How to Quote Driveway Pressure Cleaning in Australia
A driveway looks like an hour with a wand — until you hit oil stains, loose pavers and a council that cares where the water goes. Here's how to quote driveway pressure cleaning so the price covers the real job.
Pressure cleaning a driveway can be a quick, tidy earner — or a job that runs hours over on oil stains, sand infill and a water source that isn't there. The difference is the quote. This guide covers how to quote driveway pressure cleaning: knowing your costs, choosing a pricing method, reading the site, and the runoff and safety rules that come with powered gear and dirty water.
What a good pressure cleaning quote covers
Before you price a driveway, walk it and note what actually changes the job. A complete pressure cleaning quote accounts for:
- Surface type and area — concrete, pavers, asphalt or exposed aggregate, measured not guessed.
- Soiling and stains — algae, mould, oil and rust each need different treatment and time.
- Pre-treatment and chemicals — whether stains need a spot chemical before the wash.
- Water access and drainage — a tap on site and somewhere for the runoff to go.
- Obstacles and repairs — cars, bins and furniture to move, plus loose pavers or cracks to flag.
- Optional extras — a post-clean sealer, re-sanding for pavers, or paths beyond the driveway.
Take before photos on every job. They justify the price to the client, show what you're up against, and cover you if a pre-existing crack or lifted paver turns into a 'you did that' conversation later.
Pricing methods and 2026 rates
Know your baseline before you quote a cent. Add up monthly overheads — insurance, equipment depreciation, fuel, detergents — and divide by your working hours. $1,500 a month over 160 hours is nearly $10/hour before you've paid yourself a dollar. Stack your target wage ($50–$80/hour for skilled work) on top, and every quote has to clear that. A commercial 4000 PSI machine runs $2,000–$5,000 and wears fast under heavy use.
| Pricing method | Typical rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Per square metre | $2.50–$5.00/m² | Standard concrete driveways |
| Flat rate | Quoted per job | Small or complex areas — patios, paths, steps |
| Deep clean | Priced on stains | Heavy oil, rust or mould needing pre-treatment |
Per square metre suits accessible driveways you can measure with a wheel or satellite tool — a 60m² concrete driveway at $3.50/m² comes to $210 plus GST. Flat rates work better for fiddly layouts, and heavy staining is worth its own higher-priced 'deep clean' line.
Reading the site: what pushes the price
The site assessment is where you find the money you'd otherwise lose. Two driveways of the same size can price very differently:
- Stains — heavy oil, rust or deep mould need specific pre-treatment chemicals and extra dwell time. A 10m² oil patch might add $50–$100 in chemicals plus half an hour of labour.
- Surface — pavers need care with sand infill, while exposed aggregate and asphalt each behave differently under pressure.
- Obstacles — parked cars, bins and garden furniture to shift all add labour, as do inclines and tight corners.
- Chemicals — detergents typically run $30–$50 per litre, so heavy-stain jobs carry real material cost.
- Contingency — build 10–15% of your labour into the quote for the surprises every site hides.
Runoff, chemicals and electrical safety
Powered gear and dirty water bring rules with them, and they belong in the quote, not as an afterthought. Check these before you send a price:
- Wastewater runoff — councils and environmental authorities regulate where dirty and chemical-laden water can go; check the local .gov.au guidance.
- Chemical use — some pre-treatments carry disposal requirements you need to follow and factor in.
- Electrical safety — commercial and public work with powered equipment must meet AS/NZS 3000.
- Damage liability — flag loose pavers, cracks and degraded surfaces in writing before you start, so pre-existing damage isn't pinned on you.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Guessing the dimensions. Misquote a 100m² job by just $1/m² and that's $100 of profit gone. Measure with a wheel or satellite tool, never eyeball it.
- Assuming the dirt level. Light dust and baked-in oil are different jobs. Inspect the surface in person before you commit to a rate.
- Ignoring water and drainage. No tap on site, or nowhere for the runoff to go, causes costly delays. Confirm both before quoting, not on the day.
- Forgetting GST. Leaving GST off the final figure is an easy and expensive slip. Build it into every quoted price.
- Leaving the scope open. If the quote is the driveway only, say so. Spell out that front paths or patios aren't included, or the client will expect them free.
Pro tips for a pressure cleaning quote that holds
- Measure every driveway accurately — never quote off a guess.
- Price stain pre-treatment as its own line for oil, rust and heavy mould.
- Confirm a water source and drainage before you commit to a start date.
- Build a 10–15% contingency into every quote for the unexpected.
- Offer a higher-priced deep-clean option for badly soiled surfaces.
- Review your chemical and detergent costs with suppliers regularly so your rates keep up.
ServiceYak keeps your per-m² rates, pre-treatment prices and sealer extras in a reusable kit, so you can measure up, build an itemised driveway quote on site, and send the PDF — GST and all — before you leave the kerb.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to pressure clean a driveway in Australia?
Basic concrete driveway cleaning generally runs $2.50–$5.00/m² depending on condition and soiling. A standard 60m² driveway at $3.50/m² comes to around $210 plus GST, with heavy oil or rust staining priced higher.
Should I quote per square metre or a flat rate?
Per square metre suits standard, measurable concrete driveways. Switch to a flat rate for small or awkward areas like patios, paths and steps, and price heavy staining as a separate deep-clean line.
Do I need to worry about where the wash water goes?
Yes. Councils and environmental authorities regulate wastewater runoff and chemical disposal, so check the local .gov.au guidance before you start. Commercial and public jobs using powered equipment also have to meet AS/NZS 3000 for electrical safety.