Pressure washing price per square foot: how to find your number
Online guides often quote ranges such as $0.10–$0.40 per square foot for pressure washing. The range is that wide because the right number depends on the surface, your equipment speed and your costs. Here's how to work out a per-square-foot price that fits your business.
The formula
Price per sq ft = (hourly crew cost ÷ production rate + chemicals per sq ft) ÷ (1 − margin)
Example for a concrete driveway with a surface cleaner: $43.50/h ÷ 800 sq ft/h = $0.054 labour and overhead per sq ft, plus about $0.005 of chemicals = $0.059. At a 30% margin that's $0.059 ÷ 0.70 = about $0.085 per sq ft on the tools. Setup, driving and your minimum come on top.
Why each surface needs its own rate
| Surface | Starter production rate | Starter chemicals / sq ft | Resulting price / sq ft* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl house wash | 1,200 | $0.010 | ≈ $0.07 |
| Concrete driveway | 800 | $0.005 | ≈ $0.08 |
| Paver patio | 450 | $0.010 | ≈ $0.15 |
| Wood deck | 300 | $0.020 | ≈ $0.24 |
| Roof soft wash | 1,000 | $0.030 | ≈ $0.11 |
When per-square-foot pricing breaks
- Small jobs: fixed time (setup, drive) dominates. Use a minimum job price.
- Heavy staining or oxidation: slower production and more chemicals. Price it as a separate line.
- Access: second storeys, steep roofs and no nearby water source all cut your production rate.
Run your own numbers: the free BidRight calculator
uses your pay, overhead, chemicals and drive time. The full kit adds a price book, a printable quote and a job profit tracker.