Driveway pressure washing is the most common pressure washing job — and the easiest one for first-time customers to evaluate. Here's the complete picture: cost, time, prep, drying, and what to expect.
What it costs
National 2026 ranges:
- Standard 2-car concrete driveway (500–800 sq ft): $150–$300
- Long single-car or short 2-car (under 500 sq ft): $100–$200
- Large driveway (1,000–1,500 sq ft) or paver: $300–$500
- Driveway + walkway combo: $200–$400 (typically saves $50–$100 vs separately)
- Driveway + sealing afterward: $400–$800 total
Markets in NYC, SF, Boston metro run 25–40% above these. Smaller markets run 15–25% below.
What drives the price
- Size: the obvious one. $0.20–$0.40/sq ft is standard.
- Material: concrete is base; pavers cost more (joint sand needs replacement); brick is similar to concrete; asphalt is rare to wash (can damage the surface).
- Stains: light dirt + algae = base. Heavy oil + rust = +50%. Very old set-in stains = +100% or "may not fully come out."
- Travel + minimum: most operators have a $150–$200 minimum job. A small driveway alone may not get below it.
What's included (and what isn't)
A typical driveway wash includes:
- Pre-treat for organic stains (algae, mildew)
- Surface clean with rotary cleaner (the round flat tool that gives uniform results)
- Edge work along borders + close to the house
- Final rinse + cleanup
NOT typically included:
- Joint sand replacement on pavers (add $100–$300)
- Sealing (add $300–$600 for sealing afterward)
- Oil stain removal beyond standard surfactants (add $50–$150 if heavy)
- Concrete repair or filling cracks (separate trade)
Confirm what's in the quote. Honest operators itemize.
How long it takes
A 2-car concrete driveway: 45–90 minutes. Operators with a 20-inch surface cleaner finish in under an hour. The wand-only approach takes 2–3x longer (and looks streaky).
If your operator is just using the wand on a driveway, that's a yellow flag — surface cleaner is the standard tool for this job.
Day-of prep
10 minutes of your time:
- Move cars off the driveway + the street directly in front
- Roll up the welcome mat / outdoor rug
- Move basketball hoops, kids' toys, garbage cans clear
- Close garage door
- Pets indoors during the work
Drying + final appearance
Looks clean immediately when wet. The dry-down can take 2–6 hours depending on temperature + sun. During drying you may see some streaking — that's normal, fades.
Once dry, the driveway looks visibly cleaner — sometimes dramatically so on driveways that haven't been washed in 5+ years. Light dirt films can return in 6–12 months; significant restoration lasts 18–24 months.
To seal or not to seal
If you have a concrete or paver driveway and want to extend the result, ask about sealing. A sealed driveway resists oil + dirt for 2–3 years. Adds $300–$600 to the job. Worth it if you do this once every 3 years and want it to look great between cleanings.
Some operators don't offer sealing — they're cleaners, not sealers. Ask upfront.
Red flags
- Quote much below $100 for a 2-car driveway — they're using only the wand (streaks) or undocumented labor (no insurance).
- Won't quote without coming out for an estimate — fine for unique properties but suspicious for a standard suburban driveway. Most pros quote off Google Maps.
- Promises 100% removal of "any stain, guaranteed" — old oil + rust often don't come out fully. An honest pro says so up front.
- No insurance certificate when asked — walk away. Pressure washing damage to siding, windows, or vehicles is a real risk.
The bottom line
A good driveway pressure wash takes 60-90 minutes, costs $150–$300, dries within 4 hours, and lasts 18–24 months. It's the easiest first job to test a new operator with — small enough to limit risk, visible enough to evaluate the quality.
Find a pressure washing pro near you with quotes available the same day.