Cost guide
How much does carpet cleaning cost?
Carpet cleaning costs £35 to £60 a room, £120 to £220 for a three-bedroom house and £30 to £50 for a staircase. A three-seat sofa is £60 to £120 and a double mattress £40 to £70, and most cleaners have a minimum charge of around £60 to £90 for a visit.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on how many rooms and which method they take.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Single room, average size | £35 to £60 |
| Three-bedroom house, carpeted throughout | £120 to £220 |
| Staircase and landing | £30 to £50 |
| Three-seat sofa | £60 to £120 |
| Double mattress | £40 to £70 |
| Rug, taken away and cleaned at a plant | £45 to £150 |
Book several rooms in one visit. The journey, the setup and the minimum charge are most of the cost of a small job, so a second and third room are always far cheaper than the first, and two separate visits for one house is the most expensive way to buy this work.
What moves the price
- Room size and how much furniture has to be moved. Most quotes assume the room is clear.
- The fibre. Wool and natural fibre coverings need more care and more time than polypropylene.
- How soiled it is, and whether there are pet odours, which need treatment at the backing rather than the surface.
- Stairs, which are priced separately because they are slow and awkward and cannot be done with the wand alone.
- Method. Hot water extraction generally costs more than low moisture and cleans deeper.
- Minimum charge. One small room almost always costs the same as two, because the journey and the setup are most of the visit.
Who quotes for it
38 of the 204 cleaning companies listed on this site take on carpet cleaning.
Spread across: Belfast (4), Glasgow (4), Cardiff (3), Derby (3), Edinburgh (3).
Questions about carpet cleaning
Can old stains be removed?
Some. A spot is a deposit and comes out fairly reliably; a stain is a colour change in the fibre and often does not. Anything that has bleached or dyed the fibre is a repair rather than a clean.
How often should carpets be cleaned?
Every twelve to eighteen months in an ordinary household, and more often with pets, small children or a busy hallway. Several manufacturers make regular professional cleaning a warranty condition.