How to Quote a Driveway Pressure Washing Job
Measure the driveway, calculate your price, write the quote. A step-by-step guide for pressure washing contractors.
The contractors who respond same-day with a real measurement behind the quote win more jobs. Here's the full process — from square footage to sent estimate.
1 free measurement · No credit card
Get the Exact Square Footage
This is the step most contractors skip or approximate — and it's where quotes go wrong. You need the actual square footage, not a guess based on how many cars fit or a quick look from the street.
Manual method: For a straight driveway, measure the length and width and multiply. A standard single-car driveway runs 10–12 ft wide; two-car runs 18–24 ft wide. Measure the apron — the flared section where the driveway meets the road — separately, since it's often wider than the driveway itself.
Satellite method: Search the property address in SurfaceMeasure, trace the driveway outline with the polygon tool, and read the square footage. Takes about two minutes. Works for any driveway shape — curved, multi-section, or turnaround included.
910 + 240 = 1,150 sq ft — apron adds 26% to the total
Calculate Your Price
Core formula: square footage × your rate per sq ft = base price. Then adjust for conditions that change how long the job actually takes.
Set a minimum job floor — a number below which no standalone trip is worth running. For most contractors, that's somewhere between $100 and $175 depending on market and travel time. When the base calculation comes in under that number, charge the minimum.
Concrete driveways typically run $0.08–$0.20 per square foot in most US markets. Use these as reference — your actual rate should reflect your real costs.
Write the Quote
A written quote — even a simple one — closes at a higher rate than a verbal price over the phone. It gives the customer something to refer back to, and it gives you a record of what you agreed to scope.
The most important thing to include is the square footage you measured. A quote with a specific number — "1,150 sq ft at $0.15/sq ft" — reads as professional and calculated. A quote that just says "$175" reads as a guess, even if it's the same number.
SurfaceMeasure lets you export a PDF quote with your measurement, company name, and logo — ready to send to a client from your phone or laptop.
- ✓Your company name and contact information
- ✓The customer's property address
- ✓Square footage measured (shows you actually measured it)
- ✓Surface type — concrete, pavers, asphalt, etc.
- ✓Scope of work — what's included and what isn't
- ✓Total price, clearly stated
- ✓Any exclusions — stains that may not fully lift, oil that may require a separate treatment
Common Quoting Mistakes on Driveway Jobs
Quoting without measuring
Estimating by looking at photos or guessing from the address means you either overprice and lose the job, or underprice and wash 1,400 sq ft when you quoted 800. Measure first, every time.
Forgetting the apron
The apron — where the driveway flares out to meet the street — can add 200–400 sq ft and is often the dirtiest part of the job. It's frequently left out of rough estimates and costs real margin.
No minimum job floor
Without a minimum, small jobs with short driveways can come in below what it costs you to load up and drive there. Set a floor — $100, $125, $150 — whatever makes a solo trip worth your time.
Waiting to measure until you visit
Driving out to measure, then going home to build a quote, then emailing it the next day is three steps that can compress to one: measure remotely, send the quote same-day. Response time affects close rate.
Why Measure Driveways Remotely
A typical driveway measurement on-site takes 30 minutes — drive there, measure, drive back. A satellite measurement takes about 2 minutes.
For a contractor getting 5–10 driveway leads per week, that's 2–5 hours of drive time that can become billable work time. You can also respond to leads same-day with a real measurement behind the quote — which closes at a higher rate than "I'll come take a look".
Remote measurement doesn't replace the site visit. It replaces the part where you drive somewhere just to get a number.
Driveway Pressure Washing Quotes — Common Questions
Practical answers for pressure washing contractors estimating driveway jobs.
Measure the driveway square footage first (length × width for straight driveways; add the apron separately). Multiply by your per-square-foot rate to get a base price. Adjust for surface condition — heavy staining, oil, or tire marks warrant a higher rate. Apply a minimum job floor if the base price comes in too low for a standalone trip. Then produce a written quote with the measurement, scope, and price.
Typical market rates for residential concrete driveways run $0.08–$0.20 per square foot. Rates vary by region, equipment, and surface condition. Heavy staining, sealed surfaces, or pavers warrant the higher end of the range. Set your rate based on your actual costs and market — not an industry average.
A single-car driveway typically runs 400–700 sq ft. A two-car driveway runs 800–1,500 sq ft. Wide aprons, turnarounds, and courtyard-style driveways can push the total well past 2,000 sq ft. Always measure rather than guessing from the number of cars — driveway sizes vary significantly.
Per-square-foot pricing is easier to explain to customers and easier to defend — it shows you measured the job rather than guessing. Job pricing works in fixed-rate local markets but can lead to underquoting on large driveways. Either way, always measure the square footage first. The measurement is what makes any pricing method defensible.
Measure remotely using satellite imagery before the site visit. SurfaceMeasure lets you trace a driveway outline on satellite imagery and get accurate square footage in about two minutes. For contractors handling 5–10 leads per week, that's several hours of drive time saved per week. Same-day quotes on inbound leads also tend to close at a higher rate.
Related Resources
Calculators and guides for pressure washing contractors.
Quote Your Next Driveway Job in 2 Minutes
1 free measurement — no credit card required. Search the address, trace the driveway, get the square footage. The quote builds itself from there.