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Carpet Cleaning Cost

Carpet cleaning costs $140 to $190 for a typical 3-room job with light soiling and steam cleaning, before your ZIP code is applied. A whole-home minimum of $95 applies to any job, and pricing climbs from there based on room count, carpet condition, and cleaning method.

The short answer

Carpet cleaning cost by room count

Light soiling, steam cleaning, before your ZIP code is applied.

RoomsCost
2 rooms$95 to $125
3 rooms$140 to $190
5 rooms$235 to $315
8 rooms$375 to $505

By carpet condition, 3 rooms, steam cleaning

ConditionCost
Light soiling$140 to $190
Moderate soiling$160 to $215
Heavily soiled$200 to $270
Pet stains or odor$250 to $335
$95
Whole-home minimum, regardless of how few rooms need cleaning
$182
Published national average total for a standard carpet cleaning visit
+76% to +79%
How much more pet stain or odor treatment costs than light soiling, same rooms
Every 6 to 12 months
IICRC-cited frequency, more often for homes with pets or heavy traffic
Cost factors

What changes the price

Number of rooms or square footage
Priced by whichever unit you choose. A whole-home minimum of $95 applies regardless, since a technician's setup and equipment cost do not shrink for a single small room.
Carpet condition
Light soiling is the base rate. Moderate soiling adds about 14%, heavy soiling about 42%, and pet stains or odor about 78%, since each tier needs progressively more pre-treatment and passes.
Cleaning method
Steam, or hot water extraction, is the deepest clean and the base rate, with a 6 to 12 hour dry time. Dry cleaning costs about 12% more but has little to no dry time. Encapsulation costs about 6% more and is common for commercial spaces.
Carpeted stairs
Adds $13 to $16 per flight, priced separately from room or square footage count.
Add-ons
Area rug cleaning, Scotchgard protection, deodorizer treatment, and pet odor treatment are priced separately and shown as their own line.
Frequently asked

Questions people ask before booking

How much does carpet cleaning cost?

For light soiling with steam cleaning, 3 rooms runs $140 to $190, and a whole-home minimum of $95 applies even for a single small room. Pricing scales up from there by room count, condition, and method.

Is there a minimum charge for carpet cleaning?

Yes, typically around $95, since a technician's travel time and equipment setup cost roughly the same whether they clean one room or five. Small jobs get charged at this minimum rather than a tiny per-room rate.

How much more does pet stain treatment cost than a regular cleaning?

About 76% to 79% more for the same rooms. Pet stains and odor require enzymatic pre-treatment and often multiple passes to fully break down, which adds real time on top of a standard cleaning.

What is the difference between steam cleaning and dry cleaning?

Steam cleaning, or hot water extraction, is the deepest clean but takes 6 to 12 hours to dry. Dry cleaning uses little to no moisture and has little to no dry time, but costs about 12% more. Encapsulation is a low-moisture method common for commercial spaces, at about 6% more than steam.

How often should carpets be professionally cleaned?

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification recommends at least once a year for typical traffic. Homes with pets or high-traffic areas often need it every 6 to 9 months instead.

Does carpet cleaning cost more by room or by square footage?

Either works, and the calculator above lets you choose. Room-based pricing is simpler for a typical home. Square-footage pricing is more precise for oddly shaped rooms or open floor plans where room count does not reflect the actual carpeted area.

Be honest about condition when booking. A quote based on light soiling that turns into a heavy or pet-stain job on arrival usually means a revised price on the spot, not a discount for underselling it upfront.

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