How much to charge for carpet cleaning
Updated November 1, 2026 · QuoteCubby
Published national rates per room, per square foot and by cleaning method, and a step-by-step way to set a price that still pays you after equipment, chemicals and the drive.
Published carpet cleaning rates (US national figures)
| Source | What it measures | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| HomeGuide | Per room, hot water extraction | $40–$90+ |
| HomeGuide | Per sq ft | $0.25–$0.50 |
| HomeGuide | 1–3 rooms (national average $190) | $125–$250 |
| HomeGuide | Average 3-bedroom house (5 rooms) | $200–$500 |
| Angi (Sep 2026) | Per job, national average | $183 |
| Angi (Sep 2026) | Per sq ft | $0.20–$0.90 |
| Angi (Sep 2026) | Professional, per room | $40–$125 |
Angi’s figures come from projects reported by pros on its platform. Angi also publishes a typical range of $123–$242 as what most homeowners pay. The sources measure different things, which is why their ranges differ.
Price by cleaning method (per room)
| Method | HomeGuide | Angi |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water extraction / steam | $40–$90+ | $40–$90 |
| Shampooing | $80–$150 | $80–$150 |
| Bonnet | $30–$90 | $30–$90 |
| Dry cleaning | $70–$200 | $60–$130 |
| Encapsulation | $85–$250 | $80–$200 |
How to set your own price
- Time a few rooms, hallways and staircases, and your setup and pack-up (hoses, equipment, protection).
- Add extra time for heavy traffic, furniture moving and treatments.
- Price the time at your target hourly pay, then add equipment, chemicals and the drive.
- Set a minimum job price (see carpet cleaning minimum charge).
- Check the real hourly pay including the drive, then compare with local competitors.
Worked example
With the calculator’s example numbers, 3 rooms and a hallway at normal soil come to $145 ($48.33 per room). After equipment, chemicals, gas and a 20-minute drive, that pays about $51.26 per hour, not $60. With heavy traffic it’s $185.
Example only, using the calculator’s starter numbers: $60 per hour target, 25 minutes per room and 10 per hallway, 30 setup minutes, $10 per cleaning hour for equipment, $3 of chemicals per area, 10 round-trip miles at $0.35 per mile, 20 minutes of driving, $125 minimum, rounded up to $5. These are not market rates.
Check your own numbers
The free QuoteCubby carpet cleaning calculator prices a job from rooms, hallways, stairs, soil level and add-ons, adds your equipment, chemicals and drive, and shows what you really earn per hour.
Open the free carpet cleaning calculatorFAQ
How much should I charge for carpet cleaning?
Published national figures: HomeGuide lists $40–$90+ per room for hot water extraction and $0.25–$0.50 per sq ft; Angi reports an average of $183 per job and $0.20–$0.90 per sq ft. Your own price should come from your minutes per room, equipment, chemicals and drive.
How long does it take to clean one room of carpet?
HomeGuide says 20–30 minutes per room, with 6–24 hours of drying time. Time your own jobs; soil level and furniture change it.
Do carpet cleaners charge by the hour?
Some do. Angi lists labor at $25–$65 per hour but says per-room and per-square-foot pricing are more common.
The QuoteCubby Carpet Cleaning Kit
Spreadsheets for carpet cleaning businesses: quote rooms, hallways and stairs from your own times and costs, keep every client and job in one place, and see your real hourly pay.
Works in Google Sheets (free) and Microsoft Excel. English and Spanish files, sample + blank versions and a quick-start guide in every tier. No macros, no app, no subscription. Not ready to buy? The free calculator and the free printable price sheet work without it.
Carpet Cleaning Pricing Sheet
Quote any job in a minute.
- Settings for your target and minimum pay per hour, minimum job, minutes per room, hallway and stair step, equipment and chemical costs and cost per mile
- Quote: rooms, hallways, stairs, soil level, furniture moving, pet odor, protector and spot treatment
- Real $/hour after the drive, with a BELOW-MINIMUM warning
- Printable client quote
- Price list for 1 to 7 rooms at normal, heavy-traffic and very heavy soil
Carpet Cleaning Client Tracker
Know what each job really pays you.
- Clients (200): rooms, pets, parking & notes
- “Last price change” and review flags per client
- Jobs log (1,000 rows) with real $/hour after driving and chemicals
- Flags jobs below your minimum per hour
- Dashboard: income, hours and real $/hour by month
Carpet Cleaning Complete Kit
Everything, in one workbook.
- Carpet Cleaning Pricing Sheet + Client Tracker in ONE workbook
- Shared Settings: change a rate once, it updates everywhere
- Quote, client quote, price list, clients, jobs and dashboard
Secure checkout by Stripe. After payment you go straight to your download page. Digital download (.xlsx, .pdf). One-time payment in USD. 14-day refund policy. Bought the Pricing Sheet or Tracker and want the Complete Kit? Upgrade within 14 days and we refund your first purchase. Questions? hello@quotecubby.com
Related guides
Sources
Price ranges are national figures published by the sources below (accessed November 1, 2026). Local prices vary a lot. QuoteCubby examples are illustrations, not market data.
- HomeGuide – How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost? (Jan 21, 2025)
- Angi – How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost? [2026 Data] (updated Sep 21, 2026)