How Much to Charge for House Cleaning in 2026 (Rates, Pricing Chart and Calculator)

How do cleaning companies price a house?

Cleaning companies price a house by estimating the person-hours it takes, then turning those hours into a flat per-visit price that covers wages, supplies, drive time, overhead and profit. Square footage gets you close; bathrooms, pets, clutter and how long since the last clean move it up or down. The calculator below runs that math with the same engine as our job pricing calculator.

The $24 labor cost is an illustrative round number. BLS reports a median wage of $17.71 an hour for janitors and building cleaners in May 2025, and Housecall Pro cites an average cleaner wage of $21.01 with employer costs adding 15–20%. If you clean alone, the same home takes you longer but you skip a second drive: one cleaner comes to $218.18 on these inputs.

House cleaning price chart by home size

Per-visit prices climb with square footage, but the price per square foot falls, because the walkthrough and drive cost the same on a condo and a five-bedroom. Here is the worked example's cost structure run across five home sizes, beside Housecall Pro's standard and deep clean ranges for similar sizes.

Bedrooms and bathrooms are how customers describe their home, so many price sheets use them. Thumbtack's October 2026 data puts a 3-bedroom, 2-bath clean at about $220 on average and a 4-bedroom at $191–$286. A fourth bathroom adds far more time than a fourth bedroom, which is why Housecall Pro lists extra bathrooms and bedrooms as $30–$60 add-ons.

Hourly, flat rate or per square foot?

What customers typically pay for house cleaning

Customers typically pay $140–$220 for a standard clean in Housecall Pro's customer data, while Thumbtack's October 2026 figures put the average job at $185–$324 and a deep clean at $190–$265. Move-out cleans cost the most among routine jobs, at $220–$400 in Housecall Pro's data.

Regional and city differences

Housecall Pro publishes standard clean ranges by region, from $135–$250 in the Southwest to $150–$270 in the Upper Midwest and $159–$220 in the West. City hourly rates vary more: Housecall Pro's Taskrabbit figures run from about $39 a cleaner-hour in Denver to $58 in Boston. Before you set your sheet, ask three local companies for a quote on a typical 3-bed home.

Add-ons to price separately

• Inside the oven ($30–$50) and inside the fridge ($31–$100), per Housecall Pro. Both are quick to quote and easy for customers to say yes to.
• Interior cabinets ($75–$230 in Housecall Pro's data). Empty-cabinet wipes are a move-out staple.
• Laundry and bed changes. Fixr lists $10–$20 per load and $10–$18 per sheet change; price per load so it scales.
• Interior windows and blinds. Quote per window or roll it into a deep-clean package; exterior glass is a separate trade (see window cleaning prices).
• Pet hair and heavy clutter. Add time in the calculator rather than a vague surcharge, so the price follows the work.

Minimums, first-clean pricing and cancellations

Set a minimum per visit so small apartments still cover the drive. A 600 sq ft studio 10 minutes from your last job calculates to $96.00 on our example inputs, so a $120 minimum sets the price. Charge the first visit as a one-time or deep clean, then move to the recurring rate from visit two; Thumbtack's one-time vs. every-two-weeks ranges show customers expect that gap. Take a card on file when booking, and write a lockout and late-cancellation fee into your service agreement so a locked door doesn't cost you a crew's morning.

Mistakes that make cleaning businesses unprofitable

1. Adding your margin percentage as a markup. Want a 45% margin, so you add 45% to cost? You'd charge $185.60 instead of $232.73 and keep only 31.0%. A 45% margin needs an 82% markup. See markup vs. margin and the markup and margin calculator.
2. Pricing by the hour you're in the house, not the hours you pay. Drive time, the walkthrough and restocking the caddy are paid hours too.
3. Quoting deep cleans at the recurring rate. The first visit often takes twice as long. Price it that way or you'll lose money on every new client.
4. Forgetting payroll costs. A $20 wage costs more than $20 once payroll taxes and workers' comp are added. Run your rate through the labor burden calculator.
5. Leaving prices flat for years. Wages and supplies go up every year. Raise recurring clients annually with 30 days' written notice.

How to present a cleaning quote

1. 1

   Collect the facts before you price.

   Square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, pets, and when it was last cleaned professionally. A photo or video walkthrough saves a site visit.

2. 2

   Quote two numbers.

   "The first clean is $320. After that it's $233 every visit, every two weeks."

3. 3

   List what's included and what isn't.

   A short checklist per room avoids "I thought you'd do the oven" calls. Price add-ons on the same quote.

4. 4

   Follow up within two days.

   Most lost quotes are never chased. A short text works. See how to follow up on an estimate.

Starting out? Our cleaning business startup guide covers insurance, bonding and supplies, and cleaning business software covers scheduling recurring visits.