Make This Useful

Updated · Make This Useful

Pressure washing estimate calculator

HomeGuide lists driveway pressure washing at $0.25–$0.35 per square foot, checked October 2026. Give every surface its own rate, because concrete, wood and siding take different pressure, chemicals and time. Then set a visit minimum before you quote: a small patio at a fair per-foot rate comes in well under what it costs you to unload the rig and pack it up again.

Price a driveway wash

Starting point: $0.30 per sq ft. Driveway (US guide): $0.25–$0.35 per square foot. Our midpoint of that range, rounded to cents. Washing the measured driveway surface. HomeGuide: pressure washing prices, checked 2026-10-15.

Extras, travel and minimum

Use a rate for the selected surface and cleaning method. Measure each area; account for water access and runoff handling.

Job price before tax—

Enter area (square feet).

What’s a fair minimum for a pressure washing visit?

Squeegee Guys in Corona, California, publishes a $100 minimum; Dirt Busters in Salt Lake County publishes $200. At $0.25 a square foot, a $100 minimum covers anything under 400 sq ft and a $200 minimum anything under 800. A 300 sq ft patio at $0.25 is $75, below both. Set your minimum from the cost of a short visit, then hold it.

A firm minimum loses some tiny jobs, and those are the ones that lose money. Offer a way up instead of a discount: add the front walk, the steps or the trash bins until the job reaches the minimum. The customer gets more for the same trip, and your setup, travel and cleanup are paid for.

Should decks and fences cost more than concrete?

Yes. Dirt Busters charges $0.30 a square foot for decks and fences against $0.25 for hard surfaces, 20% more. Wood takes lower pressure, a wider tip or soft-wash chemistry, and more care around fasteners and raised grain, so it goes slower per foot. Measure a fence on both faces if you’re washing both, and say so on the quote.

The costly mistake on wood is damage, not underpricing. Too much pressure furs the grain and leaves stripes that only sanding fixes, and the customer will want that put right at your cost. If the deck is being stained or sealed after the wash, price that as a separate job with its own drying time before the coat goes on.

How do you price a house wash?

By the job, set by stories and siding area. HomeGuide lists house washing at $170–$360; Angi’s range is $213–$449. The two disagree by $43 at the bottom and $89 at the top, and HomeGuide’s figures date from April 2024 while Angi’s are from October 2026. Lean on the newer number, and never apply a driveway rate to siding.

Example: an 800 sq ft driveway

An 800 sq ft driveway costs you $0.10 a foot in time, chemicals and fuel ($80), plus $40 for setup and travel: $120. At a 30% margin, $120 ÷ 0.70 = $171.43, about 21 cents a foot, under HomeGuide’s $0.25–$0.35 band.

At the band’s low end, the same 800 sq ft is $200, which also matches Dirt Busters’ $200 minimum. Quote $200 and your margin is $80 of $200, or 40%. A cost-based price that lands under the market band is room to raise the price, as long as your costs are complete.

Frequently asked questions

Should I give a lower rate for big driveways?

A little, because setup is spread over more surface. Squeegee Guys in Corona lists $0.25 a square foot for flatwork and steps larger areas down toward $0.20. At $0.20, a 2,000 sq ft lot is $400 against $500 at the full rate, so check that the bigger job still clears your cost per foot before you offer the lower rate.

Do I charge extra for oil and rust stains?

Yes, as a treatment line priced per stain or per area and agreed before you start. Say plainly what treatment can and can’t do: old oil set deep in concrete may lighten without disappearing, and rust from fertilizer or irrigation needs a different chemical. A customer who knew that beforehand pays; one who didn’t asks for money back.

What do I say to “I can rent a pressure washer for less”?

Agree that they can, then explain what they’d be renting. A surface cleaner and hot water leave flatwork even, where a wand leaves stripes. You bring the chemicals, protect the plants and siding, and know when wood needs low pressure. If they still want to do it themselves, leave your card for when they’d rather not.

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