How much should patio cleaning cost?

For a typical back-garden patio of 20–40m², a fair price for a professional pressure wash and rinse is usually £80–£250. Small patios of up to about 15m² tend to hit the cleaner's minimum charge, which is generally £60–£90.

On larger areas most cleaners work by the square metre. A plain pressure wash is about £2–£5 per m², with the lower end for big, open, lightly soiled areas and the higher end for small, awkward or very dirty ones.

That basic price normally covers the wash and rinsing the debris away. It often does not include treating black spot, re-sanding or re-pointing joints, or sealing, so check what you are being quoted for.

Concrete slabs are the most forgiving. They can usually take a rotary surface cleaner and a reasonably strong pressure wash, and come up well.

Block paving cleans well but the jointing sand gets washed out in the process. It then needs re-sanding with kiln-dried sand, typically £2–£4 per m² extra, otherwise weeds return quickly and the blocks can start to move.

Indian sandstone and other natural stone need more care. High pressure can etch the surface, open up the grain and leave visible stripes. Many cleaners use a lower pressure with a biocide or softwash solution instead, which kills algae and lichen and lets it break down over the following weeks. Porcelain paving is hard-wearing and cleans easily, but harsh acids should be avoided.

Black spot, the small dark lichen marks common on sandstone, is not dirt and does not pressure wash off. It needs a specific treatment, often £50–£150 for a patio, and may take a few weeks to fade fully.

Pressure washing uses high-pressure water, usually through a rotary surface cleaner, to strip dirt, moss and algae off the surface. It gives an instant result and is ideal for concrete and block paving.

Softwashing uses low pressure with a cleaning and biocide solution that kills organic growth at the root. The patio may not look perfect on the day, but it keeps clean for longer because the spores have been killed rather than just knocked off. It is gentler on natural stone, pointing and nearby plants.

Many cleaners now combine the two: a pressure wash to remove the surface dirt, then a biocide treatment to slow regrowth. Ask which approach they plan to use and why. Anyone using chemicals should be careful about run-off into ponds, drains and borders.

Size is the main factor, so measure the length and width before asking for quotes.

Surface type. Natural stone takes longer and needs more care than concrete slabs.

How dirty it is. A patio left for several years with thick moss and weeds in every joint takes far longer than one that is cleaned every year or two.

Extras. Re-sanding, re-pointing, black spot treatment and sealing each add to the bill and can easily double it.

Access and water. Cleaners need an outside tap and somewhere for the dirty water to run off. Steps, narrow side paths and furniture or pots that need moving all add time.

Waste. Most cleaners rinse debris onto the lawn or into the drains, but heavy sludge from a very dirty patio may need bagging and removing.

A rough estimate takes a few minutes.

1. Measure the patio length and width in metres and multiply to get the area in m². 2. Multiply by £2–£5 for the wash. 3. Add re-sanding (£2–£4 per m²) for block paving, and sealing (£4–£10 per m²) if you want it. 4. Check the total is above the cleaner's minimum charge.

Example: a 5m by 6m block-paved patio is 30m². Washing at £2–£5 per m² gives £60–£150. Re-sanding at £2–£4 per m² adds £60–£120. That is £120–£270 before sealing; adding a sealer at £4–£10 per m² brings it to roughly £240–£570.

Decking is priced similarly but is a separate job, typically £3–£6 per m² for cleaning, with staining or oiling extra.

On BidMyJob you can post the job with the measurements and a photo of the patio, and local cleaners bid, so you can compare prices for your patio rather than relying on an average.

Sealing puts a protective coat on the surface that slows down staining, algae growth and weeds in the joints. On block paving it also binds the jointing sand so it does not wash out as easily.

It is most worthwhile on new or newly cleaned light-coloured stone, on block paving that keeps losing its sand, and on patios under trees or in shady, damp spots.

It is less worthwhile on old concrete slabs in good sun, where an annual wash does the job. Sealers also wear off and usually need reapplying every few years, so build that into your thinking. Some sealers darken the stone or leave a slight sheen, so ask to see an example.

Clean little and often. An annual wash is quicker and cheaper than a once-in-five-years rescue job.

Sweep regularly and clear leaves before they rot down, which feeds moss and algae.

Clear the patio of furniture, pots and barbecues before the cleaner arrives.

Combine jobs. Doing the patio, path and driveway in one visit is usually cheaper than three separate call-outs.

Skip sealing on old, hard-wearing slabs where it adds little, and spend the money on a biocide treatment instead.