Pressure Washing Quote Calculator

Quote pressure washing by area: hours from your cleaning rate, labor, machine cost per hour, water use, cleaning chemicals, travel, markup and tax.

Driveway, patio, deck or wall area.
ft² per hour
How much you clean per hour including setup and rinsing. Flat concrete with a surface cleaner goes much faster than siding or wood; track it on your own jobs.
workers
Each worker adds labor cost. If several workers share one machine, raise the cleaning rate only if they actually speed up the job.
$per worker-hour
Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
$per machine-hour
Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
gal/min
From the pressure washer’s rating (GPM).
$per 1,000 gal
From the water bill. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
$per 1,000 ft²
Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
$per job
Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
%
Added to direct costs (materials + labor + fees) to cover overhead and profit. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
%
Your combined state + local rate. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
Whether labor and services are taxable depends on your state. Check with your state revenue department.
Estimated TOTAL
$273.62
Time on site
3.00 h
Water used
720
Labor (3.0 worker-hours)
$135.00
Equipment
$36.00
Water
$4.32
Detergent / chemicals
$12.00
Travel / setup
$40.00
Direct cost (before markup)
$227.32
Overhead & profit (20%)
$45.46
Subtotal
$272.78
Sales tax (7% on materials at cost)
$0.84
Cost per ft²
$0.23
Cost per m²
$2.45

Estimate generated with SortedSums: https://sortedsums.com/pressure-washing-estimator/. For informational purposes only; verify before relying on it.

Estimate only. This tool is for informational and educational purposes. Results depend on your inputs and simplifying assumptions, and are not a substitute for professional engineering, design or financial advice. Always verify with a qualified professional and applicable codes before purchasing, building or making decisions.

How it’s calculated

Time on site comes from the area and your cleaning rate. Labor, machine running cost and water all scale with that time; chemicals scale with the area.

Hours = area ÷ cleaning rate Labor = hours × crew × $/h; Equipment = hours × $/h Water (gal) = GPM × 60 × hours; Water cost = gal ÷ 1000 × price Chemicals = area ÷ 1000 × $ per 1,000 ft² TOTAL = direct cost × (1 + markup%) + tax

Example (default example rates): 1,200 ft² at 400 ft²/h = 3 h. Labor 3 × 1 × $45 = $135; equipment 3 × $12 = $36; water 4 GPM × 60 × 3 = 720 gal × $6/1,000 = $4.32; chemicals 1.2 × $10 = $12; travel $40. Direct cost $227.32; +20% = $272.78; 7% tax on chemicals = $0.84. TOTAL = $273.62 (≈ $0.23/ft²).

Many contractors also set a minimum job charge; compare the total with yours. Wash water containing detergents, oil or paint should not run into storm drains; check local rules. This is a planning estimate only. It does not include anything not entered above, such as permits, inspections, engineering, site preparation, demolition or disposal (unless entered), access or equipment problems, regional surcharges, contingency or price changes. Get written quotes before committing.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I charge per square foot for pressure washing?

Work it out from your own costs: enter your cleaning rate, labor rate and machine costs and read the cost per ft² in the results. Rates differ a lot between flat concrete, siding, roofs and wood decks.

How much water does a pressure washer use?

Its rated flow in gallons per minute times the minutes it runs. A 4 GPM machine running for an hour uses 240 gallons.

Can I let wash water run into the street?

Often not. Many local stormwater rules prohibit discharging wash water with detergents or contaminants to storm drains. Check with your city or county.

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Sources

Formulas are taken from the free public references above. Results are provided “as is” for informational and educational purposes only. See our disclaimer.

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