How Much Does Pressure Washing Cost? 2026 Prices by Surface

If you searched "how much does pressure washing cost," you got a dozen articles full of national averages and no real answer. Here's the real answer: it depends on the surface, the square footage, and where you live — and you can get an exact number for your home in 30 seconds with the free pressure washing cost calculator below.

This guide breaks down 2026 prices by surface, shows you the factors that move a quote up or down, and tells you how to spot a quote that's too good to be true. The price ranges here come from the same data that powers our calculators, so the numbers you read match the numbers you'll get.

Pressure washing cost at a glance (2026)

Here's what homeowners are paying this year, by surface:

Surface	Typical project	Typical price
House / siding (single-story)	~1,200 sq ft washable siding	$250–$450
House / siding (two-story)	~1,600–1,800 sq ft washable siding	$400–$900
Driveway (2-car concrete)	~600 sq ft	$100–$200
Patio / concrete	~400 sq ft	$100–$175
Roof (soft wash)	~1,500 sq ft	$400–$900
Wood deck	~300 sq ft	$150–$450
Fence	~400 sq ft surface	$120–$320

These are national mid-ranges. Your actual quote depends on the five factors below — but if a number you've been quoted falls far outside these bands, it's worth a second opinion.

What pressure washing costs, by surface

How much to pressure wash a house

A standard house wash runs $250–$450 for a single-story home and $400–$900 for a two-story. The math is simpler than it looks: companies price off the washable siding area, not your home's total square footage. A "2,000 sq ft house" only has roughly 1,500–1,800 sq ft of actual siding once you subtract the roof, windows, and doors.

Vinyl and aluminum siding clean at about $0.20–$0.50 per square foot using soft-wash chemistry (a low-pressure detergent rinse — high pressure can drive water behind siding). Brick and stucco run similar. The single biggest price mover is height: two-story access adds time, ladder work, and risk, which is why the second floor roughly doubles the quote rather than adding 50%.

How much to pressure wash a driveway

A typical two-car concrete driveway costs $100–$200. Concrete is the cheapest surface to clean per square foot — roughly $0.10–$0.30 — because it's flat, ground-level, and takes plain water and a surface cleaner. But most driveways are small enough that the company's minimum service fee (commonly $99–$199) sets the price, not the per-foot rate.

Add-ons that raise it: oil-stain treatment ($25–$75), rust or battery-acid removal, and sealing after cleaning.

Get an exact driveway number →

How much to pressure wash a patio or concrete

Patios, walkways, and pool decks price like driveways — $0.10–$0.25 per square foot, usually landing at $100–$175 for a typical patio once the minimum fee applies. Pavers and stamped concrete cost a little more than flat slab because of the joint detail and the re-sanding some jobs need afterward. Run your patio numbers →

How much to soft-wash a roof

Roof cleaning is $400–$900 for a typical 1,500 sq ft roof, at roughly $0.25–$0.60 per square foot. Roofs are never pressure washed — the correct method is a low-pressure "soft wash" with roof-grade chemistry that kills the algae (those black streaks are Gloeocapsa magma) without blasting granules off your shingles. You're paying for the chemicals, the longer dwell time, and the access risk of someone working on your roofline. This is the surface where hiring a properly insured pro matters most. Estimate your roof →

How much to pressure wash a deck

Wood decks run $150–$450 for a typical 300 sq ft deck, at $0.50–$1.50 per square foot — the highest per-foot rate of any common surface. Wood is slow, careful work: pressure has to be dialed down to avoid gouging the grain, and the prep is meticulous. If you're cleaning the deck to re-stain it, say so up front; the prep for staining is more thorough (and slightly pricier) than a cosmetic clean. Price your deck →

How much to pressure wash a fence

Fence cleaning is $120–$320 for a typical run, at $0.30–$0.80 per square foot of fence surface. Wood and vinyl fences price differently — vinyl is faster, wood needs the same careful low-pressure approach as a deck. Estimate your fence →

5 factors that change your quote

Two homes on the same street can get quotes that differ by $200. Here's why:

1. Square footage and surface type. The biggest driver. More area and more delicate surfaces (wood, roof) cost more than flat concrete.
2. Height and access. Two-story siding, steep roofs, fenced-off backyards, and anything needing ladder work adds time and risk — and time is what you're really paying for.
3. How dirty it is. Light dust rinses off fast. Heavy mildew, algae streaks, or years of organic buildup need more chemical and more dwell time. A neglected surface costs more than an annually-maintained one.
4. Where you live. Prices run 15–40% higher in high-cost metros — New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Washington DC — and roughly 5% lower across much of the South and Midwest. This is labor and cost-of-living, not a different service.
5. The minimum service fee. Almost every company has a floor (typically $150–$250) so a tiny job is worth the drive. This is why a small driveway and a medium driveway can cost nearly the same — both hit the minimum.

Should you DIY or hire a pro?

Renting a pressure washer runs $40–$100 a day, plus your time and the learning curve. The honest breakdown:

• Reasonable to DIY: a flat concrete driveway or patio, if you have a free day and don't mind the setup. Worst case on a mistake is some uneven cleaning.
• Hire a pro: roofs (soft-wash chemistry and fall risk), two-story siding (water intrusion risk), and wood decks (easy to permanently gouge). The cost of one DIY mistake — stripped shingle granules, water behind siding, gouged deck boards — usually dwarfs the price of the job.

If a quote seems high, the calculator will tell you whether it's actually out of band or just reflects your home's size and access. If a quote seems too low — a $79 whole-house wash from someone who can't show proof of insurance — that's the expensive option in disguise. Here's what real operators carry for insurance and why it matters.

Get your exact price

National ranges are a starting point. For a number specific to your home's surfaces, square footage, and zip code, use the free calculator — no signup, about 30 seconds:

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Run a pressure washing business? This guide is written for homeowners. For the operator side — how to set your rates, build a flat-rate menu, and raise prices without losing customers — read our 2026 pressure washing pricing & rates guide for pros.

FAQ

How much does it cost to pressure wash a house? Most homeowners pay $250–$450 to pressure wash a single-story house and $400–$900 for a two-story home in 2026. The price tracks the washable siding area (roughly $0.20–$0.50 per square foot for vinyl or aluminum siding), plus a minimum service fee most companies set at $150–$250. Two-story access, heavy mildew, and high-cost metros push you toward the top of the range.

How much does it cost to pressure wash a driveway? A typical two-car concrete driveway runs $100–$200. Concrete cleans at roughly $0.10–$0.30 per square foot, but small driveways usually hit the company's minimum service fee (often $99–$199) before the per-foot math matters. Oil-stain treatment and rust removal add $25–$75.

Is it worth paying someone to pressure wash? For driveways and patios, renting a machine ($40–$100/day) can make sense if you have the time and a free Saturday. For roofs and two-story siding, hiring a pro is almost always worth it: soft-wash chemistry, ladder safety, and the risk of driving water behind siding or stripping shingle granules make DIY a real liability. The cost of one mistake usually exceeds the cost of the job.

Why is pressure washing so expensive? The price reflects more than spray time. A legitimate operator is paying for commercial liability insurance, equipment that costs thousands, soft-wash chemicals, drive time between jobs, and the skill to not damage your property. A $99 quote from an uninsured operator who damages your siding isn't cheaper once you count the repair.

How often should you pressure wash your house? Once a year for most homes; every 6 months in humid or heavily shaded climates where mildew and algae return fast. Roofs and north-facing siding green up first. Annual washing is cheaper over time than waiting for heavy organic staining, which needs more chemical and more labor to remove.

What's the difference between pressure washing and power washing cost? Almost none on price. "Power washing" technically uses heated water, which helps on grease and gum, but for residential siding, driveways, and decks the job and the price are effectively the same. Don't pay a premium for the word "power" on a standard house wash.