Most pages answering this question will not give you a number. They give a range so wide it is useless, then ask for your ZIP code.
Here are the figures - what the market charges in 2026, what makes one quote double another, and what we charge, which is published on our own site and has been for years.
Key Takeaways
- National average 2026: $183 per visit, from nearly 50,000 verified projects. Most households pay $120 to $400.
- Per room, the market runs $25 to $75. Per square foot, $0.20 to $0.50.
- Hot water extraction runs $40 to $90+ a room - the deepest method, and the one most people mean by "steam cleaning".
- Most companies have a $100 to $150 minimum, so a single room rarely costs what the per-room rate suggests.
- Our published rates: $60 a standard room, $35 a hall or landing, $60 a staircase, with pet-odor treatment $50 per room and 10% off automatically when you book online.
- The cheapest quote is usually not a quote. A $29-a-room ad is a door-opener, and the price changes once someone is standing in your living room.
- Price per room beats price per square foot for most households, because it is predictable.
What the market charges in 2026
Independent figures, so you can judge any quote you are given - including ours.
| Measure | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| National average per visit | $183 (across 49,415 verified projects) |
| Typical range per visit | $120 - $400 |
| Standard three-bedroom home | around $180 |
| Per room | $25 - $75 |
| Per square foot | $0.20 - $0.50 (up to $0.90 in some markets) |
| Hot water extraction, per room | $40 - $90+ |
| Minimum job fee | $100 - $150+ |
| Small home, 2-3 rooms | $120 - $200 |
| Medium home, 4-6 rooms | $180 - $350 |
| Large home, 7+ rooms | $300 - $600+ |
Market figures from Angi, HomeGuide and HouseCall Pro, 2026. These are national averages - not our prices. Ours are further down.
Two things to take from that table. The minimum job fee is the figure that catches people out: if a company charges $50 a room with a $125 minimum, your one bedroom costs $125, not $50. And the per-visit average of $183 is a more useful planning number than any per-room rate, because almost nobody cleans exactly one room.
What changes the price
Number of rooms. The main driver, and there are usually volume breaks - the fourth room typically costs less than the first.
Room size. Most companies define a "standard room" by area and charge large or open-plan spaces as two. Ask what the cut-off is; this is where quotes diverge most.
Stairs. Almost always priced separately, because a staircase takes about as long as a room and is harder work. A flight typically costs the same as a standard room.
Halls, landings and closets. Usually a reduced rate.
Carpet condition. Carpet that has not been cleaned in five years needs pre-treatment, more passes and more time.
Fiber. Wool and natural fibers need different chemistry and more care, and are often priced higher. See how to clean a wool rug.
Method. Hot water extraction costs more than low-moisture methods and cleans deeper. See carpet steam cleaning vs dry cleaning.
Add-ons. Pet odor treatment, stain protector, deodorizer, and furniture moving.
Access. Stairs to the front door, a long hose run from the van, or a high-rise apartment all add time.
Where you live. Labor costs vary significantly between metros and rural areas.
The add-ons, and which are worth it
Pet odor treatment - usually worth it, if you have the problem. This is not a deodorizer. Pet urine forms uric acid crystals that are not water-soluble, so an ordinary clean removes the stain and the surface smell and leaves the crystals behind, which rehydrate on humid days and smell again. Proper treatment is a different process. Ours is $50 per room. The chemistry is in how to get pet urine smell out of carpet.
Stain protector - sometimes. A fluorochemical treatment that helps spills sit on the fiber long enough to blot. It works and it wears off, so it is worth it on light carpet in a busy house and not worth it in a quiet bedroom.
Deodorizer - rarely. If the carpet smells, find out why. A deodorizer masks a cause that is usually still there.
Furniture moving. Some companies include light furniture, some charge. Ask. Moving the sofa yourself before arrival is the easiest money you will save.
What should never be an add-on is basic spot treatment. Treating visible stains is part of cleaning a carpet, and a company that prices each stain separately will find a lot of stains.
Why the cheapest quote is usually not the price
A $29-a-room ad is a door-opener. The pattern is well known: the technician arrives, inspects, and explains that the quoted price covers a light surface clean, and that your carpet needs the deep treatment, the pre-spray, the deodorizer and the protector. The job that was advertised at $87 for three rooms leaves at $300.
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Get My Instant QuoteHow to avoid it:
- Get the price in writing before the van arrives, with the room count and what counts as a room.
- Ask what the quote includes - pre-treatment, spot treatment, moving light furniture.
- Ask what it excludes, which is the more revealing question.
- Ask about the minimum charge.
- Be suspicious of a price well below the $25 per-room floor, because nobody can run a truck-mount profitably at that level and something will be added later.
Our own homepage calls out "$29 per room" pricing as bait, which is a reasonable thing to be skeptical about from any company, including us - so the rates below are published rather than quoted on the doorstep.
Our published rates
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard room | $60 |
| Hall or landing | $35 |
| Staircase | $60 |
| Pet-odor treatment | $50 per room |
| Booking online | 10% off, automatically |
That sits in the upper half of the $25 - $75 market range, and here is why. The price buys extraction power: truck-mounted equipment above 200°F at 400+ PSI, which removes 99% of allergens and takes the water back out rather than leaving it in the carpet pad. That is what makes the difference between carpet that is dry in hours and carpet that is damp overnight, and between a clean that lasts and one that resoils in two weeks because the detergent was never rinsed out.
Spot and stain treatment is included rather than priced per stain. Biodegradable solutions. No upsells at the door - the price you are quoted is the price. And a come-back guarantee: if you are not happy with a cleaned area, contact us within 48 hours and we re-clean it at no charge.
25+ years, 50,000+ customers.
See carpet cleaning for the full service, or get a free quote - call (855) 507-8955 if you would rather talk it through.
Is professional cleaning worth it against renting a machine?
A rental machine plus solution typically runs $40 to $60 for a day. For a single room that is cheaper than hiring anyone, and for a light refresh it is a reasonable choice.
The three places it does not work out:
- Extraction. A consumer machine recovers a fraction of the water it puts in, which is why DIY cleans take 12 to 24 hours to dry against a few hours professionally - and why they are more prone to wicking, resoiling and musty smells. See how long does carpet take to dry.
- Rinsing. Leftover detergent is sticky and attracts dirt, so an under-rinsed carpet looks worse in two weeks than before it was cleaned.
- The jobs it cannot finish - pet urine in the carpet pad, deep spills that wick, water damage, and wool. Covered in how to clean a carpet at home.
The fuller comparison is in rental vs professional carpet cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does carpet cleaning cost?
The 2026 national average is $183 per visit, with most households paying $120 to $400. Per room the market runs $25 to $75, or $0.20 to $0.50 per square foot. Our own published rate is $60 for a standard room, $35 for a hall or landing and $60 for a staircase, with 10% off for booking online.
How much does professional carpet cleaning cost per room?
Market rates run $25 to $75 per room, and hot water extraction specifically runs $40 to $90+. Watch for the minimum job fee, typically $100 to $150, which sets the real floor for a small job.
How much does carpet cleaning cost per square foot?
Typically $0.20 to $0.50, reaching $0.90 in some markets. Per-room pricing is usually easier to predict for a house.
How much should carpet cleaning cost for a 3-bedroom house?
Around $180 on the national average, with a typical range of $180 to $350 for four to six rooms.
Why are some carpet cleaning quotes so cheap?
Very low advertised prices are usually door-openers, with the real cost added once the technician is on site. Get the price, the room definition and the inclusions in writing beforehand.
Is carpet cleaning cheaper per room if I do more rooms?
Usually yes - most companies have volume breaks, and the fixed cost of travel and setup is spread across more work.
Does the price include stain removal?
It should. Spot and stain treatment is part of cleaning a carpet; be wary of per-stain pricing. Specialist problems like pet urine contamination are a separate treatment.
How often should I pay for this?
Depends on traffic, pets and allergies rather than the calendar. See how often should carpets be professionally cleaned.