Updated November 2026 US, UK, Canada and Australia Free calculator
Pressure washing (also called power washing) is one of the easiest service businesses to start, which is exactly why so many beginners race each other to the bottom on price. The machine is the cheap part. Your time, your water, your insurance and the risk of damaging a surface are what the price has to cover.
A standard two-car driveway goes for $150–$270 in the US, £140–£230 in the UK, C$180–C$320 in Canada and A$150–A$280 in Australia. This guide shows how to get from the size and type of surface to a price, and how to check that the job pays once setup and travel are counted.
Set the job details to get a price to quote, then check what that price leaves you per hour once driving, supplies and tax are counted.
sq ft
Length times width. A two-car driveway is usually 400 to 700 sq ft.Length times width. A typical driveway is 40 to 60 m².Length times width. A two-car driveway is usually 400 to 700 sq ft.Length times width. A typical driveway is 40 to 80 m².
We only publish going rates for the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Enter the price you plan to charge and the calculator shows what it pays you per hour, and the lowest price you should accept.
Charge about
$200
per job, for 600 sq ft
Budget$150Typical$200Premium$270
$
per job, in your own currency
What you really keep
$63an hour in your pocket at the typical price
Adjust the numbers above to match your job.
The price is built as a base fee plus a rate for the size of the job, then adjusted for the options you pick. Time is an estimate for one person working alone; change it if you know your own pace.
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Price list
Pressure Washing prices by job size
Job
United States (USD)
United Kingdom (GBP)
Canada (CAD)
Australia (AUD)
Small patio or path
$100–$150about 250 sq ft
£85–£120about 20 m²
$120–$175about 250 sq ft
$100–$150about 25 m²
Standard driveway
$150–$270about 600 sq ft
£140–£230about 50 m²
$180–$320about 600 sq ft
$150–$280about 60 m²
Large driveway with paths
$240–$480about 1,200 sq ft
£230–£410about 100 m²
$290–$570about 1,200 sq ft
$240–$490about 120 m²
All hard surfaces around a home
$440–$940about 2,500 sq ft
£410–£770about 200 m²
$520–$1,120about 2,500 sq ft
$440–$960about 250 m²
Hourly rate
$60–$125what working pros bill
£40–£80what working pros bill
$60–$130what working pros bill
$40–$100what working pros bill
Minimum charge
$100smallest job worth the trip
£80smallest job worth the trip
$120smallest job worth the trip
$100smallest job worth the trip
Prices are per job in local currency, from a fair budget price to an established operator in a higher-cost area.
United States: Rates run higher on the coasts and in Florida, where algae and mildew keep demand steady all year. House washing is usually sold as a low-pressure soft wash, priced lower per square foot than concrete.
United Kingdom: Block paving is everywhere, and customers often expect re-sanding after the clean, which is a separate charge per square metre. London rates sit well above the national figures.
Canada: The working season runs from about April to October. Many operators pair pressure washing with window and gutter cleaning to fill the week, and price spring driveway cleans higher because of winter salt and grit.
Australia: Called pressure cleaning or high-pressure cleaning. Water restrictions apply in some areas during dry spells, so check local rules before you book outdoor cleaning work.
Method
Ways to price pressure washing
01By area
A rate per square foot or square metre, on top of a base fee for turning up and setting up. This is the standard for driveways, patios and decks, and it is how the calculator on this page works. Measure the surface or pace it out before you quote.
02Flat price per job
One price for a named job, such as a standard driveway or a single-storey house wash. Customers find it easy to say yes to, and it rewards you as you get faster. Work your flat prices out from your area rate so they stay consistent.
03Hourly
Best kept for odd jobs you cannot measure, such as cleaning bins, play equipment or a boat trailer. On measurable surfaces an hourly rate just caps your income once you buy a surface cleaner and get quicker.
04Bundles
Driveway plus paths plus patio at a combined price. You are already on site with the machine running, so each extra surface costs you little, and a bundle discount of 10 to 15 percent still raises what you earn per visit.
Price factors
What changes the price
01The surface, more than the size
Flat concrete is fast with a surface cleaner. Wood needs lower pressure and slower passes or it furs up and scars, so it earns a higher rate. Siding is washed with detergent at low pressure, which covers a lot of area quickly, so the rate per square foot is lower.
02How dirty it really is
A driveway cleaned every year takes one pass. Ten years of black algae, moss in the joints or lichen spots can need a pre-treatment and two passes. Look closely before quoting, and add about 30 percent for heavy growth.
03Stains that water will not shift
Oil, rust, tyre marks and paint need chemicals and dwell time, and some never come out fully. Price stain treatment as an extra and tell the customer before you start that you will improve it but cannot promise it will vanish.
04Water supply and drainage
You normally use the customer's outside tap. Low flow slows the whole job, and no tap at all means hauling a tank. Ask about water when you quote, and check where the dirty runoff will go.
05Your equipment
Flow rate, in gallons or litres per minute, decides how fast you clean, more than pressure does. A surface cleaner attachment roughly halves the time on flat areas and avoids stripes. Faster gear is how your hourly earnings rise without raising prices.
06Access and height
Second-storey walls, steep drives and areas reached only through the house add time and risk. Anything that needs a ladder with a pressure lance in your hand is a job to price high or decline.
Worked examples
Real quotes, step by step
United States
Two-car driveway with oil stains
A 600 sq ft concrete driveway, cleaned every couple of years, with two oil patches where a car has leaked.
The stain treatment is twenty minutes of work and a little degreaser. Extras like this are where a standard driveway becomes a well-paid one.
Base price, 600 sq ft
$204
Treat oil or rust stains
+ $40
Quote, rounded
$240
Going range
$190–$310
Time, with 15 min driving
2.5 hours
Supplies and fuel
− $14
Set aside 25% for tax and overheads
− $57
You keep
$68 an hour
United Kingdom
Block-paved drive thick with moss
A 70 m² block-paved driveway that has never been cleaned. Moss fills every joint and the surface is green.
Heavy growth nearly doubles the time on site. Quote re-sanding the joints as a separate line, because the customer will ask for it once the old sand has washed out.
Base price, 70 m²
£232
Heavy moss, algae or years of grime
× 1.3
Quote, rounded
£300
Going range
£230–£390
Time, with 15 min driving
5.75 hours
Supplies and fuel
− £12
Set aside 25% for tax and overheads
− £72
You keep
£38 an hour
Australia
Timber deck before re-oiling
A 40 m² hardwood deck, grey and slippery, that the owner wants cleaned before oiling it themselves.
Wood is slow, careful work at low pressure. The higher rate pays for the time, and for the fact that a rushed job leaves marks you cannot undo.
Base price, 40 m²
$152
Wood deck or fence
× 1.2
Quote, rounded
$180
Going range
$145–$240
Time, with 15 min driving
3 hours
Supplies and fuel
− $17
Set aside 25% for tax and overheads
− $41
You keep
$41 an hour
Canada
Single-storey house wash
About 1,800 sq ft of vinyl siding on a bungalow, with green algae on the north side.
Siding is a detergent and low-pressure job. It covers ground fast, so the price per square foot is lower, but the total is one of the best tickets a solo operator gets.
Base price, 1,800 sq ft
$574
House siding or walls
× 0.8
Quote, rounded
$460
Going range
$320–$660
Time, with 15 min driving
4.25 hours
Supplies and fuel
− $18
Set aside 25% for tax and overheads
− $111
You keep
$78 an hour
Your costs
What it costs you to do the work
A homeowner electric washer will not survive daily use or clean fast enough to earn a living. These are the usual costs for a basic professional setup bought new.
Item
USA (USD)
UK (GBP)
Canada (CAD)
Australia (AUD)
Petrol pressure washerLook for at least 3,000 PSI (200 bar) and 2.5 gallons (10 litres) a minute.
$400–$1,000
£350–£900
$550–$1,300
$600–$1,500
Surface cleaner attachmentThe single upgrade that most improves speed and finish on flat areas.
$80–$300
£60–£250
$100–$400
$120–$450
Hoses, nozzles and extension wand
$100–$300
£80–£250
$130–$400
$150–$450
Detergents and fuel, per month
$60–$180
£50–£150
$80–$230
$80–$250
Liability insurance, per yearEssential. Damaged render, etched concrete and water forced behind siding are real claims.
$500–$1,500
£80–£250
$600–$1,600
$450–$1,000
Avoid these
Pricing mistakes that cost beginners money
Pricing to beat the cheapest flyer
Someone with a hardware-store washer will always quote less. They are also slower, uninsured and gone by next season. Hold a minimum of $100 in the US or £80 in the UK and sell the result, not the price.
Quoting without seeing the surface
A photo hides moss in the joints, oil stains and crumbling mortar. If you must quote remotely, give a range and confirm the price when you arrive, before you unload.
Using full pressure on everything
High pressure etches soft concrete, splinters wood and strips paint. One damaged deck costs more than a month of profit. Learn which surfaces need low pressure and detergent, and price those jobs for the extra care.
Forgetting setup and pack-down
Running hoses, moving cars and furniture, and rinsing down walls and windows afterwards can add an hour to a job. Build it into the base fee instead of hoping the rate per area covers it.
Questions
Common questions about pressure washing prices
How much should I charge for pressure washing a driveway?
For a standard two-car driveway, charge $150–$270 in the US, £140–£230 in the UK, C$180–C$320 in Canada and A$150–A$280 in Australia. Charge more for heavy moss or algae and for stain treatment.
How much should I charge per square foot for pressure washing?
In the US, most driveway and patio work is priced at about $0.25 to $0.55 per square foot, falling as jobs get larger, and house siding at $0.10 to $0.50. In the UK, driveways are about £3 to £6 per square metre, and in Australia about $2 to $5 per square metre.
What is a fair hourly rate for pressure washing?
Working pros bill about $60–$125 an hour in the US, £40–£80 in the UK, C$60–C$130 in Canada and A$40–A$100 in Australia. Quote by the job where you can and use the hourly figure to check that the price pays.
How long does it take to pressure wash a driveway?
With a surface cleaner, a two-car driveway takes one person about two hours including setup and rinsing. With only a wand, or with heavy moss, allow three to four hours.
Should I charge extra for oil stains?
Yes. Stains need degreaser and extra time, so add a set fee per job, and make clear that old stains may lighten but not disappear.
Do I need insurance to pressure wash for money?
You should have liability insurance before your first paid job. Pressure washers can damage surfaces, windows and cars, and many customers and all commercial clients will ask for proof of cover.
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Where these numbers come from
The rates on this page were set in November 2026 from the published price guides below, then checked so that the calculator, the price list and the examples all agree. How we work out prices.