Carpet is one of the most common flooring options. No wonder that sooner or later, many of us face the question, “How much will it cost to clean it?” Carpet cleaning prices vary depending on so many factors. If you have a cleaning due, you may be interested in discovering what the price consists of and what the approximate budget would be. With this in mind, we decided to do some research. Read on to discover the cost of carpet cleaning in 2022.

A Carpet Cleaning Cost Guide
Depending on the type of problem you are facing and your cleaning needs, the pricing presented by the cleaning companies will greatly vary. The price will depend on how long it takes to do the job, what supplies are used, and what kind of cleaning you want done.
That’s why it’s good to analyse the prices, count the square footage of the carpets that you would like to be cleaned, and decide how many rooms have to be cleaned. After that, you can request a quote with approximate prices from different carpet cleaning companies. The final price, however, may vary depending on what carpet cleaners face during the process. In this article, we’ll look at the average prices for cleaning carpets based on the most common factors.
Carpet Cleaning Prices by State
The average carpet cleaning price paid by homeowners in 2022 varies between $130 and $250, with an average of $190.
Like most services, carpet cleaning prices will vary depending on the location.
These are the approximate prices for carpet cleaning in the following states:
- Montana: $205
- Minnesota: $190
- Nevada: $160
- Ohio: $160
- New Jersey: $200
- Massachusetts: $175
- South Carolina: $140
- Oklahoma: $180
Carpet Cleaning Prices Per Sq. Ft.
There are a few approaches that carpet cleaning companies take to pricing their work. They can either charge you per square footage of the carpet that they will clean or per hour of their labor. Also, some companies have a fixed price for room cleaning. The average price to clean a square foot of carpet is around $0.25 per square foot. While this is a national average, the price usually ranges from $0.17 to $0.40.
Furthermore, the more rooms you order cleaned, the lower the price.
If you know how many square feet of carpet you have in your room, you can count the approximate estimate based on its footage.
- 200-400 sq.ft.: $65-$140
- 500-1,000 sq.ft.: $105-$260
- 1,000-1,500 sq.ft.: $210-$320
- 1,500-,2000 sq.ft.: $270-$470
- 2,000-3,000 sq.ft.: $420-$640
Carpet Cleaning Prices Per Room
As mentioned above, many cleaning businesses charge on a per-room basis, especially if the area in question is only a few hundred square feet. So far, the average cost of carpet cleaning services for a single room has ranged between $30 and $90.
You can also ask the cleaning company if you can get a discount if you want to have many rooms cleaned at once.
Here are some ballpark figures for the cost of carpet cleaning based on the number of rooms being cleaned.
- 1 room: $30-$90
- 2 rooms: $60-$180
- 3 rooms: $90-$270
- 4 rooms: $120-$360
- 5 or more rooms: $150-$650
As we said above, the final cost of the carpet cleaning will depend on a few factors, like the square footage of the carpets, the type of cleaning materials, and the location of your home. As you see, the average cost of professional carpet cleaning of one room can be up to $90. If you need to repair your carpet after flooding or require any stain removal, be ready to pay extra for these options. While many companies provide discounts for multiple rooms, it’s better to allocate some extra budget if you need to pay a little more.
The Cost of Carpet Steam Cleaning
Carpet steam cleaning is, by far, one of the most popular and effective cleaning methods. This team helps to separate the dirt from the carpet fibers, loosening it so it can be lifted and removed. Well, steam cleaning may not be practical for their heavily soiled carpet, but it’s very nice for a regular refresh of the carpet. Steam cleaning is good when you need to clean the carpet from pet stains or have to remove some unpleasant odors.
Carpets are also less likely to get mold and bacteria when they are cleaned with steam.
The common costs of steam cleaning carpets are the following:
- 1000 sq. ft.: $80-$200
- 1000-1500 sq.ft: $200-400
- 1500 sq.ft and above: starting at $500
The Costs of Carbonated Carpet Cleaning (Hot Water Extraction)
The carbonated carpet cleaning process uses millions of small bubbles which go deep into the carpet fibers and effectively lift the dirt. They dissolve stains and dirt and push them to the carpet surface. Compared to traditional steam carpet cleaning, carbonated carpet cleaning uses twice as little water and doesn’t create soap residue on the carpet surface. This is good because this residue will not attract dirt after you have finished the cleaning. Moreover, since it uses less water, carpets will be dry in just a few hours. We believe that this carpet cleaning method is the most eco-friendly because it uses much less water and it keeps your carpet cleaner for a longer time.
We have also noticed that the carpet will stay cleaner for a longer time that after steam cleaning. When you steam clean the carpets, some of the stains don’t get removed. Instead, they are just pushed down beneath the carpet surface. After some time, this will lead to reappearing stains. That’s an unlucky thing to have happen after you have had your carpets freshly cleaned. During the carbonation process, carpet stains are removed from inside the fibers so they don’t get buried inside.
The cost of hot water extraction in 2022 ranges from $125 to $600.
Cost of Bonnet Carpet Cleaning
Bonnet cleaning is an outdated method of carpet cleaning that, while still in use today, is not without huge risks and controversy. This way of cleaning carpets is often called “bonnet cleaning,” but it also goes by the names “rotary carpet cleaning,” “spin pad carpet cleaning,” “absorbent pad carpet cleaning,” “tip washing,” and “carbonated shampooing.”
You will now understand why. Spray buffing for hard floors has been changed so that it can be used to clean carpets. This is sure to cause disputes between carpet cleaning companies.
Only a few cleaning companies are still offering this carpet cleaning method. Some companies provide bonnet cleaning as an option and as part of their carpet care programs, while many companies do not practice bonnet cleaning at all. Why? They believe it is useless, and can wear carpets out faster. What’s worse, it will most probably void the guarantee on your carpet.
Is Bonnet Carpet Cleaning Worth It?
The advocates of bonnet cleaning say that it helps to loosen and absorb some surface soil. Unfortunately, it can also cause dirt to be pushed deeper into the fibers of the carpet. As the bonnet agitates and rotates on the surface of your carpet, it can wear down the fibers and speed up the damage to carpeting that is already damaged or snagged.
A rotary shampoo carpet cleaning machine is equipped with a soft pad that has been saturated with carpet cleaning solution. Because of the way the rotating machine moves across the carpet’s surface, it loosens the soil, some of which sticks to the cleaning pad. That’s how the “cleaning” is done. Bonnet cleaning is commonly referred to as “dry” carpet cleaning because it’s not supposed to use much water. That’s also a myth because the bonnet or absorbent pad used in this procedure uses much more water than the actual dry carpet cleaning process.
Bonnet cleaning costs, on average, between $25 and $90 per cleaning.
Dry Carpet Cleaning Costs
Dry cleaning is the process of applying a specific powder to the carpet and agitating the fibers. Your carpet will be clean and fresh after 15 minutes when the powder particles absorb the dirt and are vacuumed out of the carpet. This type of carpet cleaning works well in high-traffic commercial areas and hotels where most carpets have to be accessible 24 hours a day.
Plus, the only way to clean jute, coir, or seagrass carpeting is to use dry carpet cleaning procedures. Liquid saturation cleaning should never be used on these carpets due to the risk of fiber damage, color loss, and shrinking.
Dry cleaning might cost anywhere from $70 to $350. The carpets are cleaned using an absorbent chemical that breaks down and clings to the dirt and debris that has built up within. Eventually, the compound separates dirt from fibers, which may then be vacuumed up and thrown away.
This is a quick and easy way to thoroughly clean your home without having to use water. After cleaning, your place will be ready to use in 20 minutes. However, you won’t be able to clean as thoroughly as you can with steam.
Carpet Shampooing Costs
Carpet shampooing has been a popular way of cleaning for many years. Washing large areas of the carpet has been made easier by shampooing, which was once done with natural soaps and is now most frequently done with synthetic detergents.
Pet stains and accidents can be cleaned with this procedure. The foam that forms during the cleaning process cleans and soaks into your carpets.
Carpet shampooing uses a rotary floor machine with solution tanks and shower feed brushes. Once the carpet has been thoroughly vacuumed, the shower feed brush is used to feed a shampoo solution into the carpet. It’s quite effective. However, over-wetting and pile distortion can quickly happen if you aren’t careful.
On average, it costs $100 to $240 to have your carpets shampooed. This process uses brush equipment to spread a foaming substance on your skin. After that, a wet cleaner takes away the cleaner and the dirt from the carpet. After the carpet dries, a dry vacuum mode is used to clean the rest.
The main problem with this method is that it takes a long time to dry and uses a lot of water.
It will cost between $120 and $150 to clean an average-sized room.
Shampoo cleaning has become less popular over the last few years. Most professional carpet cleaners now use extraction or encapsulation methods instead. The largest drawback of shampooing is that it leaves too much soapy residue in the carpets.
Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning Prices
This is often referred to as “dry carpet cleaning” because it uses the minimum amount of water. It uses the power of a crystalline polymeric formulation for encapsulation. Polymers are used in the encapsulation formula to encapsulate sediments and dirt on carpet fibers. Also, the product encapsulates the detergents used to loosen the soil. The contained soil and detergents subsequently crystallize and become brittle, allowing them to be easily removed by vacuuming. The carpet is free of detergent residue, which is good for preventing re-soiling.
The encapsulation procedure usually costs between $80 and $200 (with $150 being the market average in 2022). Encapsulation, similar to shampooing, is accomplished through the use of a brush machine to apply synthetic foam detergents. The similarities, on the other hand, end there. As the foam hardens, it crystallises and turns into a powder, which traps soil inside. Then everything is sucked up and disposed of.
This procedure leaves no residue and requires less time compared to other methods. The entire procedure should take no more than a half-hour to complete. Since it doesn’t clean as thoroughly as a steam cleaner, it’s not a good idea if your carpets are very dirty.
One huge benefit of encapsulation is that the whole carpet will be covered with a film that will continue to collect and harden new dirt even after the first cleaning is done.
Mold Removal from Carpets
It is possible to eliminate mold from your house by conducting internet research and following the DIY directions, but hiring a reputable professional business to perform mold removal from the carpets is always recommended. Professional mold removal companies are qualified to locate the mold, discover its origins, assess the degree and intensity of development, confine the mold, and permanently remove it safely and effectively, among other things. Mold isn’t something that you should attempt to remove on your own since it may be difficult to locate and is incredibly dangerous for your health.
Mold cleanup costs an average of $2,300. Cost estimates typically vary from $1,100 to $3,400, or between $10 and $25 per square foot. Although big mold remediation tasks must be left to the experts, tiny mold removal jobs (less than 10 square feet) can be completed by the homeowner for as little as $10 to $50. Major mold removal jobs may cost more than $5,000.
It is common for carpets and other porous fabrics to become irreversibly ruined after they have become moldy. These materials should be thrown out and replaced.
The Costs of Green Carpet Cleaning
It is not only more environmentally friendly to use green carpet cleaning procedures, but employing non-toxic solutions also minimizes the danger of provoking things like asthma, allergies, and itchy skin. There are a variety of environmentally friendly alternatives available that will make your carpet sparkling clean and odorless. More information about green cleaning solutions and advice may be found below.
If you would like to use a carpet cleaning professional in your area, do your homework to identify one who offers environmentally friendly materials and cleaning processes that have been authorized. A professional green carpet cleaning service typically costs between $115 and $350 per room, depending on the size of the space. The average cost of expert carpet steam cleaning is roughly $300.
Environmentally green cleaners are completely non-toxic, which means they are better for both the carpet and the local environment. Carpet steam extractors, shampooing machines, and manual brushes are all effective tools for applying environmentally friendly cleansers. Organic cleaning products can also kill bacteria, making them safer in the long run instead of just a quick fix in the short term.
Furthermore, natural substances may be used as a universal cleaner for every stain in your home, regardless of its origin. Instead of using multiple chemicals to remove different stains, use a single eco-friendly combination to treat them all at the same time. Eco-friendly products are more pricey, but they save money in the long term since their effects endure for a longer period of time. Although the majority of cleaning services use environmentally friendly cleaning products, it is always a good idea to inquire about the brands used.
Emergency Flood Service Costs
Water-flooded carpet restoration costs between $900 and $1,650 per 200 sq. ft. Almost any incident in a carpeted space requires deep cleaning and drying. In rare circumstances, the carpet may need to be restretched upon drying, parts of it may have to be removed and replaced, or the pad below changed to avoid mold and mildew.
The price varies with the size of the affected area, the extent of mold cleanup required, and the typical labor cost in your state. If your house has been flooded due to a storm, a damaged water pipe, or another issue, you know how crucial it is to have the damage fixed fast. Water damage is ugly and untreated, leading to serious mold development.
Most carpet cleaners can drain water from carpeting for $150-500 per room, then clean it completely for under $1 per square foot.
Costs of Cleaning Stairs
By carpeting your stairs, you can effectively reduce sliding dangers, muffle noise, and enhance the look. If you don’t have the time or inclination to clean them yourself, hire an expert. In most cases, the cost of cleaning your room or hallway does not include the cost of cleaning the stairs.
Carpeted stairs usually cost $3 to $5 per step to clean. Most professional cleaners charge a separate fee for this service, which is not included in the total square footage of your home.
The Costs of Do-It-Yourself Carpet Cleaning
If you’re comfortable with using cleaning equipment and wish to save some money in the process, you may as well try DIY carpet cleaning. There are a few options: you can rent or buy cleaning equipment.
You may hire it directly from a partner shop like Home Depot or Walmart for around $30 per day if you choose a Rug Doctor. If you have 1,600 square feet of carpet, you’ll need three bottles of the cleaning solution, which cost around $17 for 48 ounces. The cost of a pre-treating solution is $6 per bottle.
The total cost of renting and cleaning is around $100 per service.
An average carpet cleaner costs around $150.
$60 would buy us enough detergent to clean 1,600 square feet of carpet in the home’s hallways and bedrooms.
The total cleaning cost if you buy a carpet cleaner would be around $210.
Sources used:
https://www.fixr.com/costs/carpet-cleaning#average-carpet-cleaning-cost-by-type
https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/cleaning-services/clean-carpeting/
https://homeguide.com/costs/carpet-cleaning-prices
https://www.yelp.com/costs/carpet_cleaning

