How much does pressure washing cost in Cairns?
Hiring pressure washing contractors in Cairns starts with one thing: surface area, surface type and any sealing afterwards set the price. Summer maximums average 31.5 °C and July nights stay near 17.2 °C at Cairns Aero (BOM), so heat and humidity shape the job. Mould and algae come back faster in damp, shaded spots. The table below prices 15 pressure washing jobs for Cairns, with low, typical and high figures, followed by local notes on timing, rules and suburbs.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Pressure washing cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Pressure Washing Cost in Cairns 2026
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure washing (hourly rate) | $43/hr | $70 | $110 |
| Driveway cleaning (standard) | $160total | $270 | $430 |
| Full house exterior wash (single storey) | $270total | $455 | $755 |
| Full house exterior wash (double storey) | $485total | $810 | $1,200 |
| Deck / patio cleaning | $160total | $300 | $485 |
| Fence cleaning (per lm, one side, up to 1.8 m) | $5/lm | $11 | $19 |
| Roof cleaning (standard home) | $325total | $755 | $1,400 |
| Pool surrounds / paving | $160total | $300 | $410 |
| Concrete path / footpath | $110total | $150 | $240 |
| Brick, block or rendered wall clean (single wall, up to ~30 m²) | $130total | $175 | $325 |
| Soft wash, house exterior (single storey, walls + eaves) | $325total | $520 | $700 |
| Commercial building wash (low-rise, up to 3 storeys) | $430total | $865 | $2,150 |
| Mould treatment & wash (full exterior) | $325total | $595 | $970 |
| Mould-inhibitor treatment (add-on) | $54per job | $76 | $160 |
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Get Cairns quotes →Prices include GST. Based on Cairns metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Pressure washing in Cairns: comparing the common jobs
Pressure washing (hourly rate) or pressure washing (per sqm)
Our Cairns table lists pressure washing (hourly rate) at $43–$110 an hour and pressure washing (per sqm) at $2–$5 a square metre; they are priced on different units, so compare each against its own quote line.
Driveway cleaning (standard) or full house exterior wash (single storey)
Driveway cleaning (standard) runs $160–$430 total in our Cairns table and full house exterior wash (single storey) $270–$755 total. On typical prices, full house exterior wash (single storey) is $185 dearer.
Deck / patio cleaning or fence cleaning (per lm, one side, up to 1.8 m)
Our Cairns table lists deck / patio cleaning at $160–$485 total and fence cleaning (per lm, one side, up to 1.8 m) at $5–$19 /lm; they are priced on different units, so compare each against its own quote line.
Figures are this page's table rows for Cairns.
Exterior house cleaning cost in Cairns (2026): house washing, soft washing and driveways
Exterior house cleaning in Cairns costs $270–$755 for a full single-storey house wash, with $455 typical, and $325–$970 with a mould treatment, which most Cairns homes need after the wet season. The price covers the walls, eaves and gutters outside; a two-storey home is $485–$1,200.
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full house exterior wash (single storey) | $270 | $455 | $755 |
| Mould treatment & wash (full exterior) | $325 | $595 | $970 |
| Driveway cleaning (standard) | $160 | $270 | $430 |
| Deck / patio cleaning | $160 | $300 | $485 |
| Pool surrounds / paving | $160 | $300 | $410 |
| Concrete path / footpath | $110 | $150 | $240 |
| Roof cleaning (standard home) | $325 | $755 | $1,400 |
Soft washing vs pressure washing in Cairns: house washing is a soft wash, low pressure with a cleaning solution that kills the mould and algae, safe on paint, render and Colorbond, and is what the $270–$755 band buys. Pressure washing is for concrete: a driveway is $160–$430. Building washing for a block of units or a commercial wall is priced on the wall area.
What moves a pressure washing quote in Cairns:
- Area: driveways, paths and patios are priced on their size; the standard driveway band is a single-car to double-car driveway.
- Storeys: a two-storey house exterior takes longer and needs extension poles or a lift, so it sits above the single-storey band.
- Surface: pavers, exposed aggregate and rendered walls need lower pressure and more time than plain concrete.
- Growth: heavy mould, lichen or black algae needs a treatment before the wash, which is the mould-treatment line above.
- Water and access: a site without a tap or with no side access adds time.
Cairns operators quote the bands above once they know the storeys, the wall material and how heavy the mould is.
What Affects Pressure Washing Costs in Cairns
Humidity and drying time
Cairns sits in National Construction Code climate zone 1, hot and humid in summer and warm in winter (ABCB climate zone map), and an average February brings 16.0 days of rain (BOM, Cairns Aero). Moist air slows drying and curing and feeds mould, so ask how the pressure washer deals with moisture, ventilation and drying time on your job.
Salt air on the northern beaches
Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove, Clifton Beach and Yorkeys Knob sit within reach of salt spray. Ask for marine-grade fixings and coastal-rated finishes there, and expect to repeat maintenance sooner than in Redlynch, Brinsmead or Edmonton further from the water.
Cairns watering rules
Permanent water conservation measures apply across Cairns: odd-numbered houses water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and even-numbered houses on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, from 5 to 9 am and 5 to 9 pm, with no sprinklers on Mondays (Cairns Regional Council). Plan new turf and planting around those days.
What Cairns homes look like
Separate houses make up 71.0% of occupied Cairns dwellings, below the 74.8% across Queensland, while flats and apartments are 17.0%, well above the state's 12.5% (ABS 2021 Census). Apartment jobs bring body-corporate rules, lifts and parking into the price; a house brings yards, roof space and longer runs.
How to Save Money on Pressure Washing Cost in Cairns
Frequently Asked Questions — Pressure Washing Cost in Cairns
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no tradesperson can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →