How to Price Pressure Washing Jobs in 2026 (Per-Sq-Ft, Not Per-Hour)

The biggest pricing mistake new pressure washers make: hourly billing. Customer balks at $80/hour. They never blink at $0.20/sq ft for a 2,500 sq ft driveway ($500) — even though it's the same money for 2 hours of work.

Here's how to price by the square foot in 2026.

The Pricing Model: Per-Sq-Ft + Packages

House washing (siding):

• Vinyl / aluminum: $0.10-$0.20/sq ft
• Brick: $0.15-$0.25/sq ft
• Stone / stucco: $0.15-$0.25/sq ft
• Wood: $0.15-$0.30/sq ft (use soft-wash to avoid damage)

Typical 2,000 sq ft single-story home wash: $200-$400.

Concrete / Flatwork:

• Driveway: $0.15-$0.30/sq ft
• Sidewalk: $0.15-$0.25/linear foot
• Patio: $0.20-$0.40/sq ft (pavers, stamped concrete)
• Pool deck: $0.25-$0.45/sq ft

Typical 600 sq ft driveway: $90-$180. Typical 400 sq ft patio: $80-$160.

Wood / Decks:

• Deck (clean only): $0.40-$0.70/sq ft
• Deck (clean + stain): $1.50-$3.50/sq ft
• Fence (clean): $0.40-$0.90/linear foot (6ft tall)
• Fence (clean + stain): $1.50-$3.00/linear foot

Roof Soft-Washing (Premium Service):

• Asphalt shingle: $0.30-$0.60/sq ft
• Tile / metal: $0.40-$0.80/sq ft

Typical 2,000 sq ft roof: $600-$1,200. Highest margin work in the trade.

Package Pricing (Higher Average Ticket)

Most successful pressure washers sell packages, not à la carte:

House Wash Package (house + driveway + sidewalk + front patio):

• 1,500 sq ft home: $389-$589
• 2,000 sq ft home: $489-$789
• 2,500+ sq ft home: $589-$989

Full Exterior Detail (house + driveway + sidewalks + patio + deck):

• 2,000 sq ft home: $789-$1,289
• 3,000 sq ft home: $1,089-$1,789

Package pricing typically beats à-la-carte by 30-50% on close rate AND average ticket.

Commercial Pricing

• Gas station flatwork: $189-$489 per visit
• Fast food drive-through: $189-$389 per visit
• Office building exterior: $0.10-$0.20/sq ft
• HOA common areas: monthly contract, $389-$1,889/month
• Building washing (multi-story): $0.20-$0.40/sq ft

Commercial accounts pay net-15 to net-30 but volume is steady.

Surcharges

• Heavy mildew / black streaks (extra chemistry needed): +25-40%
• Steep roof / safety harness required: +30-50%
• 2nd story access (extension): +15-25%
• Travel beyond 25 miles: $50-$100 fee
• Same-day service: +$50

The Profit Math

To clear $80K/year solo, gross ~$140K-$170K:

• 60-100 jobs per year solo at $400-$600 average
• House wash + driveway packages drive most volume
• Roof soft-wash + decks drive premium pricing

Year-three with 2-truck operation: $250K-$500K.

Annual Recurring Pricing

The sleeper move: convert one-time customers to annual recurring.

After every house wash, ask: "Want me to add you to the annual list? I'll text you next April, $50 off if you book early."

40-60% say yes. 100 annual customers at $500/year average = $50K guaranteed recurring revenue every spring.

Common Pricing Mistakes

1. Hourly instead of per-sq-ft. Customers balk at hourly rates that look high; same money per-sq-ft feels normal.
2. Underpricing roof soft-wash. It's premium service — charge premium price.
3. Free demo washes. Devalues your work.
4. Quoting over the phone for properties you haven't seen — drive by first.
5. No package pricing. A-la-carte costs you 30-50% on average ticket.

The Software

Invoicerus gives pressure washers a sq-ft quote builder, package pricing with à-la-carte add-ons, before/after photo storage, and annual recurring scheduling — free.

Sign up free at invoicerus.com. No credit card.