Skip to content
Cleaning

How much does a pressure washing contractor cost?

Pressure washing a driveway or path costs about $3 to $5 a square metre, which is about $190 to $350 for a standard driveway. A single-storey house wash is about $400 to $650, and most contractors set a minimum charge from about $150.

Driveway and paths, concrete:$3–$5 per m²

Updated 19 October 2026 · 2 min read · GST basis not confirmed by sources. Check GST on every quote.

Find a provider
On this page
  1. How a pressure washing contractor works out the price
  2. What it costs, by scenario
  3. What changes the price
  4. What's usually included, and what isn't
  5. Metro and regional differences
  6. Licensing and compliance
  7. Before you accept a quote, check
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources and method

How a pressure washing contractor works out the price

Flat surfaces such as driveways, paths and patios are usually priced per square metre, so the area decides the total. Houses, roofs and decks are more often quoted as a fixed price after the contractor sees the job. Some contractors charge by the hour instead, mainly for mixed or awkward work. Most set a minimum charge so that a small job still covers travel and set-up.

  1. Measure or estimate the area, or inspect the house, roof or deck
  2. Price flat surfaces per square metre, or quote a fixed price for a whole job
  3. Add treatments for oil stains, mould or algae
  4. Add access costs for roofs, double storeys and steep sites
  5. Apply the minimum charge if the total is below it
  6. GST, if the quote is exclusive of it

Worked example: Double driveway and front path with an oil stain (illustrative, not a quote)

Driveway, 50 square metres at $4 a square metre
$200
Front path, 20 square metres at $4 a square metre
$80
Oil stain treatment on the driveway
$100
Total
$380 total (illustrative)

What it costs, by scenario

Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from two Australian marketplace and cleaning-business guides, two state-based business cost guides, a labour-hire platform guide, a compiled national table and trade waste regulator pages. Each range stays inside figures that at least two sources share where we found two; GST basis is not confirmed by most sources.

  • Driveway and paths, concrete (per m²)

    The range most sources share. Older marketplace guides start at $1.50, while some business guides run to $8 or $9 for pavers or detailed work. A small area costs more per square metre.

    Low
    $3
    Typical
    $4
    High
    $5

  • Standard driveway, single or double (per job)

    The range four sources share. Larger driveways run to $700 in some sources. Oil stain treatment adds $50 to $150 in one source.

    Low
    $190
    Typical
    $250
    High
    $350

  • House exterior wash, single storey (per job)

    The range three sources share for a soft wash. A double storey costs more, at about $700 to $1,400 in two sources.

    Low
    $400
    Typical
    $480
    High
    $650

  • Roof clean, standard home (per job)

    Roofs need safety gear and take longer on steep pitches or tiles. Large or steep roofs can exceed $1,300.

    Low
    $500
    Typical
    $700
    High
    $1,300

  • Deck or patio (per job)

    The range two sources share. One source prices timber decks at $5 to $10 a square metre.

    Low
    $200
    Typical
    $280
    High
    $450

  • Fence, one side (per linear metre)

    Mostly one source, which gives $5 to $18. A Perth guide prices timber fence at $5.50 to $10 and Colorbond at $4 to $7.50 a linear metre, which sits inside it.

    Low
    $5
    Typical
    $10
    High
    $18

  • Hourly rate, when priced by time (per hour)

    The overlap of several sources. The typical is the middle of that overlap. Sources range from $40 to $165 an hour, with the high end for hot water or surface-cleaner equipment.

    Low
    $70
    Typical
    $85
    High
    $100

  • Minimum call-out charge (per visit)

    Two sources only. One calls $150 a common benchmark and another gives $150 to $250.

    Low
    $150
    Typical
    $150
    High
    $250
Low, typical and high prices by scenario
ScenarioLowTypicalHigh
Driveway and paths, concrete (per m²)The range most sources share. Older marketplace guides start at $1.50, while some business guides run to $8 or $9 for pavers or detailed work. A small area costs more per square metre.$3$4$5
Standard driveway, single or double (per job)The range four sources share. Larger driveways run to $700 in some sources. Oil stain treatment adds $50 to $150 in one source.$190$250$350
House exterior wash, single storey (per job)The range three sources share for a soft wash. A double storey costs more, at about $700 to $1,400 in two sources.$400$480$650
Roof clean, standard home (per job)Roofs need safety gear and take longer on steep pitches or tiles. Large or steep roofs can exceed $1,300.$500$700$1,300
Deck or patio (per job)The range two sources share. One source prices timber decks at $5 to $10 a square metre.$200$280$450
Fence, one side (per linear metre)Mostly one source, which gives $5 to $18. A Perth guide prices timber fence at $5.50 to $10 and Colorbond at $4 to $7.50 a linear metre, which sits inside it.$5$10$18
Hourly rate, when priced by time (per hour)The overlap of several sources. The typical is the middle of that overlap. Sources range from $40 to $165 an hour, with the high end for hot water or surface-cleaner equipment.$70$85$100
Minimum call-out charge (per visit)Two sources only. One calls $150 a common benchmark and another gives $150 to $250.$150$150$250

Want to compare providers?

Tell us the job and we'll bring the right providers together.

Find a provider

What changes the price

  • Surface and area. Concrete is cheapest per square metre. Pavers, limestone, brick and delicate roof surfaces cost more per square metre.
  • Condition. Heavy mould, algae, oil stains or old sealer slow the work and can need chemical treatment.
  • Storeys and roof access. A double storey or a steep roof needs ladders, harnesses or extra time, and costs more than ground-level work.
  • Method. Soft washing a house or roof uses lower pressure and cleaning solution, and some sources price it above a standard wash.
  • Job size and minimums. Small jobs hit the minimum charge, so they cost more per square metre than a large driveway.
  • Water and access. The contractor needs a tap. Hot water units and surface cleaners lift the hourly rate.

What's usually included, and what isn't

Usually included

  • Equipment, pressure cleaner and travel to your home
  • Washing the surfaces quoted, to the edges and joins
  • Basic cleaning solution for ordinary dirt
  • Tidying up the site after the job

Often extra

  • Sealing a driveway after cleaning, which is a separate quote
  • Oil stain or heavy mould treatment, unless quoted
  • Repairs to cracked concrete, damaged render or loose roof tiles
  • Gutter cleaning and garden protection, unless quoted
  • Water, if the contractor needs to bring their own

Metro and regional differences

Metro: In capital cities there are many contractors and hourly rates sit higher because of wages, parking and traffic. One national table lists from-rates of $46 an hour in Sydney against $36 in Hobart.

Regional: We did not find separate regional price lists. The same national table shows lower from-rates in smaller centres such as Newcastle and Geelong. Travel time can add to the minimum charge outside the cities.

Licensing and compliance

We did not find a state licence specific to pressure washing, and no regulator page we read sets one, so we make no claim either way for any state or territory.

What we did find is that wash-water leaving a business may count as trade waste.

SA Water administers trade waste authorisations in South Australia and defines trade waste as wastewater from any commercial or business activity discharged to sewer.

In Western Australia the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation administers an approval for wastewater that differs from ordinary household discharge.

In Victoria, Yarra Valley Water is one of several water authorities that issue trade waste permits for business wastewater.

None of those pages mentions pressure washing by name, so ask the contractor how they capture and dispose of wash-water, especially on commercial sites.

We did not read the rules in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory, and we did not check work-at-height rules for roof cleaning.

Ask for insurance and an ABN.

Before you accept a quote, check

  • Is the price per square metre or a fixed price, and what area is it based on?
  • What is the minimum charge?
  • Are oil stain, mould and algae treatments included?
  • How will wash-water be handled so it does not run into the stormwater drain?
  • Does the quote say whether GST is included?
  • Is the contractor insured for roof or double storey work?

Frequently asked questions

How much does pressure washing cost per square metre?

About $3 to $5 for concrete driveways and paths in the figures most of our sources share. Older marketplace guides start at $1.50, and some business guides run to $8 or $9 for pavers.

Is it cheaper to pay per hour or per square metre?

For a large flat area, per square metre is usually clearer because the area sets the price. Hourly work, at about $70 to $100 in the overlap of our sources, suits mixed or awkward jobs. Ask for a fixed price if you can.

What is a typical minimum call-out?

Two sources put it at about $150, and one gives $150 to $250. A small job can cost the minimum, however small the area.

How much does it cost to clean a roof?

About $500 to $1,300 for a standard home in our sources, with large or steep roofs higher. Roofs need safety gear, so prices are higher than for ground-level work.

Is a soft wash different to pressure washing?

Yes. A soft wash uses low pressure and a cleaning solution, and suits house exteriors and roofs. One national table prices a single-storey soft wash at $300 to $650.

Do I need to be home?

Not always, but the contractor needs access to an outdoor tap. Confirm water and access when you book.

Sources and method

Built on 19 October 2026 from two Australian marketplace and cleaning-business guides, two state-based business cost guides, a labour-hire platform guide, a compiled national table and trade waste regulator pages. Each range stays inside figures that at least two sources share where we found two; GST basis is not confirmed by most sources. How we calculate our guides.

Compare quotes like for like.

Tell us the job and suburb. We'll bring the right pressure washing contractors together. Free for customers.

Find a pressure washing contractor

Keep reading

Find a local provider

Step 1 of 3

What do you need done, and where?

Reading