Pressure washing is used to clean and maintain residential properties, commercial buildings, concrete surfaces, parking areas, and other exterior structures. Understanding the industry requires looking beyond equipment sales and market forecasts to examine business activity, building maintenance, environmental considerations, and the data that government agencies actually collect.
This report brings together publicly available industry data and authoritative research relevant to pressure washing and exterior surface cleaning in the United States. Each statistic is accompanied by its source so readers can verify the original information and understand what it measures.
Report year: 2026
Geographic scope: United States, with applications relevant to Los Angeles and Southern California
Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other authoritative sources
Last reviewed: October 2026
18,069 establishments: The U.S. Census Bureau reported 18,069 establishments in the broader NAICS 561790 category, Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings, in its 2023 County Business Patterns data. This category includes several services besides pressure washing.
13,290 establishments had fewer than five employees: These represented approximately 73.5% of establishments in that category in the same dataset.
Exterior building cleaning has an official industry classification: The Census Bureau specifically includes building exterior cleaning, excluding sandblasting and window cleaning, under NAICS 561790.
Wastewater management matters: Pressure washing can carry dirt, oils, detergents, and other pollutants into storm drains if runoff is not properly controlled.
Pressure washing is not a separately measured category in every government dataset: Broad industry classifications should not be presented as exact counts of pressure washing companies.
Sources: 2023 County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau NAICS classification, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The U.S. Census Bureau tracks businesses using the North American Industry Classification System, commonly known as NAICS.
One relevant category is NAICS 561790 — Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings. Its official description includes building exterior cleaning, excluding sandblasting and window cleaning, along with other services such as chimney cleaning, swimming pool maintenance, and drain or gutter cleaning.
According to the Census Bureau’s 2023 County Business Patterns data, this category included:
| Measure | 2023 figure |
|---|---|
| Total establishments | 18,069 |
| Establishments with fewer than five employees | 13,290 |
| Establishments with 5–9 employees | 2,613 |
| Establishments with 10–19 employees | 1,389 |
| Establishments with 20–49 employees | 598 |
| Establishments with 50–99 employees | 135 |
| Establishments with 100–249 employees | 38 |
| Establishments with 250–499 employees | 5 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023 — NAICS 561790.
The figures show that the broader building-services category includes many small establishments. Approximately 73.5% of establishments in this dataset had fewer than five employees.
However, these numbers must be interpreted correctly. They do not represent an exact count of pressure washing companies. NAICS 561790 covers multiple types of building and dwelling services, and the dataset measures establishments rather than necessarily counting distinct companies.
The figures also should not be interpreted as a 2026 business count. They describe the 2023 reporting period.
For journalists and researchers, this distinction matters: an accurately described industry classification is more useful than an unsupported estimate of the number of pressure washing businesses.
The Census Bureau’s NAICS system provides a framework for organizing businesses by their primary economic activity.
NAICS 561790 is a relevant classification for exterior building cleaning services. Its official examples include building exterior cleaning, except sandblasting and window cleaning.
The classification also includes other services, meaning it should not be treated as a pressure-washing-only category.
This distinction is useful when researching the industry because different data providers may group pressure washing with exterior cleaning, property maintenance, or other building services.
When comparing statistics, check the following:
Industry definition: Does the source measure pressure washing specifically or a broader group of services?
Geographic coverage: Does it cover the United States, an individual state, or a metropolitan area?
Reporting period: Is the data from 2023, 2024, 2025, or another year?
Business measurement: Does it count establishments, companies, employees, revenue, or service transactions?
Collection method: Is the figure based on government records, a survey, an industry estimate, or a commercial market-research model?
Without these details, two statistics that appear comparable may actually measure different things.
Primary source: U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 561790.
Pressure washing is one method used to remove accumulated dirt, grime, and other deposits from suitable exterior surfaces.
Common applications include:
Concrete driveways and walkways
Patios and outdoor living areas
Building exteriors
Commercial sidewalks and entrances
Parking areas and garages
Pavers and other hardscape surfaces
Exterior walls and selected masonry surfaces
Certain decks, fences, and other outdoor structures
The appropriate cleaning method depends on the surface material, its condition, the type of contamination, and the equipment being used.
High pressure is not appropriate for every material. Excessive pressure or improper technique can damage wood, loosen coatings, force water behind siding, or erode vulnerable masonry.
Professional cleaning may involve pressure washing, lower-pressure washing, soft washing, suitable cleaning agents, or a combination of methods.
These are practical service considerations rather than quantified industry statistics. They help explain the range of applications associated with exterior cleaning without implying that every surface requires the same treatment.
Pressure washing removes contaminants from surfaces, but the resulting wastewater needs appropriate management.
Depending on the site, runoff may contain sediment, oils, grease, cleaning chemicals, paint particles, and other materials. Allowing contaminated wash water to enter a storm drain can carry pollutants into local waterways.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides guidance on stormwater pollution prevention and the management of pollutants that can enter stormwater systems.
Primary source: U.S. EPA — Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Sources.
When planning an exterior cleaning project, property owners and contractors should consider:
Where wash water will flow.
Whether storm drains are located near the cleaning area.
Whether runoff may contain oil, chemicals, paint residue, or other pollutants.
Whether containment, collection, filtration, or approved disposal is necessary.
Which local wastewater and stormwater requirements apply to the property and project.
Requirements vary by location and by the type of work being performed. Contractors should verify applicable municipal, county, state, and federal requirements rather than assume that wash water can be discharged into a storm drain.
Environmental compliance is an important part of responsible exterior cleaning, particularly at commercial properties, parking facilities, industrial sites, and other locations where runoff may contain contaminants.
Pressure washing services are commonly used in both residential and commercial settings. The cleaning requirements differ according to the property, the surface, the volume of foot or vehicle traffic, and the type of buildup.
Homeowners may seek exterior cleaning for:
Driveways and sidewalks
Patios and poolside hardscapes
House washing
Suitable fences and decks
Exterior concrete and pavers
Selected retaining walls and masonry
The purpose may be routine maintenance, removal of visible buildup, preparation for another project, or improving the appearance of outdoor areas.
Commercial cleaning projects may involve:
Storefronts and building entrances
Office and commercial property exteriors
Parking lots and parking structures
Sidewalks and pedestrian areas
Loading zones and service areas
Restaurants and other facilities with outdoor hard surfaces
Multi-unit residential properties
Commercial work may require scheduling around operating hours, pedestrian safety measures, water management, and coordination with property managers.
These service categories describe common applications. They should not be interpreted as estimates of market share or customer demand because the cited Census dataset does not separately measure these pressure washing services.
A useful industry report should distinguish official statistics from commercial estimates and unsupported claims.
The following table identifies the data that can be supported by the sources cited in this report and the additional research needed to establish more specific industry figures.
| Research question | What can be established | What needs additional evidence |
|---|---|---|
| How many businesses provide related building services? | Census reported 18,069 establishments in NAICS 561790 in 2023. | A pressure-washing-only business count. |
| How many establishments are small? | 13,290 establishments in that category had fewer than five employees in 2023. | The number of small pressure washing businesses specifically. |
| What is the official industry classification? | NAICS 561790 includes qualifying building exterior cleaning. | A dedicated classification that isolates all pressure washing activity. |
| What is the U.S. pressure washing market worth? | The Census dataset cited here does not establish a pressure-washing-only market value. | A transparent market study with a defined scope, methodology, and reporting period. |
| How fast is the industry growing? | The figures above establish a 2023 baseline for a broader industry category. | Comparable year-over-year data for the specific pressure washing market. |
| How many pressure washing companies operate in Los Angeles? | The national dataset does not answer this question. | A local business analysis using defined geography and a documented counting method. |
Online articles sometimes report large dollar values for the pressure washing industry. Such figures can differ because one report may measure equipment sales, another may measure cleaning services, and another may include several exterior maintenance categories.
Before citing a market-size figure, readers should verify the original research, the year covered, the geographic scope, the definition of the market, and whether the value is measured revenue, projected revenue, or equipment sales.
A market estimate should not be described as an official government statistic unless the underlying government source actually reports it.
Los Angeles and the surrounding Southern California region contain a wide variety of residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Exterior cleaning requirements vary by property type, surface material, environmental conditions, and the property’s maintenance schedule.
Potential applications include residential driveways, concrete walkways, commercial storefronts, parking areas, patios, pavers, and building exteriors.
However, the national Census figures in this report cannot be used to calculate the number of Los Angeles pressure washing companies or the size of the local market.
A defensible Los Angeles market analysis would require a defined geographic boundary, a documented business-counting method, and information that distinguishes pressure washing contractors from other cleaning and property maintenance businesses.
Local demand estimates should also account for the differences between residential and commercial services rather than assume that every property needs cleaning at the same frequency.
When evaluating an exterior cleaning provider, property owners should consider:
Experience with the specific surface being cleaned
Appropriate pressure and cleaning methods
Protection of landscaping and nearby property
Wastewater and runoff management
Insurance and relevant licensing requirements
Clear project scope and pricing
Scheduling and safety requirements for occupied properties
These considerations can help property owners compare providers on more than price alone.
The precise size depends on how the market is defined. The Census Bureau’s 2023 County Business Patterns data reports 18,069 establishments in NAICS 561790, a broader category that includes certain building exterior cleaning services and other building-related services. This figure is not an exact count of pressure washing companies or a measure of the industry’s total revenue.
The Census figure cited here does not isolate pressure washing businesses. A reliable pressure-washing-only count would require a source that specifically identifies those businesses or a transparent research method for estimating them.
NAICS 561790, Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings, includes building exterior cleaning services except sandblasting and window cleaning. Because this category includes other activities, it should not be used as an exact count of pressure washing businesses.
Growth should be measured using comparable data from multiple reporting periods. A single year’s establishment count cannot establish an industry growth rate. Any claim about growth should identify the source, the years compared, and the precise industry being measured.
Relevant factors include the surface material, weather exposure, accumulation of dirt and organic growth, vehicle or pedestrian traffic, property use, appearance requirements, and the property’s maintenance plan. These factors influence individual cleaning needs but do not establish a universal cleaning schedule.
Depending on the contaminants and the location, wastewater may need to be contained, collected, treated, or disposed of according to applicable requirements. Contractors should check local stormwater and wastewater rules before discharging wash water.
Start with the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns and NAICS resources, then consult relevant environmental agencies and other primary sources. Check the reporting year and the scope of each dataset before using a figure in an article or business report.
This report prioritizes primary sources and identifies the limitations of the available statistics.
Used for: Establishment counts and employee-size categories for NAICS 561790.
View the original Census Bureau dataset.
Used for: The official definition and examples of services included in the Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings classification.
View the official NAICS classification.
Used for: Background on stormwater pollution prevention and the importance of managing potential pollutants entering stormwater systems.
Explore EPA stormwater resources.
The establishment figures in this report relate to 2023 and to a broader industry classification. They are not a direct measurement of the pressure washing industry’s revenue, number of dedicated pressure washing companies, annual service volume, or market growth rate.
No unsupported pressure washing market-size estimate has been included. Additional figures should be added only after the underlying source and methodology have been checked.
PWPSLA publishes this resource to help readers understand pressure washing and exterior cleaning through verifiable data, clear definitions, and links to original research.
The report distinguishes government statistics from general industry information and explains the limitations of the available data. It is intended as a starting point for property owners, contractors, journalists, researchers, and publishers looking for reliable information about exterior cleaning services.
Suggested citation:
PWPSLA. “Pressure Washing Industry Statistics: 2026 Report.” Available at: https://pwpsla.com/pressure-washing-industry-statistics/
For questions about exterior cleaning applications in Los Angeles, visit PWPSLA.com.