How much to charge for carpet cleaning
Updated 26 September 2026
Most carpet cleaners price homes per room, with stairs and rugs charged separately and a minimum charge for small jobs. Offices and large open areas are often quoted per square foot instead. Pet treatment and stain protection are the usual add-ons.
Example carpet cleaning prices
| Job | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two bedrooms (the minimum charge applies) | $120 | £95 | A$180 | CA$160 |
| Four rooms and a staircase, with pet stain and odour treatment | $265 | £205 | A$410 | CA$355 |
| Seven rooms, the stairs and two area rugs, with stain protection | $475 | £375 | A$735 | CA$640 |
Priced with the starting rates in our carpet cleaning template, in each country's currency. They're a starting point, not a survey of local rates, so set your own from what your jobs take and what others charge near you.
How carpet cleaners set their prices
Per room
A set price for each room up to a size you choose, with big lounges and open-plan areas counted as two. Customers can count their own rooms, so quoting over the phone is quick.
Per square foot of carpet
A rate for each square foot, measured on site or from a floor plan. It's fairer for offices, halls and very large rooms, but homeowners rarely know their carpet area.
Packages
Fixed prices like three rooms and a hallway. They're easy to advertise, but say what each package leaves out, such as stairs or moving heavy furniture.
Sample carpet cleaning price list
The prices in our template, as a list you can adapt. Percentages change the price of the job; fixed-price extras are added on top.
| Item | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooms, per room | $45 | £35 | A$70 | CA$60 |
| Staircases, per staircase | $40 | £30 | A$60 | CA$55 |
| Area rugs, per rug | $30 | £25 | A$45 | CA$40 |
| Pet stain & odour treatment | +$45 | +£35 | +A$70 | +CA$60 |
| Stain protection | +15% | +15% | +15% | +15% |
| Minimum job price | $120 | £95 | A$180 | CA$160 |
Put this price list on your website
Customers answer a few questions about the job, see the price and send you their details. This is our carpet cleaning quote form with the prices above. Try it as a customer would, then start from these prices and change any of them.
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Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Letting a room be any size. A small bedroom and a long open-plan living area are different jobs. Set a maximum size and charge anything bigger as two rooms.
- Treating pet urine like any other stain. It soaks into the underlay and needs its own treatment and more time. Our template adds $45 for pet stain and odour treatment in the US.
- Giving stairs away. A staircase means hand tools and slow work on every step. Our template charges $40 a staircase, close to the price of a room.
- Moving furniture for free. Say which pieces you'll move, and charge for heavy items or ask the customer to clear the room before you arrive.
- Quoting a single room at the room rate. The drive and setting up the machine cost the same whatever the size. Our template has a $120 minimum in the US.
Not sure what your time is worth? Work out your hourly rate with the pricing calculator, then check your job prices cover it.
Questions
- Should I charge per room or per square foot?
- Per room for most homes, with a size limit on each room. Switch to square feet for commercial carpet and anything much bigger than your limit.
- How much should I charge for stairs?
- Price them per staircase or per step, with the landing included or added as a small extra. A full flight often takes about as long as a room, so many cleaners charge a similar price.
- Should stain protection cost extra?
- Yes. It's another product and another pass over every room. Our template adds 15% to the whole job when a customer asks for it.
- Can I quote carpet cleaning over the phone?
- Yes, if you ask the right questions: how many rooms, any stairs or rugs, and whether pets have had accidents. Give a price from that, and tell the customer it's confirmed once you see the carpet.
- How do I show carpet cleaning prices on my website?
- Put your room and stair prices into a quote form. Customers count their rooms, tick any treatments they want and send a booking request with the price already worked out.