| National average | $300 per rug |
| Typical range | $75 – $1,080 per rug |
| Low end | $75 — a 3×5 synthetic rug ($75) |
| High end | $1,080 — a 9×12 silk rug ($1,080) |
How much does rug cleaning cost?
Area rug cleaning costs $1.50–$3.00 per square foot for synthetic, $2.50–$5.00 for wool, and $5.00–$10.00 for silk or hand-knotted pieces, with minimum charges around $75 per rug or pickup. Size matters as much as material: an 8×10 wool rug runs $200–$400, while the same rug in silk can exceed $800.
Rug cleaning cost by size and material
This is the table to use if you already know your rug size — it is the same model as the calculator above, with the minimum charge applied.
| Rug size | Sq ft | Synthetic | Wool | Cotton | Jute / sisal | Silk / hand-knotted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 5 | 15 | $75 – $100 | $75 – $100 | $75 – $100 | $75 – $100 | $75 – $150 |
| 5 × 8 | 40 | $75 – $120 | $100 – $200 | $80 – $140 | $120 – $200 | $200 – $400 |
| 6 × 9 | 54 | $80 – $160 | $135 – $270 | $110 – $190 | $160 – $270 | $270 – $540 |
| 8 × 10 | 80 | $120 – $240 | $200 – $400 | $160 – $280 | $240 – $400 | $400 – $800 |
| 9 × 12 | 108 | $160 – $325 | $270 – $540 | $215 – $380 | $325 – $540 | $540 – $1,080 |
| 10 × 14 | 140 | $210 – $420 | $350 – $700 | $280 – $490 | $420 – $700 | $700 – $1,400 |
Price per rug, in-plant cleaning, pickup not included. Minimum charge about $75; pickup and delivery adds a separate fee.
Price per square foot by material
| Material | Price per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Synthetic / olefin | $1.50 – $3.00 |
| Wool (machine-made) | $2.50 – $5.00 |
| Cotton | $2.00 – $3.50 |
| Jute / sisal | $3.00 – $5.00 |
| Silk / hand-knotted | $5.00 – $10.00 |
Price per sq ft before the minimum charge of about $75 per rug. Hand-knotted and antique rugs should be cleaned in-plant, not in the home.
In-home vs in-plant cleaning
Two ways to clean a rug, and they are not interchangeable:
- In-home — the cleaner works on your floor with a portable machine. Cheaper, no hauling, but the rug never gets fully saturated, the backing is not cleaned, and dust stays deep in the pile.
- In-plant — the rug is collected, dusted on a beater, washed in a wash pit, and dried flat under controlled conditions. Roughly 15% more, far better result, and the only safe option for wool, silk, jute and anything hand-knotted.
Jute and sisal are the exception in the other direction: they can be damaged by too much water, so ask specifically how the plant handles plant-fiber rugs — many dust them and use low-moisture methods rather than a wash pit.
What changes the price
- Material. Silk and hand-knotted wool need hand washing and controlled drying — the rate is 3–5× synthetic.
- Size. Nearly everything is priced per square foot, so doubling the area doubles the price.
- Pet urine. Sub-surface treatment per square foot, and it may need the rug to stay in the plant longer.
- Pickup and delivery. A flat per-trip fee, not per rug — cleaning several rugs at once spreads it.
- Fringe and binding. Fringe cleaning or repair is usually quoted after inspection.
| Extra | Unit | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup and delivery | per trip | $30 – $75 |
| Pet urine treatment | per sq ft | +$1.00 – $2.00 |
| In-plant cleaning instead of in-home | surcharge | +15% |
Add-ons priced per trip or per sq ft on top of the cleaning price.
Is rug cleaning worth paying for?
A machine-washable synthetic rug from a big-box store is not worth a $150 cleaning — replace it. Anything wool, hand-knotted, antique, or emotionally significant is worth cleaning professionally; replacement cost is usually several times the cleaning price, and improper washing can ruin a rug permanently.
What not to do: rent a carpet shampooer and go over a wool rug yourself. The detergent residue attracts dirt, the backing stays wet for days, and colors can bleed. That is the single most common way an expensive rug gets destroyed.
How often should rugs be cleaned?
Every 12–18 months in a normal household, more often in entryways and under dining tables. Vacuum the top weekly (both sides twice a year) and rotate the rug every six months so it fades evenly.
How we estimate these prices
Per-square-foot rates are the starting parameters. The calculator multiplies them by the rug's area, applies the in-plant surcharge, adds pickup and pet treatment, then applies an area wage factor (35% plus 65% of the local city coefficient, softened because plant equipment and water do not scale with local wages) and the minimum charge. An 8×10 wool rug gives $200–$400, matching the matrix above.
Sources we checked: HomeGuide — Rug Cleaning Prices, which quotes per-square-foot ranges for synthetic, cotton, wool, sisal and silk, plus 5×8, 8×10 and 9×12 totals and pickup fees.
Sources we checked when setting these ranges: Housecall Pro — House Cleaning Prices in 2026, HomeGuide — House Cleaning Prices, and Workiz — House Cleaning Cost Guide 2026.
Hourly wage data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, occupation 37-2012 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). Our model multiplies estimated labor hours by a local hourly rate of $30–$75 depending on the market; see the calculator above for the full inputs.
Every price on this page comes from the same model as the calculator above. Last recalculated October 18, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to clean an 8x10 rug?
$200–$400 for wool, roughly $120–$240 for synthetic, and up to about $800 for silk or hand-knotted. Size and material are the two variables that matter.
How much is rug cleaning per square foot?
$1.50–$3.00 for synthetic, $2.50–$5.00 for wool, $2.00–$3.50 for cotton, $3.00–$5.00 for jute or sisal, and $5.00–$10.00 for silk or hand-knotted.
How much does it cost to clean a 5x8 rug?
About $120–$240 for synthetic and $200–$400 for wool once the minimum charge applies. A 5×8 is often the smallest rug worth sending to a plant.
Is in-home or in-plant rug cleaning better?
In-plant for anything wool, silk, jute or hand-knotted — it dusts, washes and dries the rug properly and costs about 15% more. In-home is acceptable for synthetic rugs that only need a surface clean.
Can I just rent a carpet cleaner for my area rug?
For a cheap synthetic rug, yes. For wool or anything hand-knotted, no — detergent residue, slow drying and color bleeding are common outcomes, and the damage is usually permanent.
How much does it cost to clean a 9x12 rug?
About $160–$325 for synthetic, $270–$540 for wool, and $540–$1,080 for silk or hand-knotted, before pickup fees.
Do rug cleaners pick up and deliver?
Most plants do, for a flat per-trip fee of about $30–$75, sometimes free above a minimum order. Ask whether the fee covers both directions.
How long does professional rug cleaning take?
In-plant work usually takes 5–10 days including drying; in-home cleaning is same-day but needs 6–12 hours before foot traffic.