How much does Carpet cleaning cost?

When carpets look dirty or dingy—or you’ve just spilled a glass of red wine on your area rug—you may need to hire a professional carpet cleaning service. Carpet cleaning companies will make your carpets look great again by removing pet stains, dander, dirt, and grime. Plus, professional carpet cleaning minimizes mold, bacteria, and allergens that can lodge deep in dirty carpets. 

Estimates from professional carpet cleaning companies typically include labor, equipment, and supplies, but prices can vary depending upon the amount of work involved and cleaning methods used. 

Before requesting quotes from multiple carpet cleaning companies, be ready to share how many rooms you want cleaned, and the square footage of each. 

Carpet cleaning companies price jobs by the size of the space they’re cleaning (as well as type of carpet material and cleaning process). More specifically, those costs can estimated one of 3 ways: 

Square footage pricing ensures the most accurate estimate because it eliminates any “rounding up.”  This fee structure generally costs $0.20–0.50 per square foot with an average price of $0.30. So a typical 10’x10’ bedroom of 100 square feet will average between $20–50. 

Per room pricing simplifies the calculation. Professional services generally charge between $20–80 to clean one room, with an average price of $50. Be sure to ask about multi-room discounts. 

Whole-home pricing is the least-common method, as many homes don’t have carpeting in every room. That said, the more carpet to be cleaned, the better the chance of a discounted price. Carpet cleaning for a 1,600–2,000 square-foot house, for example, can run about $125–575, with $250 the average cost. That’s about 50% less cost per square foot than traditional measured pricing. If your house has a lot of carpeting, this method may save money.

Many companies have a $100–300 minimum regardless of your square footage or number of rooms to be cleaned. 

Of the various types of carpet cleaning methods, steam cleaning is considered the gold standard for its thoroughness. If you need carpets professionally cleaned several times a year, there are less expensive options than steam cleaning.

Some carpet cleaning methods use chemicals that can be unhealthy—even toxic—for people and pets. Check that chemicals being used carry the global Green Seal certification for safety of your health and the planet.

Learn how various cleaning methods stack up against each other in terms of cost and benefits. The costs below reflect averages for a 1,600–2,000-square-foot house and may vary based on the number of carpeted rooms and overall square footage of your home.

Steam cleaning uses hot water extraction to thoroughly deep clean carpets and kill bacteria and fleas. The most popular method for cleaning carpets, steam offers a potent combination of moisture, heat, and a cleaning product injected into the carpet to be sucked out with a powerful wet vacuum. This option is generally considered the most effective for deep cleaning and carpet stains. It requires 1–2 days of dry time. Cost: $125–550 per cleaning.

Dry carpet cleaning doesn’t clean as deeply as steam cleaning, but there’s very little dry time (only a couple hours) compared to 1–2 days for steam. Downsides include the use of chemicals that might irritate allergies or sensitive individuals.

Cost: $125–360 per cleaning.

Carpet shampooing works great for large soiled areas or deep stains, as this method can thoroughly lift stains with moisture and detergents. Since the shampoo is not rinsed out, it may leave a light odor and residue. Drying time is 1–2 days. 

Cost: $125–425 per cleaning.

Beware of bonnet cleaning machines that use a spinning cleaning pad—these can be hard on carpet fibers, leaving swirl marks or even damaging the carpet. 

Encapsulation starts with a wet cleaning solution that’s extracted by a professional-strength vacuum after it has completely dried into a dirt and grime-encapsulating dust. Cost: $125–350 per cleaning.

Carbonated carpet cleaning uses a high-pressure steam cleaner to inject carbonated mineral water into the carpet along with a cleaning solution that loosens dirt and grime. Dry time is 1–3 hours. Cost: $125–575 per cleaning. 

The type of carpet material and amount of cleaning work involved can affect price. Here are some cost factors to consider:

Material. Synthetic carpets made from nylon, olefin, or acrylic lend themselves to affordable cleaning. Natural materials like silk, sisal, and wool require extra care and may cost 10–30% more to clean. 

Furniture. If carpet cleaning companies have to move your furniture out of the way, they may charge extra or not move the furniture at all. Be sure to ask ahead of time how they approach furniture. Many companies will move a few smaller pieces, but you might pay $100–200 extra if workers have to spend a couple of hours moving larger items.

Stairs. Companies frequently charge extra for stairs, as they’re more challenging to clean. Expect to pay $2–5 extra per stair. 

How much does carpet cleaning typically cost?

The average cost of carpet cleaning for a whole house is $125–575 with an average cost per room of $20–80. Variables affecting the price include the type of carpet fibers, total square footage, the cleaning method, and equipment used.  

Is it worth it to get carpet cleaned?

It’s recommended to have carpets professionally cleaned once a year, or more often if they’re soiled, subject to heavy foot traffic, or if you have pets or small children who spend a lot of time on the floor. Regular cleaning prevents unwanted odors from developing, and it minimizes microorganisms and mildew that can develop in uncleaned carpets.

Find a carpet cleaning professional in your area.