Pressure Washing Cost Australia 2026
Pressure washing costs depend on the surface type and area, degree of soiling, whether chemical treatment is needed, and whether multiple surfaces are included.
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National Pricing Overview
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure washing (hourly rate) | $40/hr | $65 | $100 |
| Driveway cleaning (standard) | $150total | $250 | $400 |
| Full house exterior wash (single storey) | $250total | $420 | $700 |
| Full house exterior wash (double storey) | $450total | $750 | $1,100 |
| Deck / patio cleaning | $150total | $280 | $450 |
| Fence cleaning (per lm, one side, up to 1.8 m) | $5/lm | $10 | $18 |
| Roof cleaning (standard home) | $300total | $700 | $1,300 |
| Pool surrounds / paving | $150total | $280 | $380 |
| Concrete path / footpath | $100total | $140 | $220 |
| Brick, block or rendered wall clean (single wall, up to ~30 m²) | $120total | $160 | $300 |
| Soft wash, house exterior (single storey, walls + eaves) | $300total | $480 | $650 |
| Commercial building wash (low-rise, up to 3 storeys) | $400total | $800 | $2,000 |
| Mould treatment & wash (full exterior) | $300total | $550 | $900 |
| Mould-inhibitor treatment (add-on) | $50per job | $70 | $150 |
How pressure washing prices compare across 17 cities, the $40–$100 hourly band against every other trade and how they move month to month: Tradie Price Index, October 2026 →
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Pressure washing in Australia costs $40–$100/hr, or from $150–$400 for a standard driveway clean. A full house exterior wash runs $250–$700. Decking and paving is $150–$450. Regular pressure washing extends the life of concrete, timber, and rendered surfaces and dramatically improves street appeal.
Pressure Washing Costs by Surface and Job Size
Pressure washing is priced by the surface and its area, not by the room. Here is what the common jobs cost across Australia:
| Job | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure washing (hourly rate) | $40–$100 /hr | Common for mixed or small jobs |
| Driveway cleaning (standard) | $150–$400 | Standard single or double driveway |
| Full house exterior wash (single storey) | $250–$700 | Walls, eaves and hard surfaces |
| Deck / patio cleaning | $150–$450 | Timber or composite, lower pressure |
| Fence cleaning (per lm, one side, up to 1.8 m) | $5–$18 /lm | Priced per linear metre |
| Roof cleaning (standard home) | $300–$1,300 | Soft wash — high pressure damages tiles |
| Pool surrounds / paving | $150–$380 | Coping, paving and pool decking |
| Concrete path / footpath | $100–$220 | Paths and footpaths |
| Brick, block or rendered wall clean (single wall, up to ~30 m²) | $120–$300 | Render needs low pressure |
| Soft wash, house exterior (single storey, walls + eaves) | $300–$650 | Single-storey house, walls and eaves; chemical clean for delicate surfaces |
| Commercial building wash (low-rise, up to 3 storeys) | $400–$2,000 | Strata and commercial facades |
| Mould treatment & wash (full exterior) | $300–$1,300 | Treats the growth, not just the surface |
Area drives the price more than anything else, so a quote given without someone seeing the job — or at least a photo and a rough square-metre figure — is a guess. Access matters too: a second-storey wall or a roof adds harness and ladder time. Water is usually drawn from your tap, so ask whether that is assumed and whether run-off needs containing — in NSW, for example, run-off from any washing activity must not enter stormwater drains.
High-Pressure vs Soft Washing: Which Does Your Surface Need?
Using the wrong one is the most expensive mistake on this trade — high pressure on the wrong surface causes damage that costs far more than the clean:
| Factor | High pressure | Soft washing |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $40–$100 an hour | $300–$650 for a single-storey house |
| How it works | Mechanical force strips the surface | Low-pressure chemical kills the growth |
| Best for | Concrete, driveways, paving, brick | Roofs, render, painted timber, Colorbond |
| Mould and lichen | Removes what is visible; regrows sooner | Kills at the root; stays clean longer |
| Damage risk | Can etch render, strip paint, lift roof tiles | Low |
| Safe on a roof? | No — not on tile or painted metal | Yes — this is the standard for roofs |
If a quote offers high pressure on your roof or rendered walls, treat it as a red flag rather than a bargain. Render, painted surfaces and roof tiles are all cleaned at low pressure with a treatment that kills the growth; the visible result is slower to appear but lasts considerably longer. Concrete, paving and brick are the surfaces where genuine high pressure belongs.
Comparing capital-city rates? For South Australian jobs — where local pricing sits around 8% below the national baseline — see our dedicated Adelaide pressure washing and driveway cleaning costs guide.
What Affects Pressure Washing Costs in Australia
Surface type
Concrete driveways and paths in Australia ($150–$400) are the most common. Decking, paving, rendered walls, and brick all have different pressures and methods needed to avoid damage.
Area size
Larger areas get a better rate per sqm in Australia. A small courtyard is proportionally more expensive per sqm than a large driveway or commercial car park.
Degree of soiling
Light mould and algae on a recently built surface clean quickly. Years of embedded grime, tyre marks, and extensive biological growth in Australia take much longer and may require chemical pre-treatment.
Chemical treatment
Some surfaces benefit from hot water or chemical pre-treatment for mould, algae, or rust stains. This adds cost but produces better results for heavily soiled properties.
Access & obstacles
Cars need moving, furniture relocating, and drains protecting. Tight spaces and upstairs balconies in Australia take longer to set up and access safely.
Roof cleaning
Roof pressure washing in Australia ($300–$1,300) requires specialist equipment and training — incorrect pressure on terracotta or concrete tiles causes damage. Always use a specialist for roofs.
How to Save Money on Pressure Washing Cost in Australia
Cost to pressure wash a two-storey house (2026)
Pressure washing a two-storey house costs $450–$1,100 (typically $750), against $250–$700 for a single-storey home (typically $420). The difference is almost entirely access: ladders, extension poles or a lift, slower work at height and the safety setup that comes with it. Low-rise commercial buildings up to three storeys run $400–$2,000. The figures are the national table on this page, GST inclusive.
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full house exterior wash (single storey) | $250 | $420 | $700 |
| Full house exterior wash (double storey) | $450 | $750 | $1,100 |
| Commercial building wash (low-rise, up to 3 storeys) | $400 | $800 | $2,000 |
What moves the quote:
- Reach: a two-storey wash from the ground with poles is the base price; a lift or scaffold for a tall or awkward elevation moves the job toward the top of the band.
- Surface: render, painted weatherboard and cladding are soft-washed at low pressure with a cleaning solution; brick and concrete take high pressure. Soft washing is slower and dearer per metre.
- Mould and algae: a shaded southern wall or a damp coastal home needs a treatment step, not just water, and it is quoted as an extra.
- What else is in the quote: gutters, eaves, the driveway and paths are usually separate lines; bundling them in one visit is cheaper than three visits.
For house wash quotes that compare, give the storeys, the wall material, where the mould is, and whether you want gutters, eaves or the driveway done the same day; ask whether the quote is high-pressure or soft wash, since the wrong one damages render and paint.
Pressure Washing Cost in Australia: What the Quote Should Include
A pressure washing quote in Australia only compares with another when every surface is its own line with its own size and method. One lump sum for the whole property hides which surfaces are included, which are soft washed and which extras sit on top.
- Each surface named with its size: the driveway as a single or a double, paths and walls in metres, and a deck or patio in square metres.
- The method written beside each surface, with the driveway at $150–$400 on high pressure and painted timber and render walls on a soft wash.
- The house wash by storey, $250–$700 for single and $450–$1,100 for double, with gutters, eaves and windows shown as in or out of that price.
- Fencing as its own line: the lineal metres counted, one side or both, against $5–$18 a metre.
- Mould or algae treatment as a separate line against $300–$900 for a full exterior, with any inhibitor coat of $50–$150 priced apart.
- Roof cleaning, where wanted, on its own line at $300–$1,300, with the method named and whether the gutters are flushed written beside it.
- Sealing or any new coating applied after the wash shown as a separate job, not folded into the wash price.
- If the job is charged by the hour, the rate of $40–$100 an hour with the hours expected and the point the clock starts both written down.
- Who pays if the jet cracks glass, strips paint or flattens garden beds, the insurance cover named, then the start date, payment stages and GST.