How Much Does Driveway Cleaning Cost in 2026?
Driveway cleaners that publish their prices charge about £3.00 per m², so a two-car drive of about 50m² costs around £150. Firms that state a minimum charge put it at about £100, so a small drive often costs that. Re-sanding and sealing block paving takes a double drive to £380 to £600. Use the calculator below for your drive.
£3.00
Price per m²
£150
Two-car drive (50m²)
£100
Usual minimum charge
£380 to £600
Clean, re-sand and seal
Ask where the dirty water goes. Roadside gullies are usually surface water drains, which gov.uk guidance says discharge straight into the environment without treatment. A good firm keeps cleaning chemicals and weedkiller out of them, and so should you if you do it yourself.
Driveway cleaning cost by size
Estimates for pressure washing a drive, worked out from the per-m² rates and minimum charges firms publish, with and without re-sanding and sealing.
Single
One car, about 28m²
£100
- Clean only
- £80 to £150
- Clean, re-sand and seal
- £210 to £335
Double
Two cars, about 50m²
£150
- Clean only
- £125 to £200
- Clean, re-sand and seal
- £380 to £600
Large
Three or more cars, about 75m²
£225
- Clean only
- £190 to £300
- Clean, re-sand and seal
- £565 to £900
Very large
Long or wide drive, about 100m²
£300
- Clean only
- £250 to £400
- Clean, re-sand and seal
- £755 to £1,200
| Driveway | Typical clean | Clean only | Clean, re-sand and seal |
|---|---|---|---|
| SingleOne car, about 28m² | £100 | £80 to £150 | £210 to £335 |
| DoubleTwo cars, about 50m² | £150 | £125 to £200 | £380 to £600 |
| LargeThree or more cars, about 75m² | £225 | £190 to £300 | £565 to £900 |
| Very largeLong or wide drive, about 100m² | £300 | £250 to £400 | £755 to £1,200 |
Source: our survey of UK cleaning firms' published prices, 1 November 2026. Of 1,428 local cleaning firms we looked at, 44 publish a driveway price; 23 give a rate per m² and 23 a minimum charge. A separate checker re-read these rates from scratch: 20 of 24 per-m² rates and 21 of 23 minimum charges matched first time, and a third check of the rest led to corrections at 5 firms. Few firms publish prices, so treat these as a guide. See how we put our prices together.
To cite this page: Less.co.uk, “Driveway Cleaning Cost UK 2026”, updated 1 November 2026, https://less.co.uk/home-improvements/driveways/cleaning-cost. You're welcome to quote these figures with a link to this page.
Work out your driveway's costDriveway cleaning cost calculator
Pick your drive's size and surface to see what firms would usually charge, then get quotes from local firms below.
How big is your driveway?
What's it made of?
Washing empties the joints, so they need kiln-dried sand brushing back in afterwards; some firms include it, others charge extra. Sealing is optional and slows weeds and moss.
Your estimate
About £195
Typically £155 to £250 for about 50 m², re-sanded.
Get quotes for your drivewayBased on the prices 23 UK firms publish for cleaning per m² (about £3.00 on average), plus their prices for re-sanding (4 firms) and sealing (5 firms), checked 1 November 2026. Moss, oil stains and awkward access can add to a quote.
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Cost by driveway surface
Prices for a double drive of about 50m², with the work each surface usually needs. The re-sanding and sealing each surface usually needs is what changes the price most. A few firms also charge more per m² for tarmac or resin, so ask.
- Block paving
£155 to £250
Takes longest because of moss and weeds in the joints. Needs re-sanding after a deep clean. Sealing is optional.
- Tarmac
£125 to £200
Cleaned at lower pressure. Usually not sealed, though a restorer can bring back faded colour.
- Plain concrete
£125 to £200
Copes with high pressure. Oil stains need a degreaser first.
- Pattern imprinted concrete
£350 to £550
Normally cleaned and resealed together, because the sealer keeps the colour and pattern.
- Resin bound
£125 to £200
Low pressure only, held well back, because high pressure can loosen the stones. Check your installer's care guidance first.
- Gravel
Not pressure washed
Raked, weeded and topped up rather than pressure washed, so it's priced as gardening work.
| Surface | Usual job | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Block paving | £155 to £250 | Takes longest because of moss and weeds in the joints. Needs re-sanding after a deep clean. Sealing is optional. |
| Tarmac | £125 to £200 | Cleaned at lower pressure. Usually not sealed, though a restorer can bring back faded colour. |
| Plain concrete | £125 to £200 | Copes with high pressure. Oil stains need a degreaser first. |
| Pattern imprinted concrete | £350 to £550 | Normally cleaned and resealed together, because the sealer keeps the colour and pattern. |
| Resin bound | £125 to £200 | Low pressure only, held well back, because high pressure can loosen the stones. Check your installer's care guidance first. |
| Gravel | Not pressure washed | Raked, weeded and topped up rather than pressure washed, so it's priced as gardening work. |
Block paving is shown with re-sanding and imprinted concrete with a reseal, the way they're normally done.
Re-sanding, sealing and other extras
Moss, algae and weed pre-treatment
Often included
Sprayed on before washing so growth comes away more easily and grows back more slowly. Some firms charge extra for heavy black spot treatment.
Re-sanding block paving joints
£0.55 to £1.00 per m²
Kiln-dried sand brushed back into the joints the pressure washer emptied. From the 4 firms that price it separately; some include it in a block paving clean.
Sealing block paving
£4.50 to £7.00 per m²
Slows weeds and moss, locks the joint sand in and makes spills easier to clean. From the 5 firms that publish a sealing rate.
Heavy soiling or oil stains
Ask
Extra chemical treatment and time on site, which some firms charge for. Mention it when you ask for quotes.
Patio cleaning
From about £140
Starting price for a patio on its own (19 firms; typically £83 to £150). Ask for a combined price if the firm is already doing the drive.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moss, algae and weed pre-treatment | Often included | Sprayed on before washing so growth comes away more easily and grows back more slowly. Some firms charge extra for heavy black spot treatment. |
| Re-sanding block paving joints | £0.55 to £1.00 per m² | Kiln-dried sand brushed back into the joints the pressure washer emptied. From the 4 firms that price it separately; some include it in a block paving clean. |
| Sealing block paving | £4.50 to £7.00 per m² | Slows weeds and moss, locks the joint sand in and makes spills easier to clean. From the 5 firms that publish a sealing rate. |
| Heavy soiling or oil stains | Ask | Extra chemical treatment and time on site, which some firms charge for. Mention it when you ask for quotes. |
| Patio cleaning | From about £140 | Starting price for a patio on its own (19 firms; typically £83 to £150). Ask for a combined price if the firm is already doing the drive. |
Weedkiller needs a qualified operator. Anyone using professional weedkiller on your drive must hold a pesticide certificate of competence, usually the PA1 and PA6 units. Ask to see it, along with proof of public liability insurance, before work starts. HSE explains the rules.
How often to clean a driveway, and when
Once every year or two keeps most drives in good order. Drives under trees, in shade or on the north side of a house go green faster, and in autumn wet leaves and algae can make block paving slippery underfoot. Those drives may need cleaning every year.
Cleaning can be done whenever it isn't freezing. Sealing is fussier: the paving has to be dry and the weather settled for the sealer to cure, so most firms seal between spring and early autumn. A sealer lasts a few years before it wears and needs redoing. Imprinted concrete usually needs resealing every two to three years to keep its colour.
DIY or professional?
Doing it yourself
- Home pressure washer: about £180 to £350 for a mid-range model
- Hiring a machine: £20 to £150 a day
- Kiln-dried sand: about £8 to £20 a bag
- Expect it to take most of a day for a two-car drive
Home machines are slower than a contractor's petrol washer and rotary cleaner, and it is easy to leave stripes or blast the sand out of the joints. Fine for a small drive you are happy to spend a Saturday on.
Paying a professional
- Two-car drive: about £150, typically £125 to £200
- Usually done in a morning or a day
- Moss treatment, re-sanding and sealing in one visit
- Better for resin, imprinted concrete and large drives
Worth it if the drive is big, badly stained or needs sealing, or if the surface is easy to damage with the wrong pressure.
When cleaning won't fix it
A clean shifts dirt, moss and most stains. It won't fix a drive that is failing underneath. Paying for a clean only makes these problems easier to see:
- Blocks that have sunk, rocked or formed ruts where the car parks
- Cracks right through concrete or tarmac, or potholes
- Loose stones and bald patches on a resin drive
- Puddles that sit for hours after rain
- Imprinted concrete where the colour has worn through to grey
- Stains that come back within weeks of a clean
Small areas of sunken block paving can often be lifted and relaid. A whole new driveway costs £2,000 to £8,000 depending on size and surface; our driveway cost guide breaks it down, with separate guides for block paving, resin and tarmac. If you replace a front garden surface larger than 5m² with one that water can't drain through, you may need planning permission. Cleaning an existing drive never does.
Free, with no obligation to book.
Driveway cleaning costs by region
Estimated price to clean a two-car drive, by region, worked out from the UK estimate of £150.
| Region | Two-car drive | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|
| London | £180 | +17% |
| South East | £160 | +7% |
| East of England | £160 | +5% |
| North West | £150 | +2% |
| Scotland | £150 | UK average |
| Midlands | £150 | -1% |
| South West | £150 | -3% |
| Wales | £140 | -7% |
| North East | £130 | -11% |
| Yorkshire | £130 | -11% |
Regional prices use the BCIS location factors published by the Department for Education (December 2025), with the Valuation Office Agency's figure for Wales. There's no current official figure for Scotland, so we show the UK price there. How we work out regional prices.
How to get your driveway cleaned for less
- 1
Get at least three quotes for the same job
Ask three firms to price exactly the same work: clean only, or clean, re-sand and seal. Ask what they'll do about moss in the joints and how they deal with the dirty water. Firms charge anything from about £2 to £6 per m², so comparing is worth the effort.
- 2
Book the clean and seal in one visit
If you want the block paving sealed, have it done straight after the clean. The surface only has to be prepared once, so it's usually cheaper than booking the two separately.
- 3
Don't seal what doesn't need it
Tarmac and gravel rarely need sealing, and plenty of block paving looks fine for years with just a clean and fresh sand in the joints. Imprinted concrete is the exception, because the sealer protects the colour.
- 4
Turn down doorstep offers
Be wary of anyone who knocks and offers to clean or seal the drive today with leftover materials. If you do agree to work at your door, you normally have 14 days to cancel a contract worth more than £42.
- 5
Keep on top of it between cleans
A stiff brush and a moss and weed treatment each spring stop growth taking hold, so the next professional clean is quicker and cheaper.
Free, with no obligation to book.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to jet wash a driveway?
Most firms that publish prices charge about £3.00 per m² to jet wash a driveway, typically £2.50 to £4.00. A two-car drive of about 50m² comes to about £150. Small drives usually cost the firm's minimum charge, about £100. Re-sanding and sealing add to the bill.
How often should a driveway be cleaned?
Once every year or two suits most drives. Drives under trees, on the north side of the house or in damp, shaded spots go green faster and may need it every year. Sealed block paving needs resealing every few years once the sealer wears.
Is it worth sealing block paving?
It can be. Sealer slows weeds and moss, stops the joint sand washing out and makes oil easier to clean off. Firms that publish a rate charge about £4.50 to £7 per m² on top of the clean, and it has to be redone every few years. If it goes on before the blocks have dried out it can turn milky, so it needs a dry spell.
Can you pressure wash a resin driveway?
Yes, but gently. Use a low pressure setting with a wide fan nozzle and keep the lance well back from the surface, because high pressure can loosen the stones. Check your installer's care guidance before you start, as some guarantees set conditions.
Does pressure washing damage block paving?
It blows sand out of the joints, which is why the joints should be re-sanded afterwards. Held too close, a lance can also mark the surface of the blocks. A rotary surface cleaner gives a more even finish than a bare lance.
How long does driveway cleaning take?
From about two hours for a small drive to a full day for a large one. Re-sanding and sealing add time, and the sealer needs dry weather to cure.
Will cleaning get rid of oil stains?
Fresh oil stains often fade a lot with a degreaser and hot water. Old stains that have soaked into concrete or block paving usually lighten without disappearing completely. Some firms charge extra for heavy staining, so mention it when you ask for quotes.
Written by Chris Kervin, Co-Founder, Less.co.uk
Last updated: · Prices from our survey of UK firms' published prices · Methodology
