TL;DR — Carpet Cleaning Cost At A Glance
- Most people pay £25–£75 per room for professional carpet cleaning, or £1.50–£4 per m² for larger areas.
- A whole 2–3 bed home typically costs £100–£250, with London adding roughly 20–30%.
- Cleaners apply a minimum charge of £50–£70 (£60–£100 in London) to cover travel and set-up.
- The main cost drivers are the number and size of carpets, their condition, the cleaning method and stain treatment.
- Hot water extraction (steam cleaning) is the standard method; delicate carpets need dry cleaning.
- Booking several rooms in one visit brings the per-room price down and clears the minimum charge easily.
Get a fixed price for carpet and rug cleaning — check prices and book online and refresh your carpets, stairs and rugs in one visit.
How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost In 2026?
Professional carpet cleaning in the UK costs £25–£75 per room, or £1.50–£4 per square metre for larger or open-plan spaces. Cleaning the carpets throughout a typical two to three-bed home costs £100–£250, with London running roughly 20–30% higher. Almost every cleaner applies a minimum charge of £50–£70 (£60–£100 in London), so a single small room usually costs the minimum rather than the per-room rate.
The reason for the minimum charge is simple: travel, set-up and equipment take the same time whether you're cleaning one room or five. That's why the per-carpet price falls the more rooms you book — the fixed costs are spread across the job. The standard method is hot water extraction, often called steam cleaning, which injects hot cleaning solution deep into the pile and extracts it along with dirt, allergens and odours.
Beyond hot water extraction, cleaners may use dry compound cleaning for delicate rugs or where fast drying matters, and bonnet cleaning for a quick surface refresh of low-pile, commercial-style carpets. The method affects both the price and how soon you can use the room again. It's also worth knowing that a professional clean does more than improve how a carpet looks: it lifts the trapped grit that grinds down the pile, removes dust mites and allergens, and can add years to a carpet's life. Seen that way, regular cleaning is often cheaper than replacing a tired carpet sooner than you need to.
Here's what you can expect to pay:
| How you book | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum charge | £50 – £70 | £60 – £100 |
| Per room / carpet | £25 – £40 | £30 – £50 |
| Per square metre | £1.50 – £4 | £2 – £5 |
| Whole 2–3 bed home | £100 – £250 | £130 – £320 |
Figures include VAT where applicable and reflect 2026 market rates. Your exact price depends on room sizes, carpet condition and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
Carpet Cleaning Cost By Room And Area
Most cleaners price by the room or carpet, with the per-unit rate dropping as you add more. Stairs and landings are usually treated as one carpet. Here's a typical breakdown:
| Area | Approx. size | Rest of UK | London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single small room / carpet | up to 10 m² | £25 – £40 | £30 – £50 |
| Large / through lounge | 15 – 25 m² | £40 – £70 | £50 – £90 |
| Stairs and landing | — | £25 – £45 | £35 – £60 |
| Rug (small to medium) | up to 6 m² | £20 – £40 | £25 – £50 |
| Large rug | 6 m²+ | £40 – £75 | £50 – £90 |
| 4+ carpets (per carpet) | — | £20 – £35 | £25 – £45 |
Heavy staining, pet odours or a carpet that hasn't been cleaned in years may add a stain-treatment or deodorising charge, typically £10–£30 per area.
What Affects The Cost Of Carpet Cleaning?
Several factors decide where you land in the ranges above.
1. Number And Size Of Carpets
The more rooms you book, the lower the per-carpet price, because travel and set-up are spread across the job. A single room usually hits the minimum charge, while a whole house works out cheaper per room.
2. Condition And Staining
Lightly soiled carpets clean quickly. Heavy staining, ingrained dirt, pet accidents or odours need pre-treatment and extra passes, which add to the cost.
3. Cleaning Method
Hot water extraction is the standard, most cost-effective method. Delicate fibres — wool, silk, some natural rugs — may need dry cleaning, which is more specialist and can cost more.
4. Your Location
London and the South East run roughly 20–30% higher than the rest of the UK, reflecting higher labour and travel costs.
5. Access And Furniture
Moving heavy furniture, upper-floor flats without a lift, and awkward access all add time. Clearing rooms yourself keeps the price down.
6. Stairs, Landings And Rugs
Stairs are labour-intensive relative to their size and are usually priced as a separate carpet. Rugs, especially large or delicate ones, are priced individually.
What's Included — And What's Not
Typically included in a carpet clean:
- Pre-inspection and light vacuuming of the carpet
- Pre-treatment of general soiling
- Hot water extraction (steam cleaning) of the agreed carpets
- Basic spot treatment of common marks
- Grooming of the pile and drying guidance
Usually charged separately:
- Heavy stain removal (wine, ink, pet accidents) needing specialist treatment
- Deodorising and anti-allergen treatments
- Stain-protection (fabric guard) application
- Moving large or heavy furniture
- Dry cleaning of delicate wool, silk or specialist rugs
Confirm whether stain treatment and furniture moving are included, as these are the most common add-ons.
Can You Do It Yourself?
How To Save Money On Carpet Cleaning
- Book several rooms at once to lower the per-carpet price and clear the minimum charge.
- Vacuum thoroughly beforehand so the cleaner spends time on deep cleaning, not surface dust.
- Move your own furniture and clear the rooms before the cleaner arrives.
- Treat spills quickly so they don't set into stains that need costly specialist removal.
- Combine with other services — carpets alongside an end of tenancy or after builders clean in one booking.
- Ask about off-peak slots and get a couple of quotes to compare what's included.
How To Hire A Good Carpet Cleaner
Ready to get your carpets cleaned proffesionaly?
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost Per Room?
Professional carpet cleaning costs £25–£40 per room outside London and £30–£50 in London, with a minimum charge of £50–£70 (£60–£100 in London). Booking more rooms lowers the per-room price.
How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost Per Square Metre?
Expect £1.50–£4 per m² outside London and £2–£5 in London for larger or open-plan areas. Per-m² pricing is common for big lounges and commercial-style spaces.
What Method Is Used To Clean Carpets?
The standard method is hot water extraction (steam cleaning), which deep-cleans and rinses the pile. Delicate fibres such as wool and silk may need dry cleaning to avoid damage.
How Long Does Carpet Cleaning Take To Dry?
With professional extraction, carpets are usually touch-dry in 4–8 hours and fully dry within 24 hours, depending on ventilation and pile depth. Hired machines leave carpets wetter and take longer.
How Often Should You Get Carpets Cleaned?
Every 12 months for most homes, or every 6 months for busy households, homes with pets or allergy sufferers. Regular cleaning keeps carpets fresher and extends their life.
Is It Cheaper To Hire A Carpet Cleaning Machine?
Hiring a machine costs about £15–£20 per day plus product and your time, so it's cheaper upfront. But results are less thorough and drying is slower, so for deep cleans or stains a professional is usually better value.
Can Professional Cleaning Remove Old Stains?
Often, yes — many stains lift with pre-treatment and extraction, though very old or set-in stains (dye, ink, some pet accidents) may not fully clear. A cleaner will assess and tell you what's realistic before starting.
