How much does pressure washing cost per square foot in San Diego?
Pressure washing in San Diego runs $0.15 to $0.45 per square foot for flatwork like driveways and patios, and $0.20 to $0.50 per square foot for house exteriors. A 600 square foot driveway lands around $150 to $250. Oil staining, heavy algae, or two-story access raises the rate.
Last updated: June 2026
We price most jobs by the square foot. It keeps the quote honest and lets a homeowner check our math against the next bid.
But the rate is not one flat number. The surface matters more than anything. Flat concrete cleans fast with a surface cleaner. Vertical stucco and detailed hardscape take longer per foot, so the rate climbs.
What does each surface cost per square foot?
| Surface | Price per sq ft | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | $0.15 - $0.30 | Flat, fast with a surface cleaner |
| Paver patio | $0.25 - $0.45 | Joints and edges slow the pass |
| Stucco house exterior | $0.20 - $0.40 | Soft wash, worked by hand |
| Pool deck | $0.25 - $0.45 | Texture holds grime, needs detail |
| Wood deck | $0.30 - $0.50 | Low pressure, careful work |
A North Park bungalow driveway we did last month ran 540 square feet. Standard gray concrete, light algae in the shaded strip near the fence. That came in at $190, right in the middle of the range.
What pushes the price above the base rate?
Oil stains are the big one. A dried motor-oil patch needs a degreaser, dwell time, and sometimes a second pass. That is labor the surface cleaner cannot speed up.
Access is the other one. Two-story stucco in Kensington or Mission Hills means ladders and rope work. We slow down and the per-foot rate goes up to cover the time.
Then there is the marine layer. In May and June the morning humidity keeps surfaces damp, so detergent dwell times stretch and algae comes back faster on north-facing concrete. We factor that into shaded jobs.
Why per square foot beats a flat quote
A flat number hides the trade-off. Measure your driveway, multiply by the rate, and you can see exactly what you are paying for. We measure on site anyway, so the math is open.
Most homes that call us want the driveway, the front walkway, and the entry stucco done together. Bundled, that usually lands between $250 and $450 depending on the footage and the staining. See our pressure washing page for the surfaces we cover, or the house pressure washing cost breakdown for whole-home numbers.
If we cleaned your driveway or patio anywhere in San Diego, we would be glad to hear how it held up on Google. Mention your neighborhood so the next person searching knows we work their streets.