Most cleaning businesses charge $25 to $50 per hour or $120 to $235 for a standard home cleaning. The right price depends on your market, service type, and costs. This guide covers every pricing model, formula, and strategy to help you set profitable rates.
Why Is Pricing the Biggest Challenge for Cleaning Businesses?
Getting your cleaning prices right is the most important business choice you will make. Price too low and you will work long hours for little profit. Price too high and you will have a hard time winning clients. The sweet spot is where you are competitive, profitable, and growing. This guide will help you find it.
Whether you are just starting a cleaning business or have been running one for years, this guide covers it all: the most common pricing methods, real rate ranges, formulas you can use today, and tips for when and how to raise your prices.
Want to calculate your cleaning prices right now? Use our Free Cleaning Price Calculator — it factors in property type, square footage, cleaning type, add-ons, and your labor rate automatically.
What Are the 3 Main Cleaning Pricing Models?
Every successful cleaning business uses one of these three pricing methods, or a mix of them. Each one has clear benefits depending on where your business is, what types of clients you have, and your market.
1. Flat-Rate Pricing (Recommended)
Flat-rate pricing means quoting a fixed price for the entire job, regardless of how long it takes. This is the most common model for residential cleaning and the one we recommend for most businesses.
- Clients prefer it — they know exactly what they'll pay upfront, no surprises
- Rewards efficiency — the faster your team works (without cutting corners), the more you earn per hour
- Predictable revenue — you can forecast income accurately when every job has a set price
- Easier to scale — new team members follow the same pricing structure
The key to flat-rate pricing is having good time guesses. If you keep guessing too low for how long a job takes, you will lose money. Use our Time Estimator to get your guesses right.
2. Hourly Pricing
Hourly pricing means charging a set rate per cleaner per hour. It's straightforward and easy to explain, but has drawbacks for scaling.
- Good for unusual jobs — hoarding situations, post-construction, or first-time deep cleans where scope is unpredictable
- Simple to calculate — number of cleaners × hours × hourly rate = price
- Punishes efficiency — the faster you clean, the less you earn (this is a major drawback)
- Clients dislike uncertainty — open-ended billing creates friction
If you use hourly pricing, always give clients a time estimate range so they're not blindsided. Most cleaning services charge $25-$50 per hour per cleaner, with the national average around $35/hour.
3. Per-Square-Foot Pricing
Square-foot pricing sets a rate based on the home's size. This is commonly used as a starting point that's then adjusted for bathrooms, condition, and extras.
| Cleaning Type | Price Per Square Foot | 2,000 Square Foot Example |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Clean | $0.05 – $0.15 | $100 – $300 |
| Deep Clean | $0.10 – $0.30 | $200 – $600 |
| Move-In/Out Clean | $0.12 – $0.35 | $240 – $700 |
| Post-Construction | $0.15 – $0.50 | $300 – $1,000 |
Per-square-foot pricing works best as a starting point. Two 2,000 square foot homes can need very different amounts of work. It depends on the number of bathrooms, clutter, pet hair, and how often they get cleaned. Always adjust up from the base rate.
How Much Do Cleaning Services Charge?
These are current market rates based on industry surveys, reports from cleaning business owners, and data from across the United States. Your local market may be different. City areas and places where living costs more usually charge rates at the higher end.
Residential Cleaning Rates
| Home Size | Standard Clean | Deep Clean | Move-In/Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bed | $80 – $140 | $150 – $250 | $180 – $300 |
| 2 Bedroom | $110 – $180 | $200 – $350 | $250 – $400 |
| 3 Bedroom | $140 – $235 | $250 – $450 | $300 – $550 |
| 4 Bedroom | $180 – $300 | $350 – $550 | $400 – $650 |
| 5+ Bedroom | $250 – $400+ | $450 – $700+ | $550 – $850+ |
Commercial Cleaning Rates
| Space Type | Per Square Foot | Typical Range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Office (<3,000 square feet) | $0.08 – $0.20 | $200 – $500 | 2-3x/week |
| Large Office (3,000-10,000 square feet) | $0.06 – $0.15 | $400 – $1,200 | Daily or 3x/week |
| Medical / Dental | $0.12 – $0.25 | $300 – $800 | Daily |
| Retail Store | $0.08 – $0.18 | $250 – $700 | Daily or 3x/week |
| Warehouse / Industrial | $0.03 – $0.10 | $200 – $600 | Weekly |
What Is the Cleaning Pricing Formula?
Here is the formula that money-making cleaning businesses use to set flat-rate prices. It makes sure you cover all costs, pay your team well, and keep healthy profits.
Let's break this down with a real example:
- Estimate the time: A standard 3-bed, 2-bath home takes approximately 2.5 hours with 2 cleaners = 5 total labor hours
- Calculate labor cost: If you pay cleaners $18/hr, that's 5 hrs × $18 = $90 in labor
- Add supplies: Typically 5-10% of the job price. Budget $8-12 for supplies per visit
- Add overhead: Transportation, insurance, marketing, software — typically 15-20% of revenue. For a ~$180 job, that's $27-36
- Add your profit margin: Target 20-30% profit. For this job, that's $36-54
- Total price: $90 + $10 + $32 + $45 = ~$177
Always round up to the nearest $5 or $10. Clients perceive $175 and $180 as nearly identical, but that extra $5 per job adds up to thousands per year. Use our Profit Margin Calculator to see the impact.
How to Price Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning is one of the most profitable services you can offer. But it is also the easiest to price too low. A deep clean takes 2-3 times longer than a standard clean. It also needs more supplies and effort.
Deep Clean Pricing Multiplier
The simplest approach: take your standard clean price and multiply by 1.5x to 2.5x depending on the home's condition.
- Well-maintained home: 1.5x standard price (client cleans regularly but wants a thorough deep clean)
- Average condition: 2x standard price (hasn't been deep cleaned in 6-12 months)
- Neglected home: 2.5x or more (hasn't been cleaned in months, heavy buildup, possible biohazard)
What's Included in a Deep Clean
A deep clean should include everything in your standard clean PLUS:
- Inside oven, microwave, and refrigerator
- Behind and under all furniture and appliances
- Baseboards, door frames, window sills, and light fixtures
- Detailed tile and grout scrubbing in bathrooms
- Inside cabinets and closets (if requested)
- Ceiling fans, vent covers, and light switch plates
- Window tracks and interior glass
Never quote a deep clean sight unseen. Either visit the home in person or ask the client to send photos of every room. The difference between a "kinda dirty" home and a truly neglected one can be 3-4 extra hours of labor. Use our Cleaning Checklist to standardize your deep clean scope.
How Do You Price Add-On Cleaning Services?
Add-on services are great for boosting profits. They raise your average job price without needing a whole extra cleaning visit. Here are typical add-on prices:
| Add-On Service | Typical Price | Time Added |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Oven Cleaning | $25 – $50 | 15-25 min |
| Inside Refrigerator | $25 – $45 | 15-20 min |
| Interior Windows (per window) | $5 – $10 | 5-8 min each |
| Laundry (wash, dry, fold) | $25 – $40 per load | 15 min active |
| Inside Cabinets | $30 – $60 | 20-30 min |
| Garage Sweep & Organize | $50 – $100 | 30-60 min |
| Baseboard Detailing | $25 – $50 | 20-30 min |
| Wall Washing (per room) | $30 – $50 | 20-30 min |
What Pricing Mistakes Kill Profitability?
1. Not Accounting for Drive Time
If it takes your team 30 minutes to drive between jobs, that's an hour of unpaid labor per day. Factor transportation into your pricing or group clients by geography to minimize drive time.
2. Forgetting About Overhead Costs
Your price cannot just cover labor and supplies. You need to include insurance ($800-$2,000 per year), vehicle costs, marketing, software, phone, office supplies, and accounting. A common rule: overhead costs are 15-25% of what you bring in.
3. Pricing Based on Competitors Instead of Costs
If your competitor charges $120 for a 3-bed home, that tells you nothing about whether $120 is profitable for your business. Your cost structure, team speed, supply quality, and service level are different. Always price from your costs up, then validate against the market.
4. Not Charging Enough for First-Time Cleans
A first-time or initial clean almost always takes 30-50% longer than subsequent visits. Charge accordingly — either price it as a deep clean or add a "first-time clean" surcharge of 20-30%. You can frame this positively: "Your first cleaning is our most thorough to set a baseline."
5. Never Raising Prices
If you haven't raised prices in over a year, you've effectively given yourself a pay cut due to inflation. Costs rise every year — supplies, gas, insurance, wages. Your prices need to keep pace. A 3-5% annual increase is standard and expected by clients.
When and How Should You Raise Your Prices?
Raising prices feels uncomfortable but it is needed. Here is how to do it the right way:
Signs It's Time to Raise Prices
- Your schedule is 80%+ full — high demand means you can (and should) charge more
- It's been 12+ months since your last increase
- Your profit margin has dropped below 15% — use our Profit Margin Calculator to check
- You've improved your service — new equipment, better products, additional training
- Your costs have increased — supplies, fuel, insurance, or labor
How to Communicate a Price Increase
- Give 30 days' notice — never surprise clients with a higher bill
- Communicate in writing — email is best. Use our Price Increase Email Template
- Explain the why — increased costs, investments in quality, team wages
- Emphasize what hasn't changed — your quality, reliability, and guarantee
- Be confident — don't apologize. This is a business decision, not a favor to ask for
Industry data shows that cleaning businesses typically lose fewer than 5% of clients after a well-communicated price increase of 5-8%. The revenue gain from the remaining 95% far outweighs the loss. If you have 50 clients paying $150/visit biweekly and raise prices by 5% ($7.50), you gain an additional $18,525/year — even if you lose 2-3 clients.
How Do You Price Commercial Cleaning Contracts?
Commercial cleaning is different from home cleaning in a few big ways: longer contracts, bigger spaces, different schedules, and often work done after business hours. Here is how to price it so you make money.
Bidding on Commercial Contracts
- Always do a site walkthrough — measure the space, note the surfaces, identify high-traffic areas
- Figure out your cleaning speed — most janitorial crews clean 2,500-3,500 square feet per hour for standard office cleaning
- Determine frequency — daily cleaning is cheaper per visit than weekly (volume discount is expected)
- Factor in supplies differently — commercial clients often provide paper products and trash liners. Clarify what's included
- Price for profit after scale — commercial margins should be 15-25%. Lower margins are acceptable only with reliable, recurring volume
Example: A 5,000 square foot office, cleaned 3 times per week, at a cleaning speed of 3,000 square feet per hour:
- Hours per visit: 5,000 ÷ 3,000 = 1.67 hours
- Hourly cost (labor + supplies + overhead): $45/hr
- Cost per visit: 1.67 × $45 = $75
- Monthly visits: 12-13
- Monthly cost: $75 × 13 = $975
- With 20% profit margin: $975 × 1.20 = $1,170/month
Setting Your Prices With Confidence
Pricing is not a one-time choice. It is something you keep working on. Start with the formulas in this guide. Check them against your local market. Adjust based on real results. Track your profit per job using our Profit Margin Calculator. Do not be afraid to raise prices as you build your name.
The most successful cleaning businesses are not the cheapest. They are the ones that give steady value and charge what they are worth. Price for profit. Talk about it with confidence. Your business will do well.