How much does carpet cleaning cost in Charleston?
By Our research team · Last verified · Methodology
Most Charleston carpet cleanings cost $110–$250 for three rooms plus a hallway by hot water extraction. The typical Charleston bill is $170, before stairs, pet treatment or protector.
How we get this data- Typical
- $170
- Low end
- $75
- High end
- $400
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Get my fair quote →The typical Charleston price is $170, 15% below the US typical of $200.
Charleston's price band
Charleston is cheaper than 91% of the 195 US metros we price for carpet cleaning work.
Most Charleston homeowners pay $170 to steam clean three rooms and a hallway, inside a normal range of $110–$250. Stairs add $35–$70 for a full staircase, a stain $20–$85, and pet urine treatment $18–$65 a room. A three-seat sofa costs $85–$240 to clean.
Pay for cleaning workers in the Charleston metro is among the lowest in the country, under about $16.27 an hour in May 2025, against a $17.71 US median. Labor is a big part of a carpet cleaning bill, which is why three rooms and a hallway here come to about $170, against $200 nationally.
Pick a company that uses hot water extraction with equipment on the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval list: Mohawk's and Shaw's warranties both call for it. Tell each Charleston company the rooms, stairs and any pet spots up front, so every quote prices the same job.
Comparing cities, or after the US-wide picture? See the national guide: Carpet cleaning cost in the USA.
$110–$250 to clean three rooms and a hallway in Charleston, with $170 typical. Steam cleaning runs $35–$80 a room once you book three or more, a full staircase $35–$70, and a three-seat sofa $85–$240. Verified November 2026. Get free Charleston quotes →
- 3 rooms plus a hallway: $110–$250 ($170 typical)
- Steam cleaning $35–$80 a room for 3+ rooms; one room alone $85–$150
- Whole 5-room house $170–$380; full staircase $35–$70
- Pet urine treatment $18–$65 a room; deep extraction $65–$240 an area
- Three-seat sofa $85–$240; 8 × 10 synthetic rug $70–$170
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 73+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Labor, travel and normal pre-treatment included unless the row says otherwise. Charleston metro, re-verified November 2026. A "room" is up to about 200–300 sq ft.
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet cleaning, 3 rooms plus a hallway (hot water extraction)per job | $110per job | $170 | $250 |
| One room only (most companies' minimum charge)per job | $85per job | $110 | $150 |
| Hot water extraction (steam), per room, 3 or more roomsper room | $35per room | $45 | $80 |
| Low-moisture (dry) cleaning, per room, 3 or more roomsper room | $50per room | $85 | $130 |
| Priced by area instead of by roomper sq ft | $0.17per sq ft | $0.26 | $0.43 |
| Whole home, 5 rooms plus a hallway (typical 3-bedroom house)per job | $170per job | $240 | $380 |
| Large home, 7–8 roomsper job | $260per job | $360 | $600 |
| Extra hallway, landing or walk-in closeteach | $13each | $20 | $35 |
| Carpeted stairs, per stepper step | $1.72per step | $3 | $6 |
| Full staircase with a landingper staircase | $35per staircase | $45 | $70 |
| Spot stain treatmentper stain | $20per stain | $40 | $85 |
| Pet urine and odor treatment (enzyme), per roomper room | $18per room | $35 | $65 |
| Deep pet urine extraction (urine soaked into the pad)per area | $65per area | $130 | $240 |
| Deodorizerper room | $14per room | $18 | $35 |
| Carpet protector (Scotchgard-type)per room | $9per room | $25 | $45 |
| Moving heavy furnitureper room | $9per room | $20 | $65 |
| Move-out carpet cleaning, 2-bedroom apartmentper job | $150per job | $240 | $410 |
| Sofa, 3 seats (upholstery cleaning)per piece | $85per piece | $140 | $240 |
| Armchair or reclinerper piece | $35per piece | $55 | $85 |
| Sectional sofa, about 5 seatsper piece | $130per piece | $220 | $390 |
| Area rug, synthetic, about 8 × 10 ft, cleaned in your homeper rug | $70per rug | $100 | $170 |
| Wool or Oriental rug, washed at the cleaner's plantper sq ft | $3per sq ft | $4 | $7 |
| Wet carpet: water extraction and dryingper job | $400per job | $1,100 | $1,800 |
| Do-it-yourself machine rental, 24 hours, plus solutionper day | $40per day | $60 | $130 |
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Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 73+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Figures cover the Charleston metro area. Expect the top of each range for heavy soil, pets and big rooms, and the bottom for light soil and specials.
Carpet cleaning prices across Charleston
Where you live changes the job more than the price per room. Downtown Charleston & the East End means apartments, parking and elevators; areas like Huntington & Morgantown corridor mean bigger homes, more rooms and more stairs.
Downtown Charleston & the East End
- Per job
- $130–$270 per job
- Typical job
- $85–$290 / 3-seat sofa cleaned
Downtown jobs cost more to set up, but units are small. A one-room job usually hits the minimum charge, so bundle rooms, stairs or a sofa into one visit.
West Side Charleston
- Per job
- $120–$260 per job
- Typical job
- $80–$260 / 3-seat sofa cleaned
Expect quotes near the city typical. If you're moving out, book ahead for the end of the month.
South Hills & Kanawha City
- Per job
- $110–$250 per job
- Typical job
- $75–$250 / 3-seat sofa cleaned
Typical city pricing. If your carpet is wool or cotton, expect to pay about 30% more to clean it.
Huntington & Morgantown corridor
- Per job
- $100–$240 per job
- Typical job
- $70–$240 / 3-seat sofa cleaned
If you're moving out, book early and keep the receipt for the landlord.
Real-world carpet cleaning costs in Charleston
Here's what common carpet cleaning jobs cost in Charleston in 2026, labor, travel and normal pre-treatment included.
Three rooms and a hallway, steam cleaned
The most common job: two bedrooms and a living room, or a living room, dining room and one bedroom, plus the hall. Expect $170 typical. Ask if normal traffic-lane pre-treatment is included; it should be.
Moving out of a 2-bedroom apartment
A move-out clean of a 2-bedroom apartment runs $150–$410. With two stubborn stains on top ($20–$85 each) the bill is about $190–$580. Keep the receipt for your landlord.
Family home: 5 rooms, stairs and protector
Five rooms and a hallway ($170–$380), a full staircase ($35–$70) and protector in all five rooms ($9–$45 a room) add up to about $250–$680.
Pet accidents in two rooms
Three rooms and a hallway ($110–$250), enzyme treatment in two of them ($18–$65 a room) and one deep extraction where urine reached the pad ($65–$240) come to about $210–$620.
Sofa and a rug, no carpet
A three-seat sofa ($85–$240) plus an 8 × 10 synthetic rug cleaned in your home ($70–$170) is about $160–$410. Wool and Oriental rugs go to the plant at $3–$7 a square foot.
How much does carpet cleaning cost in Charleston?
$110–$250 for three rooms and a hallway, and $170 is what most Charleston homeowners pay. A 5-room house runs $170–$380, and a large 7–8 room home $260–$600. One room alone is $85–$150, because of the minimum charge.
Upholstery and rugs cost extra: $85–$240 for a three-seat sofa, $130–$390 for a sectional, and $70–$170 for an 8 × 10 synthetic rug cleaned in your home. Re-checked against 73 sources, November 2026.
Carpet cleaning prices in Charleston (2026) by job
Three rooms and a hallway run $110–$250, a 5-room house $170–$380, and a single room $85–$150.
| Line on the quote | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| One room only (minimum charge) | $85 | $110 | $150 |
| 3 rooms plus a hallway | $110 | $170 | $250 |
| 5 rooms plus a hallway | $170 | $240 | $380 |
| Large home, 7–8 rooms | $260 | $360 | $600 |
| Full staircase with a landing | $35 | $45 | $70 |
| Move-out clean, 2-bedroom apartment | $150 | $240 | $410 |
| Three-seat sofa | $85 | $140 | $240 |
| Area rug, 8 × 10 synthetic, in your home | $70 | $100 | $170 |
The minimum charge sets the floor: one room costs $110 typical, but three rooms and a hallway only $170. Book the rooms you'll need this year in one visit.
What moves a carpet cleaning quote in Charleston:
- How many rooms: one room hits the $85–$150 minimum; a 5-room house runs $170–$380.
- How a room is counted: most companies count a room as up to about 200–300 sq ft. Big or L-shaped rooms can count as two.
- Stairs: about $1.72–$6 a step, or $35–$70 for a full staircase.
- Pets and stains: enzyme treatment runs $18–$65 a room; urine in the pad needs deep extraction at $65–$240 an area.
- Method: steam (hot water extraction) runs $35–$80 a room; low-moisture (dry) cleaning $50–$130.
Ask every Charleston company the same four things: how they count a room, what the minimum is, what the extras cost (stairs, pets, protector, furniture), and whether there's a trip or service fee. Compare the total, not the per-room headline. Get a quote for your carpet job →
Carpet cleaning cost in Charleston by home size
One room costs about $85–$150, three rooms and a hallway $110–$250, a 5-room house $170–$380, and a large 7–8 room home $260–$600 in Charleston.
Worked example: a 3-bedroom house with a living room, a family room, a hallway and one carpeted staircase with a landing. That's five rooms and a hall ($240 typical) plus the stairs ($45), about $285 in all. Protector in every room adds $125.
Set-up, travel and the minimum cost the same for any job, which is why one room costs $110 and five rooms only $240. Each extra room adds only about $35 once you pass three.
Charleston carpet cleaning jobs compared
| Job type | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| One room only (minimum charge) | $85–$150 per job | A single spill or one high-traffic room |
| 3 rooms plus a hallway (steam) | $110–$250 per job | The most common job; the deep clean carpet makers ask for |
| Whole home, 5 rooms plus a hallway | $170–$380 per job | A yearly clean of a typical 3-bedroom house |
| Move-out clean, 2-bedroom apartment | $150–$410 per job | Renters who need a receipt for the landlord |
| Low-moisture (dry) cleaning | $50–$130 per room | Rooms you need back fast; some wool and delicate carpet |
| Pet urine deep extraction | $65–$240 per area | Urine that has soaked into the pad |
| Upholstery: three-seat sofa | $85–$240 per piece | Sofas whose tag says W (water) or S (solvent) cleaning |
| Wool or Oriental rug at the plant | $3–$7 per sq ft | Wool, silk and hand-knotted rugs |
Per-room price vs the full bill in Charleston
A $45-a-room ad sounds simple: three rooms at that rate plus $20 for a hallway is $160, about the typical Charleston bill of $170 for that job. The catch is the extras. Add protector in all three rooms ($25 each) and the typical bill is about $250.
Some companies price by area instead: $0.17–$0.43 a square foot. Three average rooms and a hallway are about 650 sq ft, or $110–$280 by area. Per-area pricing is usually the better deal for small rooms; per-room pricing for big ones.
What's included in a Charleston carpet cleaning quote (and what costs extra)
A standard quote usually covers a walk-through, pre-treating traffic lanes, hot water extraction of the rooms you book and normal spot work. It usually leaves out:
- Stairs, extra halls and closets: $35–$70 a staircase, $13–$35 for each extra hall or closet
- Pet urine treatment: $18–$65 a room, or $65–$240 an area for deep extraction
- Protector and deodorizer: $9–$45 and $14–$35 a room
- Moving heavy furniture: $9–$65 a room, unless you clear it first
Ask whether there's a service or trip fee, and get the re-clean guarantee in writing in case spots come back.
Number and size of rooms
Most companies count a room as up to about 200–300 sq ft. One room costs $85–$150 because of the minimum; three rooms and a hallway $110–$250; a 5-room house $170–$380.
Cleaning method
Hot water extraction (often called steam cleaning) runs $35–$80 a room and is the method carpet makers like Mohawk and Shaw ask for. Low-moisture (dry) cleaning runs $50–$130 a room and dries faster.
How dirty the carpet is
Light soil is a standard clean. Heavy traffic lanes, spills and stains need extra pre-treatment: about $20–$85 a stain.
Pets
Enzyme treatment for pet urine runs $18–$65 a room. If urine has soaked into the pad, deep extraction costs $65–$240 an area, and badly soaked pad may need replacing.
Stairs, halls and furniture
Stairs run about $1.72–$6 a step, extra halls and closets $13–$35 each, and moving heavy furniture $9–$65 a room if you don't clear it first.
Carpet type
Nylon and other synthetic carpets usually cost the least to clean. Wool, cotton and other natural fibers often cost about 30% more.
Local labor
Charleston's metro sits near the bottom of the BLS wage table for cleaning workers (under about $16.27 an hour, May 2025). Labor and drive time are a big part of a carpet cleaning bill, so the typical Charleston three-room job is $170, below the $200 national typical.
- Book enough rooms to clear the minimum.One room costs $85–$150; three rooms and a hallway only $110–$250. Put off a single room until you can add more.
- Move small furniture yourself.Clearing chairs, toys and small tables before the crew arrives can save $9–$65 a room in furniture moving.
- Ask for the whole-home price.Five rooms and a hallway run $170–$380, which is less per room than booking three now and two later.
- Watch for bait specials.A very low per-room price often comes with high charges for stairs, pre-treatment or protector. Ask for the full price in writing before the crew starts.
- Clean on a schedule, not in a crisis.A professional clean every 12 to 18 months meets Mohawk's warranty rule and Shaw's advice. A $170 clean is far cheaper than new carpet.
- Blot spills right away.Fresh spills come out with water and a clean towel. Old, set-in stains need pro treatment at $20–$85 each, and some never fully come out.
Get these in writing from any Charleston carpet cleaner before the crew starts:
- How they count a room, and the size limit for one room
- The method (hot water extraction or low-moisture) and the machine (truck-mounted or portable)
- Pre-treatment of traffic lanes and normal spots
- Prices for stairs, halls, closets and moving furniture
- Prices for pet urine treatment, deodorizer and protector, room by room
- Any minimum charge, service fee or trip fee
- Expected drying time, and whether they leave fans
- The re-clean guarantee if spots come back
How much does carpet cleaning cost in Charleston?
$110–$250 for three rooms and a hallway, with $170 typical. A 5-room house runs $170–$380, and one room on its own $85–$150 because of the minimum charge.
How much is carpet cleaning per room in Charleston?
$35–$80 a room for steam cleaning once you book three or more rooms. Below that, most companies charge a minimum of about $85–$150.
How much does it cost to clean carpeted stairs in Charleston?
About $1.72–$6 a step, or $35–$70 for a full staircase with a landing.
What does pet urine removal cost in Charleston?
$18–$65 a room for an enzyme treatment. If the urine has soaked into the pad, deep extraction costs $65–$240 an area.
How much does it cost to clean a sofa in Charleston?
$85–$240 for a three-seat sofa, $35–$85 for an armchair, and $130–$390 for a sectional.
Is steam or dry carpet cleaning cheaper in Charleston?
Steam (hot water extraction) usually is: $35–$80 a room against $50–$130 for low-moisture cleaning. Dry cleaning costs more but the room is usable sooner.
How much is a move-out carpet clean in Charleston?
$150–$410 for a 2-bedroom apartment. Stains add $20–$85 each. Keep the receipt for your landlord.
How often should carpet be professionally cleaned?
Every 12 to 18 months for most homes. Shaw advises that schedule, and Mohawk's warranty asks for a professional clean at least every 18 months. Homes with pets or small kids often clean every 6 to 12 months.
Is it cheaper to rent a carpet cleaner in Charleston?
Yes, up front: a rental machine and solution cost about $40–$130 for a day. But rental machines pull out less water and dirt, and carpet left too wet can smell or grow mold.
How long does carpet take to dry after cleaning?
Usually about 6 to 10 hours after hot water extraction, and up to a day in humid weather. Low-moisture cleaning dries faster. Fans and open windows help.
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 73+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Prices for the Charleston metro area, November 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
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