons raise the value of each visit without adding much travel: sealing concrete or wood, gutter brightening, window rinsing, oil stain treatment, fence and deck cleaning. List them as separate lines so customers can choose. Many will add one or two once they see them.

7. Check your prices against your market

Once you have a price from your costs, look at what local competitors seem to charge. If you're far below, you may be underpricing your work or forgetting costs. If you're far above, check your production rate, your expenses or how you present your value. Don't compete only on price; clear estimates, insurance and good photos of past work justify a higher number.

8. Write a clear estimate

List each surface separately with square footage, the method (pressure or soft wash), stain treatments and add-ons. In the notes, say who supplies water, that some stains may only lighten and how rain is handled. The pressure washing estimate template already includes typical lines and terms. Related services such as window cleaning and gutter cleaning have their own templates if you bundle them.

9. Review your prices regularly

Chemicals, fuel and insurance get more expensive, and you'll get faster with experience. Review your rate and production numbers at least once a season and update your templates so every estimate reflects your current costs.

Make it free →

Frequently asked questions