Bissell Big Green Professional
A practical carpet cleaner (upright washer) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
How Much Does a Carpet Cleaner Cost? (Buy vs Hire)
Carpet cleaners range from budget uprights to premium machines, and you can also hire one. Here's what they cost in the UK and how to decide between buying and hiring.
Quick answer
A home carpet cleaner typically costs around £80-£300 to buy in the UK, depending on size and brand. Hiring a machine costs roughly £20-£30 a day plus solution. If you clean carpets more than once or twice a year, buying usually works out cheaper over time.
Buying
Budget upright carpet cleaners start around £80-£120, mid-range models with better suction and features sit around £150-£250, and premium machines go beyond £300. Compact 'spot' cleaners for stains and upholstery are cheaper. You'll also buy solution as you go.
Hiring
Larger, more powerful machines can be hired from supermarkets and hire shops for roughly £20-£30 a day, plus the cleaning solution. Hiring suits a one-off deep clean or a very large area, where a powerful commercial machine helps and you don't want to store one.
Buy or hire?
If you only clean carpets occasionally - say before moving house - hiring can make sense. If you have pets, children or want to freshen carpets a few times a year, buying pays for itself quickly and is more convenient, since the machine is always to hand.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Bissell SpotClean Pro
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable, 750W) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
#3 
Vax Rapid Power Refresh CDCW-RPXR
A practical carpet cleaner (spot/portable, 1200W) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a good carpet cleaner?
A capable mid-range home carpet cleaner typically costs around £150-£250 in the UK. Budget models start near £80; premium machines exceed £300.
Is it cheaper to buy or hire a carpet cleaner?
Hiring (around £20-£30 a day) is cheaper for a rare one-off. If you clean carpets more than once or twice a year, buying works out cheaper and is more convenient.
How much does carpet-cleaning solution cost?
A bottle of carpet-cleaning solution typically costs a few pounds and lasts several cleans, depending on how many rooms you do.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Bissell Big Green Professional (our score 9.6/10) - A practical carpet cleaner (upright washer) for a deeper, fresher carpet clean at home..