Published South African guides put carpet cleaning at roughly R8.80 to R40 per square metre, and the guides disagree. A Johannesburg operator's price list dated 1 September 2026 charges R30 per square metre between 50 and 100 square metres, with a R750 minimum job charge. Area, stains, stairs and furniture shape your quote.
What moves a carpet cleaning quote?
Five things matter most.
- Floor area. Total carpeted area is the biggest factor, and some cleaners charge less per square metre on bigger jobs.
- Layout. Open rooms go faster. Many corners and furniture to move take longer.
- Stairs. Carpeted stairs cost more because they are slow, hand-worked jobs.
- Stains and odours. Pet marks, old stains and strong smells need extra time. One Johannesburg operator lists extra charges of 10 to 15% for moderate stains, 20 to 30% for heavy soiling and 25 to 40% for pet stains or odours. That is one operator's figure.
- Carpet type. Wool costs more than synthetic, according to the same operator, and the right method depends on the fibre.
What do published carpet prices say?
Below are the cleaning prices we found published, with who published them and when. They differ from one another, and none of them is a quote for your home. Treat them as a rough yardstick.
| What | Published figure | VAT | Source type | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet cleaning, national | R10 to R40 per m2, average R25 | Not stated | Cost guide | Kandua | Undated, checked 7 Nov 2026 |
| Carpet cleaning, national | R8.80 to R19 per m2, average R14 | Not stated | Price list site | Procompare | Labelled 2026, checked 7 Nov 2026 |
| Fitted carpet, 50 to 100 m2, Johannesburg area | R30 per m2 | Not charged | One operator's price list | Mr Steam | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Fitted carpet under 50 m2, Johannesburg area | R750 | Not charged | One operator's price list | Mr Steam | 1 Sep 2026 |
| 3-bedroom home, Johannesburg and Sandton | R800 to R1,000 | Not charged | One operator's figure | The Handyman Johannesburg | Undated, 2026 page, checked 7 Nov 2026 |
| 3-bedroom property, Pretoria, Centurion and Midrand | R750 to R950 | Not charged | One operator's figure | The Handyman Johannesburg | Undated, 2026 page, checked 7 Nov 2026 |
| Stain removal add-on | R100 to R200 | Not charged | One operator's figure | The Handyman Johannesburg | Undated, 2026 page, checked 7 Nov 2026 |
Two things to notice. The two national guides overlap but are far apart at the top, so the per-metre figure on its own tells you little. And the operators' prices are for their own service areas, so they show a pattern, not a rate you can count on.
What do couches and mattresses cost?
Couches are usually priced per seat, and mattresses by size. Every figure below belongs to one operator.
| What | Published figure | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard fabric sofa, per seat | R135 to R200 | Aqua Steam (Pretoria and Midrand guide) | Labelled 2026, undated, checked 7 Nov 2026 |
| Recliner or large chair, per seat | R165 to R250 | Aqua Steam | Labelled 2026, undated, checked 7 Nov 2026 |
| Fully upholstered couch, per seat | R135 | Mr Steam (Johannesburg area) | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Reclining chair or large couch, per seat | R165 | Mr Steam | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Mattress, single to king | R200 to R330 | Mr Steam | 1 Sep 2026 |
A three-seater at Aqua Steam's per-seat range works out to R405 to R600 (our arithmetic: 3 seats at R135 to R200). Aqua Steam's guide says most services in Midrand and Pretoria have a minimum call-out fee of R750. It does not say whether that is Aqua Steam's own fee.
How do you read a cleaning quote?
Ask these before you say yes.
- What is the price based on: square metres, rooms, seats or a flat fee?
- Is there a minimum job charge, and does it include any cleaning?
- Does the price include stairs, stain treatment and moving furniture?
- Does it include VAT? Some operators do not charge it. Others do.
- What drying advice comes with it, and who do you phone if the carpet is still wet after a day?
Get a price for your home
Give us your area, the rooms or seats and any stains. A call-back follows with a price and a time, and nothing is booked until you agree.
Sources for the figures on this page
- R10 to R40 per m2, average R25; stairs, stains and layout affect price; no date on page (Kandua cost guide, checked 7 Nov 2026) kandua.com
- R8.80 to R19 per m2, average R14; depends on material and method (Procompare pricelist labelled 2026, checked 7 Nov 2026) www.procompare.co.za
- Fitted carpet R750 for less than 50 m2, R30 per sq metre for 50 to 100 m2; minimum fee R750 applies to any one cleaning job; no VAT; couch R135 and R165 per seat; mattress R200 single to R330 king (Mr Steam price list as of 1 Sep 2026; service area Johannesburg, Midrand, Randburg, Sandton, Westrand) mrsteam.co.za
- 3-bedroom R800 to R1,000 Johannesburg and Sandton, R750 to R950 Pretoria, Centurion and Midrand; stain removal R100 to R200; add-ons 10 to 15%, 20 to 30%, 25 to 40%; wool costs more than synthetic; no VAT (The Handyman Johannesburg, page with 2026 footer, undated, checked 7 Nov 2026; the page's FAQ and body disagree on some figures, so only figures that appear in its price sections are used) www.thehandymanjohannesburg.co.za
- R135 to R200 per seat standard fabric sofa; R165 to R250 recliner; "most services in Midrand and Pretoria have a minimum call-out fee of R750", not stated as Aqua Steam's own fee (Aqua Steam 2026 price guide, undated, checked 7 Nov 2026) www.aquasteam.co.za