A cleaning drone is a remotely piloted aircraft fitted with a pressure-washing or soft-washing system, flown by a trained operator to clean roofs, windows, facades, signage, and solar panels on commercial buildings — without scaffolding, lifts, or anyone working at height. Professional units cost anywhere from about $15,000 for an entry-level rig to $50,000+ for a commercial-grade platform, which is why most businesses hire a drone cleaning company like Godwin Facility Services rather than buying and operating one themselves.
Inside a commercial cleaning drone
The airframe
A heavy-lift multirotor drone, built to carry the weight of water, chemical, and hose lines while holding a stable position against wind near a building facade.
The spray system
A tethered pressure-washing or soft-washing rig on the ground feeds the drone through a hose, so the drone directs the spray while the pump and water supply stay safely on the ground.
The pilot & crew
A trained, typically FAA-certified pilot flies the pattern while one or more ground crew manage the tether, pump, and chemical mix — nobody goes up on a ladder, lift, or roof.
The controls
Precision throttle and nozzle control let the pilot dial spray pressure up for concrete and stone or down for glass and delicate surfaces, all from one position on the ground.
Cleaning drones aren't cheap to buy
If you've searched around, you've probably seen the price tags: entry-level cleaning drone kits start around $15,000, and the commercial-grade platforms professional operators fly — capable of reaching multi-story facades all day — run $50,000 or more. Factor in FAA certification, insurance, a support vehicle, backup batteries, and spare parts, and a full commercial startup package often lands between $75,000 and $105,000 industry-wide.
That math makes sense if drone cleaning is your business and the drone is working every week. It rarely makes sense if you just need one building cleaned.
Buy a cleaning drone, or hire someone who already owns one?
Buying Your Own
- $15,000–$50,000+ upfront for the drone alone
- FAA certification & ongoing training required
- Insurance, maintenance, and repair costs
- Only cost-effective if you're flying jobs weekly
- Learning curve before your first real job
Hiring a Drone Cleaning Company
- No equipment purchase or ongoing ownership cost
- Certified pilot & trained crew included
- Insured, experienced on commercial buildings
- Priced per job — pay for what you need
- Ready to fly now, no ramp-up time
We've been flying cleaning drones since 2021
Godwin Facility Services started as a cleaning company in 2017 and added a cleaning drone to the fleet in 2021, making us one of the first Lucid Bots customers and one of the first drone cleaning companies operating in the industry. We've since used our cleaning drone platform on projects ranging from routine roof washes to the 162-foot Domino Sugar factory in Baltimore and a 16-story casino tower at Pearl River Resort. Read more about our story.
Cleaning drone questions
How much does a cleaning drone cost?
A basic cleaning drone kit generally starts around $15,000, and a professional-grade commercial platform with a full spray and pump system can run $50,000 or more. Once you add training, certification, insurance, a support vehicle, and backup equipment, a full commercial cleaning-drone startup package often lands somewhere between $75,000 and $105,000 industry-wide.
Can I rent a cleaning drone instead of buying one?
Some equipment dealers offer short-term drone rentals, but a cleaning drone isn't like renting a pressure washer — it takes a trained, typically FAA-certified pilot to fly it safely near a building, plus ground support to manage the spray system. For a one-off job, hiring a drone cleaning company almost always costs less than renting the equipment and handling licensing and liability yourself.
Is it better to buy a cleaning drone or hire a drone cleaning company?
If you need one building cleaned, hiring a company is almost always cheaper and faster than buying $50,000+ in equipment you'll use a few times a year. Buying only starts to make sense if cleaning is your business and you're running the drone on jobs every week — which is why most property owners and facility managers hire a drone cleaning service instead of purchasing their own fleet.
What can a cleaning drone actually clean?
A commercial cleaning drone can wash roofs, high-rise windows and facades, signage, solar panels, and other exterior surfaces that would normally require a lift, scaffolding, or ladder — all while the pilot and crew stay safely on the ground.