Pressure Washing business guide
How to price pressure washing jobs
Price pressure washing by the surface and its size, not by the hour. Many shops quote concrete at roughly $0.15 to $0.35 per square foot and land most single-family house washes somewhere around $250 to $600, then check every total against a minimum charge and an hourly target that covers the rig, chemicals, insurance and your own pay.
Most new pressure washing owners price by checking what the guy down the road charges and knocking a few dollars off. That fills the calendar fast and empties the bank account just as fast. A price sheet that holds up starts with how long each surface takes your rig, what the chemicals cost, and what a clean result is worth in your market.
Price the surface, not the hour
Hourly pricing punishes you for getting faster. Once you own a good surface cleaner and a soft wash setup, a driveway that took two hours in your first month takes forty minutes, and an hourly rate hands that gain straight to the customer. Homeowners also dislike open-ended hours. They want a number before you unroll a hose.
So most shops price concrete by the square foot, houses by size or siding area, roofs by roof area, and wood by the square or linear foot. Your hourly target still matters. It just works in the background, as the test every quote has to pass.
Common pressure washing price ranges
These are ranges you'll commonly see on residential work. Treat them as a starting point for your own homework, not a price list.
| Service | Usually priced by | Common range |
|---|---|---|
| Driveways, walkways, patios | Square foot of concrete | $0.15 to $0.35 per sq ft |
| House wash (soft wash) | Home size or siding area | Often $250 to $600 per home |
| Roof soft wash | Square foot of roof | $0.30 to $0.80 per sq ft |
| Wood decks | Square foot of deck surface | $0.50 to $1.50 per sq ft |
| Fences | Linear foot, per side | $1 to $4 per linear ft |
| Gutter face brightening | Linear foot of gutter | $1 to $2.50 per linear ft |
| Rust, oil or gum treatment | Per spot or per area | Often $25 to $100 per spot |
General observations only, not market data. Prices vary widely by region, season and how many rigs work your area.
Commercial flatwork usually runs lower per square foot than residential, because the areas are big and open, but night hours, hot water and water recovery add their own charges.
What pushes a quote up
- Height. Second stories, walkout basements on a slope and anything that needs a ladder take longer and carry more risk.
- Heavy growth. A north wall that's black with mildew needs a stronger mix and often a second application. A light film of spring pollen doesn't.
- Stains. Irrigation rust, fertilizer marks, oil and gum need their own chemicals and dwell time, so they get their own line.
- Access and water. A patio behind a locked gate, a long hose run to the back of the lot, or a spigot that can't keep up with your machine all cost time. That last one is why many rigs carry a buffer tank.
- Runoff control. If the site or your city requires you to block drains or recover water, setting that up is part of the job and part of the price.
- Fragile surfaces. Chalky painted siding, soft old wood and older pavers need slower, lower-pressure work.
A quick test for any number
Rule of thumb: Divide the quote by the hours you'll spend on the job, including the drive, setup and teardown. If the answer falls below the hourly figure that covers your rig payment, fuel, chemicals, insurance and your own pay, the quote is too low, whatever the competition charges.
Chemicals are the cost new owners forget. Sodium hypochlorite, surfactant, rust remover and wood brightener look cheap by the jug, but a two-story house covered in mildew can eat a surprising amount. Track what each job actually uses for a month and you'll stop guessing.
Pricing mistakes that cost new owners
The expensive mistakes rarely show up on the price sheet. Skipping the walkaround means you take the blame for a cracked slab that was cracked before you arrived. Forgetting runoff control turns a profitable storefront into a fine. Both of those, plus skipping insurance, are covered in three pressure washing mistakes that cost new owners.
The quieter mistake is underpricing tiny jobs. A single front walk still takes a full setup, hose run and pack-up, which is what a minimum charge is for. The other leak is the free extra: "while you're here, can you hit the back patio?" If it takes fifteen minutes on the wand, it gets a price.
Rework the sheet every spring
Time a handful of jobs each season, from pulling into the driveway to pulling out. After a month you'll know your real minutes per hundred square feet of concrete and per side of a house. Most owners find their house wash price is fine and their small flatwork is underpriced. The spring calls that test your sheet first, house washes, driveways, roofs and decks, are broken down on the pressure washing page, and it's worth knowing which of them you actually want before the rush starts.
Questions owners ask
Should I post my pressure washing prices on my website?
Posting starting prices, like a driveway from a set amount or your minimum, filters out bargain hunters and shortens calls. Posting exact prices is harder, because two driveways the same size can need very different amounts of work. Many owners publish a starting point and confirm the final number after seeing the property.
Do I charge extra for oil, rust and gum on concrete?
Usually, yes. Plain washing lifts dirt and organic growth, but rust from irrigation water, oil drips and gum need specialty chemicals, dwell time or hot water. Quote them as separate line items so the customer sees what the base clean covers and can decide whether the stains are worth the extra.
How do I price a job with several surfaces?
Price each surface on its own, add them up, then decide whether to trim the total a little because you only set up once. Keep the discount modest. The setup savings are real, but the house, driveway and patio each still take their own time on the wand.
Should I charge the customer for water?
Most residential washers use the customer's outdoor spigot, and the water cost is small next to the job price. Say so in your quote so nobody is surprised. If there's no working spigot and you have to bring water in a tank, that extra trip and time belong in the price.
Is it okay to give a firm price over the phone?
For simple flatwork with measurements you trust, many owners do. For houses, roofs and anything with stains or fragile surfaces, a firm phone price is risky. Give a range or a starting price, then confirm the number after the walkaround and before any water hits the surface.