Home / By factor
By factorPressure Washing Cost Per Square Foot
Most exterior cleaning is priced by area. Here’s the per-square-foot rate by surface, and how pros turn it into a flat quote.
Pressure washing runs roughly $0.10–$0.60 per square foot depending on the surface: concrete $0.10–$0.25, siding $0.15–$0.30, decks $0.20–$0.45, and roofs $0.20–$0.60 (soft-wash). Most pros use the per-sq-ft rate to build a flat quote, not to bill you by the foot.
Almost every pressure-washing quote starts from a per-square-foot rate, even when the pro gives you a single flat price. Knowing the rate by surface tells you whether a quote is fair.
Per-square-foot by surface
| Surface | Cost / sq ft | Method | Recommended PSI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl & painted siding | $0.15–$0.30 | Soft wash | < 500 PSI |
| Stucco | $0.20–$0.40 | Soft wash | < 500 PSI |
| Brick & masonry | $0.15–$0.35 | Low pressure | 500–1,000 |
| Concrete driveway | $0.10–$0.25 | Pressure + surface cleaner | 3,000 |
| Wood deck & fence | $0.20–$0.45 | Low pressure, wood-safe | 500–1,200 |
| Roof (tile / shingle / metal) | $0.20–$0.60 | Soft wash only | < 500 PSI |
Why the range is wide
Two things move the number within each band: how dirty the surface is (heavy algae or oil needs more solution and dwell time) and access (a second story, tight landscaping, or a steep roof adds labor). Soft-wash surfaces (siding, roofs) cost a bit more per foot than a plain concrete blast because the cleaning solution does the work.
The PSI column is not a preference
The recommended-PSI figures above track published trade guidance rather than our opinion. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association instructs homeowners not to use a power washer on a shingle roof at all — high pressure loosens the granules that protect the shingle — and prescribes a cleaning solution with a 15-to-20-minute dwell time instead. The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance is slightly more permissive on tile, allowing professional low-intensity washing, while still steering homeowners to a licensed roofing contractor rather than a cleaning company. Any quote priced around blasting a roof is quoting a different, worse job — our roof cleaning cost guide works through what the growth on your roof actually is, since that, not the square footage, is what moves a roof quote.
From rate to flat quote
A good pro measures the area, applies the per-foot rate, then quotes a flat price for the job. That protects you from an open meter. If someone quotes strictly by the hour with no cap, ask for a not-to-exceed number. Our full cost hub and estimator turns these rates into a range for your specific home.
Keep one distinction in mind when you use these rates: they are all for cleaning. Coating a surface is priced by the same unit but in a different league — sealing a driveway runs $0.75–$4.50 per square foot against $0.10–$0.25 to wash it. A quote that moves from cleaning to sealing has changed size, not just scope.
One common job on the house does not belong on this page at all: a gutter has almost no area, so it is priced by the linear foot rather than the square foot, and the footage you need is the length of the eaves rather than the perimeter of the house. If you are pricing gutters against the rates above, you are comparing two different units.