# How do I price pressure washing per square foot?

Measure the area, multiply by your rate per square foot, then check what is left after costs. ProfitDrawer's pressure washing guide works an example: a 960 sq ft driveway plus a 120 sq ft walk is 1,080 sq ft, and at $0.20 per sq ft the price is $216. Direct costs are $34 and the job takes 2 hours, leaving $182, or $91 an hour before insurance, marketing and taxes. Example numbers only.

Steps:

1. **Measure** with a measuring wheel or a map app before you quote (the example driveway is 24 ft x 40 ft and the walk 4 ft x 30 ft).
2. **Multiply** square feet by your rate.
3. **Subtract direct costs.** In the example: chemicals $10, machine fuel $6, driving 20 miles at $0.40 ($8) and equipment wear $10.
4. **Divide what is left by the hours**, setup and cleanup included.

If that hourly number is too low once your fixed costs are added, raise the rate or set a minimum job price (the guide's example is $150) so small jobs still pay.

Adjust for the job:

- Charge more for oil stains, heavy mildew, two-story houses and long drives.
- House washing is often priced by house size or by linear foot instead.
- A bundle (driveway, walk and house) priced a little below the three separate prices raises the job size.

The free price per job calculator can check any quote.

- Source: [How to Start a Pressure Washing Business (Step by Step for Beginners)](https://profitdrawer.com/guides/how-to-start-a-pressure-washing-business.html)
- Updated: 2026-10-29
- Published: 2026-10-29
- Category: Pricing and profit
- Canonical: https://profitdrawer.com/answers/how-do-i-price-pressure-washing-per-square-foot.html
- Publisher: ProfitDrawer (https://profitdrawer.com)