How much to charge for pressure washing
Pressure washing is priced by surface area, but profitability is decided by setup time and water access. Here's how to build the number.
Below: the published wage for this work, why your billing rate has to be well above it, how this job is actually priced, and what moves the number. Put your own rate into the generator and you get a real itemized estimate built on it.
Generate this estimate now
Describe the job in plain words. No email needed to see your first estimate — about fifteen seconds for a small job, a little longer for a big one.
What you get — see the format first
A complete estimate you can send to the customer, built from the rate you enter:
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor — itemized by task | hrs | hour | your rate | — |
| Materials — with your markup applied | qty | ea / sq ft | cost + markup | — |
| Permits, disposal, access | — | — | — | — |
Plus a plain-English scope summary, assumptions (what had to be guessed), exclusions (what you are not doing — the section that prevents most change-order arguments), and a validity period. Printable, or send the link.
Every figure comes from the rate and markup you supply. We never fill in a market price for you.
How pressure washing is priced
Most operators price per square foot by surface type, with a job minimum that covers drive time, setup and breakdown. Some price per hour for mixed or unpredictable work. Either way the minimum matters more than the rate — a small job at a good per-foot rate still loses money if setup ate an hour.
What moves the number
- Surface type — concrete, vinyl, brick, wood and stucco take different methods and different time
- Method: soft wash on oxidised siding takes longer than blasting concrete
- Water access — no working spigot means hauling a tank, which changes the whole job
- Height and access: two-storey work, ladders, or steep roofs
- Severity: heavy mould, rust or oil staining takes chemicals and dwell time
- Containment requirements on commercial or environmentally sensitive sites
How pressure washing gets underpriced
- No job minimum, so a small driveway consumes a half day of margin
- Quoting by area without seeing the surface condition first
- Promising stain removal that the surface will not actually give up
- Forgetting chemical cost and dwell time on mould and rust
Related guides
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Estimate templates by trade
pressure washing · kitchen remodel · HVAC · plumbing · electrical · painting · roofing · landscaping
How to estimate
How to write a contractor estimate · Estimate vs quote vs bid — and which one you should send · What to include in a contractor estimate · How to price a job as a contractor · Should you charge for estimates? · How to follow up on an estimate · How to handle change orders · Estimate vs invoice: what's the difference? · How to raise your prices as a contractor