House Washing Cost Calculator
Estimate house washing cost by home size, siding type and stories. Get a realistic planning range in seconds, then get real quotes from vetted local pros.
How much does house washing cost? A full exterior soft wash averages $450 to $750, with most homeowners paying $400 to $1,200 depending on size and stories, or about $0.25 to $0.80 per square foot. A small one-story home runs around $300, while a two-story house averages $450 and a large or three-story home can pass $1,000. Washing the outside of a house is priced on its size, its siding and how tall it is, and the right method matters as much as the price: most siding should be soft washed, not blasted with high pressure that drives water behind it. This calculator gives you a size-based house washing estimate for a full exterior wash.
What affects house washing cost
The headline size of the job is only part of the story. Two jobs that look identical can be quoted very differently based on access, condition and how much cleanup is involved. Here is what a crew is actually pricing when they quote you.
Home size
The exterior square footage sets the base. A bigger home has more wall to clean and takes longer.
Siding type
Vinyl, brick, stucco, wood and fiber cement each need different pressure and cleaners. Delicate surfaces call for a gentle soft wash, which is more careful work.
Number of stories
A single-story home is reachable from the ground. Two or three stories need extension gear and more setup and safety time.
Mildew and algae
Green or black growth on the shaded side needs a treatment that kills it, not just a rinse, so heavy buildup costs more.
Soft wash vs pressure
Most siding should be soft washed with low pressure and cleaning solution. This protects the home but is more skilled than blasting with a pressure wand.
Add-ons
Gutters, windows, soffits and eaves are usually extra beyond the siding itself.
How pros charge
Most house washing services charge $0.25 to $0.80 per square foot of exterior, and quote a firm total once they see the home. Some set a flat minimum for small single-story homes.
Local rates and pros
Local rates and demand move the price, and a professional with commercial soft-wash gear works faster and safer than a rented pressure washer. National averages are a starting point; your area can run higher or lower.
House washing cost by size
A quick reference for how the planning range shifts with size, at standard conditions and before extras. Use the calculator above to fine-tune it to your job.
| Job size | Typical home exterior size | Planning range | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | ~1280 sqft | $185 – $250 | Single-story home, roughly 800 to 1,300 sqft, vinyl siding, light growth. |
| Medium | ~2400 sqft | $320 – $430 | Typical two-story home, roughly 1,800 to 2,500 sqft, standard siding. |
| Large | ~3520 sqft | $455 – $610 | Large or three-story home, 3,000 sqft and up, or heavy algae and delicate siding. |
Typical US ranges from public cost data. Real quotes move with region, season and the specifics of your site.
House washing cost by home size
Home size and the number of stories set most of the price. Here is what a full exterior soft wash typically runs.
| Home | Typical cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| One-story, small | $250 to $400 | About $0.25 to $0.40 per square foot |
| One-story, average | $300 to $500 | Vinyl or fiber-cement siding |
| Two-story | $400 to $700 | Extra reach and setup, average $450 |
| Three-story or large | $600 to $1,200 | Height and heavy algae push it higher |
Typical US ranges, about $0.25 to $0.80 per square foot. Siding type, algae level and add-ons move the final price. Use the calculator above for a size-based estimate.
What house washing includes, and what costs extra
A low quote and a high quote often differ less on price and more on what is actually in the number. Confirm where these land before you compare.
- Soft wash of the siding with cleaning solution
- Treating general dirt and light mildew
- Rinsing windows and landscaping nearby
- Labor and cleaning materials
- Gutter and soffit cleaning
- Exterior window washing
- Heavy mold or algae treatment
- Two or three-story height work
- Pressure Washing Cost Calculator → for driveways and flatwork
- Roof Soft Washing Cost Calculator → to clean the roof too
Soft washing vs pressure washing a house
Soft washing and pressure washing are not the same, and using the wrong one on siding is a costly mistake. Soft washing uses low pressure and a cleaning solution that kills algae and mildew at the root, which is what most siding, stucco and painted surfaces need. It costs a little more than a plain rinse because it is more careful, skilled work.
High-pressure washing suits hard flatwork like concrete, but on siding it can crack panels, strip paint and drive water behind the walls. For a house exterior, soft washing is almost always the right method, and a good professional matches the pressure to the surface. Expect to pay $0.25 to $0.80 per square foot either way.
How to save on house washing
- 1Book in the off-season. Crews quote lower when the calendar is slow. If the job is not urgent, waiting for the quiet months is the easiest way to save.
- 2Get three quotes. Pricing for the same job routinely spreads by hundreds of dollars. Three quotes keeps everyone honest.
- 3Bundle nearby work. A crew already set up at your property will price a second job far cheaper than a separate visit.
- 4Be flexible on scheduling. Filling a gap in a crew's week is worth a discount to them, and to you.
Before you hire
Get proof of liability insurance in writing, be wary of anyone demanding a large deposit up front or quoting sight-unseen, and prefer a pro who walks the job and puts the scope in writing. A legitimate contractor will never need the full amount before the work is done.
- Walks the site before pricing it
- Puts the full scope in writing
- Shows current liability insurance
- Charges a reasonable deposit, if any
- Quotes a firm price sight-unseen
- Demands the full amount up front
- Cannot show proof of insurance
- Pressures you to decide today
How this estimate is calculated
This calculator does not phone home or track you. When you press Calculate, the size, difficulty and extras you pick are sent to our server, run through a transparent cost model, and returned as a low-to-high planning range. It is deliberately a range, not a single number, because the same job is priced differently by every crew and every region.
The ranges come from public US cost data and current contractor pricing, cross-checked against real quotes, and the review team re-checks them as prices move. Treat the output as a solid planning range, then get local quotes to pin down the exact number for your job, region and season. Read the full methodology for how we build and check every tool.
House Washing Cost Calculator FAQ
How accurate is this estimate?
It is a planning range, not a quote. It is calculated server-side from the size, difficulty and extras you choose, using a cost model built from public US cost data and real quotes. Always get local quotes before you budget firmly.
Is the calculator free?
Yes, completely free, with no account and no tracking. We make money when you choose to get matched with local pros, which is always optional.
Why do quotes vary so much?
Access, condition, region and season all move the price, sometimes by 30 to 50 percent for the same job. That is why we show a range and recommend three quotes.
How much does it cost to wash a house?
A full exterior soft wash averages $450 to $750, with most homeowners paying $400 to $1,200, or about $0.25 to $0.80 per square foot. A one-story home is around $300, a two-story averages $450, and a large three-story home can pass $1,000.
How much does house washing cost per square foot?
House washing runs about $0.25 to $0.80 per square foot of exterior. Single-story homes and light soiling are at the low end, while two or three stories, delicate siding and heavy algae push toward the top.
How much does it cost to soft wash a two-story house?
A two-story house soft wash runs about $400 to $700, with an average near $450. The extra cost over a single-story home is the added reach, ladders and safety time.
Is house washing safe for my siding?
Yes, when done as a soft wash. Low pressure and the right cleaner lift growth without cracking vinyl, denting aluminum or driving water behind panels. Avoid anyone who blasts siding with a high-pressure wand.
Is soft washing better than pressure washing for siding?
For most siding, yes. High pressure can crack, dent or drive water behind panels, while soft washing uses low pressure and a cleaner to lift growth safely. A good pro chooses the method to the surface.
How long does a house wash last?
A soft wash that kills algae at the root keeps siding clean longer than a plain rinse, often a year or more depending on shade and climate. Ask whether the wash treats growth or just rinses it.
Will it damage my plants?
Reputable crews pre-wet and rinse landscaping and use cleaners rated for home exteriors. Ask how they protect plants before the job starts.
What factors affect house washing cost?
The main factors are home size, the number of stories, the siding material and the level of algae or mildew. Local rates and the company you hire matter too, so get two or three quotes on the same exterior.
What does a house washing service include?
A standard house washing service is a full soft wash of the siding with a cleaning solution that treats dirt, mildew and algae, plus a rinse of nearby windows and landscaping. Gutters, exterior windows and heavy mold treatment are usually add-ons. Use the house washing cost calculator above to price your home by size.
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Open calculator →Marko Ristic builds Duhari's cost calculators from real quotes and field pricing, then writes the guide that goes with each one. The goal is a number you can plan around before you ever pick up the phone. More about Marko →
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