How Much to Charge for House Cleaning Services?

Key Takeaways

01Self-employed house cleaners earn an average of $11.24 per hour, with rates varying by region and service type
02Four main pricing methods exist: square footage ($0.08-$0.30/sq ft), per room ($25-$100), hourly ($25-$90), and flat fee
03Basic cleaning costs $75-$175, while deep cleaning ranges from $200-$355 depending on house size and condition
04Key pricing factors include labor costs, home size, condition, local demand, service frequency, and cleaning type
05Different house types require different rates - from small houses ($50-$260) to bungalows ($110-$660)

This article helps you get an idea about the genuine price you can quote to your client, which will help you stand out from others and earn more.

If you own a cleaning business, it is always difficult to quote a price for your services. Also, each house is unique, so cleaning costs should be calculated differently. You need to look beyond your competitors' charges when estimating your house cleaning service price. Each business has its own set of costs to consider when determining prices. By identifying this beforehand, you will gain insight into what will need to be included in your pricing calculations so that you can choose appropriate price ranges.

Although there is no "one size fits all" answer for estimating house cleaning jobs, following the easy steps below will help you estimate a competitive hourly rate. A new cleaning business may need a few rounds to get comfortable with estimating. Learning how to do this effectively to make money and profit is essential.

This guide will help you determine the estimated price that you should charge your customers.

Types of House Cleaning Services

When starting a cleaning company, deciding what types of house cleaning services you will offer to your clients is essential. Ideally, you want to ensure that your business model aligns with the services in demand in your area or that your customers deem helpful. US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports indicate that self-employed house cleaning professionals or house cleaning companies earns an average $11.24 per hour.

Let's learn more about those few cleaning services that can significantly help you earn great profits.

Cleaning Specific Rooms

If you don't need a thorough cleaning, you can have professionals clean some parts of your house. This includes bathroom and bedroom cleaning, which are typically the most challenging areas to clean. The service often includes vacuuming, dusting and cleaning the sideboards and curtains, and thoroughly cleaning the bathtub or shower.

Kitchen Cleaning

Kitchen tends to become dirty and greasy, requiring frequent cleaning. This makes the kitchen the second most crucial home cleaning service offered by the cleaning company or self-employed home cleaners. Cleaning specialists can offer such kitchen cleaning services at a reasonable cost.

Basic House Cleaning

Basic house cleaning services are the most common type offered by companies. It doesn't take much longer to perform this type of cleaning service. Housekeeping usually involves light maintenance throughout the house, including the kitchen and bathrooms. This package handles common tasks such as mopping, vacuuming and keeping surfaces clean and dust-free.

6 Factors to Consider When Charging for House Cleaning Services

What would be the most appropriate rates for home cleaning? An estimate based on the average rate of $168 is a good start, but it can depend more or less on the customer's preferences. It is important to note that certain factors play multiple significant roles in determining the final cost of the cleaning job.

All house cleaning services can be calculated by evaluating and understanding these factors. Let's take a closer look at what factors are essential when estimating cleaning prices.

Labor

Cleaning a house depends largely on the amount of mess that is present in the house. Families with children and pets will probably find that they need more time and effort for the house than those with a single individual who travels a lot.

Therefore, determining the price of house cleaning plays an important role when it comes to determining the price of house cleaning. The cost of house cleaning accounts for a large percentage of labor costs. Whether you run a cleaning company or work for yourself, calculating the labor costs will help you estimate your wages. To make the estimation more transparent, adding this segment is essential.

Size of the Home

It's always wise to think about a site's location first. For an accurate estimation of ideal area, you'll need to know its location. The data will be gathered from the area, the relevant market, and the connectivity between them. Moreover, you need to consider the size of the house, its surroundings, conditions, and its type before deciding what kind of cleaning it will need and how much it will cost.

Home Condition

Start by determining the level of dirt in the house. Check the photos or take a walkthrough. Poorly maintained houses will require more cleaning, and you can charge more. If the client has pets, you will have to clean more often or carefully; therefore, you may want to charge a higher rate.

Local Demand

What are the costs in your region? You may find that certain areas charge higher or lower rates depending on how much cleaning is being done in the area. You can avoid overcharging by using the local rate to avoid charging too much or too little.

Frequency

Among the essential factors that affect the price of house cleaning services is the frequency of service. When places are incredibly dusty and messy, deep cleaning will take longer than following subsequent visits.

Moreover, the frequency determines how long it will take you to complete each service visit. In estimating all the elements, you should never neglect the frequency of the service, whether monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly.

Cleaning Type

How can you better serve the client? Weekly vacuuming and dusting of a home will not take as much time as a deep cleaning done once a year. According to the client's needs and the state of the house, you need to perform a particular type of cleaning.

Service Variety

The majority of cleaning companies offer various cleaning services, such as routine cleaning, event cleaning, move-out cleaning, and some deep cleaning. As part of the project, you may also have to consider extras such as cleaning windows, carpets, freezers, and laundry if they are part of the procedure.

Methods to Calculate House Cleaning Rate

Home cleaning companies typically use four methods to determine house cleaning prices. Prices can be determined by square footage, rooms, hours, or even flat fees.

House Cleaning Pricing Methods

Method	Description	Best For
Square Footage	$0.08-$0.30 per sq ft depending on service depth	Standardized pricing across different home sizes
Per Room	$25-$100 per room (kitchen higher than bedroom)	Homes with variable room conditions
Hourly Rate	$25-$90 per hour based on location	Flexible services with varying time requirements
Flat Fee	Fixed price regardless of time spent	Regular clients and predictable services

Square Footage Method

Square footage is how an architect or engineer describes the size of a house or a building. Since this pricing method is flawed, you'll have to decide what rate per square foot you will use. If the space is big enough, you might be able to charge $0.10 per square foot. You can figure out how much it will cost to clean 2,000 square feet by multiplying 10 cents by 2,000. If it's 2,000 square feet, it'll cost $200.00.

Rates Per Room

If you price each room separately, this method requires you to charge based on how long it takes to clean. The process of cleaning a kitchen is more time-consuming than cleaning a bathroom. Therefore, if the kitchen is $100.00 and the bathroom is $50.00, you can charge $85.00 on average per room.

Hourly Rates

According to the National Association of Housecleaners, the average home cleaning price is between $25 and $90 per hour. It is essential to determine what rate to charge based on where you live and the rates of similar businesses in your area.

Watch Out

Try not to lower your prices too much to get more customers. Make sure you set your rates according to how much effort and resources you'll have to put into the job and, at the same time, leave yourself enough margin for profit. While hourly rates give you flexibility, remember that your profits may decrease as you get more experience and clean houses faster.

Flat Fee

Service providers charge a flat rate when they perform a service. For example, you could charge $100 a week to clean a house, and you'll make the same amount when you get paid a flat fee, no matter how fast you finish a house or how big it is.

Pro Tip

Flat fees are a great alternative to hourly rates because they eliminate most of the associated issues. Rather than paying you for your time, clients pay you for the problem you solve. This way, you'll also eliminate price matching and client disagreements.

Wanted to know which rates suit best for you? Here's a comparison guide between a flat-rate pricing model and an hourly rate model. Give it a good read.

How Much Should I Charge for My Cleaning Services?

To charge for the cleaning services you rendered, there are multiple types of costing methods to consider.

House Cleaning Service Pricing Breakdown

Average costs for different cleaning service types

Type	Cost	Priority
Basic Cleaning Standard service with dusting, vacuuming, and surface cleaning	$75-$175	High
Spring/Deep Cleaning Includes scraping floors, polishing wood, hard-to-reach areas	$200-$355	Medium
Move-In/Move-Out Complete house cleaning including areas behind furniture	$200-$400	Medium
Hourly Rate Three-hour minimum, additional hours charged separately	$50-$90/hour	High
Per Square Foot (Basic) Standard cleaning for regular maintenance	$0.08-$0.10/sq ft	Low
Per Square Foot (Deep) Intensive cleaning or move-out services	$0.22-$0.30/sq ft	Low

Commercial cleaning for buildings 12,000+ sq ft ranges from $0.07-$0.15 per square foot. Home Advisor reports cleaning costs from $70-$200 for homes under 1,000 sq ft, up to $800 for homes up to 3,000 sq ft.

Typical Cleaning Costs

The average price for basic cleaning ranges from $75 to $175. There's nothing better than this kind of cleaning service. It's a standard cleaning service that you can perform frequently. During this cleaning, you can dust and clean floors, countertops, and bathrooms for homeowners.

Spring Cleaning Cost

Cleaning services generally charge around $200 to $355 for spring cleaning and deep cleaning. Spring cleaning involves scraping the floors, cleaning the toilets, polishing the wood, and getting inside those hard-to-reach areas. In this way, you can also use such pricing for your spring cleaning service.

Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning Cost

Moving in/moving out involves the host preparing the home for the next homeowner. You can charge around $200 to $400 for this service. You can offer this service to a new or existing customer as a move-in/move-out service.

This kind of cleaning consists of cleaning the entire house, including areas usually hidden behind furniture. Carpet cleaning, wall and baseboard cleaning, and other requests can be included. Make sure you do it right.

Hourly House Cleaning Costs

It's common for cleaning services to charge an hourly rate, and the most common fee is an initial three-hour fee followed by an hourly rate. According to a survey, cleaning services charge between $50 and $90 per hour. The cleaners will take longer to clean if the house is dirty or extensive.

Hourly Rate Example

Let's say you charge $200 for a three-hour deep cleaning. You're just doing something much more than you usually do. The house is 30% larger than a typical house, so your team spends an extra hour on it. In this case, you should add $75 to that $200 fee to get a total of $275 since you charge $75 per hour.

Per-Square-Foot Cleaning Costs

As per the reports shared by Home Advisor, a cleaning contractor can charge from $70 to $200 for a house that has less than 1000 square feet. However, for a house beyond 1000 square feet but up to 3000 square feet, a maximum of $800 can be shared.

As a cleaning professional, you also need to consider that residential cleaning contractors often charge on a per-hour basis. However, commercial cleaning contractors' basic charge may range from 7 to 15 cents per square feet for at least a commercial building or office of 12,000 square feet.

Cleaning per square foot isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. If you're doing basic service, you can usually charge $0.08 to $0.10. If you do deep cleaning, you can charge up to $0.30 per square foot. The average cost you can charge per square foot for move-in/move-out services is $0.22 to $0.44.

Cleaning Prices Based on House Type

Every house needs something different. You can determine the final cost by considering size, frequency, and detail. You might have to use some special techniques or spend more time on some houses.

Pricing by House Type

House Type	Size Range	Price Range	Notes
Small House	Under 300 sq ft	$50-$260	Lower prices but tight space challenges
Condo	Under 600 sq ft	$50-$270	Interior only, no exterior cleaning
Cottage	600-1,100 sq ft	$50-$440	Often vacation homes, less frequent cleaning
Duplex	700 sq ft per side	$60-$140	Two separate units in one structure
Townhouse	750-2,000 sq ft	$60-$880	Multiple levels, extra charge for stairs
Villa	~1,000 sq ft	$80-$440	Single story, similar to traditional homes
Bungalow	~1,500 sq ft	$110-$660	Large front porch may require extra service

Small House

You can charge between $50 and $260 for cleaning small houses, depending on how often and deeply you clean. A small house typically measures less than 300 square feet. Generally, traditional homes have lower prices due to their small size. However, cleaners may face unique challenges in a tight space. Therefore, when cleaning them, you must be very careful.

Condo Cleaning Rates

According to the frequency and depth of the cleaning, you can charge between $50 and $270 for a condo cleaning. Typically, a condo is under 600 square feet compared to a traditional home. Traditionally, services for condos only address the interior, not the exterior. Therefore, charging this much makes sense.

Cottage

Cottages are too small to charge high prices. It's better to charge between $50 and $440 per session. Typically, a cottage is between 600 and 1100 square feet in size. Often, they're in rural areas or vacation spots. Typically, cottages are used as vacation homes, so they need little attention.

Duplex

It is generally believed that you can charge between $60 and $140 for duplex cleaning, depending on the size, frequency, and depth. Duplexes are two separate houses in one structure. It is typical for a duplex to have a side of 700 square feet on average. Cleaning a duplex isn't too different from cleaning an apartment.

Townhouse

Townhouses can range from 750 square feet to 2,000 square feet. You can charge $60 to $880 for townhouse cleaning as part of your house cleaning services. A lot depends on how often you clean and how much work you do. As townhouses have multiple levels, you may charge an extra fee for cleaning the staircases.

Villa

Villas are like townhouses, except they're one-story. A villa typically measures about 1,000 square feet in size. The villas share walls, but there is usually no communal space between them. The cleaning services for villas will be similar to those for traditional homes. Therefore, a villa cleaning service can cost you between $80 and $440, depending on how often and deeply it needs to be cleaned.

Bungalow

If you're cleaning a bungalow, you can charge between $110 and $660 a session. In the end, it is all about the frequency and depth of your actions. An average bungalow is around 1,500 square feet. It is the large front porch that makes a bungalow genuinely unique.

Porch Cleaning

Often, homeowners ask if the service includes the porch. If you need additional cleaning, sweeping, and protecting outdoor furniture, you're entitled to raise the price for your service.

Room Rate Pricing

Keeping a flat rate when you're cleaning homes of all shapes and sizes can be challenging, and this is why some cleaners price their home cleaning services at a room rate. Usually, "room rates" refer to the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, not the number of actual rooms.

If you'd like, you can calculate a rate based on rooms. There are times when there's a price for each room or a fixed rate based on the number of rooms and bathrooms. In this way, you can provide accurate quotes to your clients. However, this isn't the best pricing method. Room sizes vary from house to house, and some rooms are dirty and difficult to clean.

Room Rate Calculation

For one-bedroom, one-bathroom homes, room rates range from $75-110, plus $25 for additional bedrooms and $10 for extra bathrooms. For example, you might charge $160 per week for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a starting rate of $95.

A home with more bedrooms might also have a bigger kitchen and living area. Remember this when calculating rooms for houses with four or more bedrooms. Also, make sure you quote each type of room accurately, so you're making profits.

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Frequently Asked Questions

There is no doubt that the cleaning business is flourishing as lifestyle trends change. Initially, the business might not make a good deal of money, but in the long run, it's a lucrative venture that supports various cleaning verticals.

Cleaners must maintain and grow through satisfactory and efficient service like any other service business. Maximizing profit requires offering high-quality service, keeping a keen eye on expenses, monitoring the market and competitors, and retaining clients.

Our cleaning pricing guide explains all the key factors you need to consider when determining your cleaning price. In most states or cities, you may be able to charge nearly to the current market price while getting experience and knowledge about how to adjust your prices after determining the time, supplies, profitability, and efficiency of your own business based on your state or city.

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