How Much to Charge for Graffiti Removal
Graffiti removal typically runs $150–$400 for a standard single tag with a call-out minimum around $150–$250, or $2–$8 per square foot on larger coverage depending on surface. Porous surfaces like unsealed brick and stucco sit at the top of the range, glass and metal at the bottom, with surcharges for lift or ladder height, custom paint matching, and guaranteed response times — and monthly maintenance agreements priced by property.
The working rates
- Single standard tag — $150–$400
- Call-out minimum — $150–$250
- Large coverage — $2–$8 per square foot
- Height / lift work — surcharge, plus equipment rental
- Custom paint match — its own line
- Maintenance agreement — monthly, priced by property history
Surface drives everything
- Glass and metal — fastest, cheapest, often a solvent and a scraper
- Sealed masonry and painted walls — moderate
- Unsealed brick, block, stucco — slowest, most expensive, sometimes unrecoverable
- Historic or decorative surfaces — quote conservatively or decline
Never quote a porous surface at a smooth-surface rate over the phone. Ask for a photo, every time.
Charge for speed, because speed is the product
Graffiti attracts graffiti. A wall cleaned within 48 hours usually stays clean; one left for a month becomes a canvas. Property managers understand this intuitively, which makes a guaranteed response window one of the easiest premiums to sell in any trade.
Anti-graffiti coating is the upsell
After a removal on a repeatedly-hit wall, a sacrificial or permanent coating makes the next one a pressure-wash instead of a full job. Quote it on every repeat site — it’s better for the customer and much better for your margin on the next call.
Photograph before you touch it
Before-and-after pairs aren’t just documentation for the invoice — on porous surfaces they’re your defense when a shadow remains. Some tags don’t come out completely, and the customer needs to have seen that possibility before you started, not after.
Frequently asked questions
Per tag or per square foot?
Per tag for typical one-off calls, per square foot once coverage gets large. Both need a call-out minimum, because driving to a single marker tag costs the same as driving to a wall.
Why do porous surfaces cost so much more?
Paint soaks into unsealed brick, block, and stucco rather than sitting on top, so removal means chemicals, dwell time, repeated passes, and sometimes a paint-out instead. Quoting the same rate as glass is how a two-hour job becomes six.
Should I offer a response-time guarantee?
Yes, and charge for it. Fast removal is the actual product — graffiti that disappears within 24-48 hours attracts far less of the same, and property managers know it. A guaranteed window is worth a real premium.
How do I price a monthly maintenance agreement?
By property, based on its history — count the incidents over the last year, apply your per-tag rate, and discount for the predictability. It converts your least schedulable work into recurring revenue, which is worth giving something up for.