What a carpet cleaning estimate is for
Carpet cleaning has a reputation problem: the low advertised room price that grows once the truck arrives. A written estimate that defines a room, lists stairs and hallways, and separates pet treatment and protector shows the customer the real price before you come. It also sets honest expectations about permanent stains.
What to put on a carpet cleaning estimate
- Rooms, hallways and stairs, with what counts as a room.
- Cleaning method.
- Pre-treatment and spot work.
- Pet urine treatment, priced by area.
- Protector, if wanted.
- Furniture moving and what you will not move.
- A note that some stains may not come out.
A worked example
A two-story house: three bedrooms, a living room and a hallway upstairs, a staircase, and a dog that has had accidents near the back door.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot water extraction, rooms | 4 | room | Your price |
| Hallway | 1 | each | Your price |
| Stairs | 14 | each | Your price |
| Pre-treatment for traffic lanes | 2 | room | Your price |
| Pet urine treatment | 30 | sq ft | Your price |
Define a room in the notes, such as up to a set size. Customers with big open rooms then know why their price is higher, before you arrive.
Line items carpet cleaners use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water extraction, per room | room | Say the largest room size a room price covers. |
| Carpet cleaning by area | sq ft | For open plans and commercial floors. |
| Hallway | each | Often priced as half a room. |
| Stairs | each | Per step. |
| Pre-treatment for traffic lanes | room | Heavy soil areas. |
| Spot and stain treatment | each | Say that some stains may not come out. |
| Pet odor and urine treatment | sq ft | Enzyme or subfloor treatment where needed. |
| Carpet protector | room | Applied after cleaning. |
| Upholstery, sofa | each | By seat count or piece. |
| Area rug cleaning | sq ft | On site or in plant. |
| Tile and grout cleaning | sq ft | Grout sealing extra. |
| Move furniture | room | Light furniture only; say what you will not move. |
Terms and deposit language for carpet cleaning
- Deposit. No deposit on residential jobs; commercial or large jobs may take one to hold the date.
- Payment. Due when the job is done, before the crew leaves.
- Warranty. If a spot reappears within a short window from wicking, you come back to treat it at no charge. Say the window, and that some stains are permanent.
- Drying time depends on airflow and humidity; keep traffic off until dry.
- Pet urine may need more than one treatment and may not fully remove odor if it reached the pad.
- Customer moves fragile and valuable items before the visit.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for carpet cleaning
- Carpet cleaning cost calculator
- Cleaning business name generator
- Labor rate calculator
- Markup calculator
The same estimate for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.