Find a Carpet Cleaner near you
The average rating for Bark Carpet Cleaners is 4.84, based on 4,354,791 reviews
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based on 4,354,791 reviews
Is it time to get your carpets cleaned? Rid yourself of dust, allergens, and built-up dirt by hiring a carpet cleaning expert (it's cheaper in the long run!)
The average price of carpet cleaning is £115. This figure varies based on the number of rooms you need cleaned, the size of your carpet, the type of cleaning you want, and your location.
It’s no surprise that carpet cleaning is a highly requested service. You’ll often need this job done to a high standard in several situations, such as:
Friends coming over
Hosting a house viewing
Spring cleaning
Freshen your house’s smell
Protect someone with an allergy
Maintain a new carpet warranty
Treating it for insects
The British Cleaning Council (BCC) found that employees in the cleaning and related sectors make up almost 5% of the UK’s entire workforce. This proves why prices remain extremely competitive in this area. You’ll undoubtedly have dozens of cleaners that work nearby – so you can afford to take your time before deciding on the best cleaner for you.
You’re in the ideal place if you want to know how much carpet cleaning costs in 2024. These figures are based on our data and research. If you want a personalised quotation, get in touch with a carpet cleaner near you.
You have three main types of carpet cleaning methods to choose from. Each one brings its own price range and makes sense in different circumstances. The two most common are steam cleaning (hot water extraction) and dry cleaning, with carpet shampoo as a popular middle option that many people perform themselves. You should think about your needs and budget when deciding on the most suitable one.
Steam cleaning is the most popular professional carpet cleaning method, known for its deep-cleaning abilities, and it's the one we'll focus on in this guide. Most professional carpet cleaning companies will perform this as standard, unless requested otherwise.
A solution of hot water and detergent is injected into the carpet under high pressure, and then extracted along with the dirt. It's particularly effective for removing stains and eliminating allergens.
Steam cleaning a carpet by a professional costs £115 on average.
Shampoo carpet cleaning is 'wet' cleaning without as much effort. Your professional will quite literally dampen your carpets, shampoo them, scrub, and vacuum with residue. It's not the best kind of clean, but it’s quicker than steam cleaning.
Due to its ease, and the fact that you can buy carpet shampoos at most supermarkets, many people will perform this themselves at home. Professional shampoo cleaning for your carpet costs £80 on average.
Dry cleaning doesn't involve as much water, compared to steam cleaning. Instead, it uses specialised compounds or solvents applied by machines to clean your carpets. The process is less labour-intensive and can offer quicker drying times.
This makes it an optimal choice when you’re in a rush – but keep in mind, it won't be as thorough or long-lasting as a steam clean. Dry cleaning a carpet costs £100 on average when you hire a professional.
| Type of carpet cleaning | Average price |
| Steam cleaning | £115 |
| Shampoo cleaning | £80 |
| Dry cleaning | £100 |
It’s an important question that almost everyone asks when the time arrives to clean: should I hire a professional, or do it myself?
Your personal circumstances will make the biggest difference. You’re already halfway there if you’ve got the skills and equipment needed to clean your carpet. But if you’ve got neither, a professional cleaner seems more logical.
You can buy supplies from the store on a low budget. But when you pay a small fee, you get less impressive results. As outlined above, shampoo cleaning (most common in the stores) doesn’t provide the same high quality finish that you get from steam cleaning.
If you’re on an extremely tight deadline, or only want the ‘appearance’ of cleanliness, DIY can be preferable. But in almost all other situations, we highly recommend you bring in an expert.
Your professional carpet cleaner saves you time, money and effort. You also won’t have to clean your carpet again anywhere near as soon. Plus, you can have a cup of tea and socialise with a hard-working cleaner in your area. It’s a win-win!
You’ve already learned about the three main methods of carpet cleaning further up on this webpage. But what about carpets in less common areas, or circumstances?
Some of the main examples are listed in the bullet points below. Beside each one, you’ll see the average price you can expect to pay:
Stairs – £85 average price
Stairs and landing – £110 average price
Applying stain protector – £25 per room
Insect treatment – £25 per room
You’ll find some carpet cleaners who offer pre-treatment on your material. Ask for a personalised quotation on this, as each professional has their own methods and materials for getting this done.
| Type of carpet cleaning | Average price |
| Stairs | £85 |
| Stairs and landing | £110 |
| Applying strain protector | £25 per room |
| Insect treatment | £25 per room |
You need to budget correctly for your carpet cleaning project. Step one to doing this involves figuring out what all the influencing factors are. Arguably the most important ones include:
Number of rooms
Size of your carpet
Method and type of cleaning
Location
Choice of professional
Carpet condition
Moving furniture
You should clarify all these details with your cleaner before hiring them for a project. Take a look at our explanations below.
Lots of cleaners charge per room. As outlined further above, insect treatment or stain protector averages at £25 per room – but for a full carpet treatment, it can go much higher.
The average carpet cleaning price of £115 is based on the typical person, who asks for either one or two carpets to be cleaned. One carpet tends to fall slightly lower, and two carpets marginally higher. You can expect the price to go well over £200 if you’re getting three or more carpets cleaned.
Find out if your cleaner charges per room, or by square footage.
Some carpets (and rooms!) are larger than others. You might come across a cleaner who charges by square footage. In this instance, get clear guidance on their pricing strategy, and then measure your carpet to see what this equals.
If it’s a specific part of your carpet that needs cleaning, ask if your cleaner can only do this section. It might be a ‘high traffic’ area where lots of people walk over. This approach could help you to negotiate your fee down.
You have three main methods to choose from: steam cleaning, dry cleaning, or shampoo cleaning. Steam cleaning provides the best results, but also comes at a higher price range. You’ll often save money long-term through this method, because you won’t need the job done again for a longer period.
Your whereabouts in the house can come into play. Staircases and landing areas are a slightly different project. Various prices can apply to insect treatment or pre-treatment, too.
Your location in the United Kingdom has a considerable impact on the price you expect to pay. See our table further below for more guidance on this. In London, figures go way above the national average – while in Wales and the North West of England, you don’t need to budget as much.
The average price in the South East is £120, while this falls to £110 in the South West. In the East Midlands, the average cost is £85, while this figure goes up to £110 in the West Midlands.
Every carpet cleaner charges in a different way. That’s why lots of experts recommend that you use price comparison sites for cleaners in your area. You can filter according to your budget and check out reviews from past customers.
Ask a cleaner to visit you in-person for a price quotation. They’ll need to see your carpet’s condition, and the scale of the project. You can also get to know each other here and build up a rapport.
Your carpet’s condition at the beginning of the project is extremely important. If it’s badly stained, flat and thin, or has a strong odour, this’ll all factor into your cleaner’s price quotation. It’s no use hiding these details from your cleaner – it all needs to be addressed! That’s why an in-person visit to get a quotation is a smart idea.
You might not have thought about moving furniture – but in some cases, it can have a big impact on price! Huge items are extremely difficult to move, and your cleaner will need to allow for this. If this involves bringing a second cleaner with them, your price will instantly increase to cover their labour costs.
Keep an eye out for whether your cleaner promises to put your furniture back after the event. In some cases, they’ll leave the house so that your carpet cleaner can soak in – but in the meantime, you’ve got furniture all over the place! This isn’t ideal and should be clarified beforehand.
| Region | Low price | Average | Higher end |
| Nationwide | £75 | £115 | £190 |
| East Midlands | £60 | £85 | £170 |
| East England | £75 | £120 | £200 |
| London | £85 | £130 | £230 |
| North East | £70 | £105 | £180 |
| North West | £65 | £95 | £165 |
| Scotland | £65 | £100 | £165 |
| South East | £80 | £120 | £210 |
| South West | £70 | £110 | £190 |
| West Midlands | £80 | £110 | £190 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £70 | £105 | £170 |
| Wales | £65 | £95 | £165 |
It’s highly recommended that you bring in an expert carpet cleaner in most cases, rather than doing it yourself. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to keep your costs to a minimum.
If some parts of your carpet are dirtier than others, you could ask your professional to only clean these. This might be a ‘high traffic area’ where lots of people walk. It’s less important to clean somewhere without any dirt on it.
Use comparison websites to look at different carpet cleaners or rug cleaners in your area. This ensures that you don’t miss out on any great deals. And ask your friends and family for recommendations too – they could get a discounted rate by making a referral.
Your price per carpet space sometimes decreases on larger scale jobs. If you need several carpets sorted out, mention this to your cleaner and see if they’ll negotiate. While this increases your up-front price, it’s often more cost effective in the long run.
In a similar way, paying for a steam carpet clean might be more expensive short-term, but can cut costs in the big picture. This is because you won’t need your carpets to be cleaned anywhere near as regularly.
During busy periods of activity in your house, such as parties, you could cover your carpet with a sheet of plastic. This helps in exceptional circumstances, where drink spillages or food drops might occur.
The benefits are far-reaching. Not only does it increase the lifespan of your carpet by removing dirt particles that can deteriorate the fibres, but it also contributes to a healthier home environment by eradicating allergens and microbes.
Professional cleaning enhances the aesthetic appeal of your home, ensuring your carpets look as good as new. In the long run, it's often less pricey to professionally clean your carpets than to replace them when they get too dirty and worn.
Some companies have a minimum charge per visit. This usually hovers around the £80 mark but can fall lower in certain parts of the country. This often means it's worthwhile getting all your carpets cleaned at once, in case you don't clear the minimum charge in one room. You might be able to negotiate a per-carpet price reduction when you get it all done in one go.
When selecting a professional carpet cleaning service, it's essential to consider credentials, reviews, and transparency about their pricing. Look for services that provide detailed estimates, and who are willing to explain why and how they charge what they do.
Cleaning a single carpet rarely takes more than one hour. In most cases, it’ll be around 30 minutes. Ask your cleaner for personalised guidance, based on your situation. For example, if your carpet has a particularly bad odour, or insect infestation, it could become a special case where your expert makes multiple visits.
The average rating for Bark Carpet Cleaners is 4.84, based on 4,354,791 reviews
5/5
based on 4,354,791 reviews
