How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost?
Professional carpet cleaning makes a noticeable difference... especially if it's been a while. Most homes cost $120 to $350 to clean, though heavily soiled carpet, pet stains, or large homes push the price higher. The method used matters a lot for both results and drying time.
Average Cost
$120–$350
per home
What Affects the Price
Cleaning method
Hot water extraction (steam cleaning) is the gold standard at $25-$75 per room. Dry cleaning ($20-$40/room) uses less water and dries faster but isn't as deep. Bonnet cleaning is cheapest but only cleans the surface.
Number of rooms
Most companies price per room ($25-$75 each) with stairs and hallways extra. Some offer whole-house packages that are cheaper per room. A "room" is typically defined as up to 200-250 sq ft.
Level of soiling
Lightly soiled carpet is a single pass. Heavily soiled or stained carpet needs pre-treatment, extra passes, and more product. Expect to pay 30-50% more for heavy cleaning.
Add-on treatments
Stain protector (Scotchgard) adds $10-$25 per room. Pet odor treatment adds $25-$50 per area. Deodorizing is $10-$15 per room. These add up fast if you say yes to everything.
Furniture moving
Most companies move light furniture for free but charge $25-$50 extra for heavier pieces. Moving furniture yourself beforehand saves money and protects your stuff.
Common Jobs & Costs
When to Hire a Pro
Hire a professional at least once a year if you have carpet, more often with pets or kids. You should definitely call a pro for pet urine that has soaked into the pad (rental machines can't reach that deep), for severe stains, and before applying stain protector. If you're moving out of a rental, professional cleaning with a receipt is usually required to get your deposit back.
When to DIY Instead
Renting a carpet cleaner from your grocery or hardware store ($30-$50/day) works fine for light maintenance between professional cleanings. For spot cleaning, a spray bottle of enzyme cleaner and a white cloth handles most fresh stains. The rental machines don't have the suction power of professional truck-mounted units, so they leave more moisture and take longer to dry... but they're fine for routine freshening up.
How to Save Money
- ✓Look for Groupon and local coupon deals. Carpet cleaning is one of the most commonly discounted home services.
- ✓Vacuum thoroughly before the cleaner arrives. This removes surface dirt so they can focus on deep cleaning.
- ✓Move your own furniture. It saves the extra fee and you know nothing gets scratched.
- ✓Skip the add-ons unless you have a specific problem. Scotchgard helps on high-traffic areas but isn't necessary everywhere.
- ✓Ask about whole-house pricing instead of per-room. Most companies offer a discount for 5+ rooms.
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠They advertise a whole-house price of $49 or $79. This is a bait-and-switch. They'll upsell aggressively once they're in your home, claiming you need special treatments for every stain.
- ⚠They're evasive about pricing on the phone. A real company can quote per room with standard assumptions.
- ⚠They use only a portable machine instead of a truck-mounted system. Truck-mounted units have far better suction and heat, which means better cleaning and faster drying.
- ⚠They rush through rooms in 5-10 minutes each. Proper steam cleaning takes 15-25 minutes per room including pre-treatment and multiple passes.
- ⚠No IICRC certification. This is the industry standard certification that shows they've been trained on proper methods.
Related Replacement Guides
Costs vary by location, complexity, and market conditions. Get at least 3 quotes before hiring.