Pressure Washing Cost Calculator

Built and maintained byKapil LodhiLast updated September 2026 — Based on Angi, HomeGuide and industry contractor pricing data across all 50 US states

How much does pressure washing cost in 2026?

Pressure washing costs $150 to $500 for most residential jobs, with a national average around $275. Per square foot, expect $0.10 to $0.75 depending on the surface — concrete handles aggressive cleaning and costs least, while wood, roofing, and siding require gentler technique and cost more. Most contractors also set a $100-$150 minimum service fee to cover drive time and setup, regardless of job size. Use our free calculator above for an instant estimate based on your specific surfaces.

Pressure washing driveway cost calculator

Driveway cleaning is the single most common pressure washing job, and pricing is straightforward: $100 to $300 for a typical driveway, or $0.15 to $0.40 per square foot. A standard 600 sq ft two-car driveway runs roughly $90 to $210 in most areas. Heavy oil stains, rust, or years of embedded grime can push the price 25 to 50% higher, since deep stains require stronger degreasers and more dwell time. Concrete is the most forgiving surface to pressure wash — it handles high PSI without damage and most driveways can be fully cleaned in 30 to 60 minutes.

Pressure washing cost by surface

A full property wash bundling driveway, house exterior, and a deck or patio typically costs $300 to $800 — meaningfully less than booking each surface as a separate visit.

Pressure washing vs. power washing vs. soft washing — what's the difference?

These terms get used interchangeably, but they describe genuinely different processes. Pressure washing uses cold water at high pressure — ideal for driveways, sidewalks, and other tough concrete surfaces. Power washing adds heated water to the same high pressure, which cuts through grease, gum, and stubborn stains faster, but costs more ($0.35-$0.77/sq ft vs $0.08-$0.20/sq ft for basic cold-water concrete cleaning). Soft washing uses low pressure combined with specialized cleaning solutions instead of force — the only safe method for delicate surfaces like roofing, painted siding, and stucco.

Why roofs and siding always need soft washing, not high pressure

For house siding, standard pressure washing PSI (2,000+) is actually too aggressive. Direct high-pressure water at that level can crack vinyl siding, force water behind exterior walls, strip paint, and damage caulking around windows and doors — turning a routine cleaning into a much more expensive repair. Professional roof and siding cleaning uses soft wash technique at under 500 PSI, combined with a sodium hypochlorite-based cleaning solution, to kill algae and mold at the root without the physical force that damages the material. If a quote for roof or siding cleaning doesn't specifically mention soft washing, ask about it before booking.

How often should you pressure wash?

Most homes benefit from an annual pressure washing. Homes in humid climates, shaded yards, or areas with heavy tree cover may need cleaning every six to eight months, since mold and algae grow faster in those conditions. Driveways and high-traffic walkways often benefit from semi-annual cleaning, since regular maintenance prevents buildup from becoming harder — and more expensive — to remove later.

How the trade actually prices a job

Pressure washing is quoted three different ways, and knowing which one you are being given explains why two estimates for the same driveway can look nothing alike.

The minimum is the one that surprises people. Setting up, running hoses and packing down takes the same time whether the job is 200 square feet or 2,000, so a small patio on its own rarely costs proportionally less than a large one. This is also why bundling surfaces into a single visit is usually better value than booking them separately across the year.

The equipment words on your quote, translated

• PSI and GPM. PSI is pressure, GPM is water volume. Volume does most of the actual rinsing, which is why a professional rig with high flow cleans faster than a consumer machine claiming a similar PSI.
• Surface cleaner. The round shrouded attachment used on flat concrete. It spins jets under a hood so the cleaning is even, which is what prevents the striped, zebra-patterned finish a bare wand leaves behind. These attachments need substantial pressure to work properly — generally in the 3,000 PSI region — which is another reason professional results differ from rental-machine results.
• Soft washing. Low pressure, commonly in the 300 to 500 PSI range, paired with a cleaning solution that does the work chemically. It typically costs 10% to 20% more than plain concrete cleaning because of the chemicals, and it is the correct method for siding, painted surfaces and roofs.
• Hot water. Heated units cut grease and oil far better than cold ones, which is why they appear on quotes for garage floors and commercial work.

What washing will not remove

Cleaning removes what is sitting on the surface. It does not undo what has soaked into it or changed it. Setting that expectation before the crew arrives avoids the most common disappointment:

• Comes off readily: algae, mildew, moss, dirt, pollen, cobwebs, loose chalking.
• Usually needs a specific treatment: rust staining, oil that has penetrated concrete, tannin bleed from leaves and mulch, efflorescence — the white mineral bloom that comes out of the concrete itself rather than landing on it.
• Will not improve: faded or oxidised paint, spalled concrete, and any damage already in the surface. Pressure cannot restore a material that has degraded.

Timing it so the cleaning earns its keep

Washing is most valuable when it is the first step of something else. Concrete should be clean and fully dry before it is sealed, so cleaning immediately precedes a driveway sealcoating job rather than being scheduled independently. The same applies before exterior painting — paint will not bond to a chalky or algae-covered surface.

For maintenance cleaning, once a year suits most houses, timed after the heaviest pollen or leaf drop in your area. North-facing walls and shaded areas grow algae faster and may want attention sooner than the rest of the house. If the roof is what looks stained, that is biological growth and needs the soft-wash treatment specifically — never a pressurized jet, which drives water under the shingles and strips the protective granules. Our roof replacement cost estimator is the place to look if the surface underneath turns out to be at the end of its life rather than merely dirty, and the vinyl siding cost estimator covers the same question for walls.

Frequently asked questions