Pricing guide
How Much Does Pressure Washing Cost?
Pressure washing is priced by the surface and its size, with soft-wash house and roof jobs costing more than flat concrete. Each surface is priced separately below, because a soft-washed roof and a concrete driveway follow different logic even when the same crew turns up.
Founder, Smarfle · Published June 26, 2026
Average pressure washing
$100 to $600
By surface and size. Driveways and patios are at the low end; soft-washing a whole house or roof costs more.
Quick answer
Pressure washing typically costs $100 to $600 depending on the surface and size. A driveway runs $100 to $250, a whole-house soft wash $250 to $600, and a roof wash $400 to $900. Per square foot it is roughly $0.08 to $0.30.
Pressure Washing price list
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Driveway / concrete | $100 to $250 |
| House wash (soft wash) | $250 to $600 |
| Roof wash | $400 to $900 |
| Deck or patio | $150 to $400 |
| Fence | $100 to $300 |
| Per square foot | $0.08 to $0.30 |
Prices are typical U.S. ranges and vary by region, scope, and condition. Always get a written quote.
Cost by surface
| Surface | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Driveway (2-car) | $100 to $250 |
| Sidewalk / walkway | $75 to $200 |
| House wash (1-story) | $250 to $450 |
| House wash (2-story) | $400 to $600 |
| Roof (soft wash) | $400 to $900 |
| Deck or patio | $150 to $400 |
| Fence | $100 to $300 |
Full house wash cost by home size
| Home size | Soft wash |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 sq ft | $250 to $400 |
| 1,500 to 2,500 sq ft | $350 to $550 |
| 2,500+ sq ft | $500 to $700+ |
What affects the cost
Surface type and size
Bigger surfaces cost more, and the surface matters: concrete is straightforward, while siding and roofs need a gentler soft-wash technique.
Soft wash vs pressure
Roofs and siding need a low-pressure soft wash with cleaning solution to avoid damage, which is more skilled and costs more than blasting concrete.
Access and height
Two-story homes, steep roofs, and hard-to-reach areas take longer and need more equipment, raising the price.
Condition
Heavy mold, algae, or years of buildup take more time and product than a light annual refresh.
What you are actually paying for
The parts of a pressure washing quote that never appear as a line item, from the side of the business that has to cover them.
Some surfaces require capturing the runoff
Wash water carrying paint, oil or algaecide cannot always go down the nearest drain, and commercial or municipal work often requires it to be contained and removed. When reclaim is part of the job the setup changes completely, which is why two jobs of identical square footage can be priced far apart.
The rig is a five-figure asset being paid off per job
A commercial machine, a tank, reels, surface cleaners and the trailer that carries them add up to more than a small car, and they wear out. Every quote carries a share of replacing them, which is the main reason a professional wash is not priced like a rented consumer washer.
Soft washing is chemistry, not pressure
Siding, screens and roofs are cleaned with a detergent that does the work at low pressure and dwell time, and that product costs real money per gallon mixed. A quote that is cheaper because it is high-pressure everywhere is usually cheaper because it is skipping the chemistry.
Where the money goes
Most jobs are priced by the surface and its square footage, sometimes at a flat per-surface rate. The biggest cost difference is technique: flat concrete is cheap to blast, while soft-washing a house or roof safely is skilled work and priced higher. Annual plans cost less than a one-off deep clean.
Should you DIY or hire a pro?
Flat concrete (driveways, sidewalks) is reasonable to DIY with a rented or owned pressure washer. But siding and roofs need a low-pressure soft-wash technique: high pressure damages siding, forces water behind it, and strips roof granules (which voids the warranty). Combined with ladder and height safety, house and roof washing is best left to an insured pro.
How to save on pressure washing
- Have several surfaces done in one visit. The rig and the travel are paid for once it is on your drive.
- Split the trip charge by booking the same day as a neighbor.
- Rent a consumer washer for small flat concrete and hire out siding and roofs, which need low-pressure chemistry instead.
- Ask whether the job needs runoff captured. That changes the setup and the price more than the square footage does.
- Ask for soft washing by name on siding and screens. High pressure is cheaper to deliver and harder on the surface.
What the federal data shows
No federal wage series covers pressure washing on its own. It falls under janitorial and building cleaning work, median $36,840 in May 2025, and that figure understates a specialist operator who owns a rig, carries the insurance and works at height. Expect quotes above what the category wage would suggest.
Run a pressure washing business? Here is what to charge
If you run a pressure washing business, do not just compete on driveways. Offer higher-margin soft-wash house and roof services and sell annual plans. Carry insurance, because one cracked window can erase a month of profit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does pressure washing cost?+
Pressure washing runs $100 to $600 depending on the surface and size. A driveway is $100 to $250, a soft-wash house wash $250 to $600, and a roof wash $400 to $900. Per square foot it is roughly $0.08 to $0.30.
How much does it cost to pressure wash a house?+
A whole-house wash typically runs $250 to $600 depending on the size, number of stories, and condition. Houses are soft-washed (low pressure plus cleaning solution) to avoid damaging siding.
How much does it cost to pressure wash a driveway?+
A driveway or concrete area typically runs $100 to $250 depending on size and how much buildup, oil, or staining needs to be removed.
What is the difference between pressure washing and soft washing?+
Pressure washing uses high water pressure, which is fine for concrete but can damage siding and roofs. Soft washing uses low pressure plus a cleaning solution and is used on houses and roofs. Soft washing is more skilled and costs more.
How often should I pressure wash my house?+
Most homes benefit from a wash every one to two years, more often in humid climates prone to mold and algae. Many companies offer discounted annual plans.
More pricing guides
Where these numbers come from
The dollar ranges on this page are our own editorial estimates, not survey data. We build them from the federal wage figures cited below, which set the labor floor for the trade, plus the typical job scopes we see in the field. Materials, permits, access and local demand move every one of them. Treat the ranges as a starting point for a conversation with a contractor, not as a quote.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Janitors and Building Cleaners (May 2025)There is no federal wage series for pressure washing specifically. The classification folds it into janitorial work, where washing windows and exterior surfaces is listed as a secondary duty, so the $36,840 median understates a specialist crew that brings its own equipment and carries the insurance for working at height or with high-pressure gear.
Last reviewed September 2026.
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