Pricing is where pressure washing businesses win or lose. Bid too low and you’re working for free after fuel and chemicals; bid blind and you’ll never know which jobs actually made money. Here’s how to charge for pressure washing so every job pays.
The short version: most pros price by the square foot, by the hour, or as a flat rate per job. Square-foot pricing is the most common — and whatever method you use, your number has to cover labor, fuel, chemicals, equipment wear, and travel, with margin on top.
The three ways to price a pressure washing job
Per square foot
The most common method. You quote a rate per square foot of surface, which scales cleanly from a small patio to a big driveway. Rates vary by region and surface, but most pros land somewhere in the range of a few cents to around twenty cents per square foot depending on the job. Soft-washing a house, cleaning concrete, and stripping a deck are different rates — don’t use one number for everything.
Per hour
Hourly works when the scope is unpredictable or the surface is awkward. Set an hourly rate that covers your overhead plus margin, and be honest with yourself about setup and breakdown time — it adds up.
Flat rate per job
Customers love a single number, and flat rate rewards you for being efficient. Build flat rates off your square-foot math so you’re not guessing — then quote one clean price.
What your price has to cover
- Labor — your time and any helper’s, including drive and setup.
- Fuel and water — to the job and running the machine.
- Chemicals — detergents and surfactants per job.
- Equipment wear — pumps, hoses, and surface cleaners don’t last forever.
- Travel — windshield time is real cost; charge for distance.
Add it all up, then add your profit margin. If you don’t know your cost per job, you don’t know your price — you’re guessing.
How to quote without underbidding
Measure the actual surface instead of eyeballing it from the truck. Price each surface type at its own rate. Send a clear, itemized quote fast — the first pro to follow up with a professional number usually books the job. And never drop your price just to win work you’ll resent doing.
How Zoop helps you quote and get paid
Zoop is pressure washing software that turns a measurement into a branded quote in minutes, books the job, and sends a payment link the customer taps on the spot. Recurring driveways and storefronts bill themselves. No per-seat pricing, free during beta.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pressure washers charge per square foot?
It varies by region and surface, but most pros charge somewhere from a few cents up to around twenty cents per square foot — concrete, house soft-washing, and decks each price differently. Always price the surface in front of you, not a flat number.
Should I charge hourly or per job for pressure washing?
Per-job (flat rate) pricing is most popular because customers like a single number and it rewards efficiency. Hourly fits unpredictable or awkward jobs. Either way, base the number on your real costs.
How do I make sure a pressure washing job is profitable?
Know your cost per job — labor, fuel, water, chemicals, equipment wear, and travel — then price above it with margin. Measure accurately and don’t discount just to win the job.
Quote faster and stop underbidding. See how Zoop works for pressure washing — free during beta.
