Pressure washing cost: What affects your final cleaning bill

While most of us focus on keeping our home’s interior spick and span, the exterior often gets neglected until it's screaming for attention. In a year, you might notice that the exterior of your home needs some TLC. The winter and rainy season might have left grime on your roof, and your driveway and pavement might have accumulated oil stains and dirt. 

Thankfully, a pressure washing service can make your home look squeaky clean once again. A professional pressure washing service can restore your home’s kerb appeal in hours rather than days of scrubbing. The cost of pressure washing ranges from £50 to £600 across the UK, with most homeowners paying around £350. 

Thinking of a quick pressure wash session for your space? This guide walks you through current prices for exterior cleaning projects, helping you budget effectively for your property’s outside refresh.

Pressure washing service price list

The average cost of pressure washing varies all over the UK. This is attributed to the level of competition in the area and different operational costs. For instance, remote areas in the UK can expect high-pressure-washing costs compared to urban areas.

A man pressure washing a deck (Source: iStock)

Factors affecting pressure washing costs

Want to know why prices can vary so much? Here’s the inside scoop on what actually determines your final bill when you book a pressure washing service.

Equipment quality

When you hire a professional, you’re paying for proper equipment. Professional pressure washers use industrial-grade machines that deliver significantly more cleaning power than standard rental units you’d find at your local DIY shop. These professional machines clean surfaces more effectively in less time, without risking damage to your property. 

Beyond that, professional cleaners are properly trained in technique. They understand which nozzles to use (from 0° pencil jets for stubborn grime to 40° fan tips for delicate surfaces) and which cleaning solutions work best for specific stains. 

Labour

Factors like accessibility and additional challenges can affect both the timeframe and labour costs. For instance, a straightforward driveway clean will cost less than tackling a multi-story building or removing years of built-up grime. You'll pay more when technicians need ladders or special equipment to reach difficult areas safely.

Surface size and type

Most companies in the UK charge according to these rates:

• Minimum cost: £1.50/m²
• Average cost: £2/m²
• Maximum cost: £3.50/m²

The material being cleaned matters too. Different surfaces require different pressure levels and sometimes specialised cleaning solutions. Concrete can handle high pressure, while more delicate materials like sandstone need gentler treatment to prevent damage. 

Surface condition

The state of any surface can determine how much time and effort it will take to clean. Areas that are heavily affected by dirt and algae can result in a higher fee. Some jobs, such as chewing gum removal and graffiti removal, require specialised settings for pressure washing. 

• Pressure washing for chewing gum: £250 - £600
• Pressure washing for graffiti: £115 - £300

Additional services

Many companies offer extras that can increase value and cost. Adding services like resanding, mould removal and treatment, or sealing to a basic driveway clean can raise the price from the standard £2-£4 range to around £7.50 per square metre. Bundling services often works out more economically than booking them separately.

Pressure washing costs per area

When hiring a high-pressure cleaning service, you don’t need to have your entire house serviced. You can break it down into different parts, depending on what area of your home needs more attention.

Deck

Your deck may have been the venue of many parties and barbecues, leaving some unwanted stains and dirt. It will cost about £75 to £195 to pressure wash your garden decking, depending on its size and accessibility. Professionals might need to soak your entire patio in water first to prevent damage, especially if it’s made of concrete. 

Driveway

The driveway is one of the areas at home that gets mucky the fastest. If neglected, you will notice the buildup of all kinds of dirt. The cost to pressure wash driveways can range from £50 to £350, depending on the size and the amount of work to be done. 

Fences

Pressure washing your fences can cost £60 to 120. Its price will depend on its material and length. For example, you have to pay more if your fences are made from wood because technicians take longer to clean them. They tend to use less pressure on wooden fences to prevent damage to the material.

Gutters

The cost of pressure washing your gutters ranges from £50 to £300. Gutters are some of the hard-to-reach areas of your home. Not only that, but they're also where dirt builds up quickly, especially during the rainy season. These factors increase the price of pressure washing gutters.

A man pressure washing a garden path  (Source: iStock)

Power washing vs pressure washing

Pressure and power washing both do a good job of cleaning your home. Both methods make use of strong streams of high-pressure water to clean dirty surfaces. The question now is, when do you pressure or power wash? 

The only difference between power and pressure washing is heat. Power washing is best for cleaning solid concrete, stone walls, driveways, and hard surfaces. Its hot streams easily blast away dirt, salt, mould, grime, and fungus from outdoor surfaces. 

It is common to power wash areas like your driveway. A good jet or power wash is a good way to make your driveway look brand-new. Prices for power washing come at a higher price point. The cost of power washing a driveway ranges from £250 to £400, depending on size.

If the buildup of grime and dirt on surfaces is not too bad, you can easily opt for pressure washing. It offers the same kind of cleaning as power washing. However, it takes longer since it just relies on high water pressure to clean surfaces. 

Eliminate stubborn stains now

Now that you understand what affects pressure washing costs, you're in a better position to get accurate quotes and choose the right service for your needs. Remember that while price matters, quality and reliability are equally important for a job that'll leave your property looking its best.

When you're ready to book a professional, posting a task on Airtasker takes just minutes. Just include details like your budget, location, areas to be cleaned, and your preferred schedule to get quotes from the nearest taskers near you. 

Ready to see your property transformed? Post your pressure washing task and connect with skilled local professionals today.