How much does pressure washing cost?

DIY (renting): $60-$100/day plus detergent ($10-$30). Professional: driveway (2-car): $100-$200. House (2,000 sq ft): $200-$400. Deck (300 sq ft): $100-$250. Fence (200 ft): $100-$250. Whole property: $300-$600. Buying a pressure washer: light-duty: $100-$200, medium-duty: $200-$400, heavy-duty: $300-$600. Best value: rent a medium-duty gas washer ($60-$100) once a year for a full property cleaning day. Or hire a pro for the whole property ($300-$600) and save your weekend.

What PSI pressure washer do I need?

Cars and delicate surfaces: 1,300-1,800 PSI. Wood decks and fences: 1,200-1,500 PSI (MAX). Vinyl siding: 1,300-1,600 PSI. Brick: 1,500-2,500 PSI. Concrete (driveway): 3,000-3,500 PSI. For most homeowners: a 2,000-2,800 PSI machine handles 90% of home cleaning tasks. You control the effective pressure by adjusting nozzle distance and tip size. A wider tip (25-degree or 40-degree) at a greater distance is gentler. A narrow tip (15-degree) close to the surface is more aggressive.

Can pressure washing damage my deck?

Yes, if done incorrectly. Too much pressure (above 1,500 PSI on softwood) destroys wood fibers, causing furring (raised, splintered grain). This damage cannot be reversed without sanding. Safe deck washing: use 1,200-1,500 PSI maximum (800-1,000 PSI for cedar). Use a 25-degree (green) or 40-degree (white) tip. Keep the nozzle 12-18 inches from the surface. Wash WITH the grain, never across it. Use overlapping strokes and keep moving (do not hold in one spot). Apply a wood cleaning detergent first for better results with less pressure. After washing: let dry 24-48 hours, then apply stain or sealer.

Pressure washer vs power washer — what is the difference?

Pressure washer: uses unheated water at high pressure. Power washer: uses HEATED water at high pressure. In practice: the terms are used interchangeably by most people. Hot water (power washing) is better for: oil and grease stains, gum removal, and commercial cleaning. Cold water (pressure washing) is sufficient for: 95% of residential cleaning (dirt, mildew, algae, general grime). Most residential machines are pressure washers (cold water). Power washers with heated water are primarily commercial/industrial equipment and cost $1,000-$5,000+. For homeowners: a regular pressure washer is all you need.

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Tips

Pressure Washing Guide: Tips, Equipment & Cost

Lumberama Editorial Team, Exterior Cleaning & Maintenance Specialists Sep 9, 2026 11 min read

PSI and GPM Explained

Pressure washer power is measured by two numbers:

PSI (pounds per square inch): The force of the water stream. Higher PSI means more cleaning power.

GPM (gallons per minute): The water flow rate. Higher GPM means faster rinsing and more coverage.

Cleaning Units (CU): PSI x GPM = CU. This is the best measure of overall cleaning power. Example: 3,000 PSI x 2.5 GPM = 7,500 CU.

Light-duty (1,300-1,800 PSI): Cars, patio furniture, grills, and delicate surfaces. Electric. $100-$200.

Medium-duty (2,000-2,800 PSI): Decks, fences, siding, and concrete (light stains). Electric or gas. $200-$400.

Heavy-duty (2,800-3,500 PSI): Concrete driveways, heavy stains, and paint stripping. Gas. $300-$600.

Professional (3,500-4,000+ PSI): Commercial cleaning, heavy concrete, and fleet washing. Gas. $500-$2,000+.

What to Pressure Wash

Concrete (driveway, sidewalk, patio): PSI: 3,000-3,500. Tip: 15-degree (yellow) or surface cleaner attachment. Technique: keep nozzle 6-12 inches from surface, use overlapping strokes.

Wood deck: PSI: 1,200-1,500 (MAX). Tip: 25-degree (green) or 40-degree (white). WARNING: Too much pressure damages wood grain (furring). Keep 12-18 inches away. Always wash with the grain.

Vinyl siding: PSI: 1,300-1,600. Tip: 25-degree or 40-degree. Work bottom to top to prevent streaking. Apply detergent first, let sit 5-10 minutes, then rinse top to bottom.

Brick: PSI: 1,500-2,500. Tip: 25-degree. Avoid mortar joints (high pressure can erode mortar).

Fence: PSI: 1,500-2,000 (wood) or 2,000-2,500 (vinyl). Same technique as deck for wood fences.

Gutters: PSI: 1,300-1,600. Use a gutter cleaning attachment for inside cleaning. Outside stains: detergent + low pressure.

What NOT to Pressure Wash

Never pressure wash: Windows (can break seals and crack glass), painted surfaces you want to keep (high pressure strips paint), stained wood you want to keep (strips stain), old mortar (can crumble and fall out), electrical panels, meters, or fixtures, air conditioning units, asphalt shingles (destroys granules), and people or animals.

Use caution with: Softwood (cedar, pine — use low PSI), old or loose siding, and surfaces near electrical outlets.

Costs

Buying a pressure washer: Light-duty electric: $100-$200. Medium-duty electric: $200-$400. Medium-duty gas: $250-$450. Heavy-duty gas: $300-$600. Surface cleaner attachment: $50-$150.

Renting: Electric: $40-$70/day. Gas: $60-$100/day.

Hiring a professional: Driveway (2-car): $100-$200. House (2,000 sq ft): $200-$400. Deck (300 sq ft): $100-$250. Fence (200 linear ft): $100-$250. Whole property package: $300-$600.

Professional vs DIY: DIY is 50-70% cheaper but takes 2-4x longer and risks damage from improper technique. For most homeowners: rent a medium-duty gas pressure washer ($60-$100/day) once per year for a whole-property cleaning day.