The House Cleaning Pricing Guide

How much does professional house cleaning cost?

Professional house cleaning typically costs around $120–$280 per visit for a standard clean of an average home, or roughly $25–$50 per hour per cleaner (about $50–$100 an hour for a typical two-person crew). The exact price depends on your home’s size and condition, how often you book, any add-on services, and your local market. Deep cleans and move-in/move-out jobs cost more. Below is a full breakdown of pricing, the factors involved, and how to save.

Did you know that paying for domestic services like house cleaning, laundry, and yard work actually makes us happier? Buying back time is one of the best ways to live a happier, more carefree life — so if you’ve always wanted to hand off the vacuuming, don’t feel guilty. Whatever your reason for hiring a cleaning Pro, at Pro Housekeepers we’re happy to help.

One thing that holds many people back is price. The good news: it’s often less than you’d imagine, and when you factor in the value of the time you save, hiring a Pro is a bargain.

House cleaning pricing guide

These are national-average ranges and have risen with labor costs in recent years — prices vary considerably by region, so treat them as a guide and get a local quote for your area.

Many variables factor into the final cost of cleaning your house, including:

• Whether the cleaner is a sole trader or from a large company
• How intensively they need to clean
• Additional duties, such as making beds, laundry, and cleaning appliances
• Repeat orders for cleaning the same property

The typical house cleaning rate is about $25-$75 per hour per cleaner, and it takes about 1.5 hours to clean 1000 square feet. The cheapest option is to hire a local independent contractor, but saving on labor can cost you in other ways — sole traders aren’t always insured, so if something goes wrong while they’re working in your home, you could end up liable.

Another way to save is to be a repeat customer. One-off and first-time cleans usually cost more than maintenance cleaning because they’re more intensive, but many companies offer returning clients a discount — as much as 20 percent — just for using the same service regularly. (You can see Pro Housekeepers’ own residential cleaning services for an example of recurring options.)

Add-on cleaning services

Got other chores you hate? Many companies offer add-on services for a separate fee — changing bedclothes, laundry, deep cleaning appliances, and more. Ask to see your cleaning company’s price list for the extras they offer.

How is the cost of house cleaning calculated?

Once you know which services you want, it pays to shop around. Some cleaners charge a flat hourly rate regardless of property size or cleaning type. If you have a sleek, modern home with few obstacles, you’ll probably do better with a cleaner who charges by the hour rather than by the size of the space.

For other homes — especially those with lots of ornaments or soft furnishings that slow cleaning down — a company that charges by the square foot (typically around $0.05–$0.10 per sqft) will likely be cheaper.

Finally, some cleaners charge a per-room rate — often $30–$50 per room, sometimes higher for kitchens and bathrooms, which take more work. A kitchen might cost more than a bedroom or office. These rates let cleaners charge more or less depending on how labor-intensive the work is: a 3000 sqft home with a second kitchen in an annex takes more work than a similarly sized home with just one.

One-off and deep cleaning costs

A routine service is cheaper per visit, but you can save overall by scheduling cleans less often — perhaps a Pro deep clean once a month or two, or extra help when moving in or out of a rental. These services are more extensive and usually cover extras like washing baseboards, cleaning ceiling fans, and deep cleaning appliances. Deep cleans typically run 50–100% more than a standard clean, and move-in/move-out jobs commonly land in the $200–$600 range depending on size and buildup. They can save a lot of time during a stressful move and improve your chances of a full security-deposit refund.

Common extras in a move in/out clean:

• Cleaning inside cabinets and drawers
• Cleaning fridges, ovens, microwaves, and other appliances
• Washing doors and walls

Some tasks may cost extra during a move in/out clean, such as carpet shampooing and waxing floors and woodwork.

Deep cleaning is also easier with help. Once or twice a year it’s worth pulling out the furniture, washing window blinds, and getting into the nooks and crannies overlooked all year. A thorough clean improves air quality, reduces allergens, and makes your home healthier.

Tasks usually included in a deep clean:

• Cleaning ceiling fans and light fixtures
• Washing moldings, woodwork, and window sills
• Cleaning stoves and drip pans

The cost of cleaning a vacant property

The single biggest factor in how long a clean takes — and therefore what it costs — is furnishings. Even a small apartment can take a while if it’s full of furniture and knickknacks, while a bare property is comparatively quick to clean and sanitize, even with a larger floorplan. So when engaging a company to clean a vacant property, negotiate based on the time it will take, not the square footage.

House cleaning costs for rental properties

It isn’t only homeowners who benefit — landlords and Airbnb hosts can too. A regular cleaning service keeps properties tidy and habitable for guests or tenants, and cleaners can flag damage so you stay ahead of repairs.

If you need a regular cleaner, you can often strike a deal to save on each clean, especially if you manage several properties in one building or street that can be cleaned on the same visit — less travel time for the cleaner means savings they can pass on. Cleaners also like rentals because they tend to be less cluttered and therefore faster to clean.

Cleaning costs for homes with pets

Beyond home size and cleaning extent, pets are another factor. We all love our furry friends, but shed fur, kitty litter, and muddy pawprints add to a cleaner’s work and slow the job down. As a result, many companies charge a small premium — usually $25–$50 — for homes with pets.

Pro tip: Learn how to make cleaning easier if you have dogs.

What does eco-friendly or organic cleaning cost?

Choosing a professional service doesn’t mean filling your home with industrial chemicals. Many Pros know the best methods are sometimes the oldest — baking soda and vinegar can work wonders — and you can usually request that your company use only eco-friendly or organic solutions, typically for a small additional charge.

How to save money on cleaning costs

If your heart wants a cleaning service but your wallet isn’t convinced, there are ways to trim the bill. First, consider which services you really need. Hate vacuuming but don’t mind the oven? Negotiating which tasks are covered can shave dollars off the total.

You can even remove whole rooms from the schedule — skip the teen’s bedroom, or focus only on the areas where you entertain guests. Sharing the cleaning load with a company that handles just certain areas is a great way to get the service you want at a price you’re happy with.

Buying your own cleaning supplies can save $5–$10 per clean and, more importantly, lets you control which solutions are used — valuable if someone in the home has allergies, or if you have young children or pets, or want only eco-friendly or organic materials.

Finally, keeping up with routine tidying makes your cleaner’s job faster and more efficient. If they have to spend the first half hour clearing surfaces, it’ll show up in the bill.

Should you hire a cleaning company or an individual?

It’s almost always cheaper per visit to hire an individual or sole trader than an established company. But there can be hidden costs — like a cleaner breaking an appliance or a valuable. Reputable companies are licensed, bonded, and insured; the neighbor’s friend charging half the rate probably isn’t.

There are other risks beyond property damage. If a cleaner working in your home slips and is injured, you could be liable. And if your cleaner doesn’t pay their taxes, you could be on the hook as their employer.

There are many reputable sole traders, but do your due diligence: always confirm your cleaner is properly licensed and insured, and remember that if a price seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Companies cost a little more per clean, but that premium usually buys peace of mind. Even so, ask any company for proof of license and insurance, and whether the cleaners they send are employees or subcontractors. Many businesses subcontract labor — you’ll want to know who’s entering your home, whether it’s the same people each time, and that everyone is properly vetted and insured by the parent company.

*Each contractor and company sets its own terms, so this won’t be accurate for all cleaners.

How much to charge for house cleaning

A good way to estimate the cost for your home is to understand how companies set their rates — then you’ll know what a fair price looks like. Rates aren’t plucked from the air; they’re a calculation that includes labor, overhead, taxes, and profit.

Start with a baseline hourly labor rate and the time the job will take. Using a current labor rate of about $30/hr and 1.5 hours per 1000 square feet, a 2000 sqft home takes roughly 3 hours, so the base labor is about $90.

To labor, add payroll taxes — around 18 percent is a common figure: $90 × 0.18 = $16.20, bringing it to about $106.

Add roughly 6 percent for cleaning supplies (about $6), plus around 50 percent for overhead like administration and insurance (about $53). Finally, the company needs a profit margin, often around 30 percent. That brings the total to roughly $215 plus any applicable sales tax — which lines up with the national-average per-visit figures above.

Homeowners can get cheaper quotes by hiring someone who only cares about the hourly rate they’re paid, but ignoring taxes and overhead can be a costly mistake.

How to hire the most reliable cleaning service

Letting a stranger into your home can be nerve-wracking. How do you know who to trust? Will they do a good job, or sweep your dirt under the rug?

The good news is there are many reputable cleaning professionals out there. Your home is their workplace, and their interest in your belongings ends as soon as they’ve been dusted and polished.

Start by asking for recommendations — friends, neighbors, or online reviews — to find services others vouch for. Then do a quick background check to confirm the cleaner is properly registered and insured, and see how long they’ve been in business. Everyone starts somewhere, but most established Pros have been around at least a year or two.

Don’t be afraid to interview potential cleaners when they come to quote. Calling them doesn’t bind you to hiring them if you don’t hit it off. A regular cleaner spends a lot of time in your home, so it’s worth finding someone you’re comfortable with.

Once your cleaner starts, it may take a few visits to find a rhythm. Some homeowners aren’t sure whether to chat or stay out of the room, and it’s normal to feel a little awkward at first. Remember your cleaner is the expert — ask them if you’re unsure what to expect during a clean.