Pressure washing is one of the most profitable services a contractor can offer—when priced correctly. Jobs that take 2 hours can easily bring $400-800 in revenue. But underpricing is rampant in this industry, and many contractors struggle to earn what they deserve.
This guide shows you exactly how to price residential and commercial pressure washing jobs using proven methods that protect your profit while staying competitive.
Understanding Pricing Methods
There are three main ways to price pressure washing:
1. Per Square Foot Pricing
Best for: Large flat surfaces like driveways, parking lots, and decks.
Pros: Easy to calculate, scales with job size Cons: Doesn't account for difficulty or access issues
2. Flat Rate Pricing
Best for: Common residential jobs like driveway + sidewalk combos.
Pros: Easy for customers to understand, quick to quote Cons: Can lose money on tricky jobs
3. Hourly Rate + Materials
Best for: Complex or uncertain jobs, commercial contracts.
Pros: Covers your time regardless of complications Cons: Customers may resist open-ended pricing
Most successful contractors use a combination: flat rates for standard jobs, square footage for large projects, and hourly for unusual situations.
Residential Pricing Guide
Driveways
The bread and butter of pressure washing.
Pricing by size:
- Small driveway (under 500 sq ft): $100-150 flat
- Medium driveway (500-1000 sq ft): $150-250
- Large driveway (1000-1500 sq ft): $250-350
- Extra large (1500+ sq ft): $0.15-0.25/sq ft
Price adjusters:
- Heavy oil stains: +$25-50
- Rust stains: +$30-75
- Severe mold/mildew: +$25-50
- Sealing included: +$0.15-0.30/sq ft
Sidewalks and Walkways
Usually bundled with driveway.
- Add $50-100 for front walkway when doing driveway
- Standalone walkway: $75-150
- Per linear foot: $1-2
Decks
Higher margin but more care required.
- Standard wood deck: $0.30-0.60/sq ft (cleaning only)
- Composite deck: $0.25-0.50/sq ft
- With railings: Add 30-40%
- Deck prep for staining: $0.40-0.75/sq ft
House Washing
Most profitable residential service.
Soft wash method (recommended):
- Single story: $0.15-0.25/sq ft exterior
- Two story: $0.25-0.40/sq ft
- Minimum charge: $200-350
Quick pricing by home size:
- 1,500 sq ft home: $250-400
- 2,500 sq ft home: $350-550
- 3,500 sq ft home: $500-800
- 5,000+ sq ft home: $750-1,200
Fences
- Wood fence: $0.75-1.50/linear foot (both sides)
- Vinyl fence: $0.50-1.00/linear foot
- Minimum charge: $150
Concrete Patios
- Standard cleaning: $0.15-0.30/sq ft
- Minimum charge: $125
Roofs (Soft Wash Only)
- Asphalt shingles: $0.25-0.50/sq ft
- Tile roofs: $0.35-0.60/sq ft
- Metal roofs: $0.20-0.40/sq ft
- Minimum charge: $350-500
Commercial Pricing
Commercial work offers bigger checks but requires different thinking.
Storefronts
- Building wash: $0.20-0.40/sq ft
- Sidewalk cleaning: $0.10-0.20/sq ft
- Minimum charge: $200-400
Parking Lots
- Standard cleaning: $0.05-0.12/sq ft
- With oil stain treatment: $0.08-0.18/sq ft
- Minimum charge: $300-500
Restaurant Areas
- Dumpster pads: $75-150
- Drive-through lanes: $150-300
- Grease treatment areas: $100-200
Fleet Washing
- Box trucks: $35-75 each
- Semi trucks: $75-150 each
- Heavy equipment: $150-400 each
Calculating Your Costs
To price profitably, know your true costs:
Equipment Costs Per Hour
- Machine depreciation: $3-5/hour
- Fuel/gas: $5-15/hour
- Tips/wands/hoses wear: $2-3/hour
- Chemicals/detergent: $5-20/hour (job dependent)
Vehicle/Travel
- Per mile cost: $0.50-0.75
- Setup time: 15-30 minutes per job
Labor
- Your burdened rate: $40-75/hour
- Helper if needed: $20-35/hour
Insurance and Overhead
- Per job allocation: $20-50
The Formula
Minimum price = (Time × Hourly Rate) + Chemicals + Travel + Overhead + Profit
For a 2-hour driveway job:
- Labor: 2 hours × $50 = $100
- Chemicals: $15
- Travel (30 min round trip): $25
- Equipment wear: $15
- Overhead: $30
- Subtotal: $185
- Profit (35%): $65
- Total: $250
Minimum Job Charges
Never go below your minimum regardless of job size:
- Residential: $150-200 minimum
- Commercial: $250-400 minimum
Setup, travel, and teardown take the same time whether you're washing 100 sq ft or 1,000 sq ft.
Bundling for Bigger Tickets
Smart contractors bundle services for higher revenue:
"Curb Appeal Package"
- Driveway + sidewalks + front walkway
- Discount 10-15% from individual prices
- Average ticket: $250-400
"Full Home Refresh"
- House wash + driveway + sidewalks + back patio
- Discount 15-20% from individual prices
- Average ticket: $500-900
"Deck Season Prep"
- Deck cleaning + fence wash + patio
- Average ticket: $400-700
Bundles increase average job size while giving customers perceived value.
Creating Fast, Professional Estimates
Speed matters in pressure washing—customers often call 3-4 companies and go with whoever responds first with a clear price.
Use software like SnapBid to:
- Calculate prices instantly
- Send professional estimates in minutes
- Track which quotes convert
- Follow up automatically
The contractor who quotes first usually wins the job.
Seasonal Pricing Strategies
Spring (Peak Season)
- Standard or premium pricing
- Stay busy, be selective
Summer
- Maintain standard pricing
- Focus on efficiency
Fall
- Slight discounts for bulk work
- Push pre-winter cleaning
Winter (Slow Season)
- Consider 10-20% discounts
- Focus on commercial/covered work
- Use time for equipment maintenance