Carpet Cleaning Cost

Want to know how much professional carpet cleaning cost?

On average, you can expect carpet cleaning prices you're quoted to be around £260 in the UK. However, the exact cost you're quoted will depend on the amount of carpet that needs cleaning and the method that is being used.

So, how can this guide help you?

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find out how carpet cleaning costs for different rooms, sizes, and types of carpet. It's also packed full of advice from cleaning experts on MyJobQuote.

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Carpet Cleaning Cost Calculator (Per Room)

How Much is Carpet Cleaning?

Sometimes, carpets are simply too worn and dirty for your vacuum cleaner. If you’ve kids and pets, the dirt, spillages, and dust will build up over time — despite regular hoovering!

Carpets also soak up far more than you think. Over the years they collect grease, food, drink, pet hair, pollen, and even dust mites. Add in pollutants and everyday muck, and it’s no wonder they start to look tired. Regular hoovering helps, but at some point a proper deep clean (or even new carpets) is the only way back.

And, if you're living in rented accommodation, having your carpets professionally cleaned is usually a condition of your end of tenancy cleaning agreement.

Before you rush out and buy brand new carpets, you could save money by calling in professional cleaners for a deep clean — giving your existing carpets a new lease of life.

So, how much does deep carpet cleaning cost?

Professional carpet cleaning costs that you're quoted will vary depending on the size of the room that needs cleaning. The average carpet cleaning cost per m² is around £2.50.

This means that carpet cleaning costs for a small bedroom will be around £30 while cleaning the carpets in a large bedroom will cost about £50. The cost of carpet cleaning for the stairs and landing will be around £40.

If you need your carpets cleaned in your living room, then you should expect to pay about £45, while an open-plan living room with a dining area typically costs around £90.

If you would prefer to have all the carpets in your home cleaned, then this will depend on the type and size of your home.

For example, carpet cleaning costs for a two-bedroom terraced property would be around £160, while carpet cleaning prices for a 4-bedroom detached house would be closer to £360.

Carpet cleaning costs will vary depending on the company you choose, as well as whether you require carpet cleaners to move furniture (as this typically means the job takes them longer to complete).

How much it costs to clean a carpet will also depend on how dirty your carpets are. If there are spills and stains that you want the carpet cleaner to deal with, it'll take them longer — which translates to a higher quote.

Carpet Cleaning Prices

The table below sets out the costs for different-sized carpet cleaning jobs, ordered by room size:

Carpet cleaning generally takes around half an hour for a small or large bedroom, and up to an hour for a typical living room.

Let's now take a look at carpet cleaning prices based on house size:

The average timescale for carpet cleaning is around 2 to 3 hours to clean all the rooms in a 3-bedroom detached home.

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What Impacts Carpet Cleaning Costs?

Your carpet's size plays a big role in how much you'll pay for carpet cleaning. Most carpet cleaning specialists charge per square metre, so the larger the room, the more you should expect to pay.

But, other things can add to your overall costs. Let's take a look:

Carpet Material

Your carpet's material can make a big difference to your cleaning cost. Some carpet materials are more challenging to clean than others, increasing the job's time and labour costs, while others are easier to clean.

Natural carpets, such as wool or sisal, require specific cleaning products and specialist care, making them cost more.

Synthetic carpets, such as nylon and polyester, are easier to clean. They're more resistant to stains, usually only requiring spot treatments, lowering their service costs.

Type of Carpet Cleaning Service

Different carpets need different cleaning services. Here's what you can expect to pay for dry, wet, and encapsulating services:

Carpet Condition

Professional carpet cleaners will ask to see your carpet before giving you a price for their service. This is so they can assess the condition it's in.

For example, if you have stubborn stains on a natural fibre carpet, you should expect to pay more for spot treatments on these areas.

Location of Property

Your geographical location also plays a part in determining your carpet cleaning costs.

While the majority of cleaning companies base their prices on the size of the room or house they need to clean, with costs ranging from around £2.50 per m², some carpet cleaning companies may charge more if they need to travel further to remote areas.

If you live in northern England, most carpet cleaning specialists charge a minimum day rate of about £105. In comparison, London carpet cleaning companies can charge up to and beyond £150 per day for the same service.

Ease of Access

How easy is it to access the rooms where the carpet needs to be cleaned? Some carpet cleaning professionals may charge more for a space that is difficult to clean, such as a small attic or basement bedroom.

You'll also typically be charged more if you're expecting the cleaners to move any furniture before they start carpet cleaning. Once the cleaning is complete, you'll be charged again if you want them to move it back.

What is the main reason you're hiring a carpet cleaner?

Deep cleaning before selling/renting

5 votes - 23%23% of votes

Removing stains and odours

13 votes - 59%59% of votes

Regular maintenance

1 votes - 5%5% of votes

Allergies or health reasons

3 votes - 14%14% of votes

Saving time and effort

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

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Additional Carpet Cleaning Costs

Besides the base cleaning fee, watch out for these extras that can bump the bill up. These are ones people sometimes forget to ask about:

• Stain or protector treatments – Applying something like Scotchgard or similar once cleaning is done can protect your carpet from future stains. Costs usually run around £15 per room. (See MyJobQuote’s Cost Calculator)
• Pre-treatment of problem areas – If there’s grease, ink, or heavy stains, some cleaners will treat these ahead of the main clean. Might be included, might cost extra (depends on how bad it is).
• Furniture moving – Clearing or moving furniture before or during cleaning might add to labour time.
• Weekend / urgent bookings – Need it done outside standard hours or in a rush? Expect higher rates.
• Travelling / call-out fees – If the cleaner has to travel far or through busy zones, there may be an extra charge.
• Quick-dry services – If you don’t want the room out of use for long, some companies offer faster drying for an extra fee.
• Anti-insect treatment – If you want dust mite or insect protection, that can cost extra (often £7-£13 per room.

Is It Worth Cleaning My Existing Carpets?

If your carpet looks flat, worn or covered in stains, you’ll be weighing up two choices: call in a cleaner or rip it out and start again. The truth is, no amount of deep cleaning will save a threadbare carpet — but if the pile is still intact, a professional clean can buy you years more use.

So, how much will it set you back? Here’s a quick look at the average costs of cleaning, replacing, or switching to a different type of flooring:

Replacing carpet like-for-like is fine if you want the same soft feel underfoot. But if your home sees heavy footfall, spills, or pets, laminate or LVT can be a smarter long-term bet. They’re tougher, easier to clean, and don’t hold onto dirt the way fibres do.

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Can I Clean Carpet Myself?

Absolutely. You can easily rent a machine and take on the job yourself. It’ll save you money, but it’s a fair bit of graft — and the results don’t always match what a specialist can do with commercial kit.

Domestic machines — (these, you can get very easily from most high street shops) and they cost around £90 to £300. Great for freshening up a small room, but bear in mind that they don’t have the suction power to remove substantial stains. You’ll probably have to go over the same patch more than once.

Professional-grade cleaners — these are in a different category altogether! Normally, you’ll pay £2,000+ to buy, but you can rent them from roughly £30 to £50 a day. These units blast hot water deep into the fibres and pull dirt back out with much more force — the reason pro jobs look sharper and last longer.

So, why hire a professional instead of doing it yourself?

• ✔Commercial machines clean deeper and faster, great for big areas or stubborn stains.
• ✔ Pros know the right products for delicate fibres like wool or sisal (DIY mistakes can shrink or damage them).
• ✔ Drying time is quicker with pro kit — less risk of that damp, musty smell.
• ✖ DIY can be cheaper for a quick refresh, but harder work and often less effective.

Signs your carpet needs more than a hoover:

• Lingering odours that don’t go away
• Dark stains that keep showing through
• Allergies flaring up from dust build-up

If that sounds familiar, it’s worth getting a professional in. But if it’s just a light refresh, a rental machine could tide you over.

How Do I Clean My Carpets?

To get the best results from a deep clean carpet DIY project, here's how to clean your carpet properly:

• First, vacuum your carpets.
• Once free of dust and debris, you can spray shampoo and hot water into your carpet's pile using the carpet cleaning machine.
• Use the cleaning head to work into the carpet, and loosen the dirt by agitating the fibres before it is sucked up.
• After the first initial sweep, repeat the entire process without using any shampoo for the best results.

Types of Carpet Cleaning

There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to carpet cleaning.

Dry and encapsulation are usually cheaper, but hot water extraction handles deep stains and odours better. Pros will check fibre type and pH to pick the safest method.

Dry Carpet Cleaning Cost

Dry carpet cleaning is one of the most popular methods, which was first invented in the 1980s for carpets that do not have a high level of water resistance.

This process usually involves the use of a rotary carpet cleaning machine, which is used to apply and spread a low-moisture cleaning powder into the carpet fibres.

The average cost of dry carpet cleaning is around £30 to £40 for a small bedroom, and between £230 to £270 for a 3-bed semi-detached house.

Pros

• ✔ This service is dry by nature, so there's no drying time, meaning you can walk on your carpet again immediately
• ✔ Ideal for delicate fabrics and natural carpets
• ✔ Made from biodegradable materials which work like a micro-sponge to extract dirt quickly and easily

Cons

• ✖ Can leave behind an unpleasant smell
• ✖ Less effective on deep-set stains than wet carpet cleaning
• ✖ May leave a residue behind

Hot Water Extraction Cost

Hot water extraction cleaning or steam carpet cleaning involves the use of high-pressure hot water, which works to eradicate stubborn dirt. It also involves applying cleaning agents to stubborn stains, which are typically spread by a professional carpet cleaning machine.

The average cost of hot water extraction is around £35 to £50 for a small bedroom, and between £240 to £280 for a 3-bed semi-detached house.

Pros

• ✔ Gets rid of stale odours
• ✔ One of the most hygienic carpet cleaning methods, as it kills off microorganisms trapped in the fibres
• ✔ Can remove stubborn, set-in stains

Cons

• ✖ Long drying time after treatment, with some carpets taking up to 12 hours to fully dry
• ✖ Heat and moisture aren't suitable for all carpet fibres and are too harsh for natural carpets
• ✖ Equipment can be bulky, making it tricky to use in small spaces

Foam Encapsulation Cost

Encapsulation carpet cleaning involves the use of a rotary brush, which is operated to spread a crystal polymer-based cleaner into your carpet’s fibres. The solution will then dry, and the carpet will be vacuumed to remove excess dirt.

The average cost of foam encapsulation is around £28 to £38 for a small bedroom, and between £210 to £250 for a 3-bed semi-detached house.

Pros

• ✔ No need to rinse or dry the carpet once treated, meaning you can use your carpet soon after
• ✔ There's no dirt or debris left behind from the treatment
• ✔ Low-moisture cleaning method, reducing the risk of mould growth from getting the carpet too wet

Cons

• ✖ Encapsulation is a hard task, best left to the professionals, and isn't something you should DIY
• ✖ Limited cleaning ability on oily or grease-based stains
• ✖ Chemicals are used, making it less eco-friendly than other carpet cleaning options

Checklist: Hiring a Professional Carpet Cleaner in the UK

Before hiring a cleaning specialist to revamp your carpet, take a look at the following checklist to ensure you choose the right person for the job:

• Use MyJobQuote to find reputable, local traders, and gather at least 3 quotes to compare pricing.
• Ask for quotes to be itemised so you can see exactly what's included in your quote.
• Got any stubborn stains or hard-to-reach areas? Make sure you let your cleaning specialist know this before they come to do the job, as these factors may impact your overall costs.
• Take a look at the trader's customer reviews and any photos or videos of their past projects.
• Ask if they're a member of an accredited organisation such as the National Carpet Cleaners Association.
• Make sure that they have public liability insurance, as well as employers' liability insurance, in case any accidents happen during the service.

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