Driveway cleaning cost in Brisbane

By the WTD team · Updated June 2026

A standard concrete driveway clean in Brisbane runs $100 to $300, with most jobs around $190. Surface type, area and staining are what move the number - exposed aggregate and pavers cost more than plain concrete, and oil or rust stains add a treatment charge on top.

Quick answer — driveway cleaning cost in Brisbane

Before we get into what moves the number, here's where driveway and path cleaning sits in Brisbane in 2026.

Most suburban concrete driveways come in around $190 for a straightforward clean. The spread above is almost entirely about three things: the surface you've got, how big it is, and what's staining it.

Driveways are priced by the square metre, not the hour

For a one-off driveway clean, most Brisbane operators quote either a flat job price or a per-square-metre rate. They'll look at the area, the surface and the condition and give you a number on the spot. Hourly pricing ($40–$100/hr) tends to surface only on odd or mixed jobs; for a defined slab, a fixed quote is the norm and it protects you from a slow day on the tools dragging the bill out.

Knowing your rough area lets you sense-check a quote. A single-car driveway is usually 15–20 m², a standard double 30–40 m², and a long driveway on a larger block or a Queenslander frontage can run 50 m² or more once you add the path to the front door. At typical rates that maps neatly onto the $100–$300 band for plain concrete — the bigger the area, the closer to or past the top of the range. If a quote is wildly outside that for a normal concrete drive, it's worth asking what they're seeing that you aren't.

Surface is the single biggest price driver

Two driveways of the same size can quote very differently depending on the finish.

Plain trowelled concrete is the cheapest to clean. It's flat and hard, so a rotary surface cleaner glides across it and lifts dirt, mould and tyre marks quickly and evenly. This is the surface the $100–$300 range is built around.

Exposed aggregate costs more — typically $180–$400 — because the pebbled surface is textured. Grime settles into the gaps between the stones, and the operator can't run full pressure without dislodging aggregate, so it's slower, more careful work. It also tends to hold green mould in Brisbane's shadier, damper spots, which adds treatment time.

Pavers and stencil-crete sit in a similar bracket ($180–$420). Pavers have dozens of joints that trap dirt and weed growth, and the jointing sand can wash out under heavy pressure and need topping up afterwards. Stencilled and patterned concrete usually carries a decorative coating you want to clean without stripping, so it's handled gently.

If you're not certain what you've got, that's fine — but it's the first thing a good operator checks, and it's why a couple of photos or a quick site look-over gives a far more accurate quote than a number guessed over the phone.

Oil, rust and other stains

Plain dirt, mould and algae come off with water and the right technique. Stains are a different conversation, and they're where expectations need setting before the job rather than after.

Oil and grease from a parked car usually need a degreaser pre-treatment and hot water, not just pressure. Fresh spills generally lift well; oil that's soaked into porous concrete for years may only fade. Expect a separate stain-treatment charge in the $40–$150 range depending on how many patches there are and how deep they go.

Rust — from a trailer, a metal pot plant or bore-water sprinklers — needs a specific rust remover, not a harder blast. Tyre marks and battery acid respond to targeted chemicals too. The honest move from a good operator is a realistic outcome up front: "this will come up like new" versus "this will lighten but won't fully clear." If someone promises a perfect result on a decade-old oil stain sight unseen, be a little wary.

Sealing after the clean — worth it?

Sealing isn't essential, but on the textured surfaces it earns its keep. A seal coat — roughly $6–$12 per square metre on top of the clean — makes exposed aggregate and pavers easier to keep clean, helps repel oil and grime, and can deepen the colour so the drive looks freshly laid. On plain concrete it's more of a nice-to-have than a need.

The practical tip: if the surface is due for a seal, get it quoted at the same time as the clean. The driveway has to be clean and fully dry before sealing anyway, so doing both in one mobilisation is cheaper than a separate call-out a fortnight later.

A real Brisbane example

Take a fairly typical job: a 38 m² exposed-aggregate driveway in Carindale, with a north-facing path picking up green mould and one oil patch where the second car parks. Plain-concrete pricing would put this around $190, but the surface and the extras change that.

The exposed aggregate moves the base clean up — call it $260 for the area and the careful, lower-pressure work. The mould on the path is included in the wash. The oil patch needs a degreaser treatment, adding around $80. The owner decides to skip sealing this round. Landed price: roughly $340 — at the higher end of the range, and every dollar of it explainable by surface and stains rather than anyone's hourly rate.

The exact figure isn't the point of the example. The point is that you can see where each dollar comes from. A quote that itemises clean, stain treatment and seal separately is one you can actually check line by line.

Getting an accurate driveway quote

Three things get you a quote you can rely on. First, send a photo or two — the surface type and condition are most of the price, and a good operator reads them straight off an image. Second, flag any stains specifically, so oil or rust treatment is in the quote rather than a surprise on the day. Third, ask what's included: is the path part of it, is moss treatment covered, is sealing extra?

A driveway clean is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost ways to lift the look of a Brisbane home — the drive and front path are the first thing visitors and buyers see. Get the surface and stains right in the quote, and there are very few surprises left to spring.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to pressure clean a driveway in Brisbane?

A standard concrete driveway clean in Brisbane typically costs $100 to $300, with most jobs around $190. Exposed aggregate, pavers and stencil-crete run higher ($180 to $420) because the textured surface is slower and more careful to clean. Oil or rust stain treatment adds $40 to $150 on top.

Why does exposed aggregate cost more to clean than plain concrete?

Exposed aggregate is textured, so grime settles into the gaps between the stones and the operator cannot run full pressure without dislodging aggregate. That makes it slower, more careful work. It also tends to hold green mould in shaded, damp Brisbane spots, which adds treatment time.

Can a pressure wash remove oil stains from my driveway?

Sometimes. Fresh oil and grease usually lift with a degreaser pre-treatment and hot water. Oil that has soaked into porous concrete for years may only fade rather than clear completely. A good operator will give you a realistic outcome before the job rather than promising a perfect result sight unseen.

Should I seal my driveway after cleaning?

On textured surfaces like exposed aggregate and pavers, sealing (roughly $6 to $12 per square metre) makes the surface easier to keep clean, helps repel oil, and can deepen the colour. On plain concrete it is more of a nice-to-have. If you do want it sealed, get it quoted with the clean - the surface has to be clean and dry first anyway, so doing both in one visit is cheaper.

How do I get an accurate driveway cleaning quote?

Send a photo or two, since the surface type and condition are most of the price. Flag any oil or rust stains specifically so treatment is in the quote. And ask what is included - whether the path is part of it, whether moss treatment is covered, and whether sealing is extra.