You’ve started your house cleaning business—congratulations! Now you need to know how much to charge. To give you a clear picture of how pricing works in the house cleaning industry, we need to look at factors like the size of the home, the type of cleaning required, and the location. We’ll break down everything you need to know when deciding how much to charge for cleaning a house.
Pricing Strategies for Calculating House Cleaning Costs
When figuring out what to charge for cleaning homes, a good place to start is your pricing structure. Will you offer a flat rate or bill by the hour? Will you charge your customers based on the square footage of the house or by the number of rooms? You may also want to consider offering a weekly cleaning subscription with discounts for recurring customers.
Sure, it’s a lot to think about—but don’t let it overwhelm you. Let’s dive into each pricing structure to help you determine how much to charge for cleaning a house.
- Charging a flat rate
- Charging by the hour
- Pricing per square foot
- Pricing per room
Flat Rate House Cleaning
A flat rate house cleaning offers customers a fixed price for standard cleaning services. This means no matter the home’s size or tricky layout, the customer is charged one base price. The average cost of house cleaning on a one-time basis is $120 to $280.1 Of course, you can adjust this price based on whether it’s a regular home cleaning or a deep cleaning.
Offering a flat rate charge for house cleaning might sound like the easiest option for you (and for your customers). But there are several factors to think about with this option. For example, if the home is 3,500 square feet, a flat rate price may not fully reflect the amount of cleaning required.
Hourly House Cleaning Rates
When determining how much to charge for cleaning a house by the hour, be sure to think about your full scope of work, market demand in your area, the expertise of your cleaning crew, and how many cleaners you need for the job. According to Homeguide, hourly rates vary from $25 to $75 per cleaner depending on the amount of work involved and the number of cleaners needed.2
House Cleaning Rates per Square Foot
If you plan to charge your home cleaning customers based on the square footage of their house, here are a few helpful industry standards to use as you build your pricing.3
- Regular home cleaning: $0.10 to $0.17 per square foot
- Deep home cleaning: $0.11 to $0.22 per square foot
- Move-out cleaning: $0.22 to $0.33 per square foot
For example, for a spring deep cleaning of a 2,000-square-foot home, you could charge between $220 and $440.
House Cleaning Rates per Room
Some cleaning companies choose to set their prices based on the number of rooms in a home, typically charging between $30 and $50 per room.4 They may price every single room in the house the same when calculating the total amount.
However, other cleaning companies find it useful to base their prices on the specific type of room, since primary bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms often require more extensive cleaning.
How to Estimate House Cleaning Pricing
Figuring out your house cleaning prices can feel like an ongoing puzzle to solve. Here are a few of the most important things to consider to help you price your services with confidence.
1. Location
- Research the local market rates for cleaning services in your area.
- Consider the cost of living and average income levels in your target neighborhoods.
- Adjust your pricing strategy accordingly to remain competitive while ensuring profitability.
2. Property Size
- Assess the square footage of the property being cleaned.
- Larger homes typically require more time and resources, which means higher prices.
- Consider offering tiered pricing options based on property size to fit different clients’ needs.
3. Completion Time
- Estimate the time required to complete the cleaning job.
- Factor in additional time for deep cleaning or tackling specific areas.
- Manage customer expectations. Be transparent with your clients about how long the cleaning service will take.
4. Supply Costs
- Calculate the cost of cleaning supplies and equipment required for the job.
- Include expenses for specialized cleaning products, tools, and disposable items like gloves and wipes.
- Consider purchasing supplies in bulk to lower costs and pass on the savings to your clients.
5. Frequency
- Determine whether the cleaning service will be a one-time occurrence or a recurring appointment.
- Offer discounts or package deals for clients who book regular cleaning sessions to encourage repeat business.
- Adjust your pricing structure to reflect the frequency of the cleaning service and ensure long-term client satisfaction.
6. Number of Cleaners Needed
- Look at the scope of the cleaning job to determine the number of cleaners needed.
- Consider the efficiency and effectiveness of having a team of cleaners versus a solo cleaner.
- Factor in labor costs for each cleaner and adjust your pricing where needed.
7. Taxes
- Learn about tax regulations and requirements for small businesses in your region.
- Consult with a tax professional to ensure compliance and accurately calculate taxes owed.
- Add taxes into your pricing strategy to avoid unexpected financial burdens.
8. Markup
- Determine your profit margin and add it to your pricing calculations.
- Think about your overhead expenses, administrative costs, and desired revenue goals.
Be strategic in setting your markup to ensure profitability while remaining competitive in the market.
At a Glance: What to Charge for Cleaning Homes?
Ready to start pricing your cleaning services? Knowing the average rates in the cleaning industry, both on a local and national level, can help you set your own. While we can’t shine a light on every local market (we recommend you do some research to see what competitors in your area are charging!), here’s a recap of the average price ranges for standard cleaning jobs we’ve covered so far.5
- $120 to $280 for a flat rate
- $25 to $75 per hour, per cleaner
- $0.10 to $0.17 per square foot
- $30 to $50 per room
Let’s unpack that $120 to $280 range a bit more. According to Homeguide, the national average cost of home cleaning is $200, with a minimum cost of $60 and a maximum cost of $400.6
Types of House Cleaning Services
There are many different types of house cleaning services you can offer your customers. From standard cleaning to deep cleaning, these services typically range in price based on home size. Whether you’ve been in the cleaning business for years or are just getting started, figuring out how much to charge for cleaning a house can be overwhelming. That’s why we created a simple house cleaning pricing guide for you, based on data from Homeguide.7
Standard Cleaning Cost
Home Size Cost
Studio $60
1 bed 1 bath $60–$90
2 bed 1 bath $90–$120
2 bed 2 bath $95–$130
3 bed 1 bath $110–$165
3 bed 2 bath $135–$180
4 bed 3 bath $140–$200
Deep Cleaning Cost
Home Size Cost
Studio $90
1 bed 1 bath $90–$110
2 bed 1 bath $120–$175
2 bed 2 bath $135–$195
3 bed 1 bath $150–$250
3 bed 2 bath $180–$280
4 bed 3 bath $200–$400
Move-Out Cleaning
Home Size Cost
Studio $100
1 bed 1 bath $100–$120
2 bed 1 bath $120–$180
2 bed 2 bath $135–$210
3 bed 1 bath $175–$260
3 bed 2 bath $180–$300
4 bed 3 bath $200–$390
Remember, figuring out how much to charge for home cleaning can depend on many factors. You can use this guide as a base and then determine the right price for your company.
Cleaning Rates Based on House Type
Another thing to consider when deciding what to charge for a house cleaning is the type of residence. After all, cleaning a single-story studio apartment will likely be a very different job than cleaning a three-story townhome. Here are some things to think about when determining your cleaning rates based on house type.
Apartment
- Consider offering competitive flat rates or hourly pricing, since apartments often have standard layouts and may require less cleaning time.
Bungalow
- Take into account the potential for historic or unique features that may require special care, as well as any outdoor areas that need attention.
Condo
- Factor in shared spaces, amenities, and any building-specific cleaning requirements or restrictions that might impact your service.
Cottage
- Take into account the unique layout and potential for seasonal deep cleaning, since cottages are often used as vacation homes and can require more intensive cleaning at certain times of the year.
Duplex
- Consider offering a discount for recurring services. You may be able to clean both duplex units in one visit, making it a more efficient use of your time and resources.
Townhome
- Factor in the number of levels and any outdoor spaces that need attention, as well as the potential for multiple bathrooms and bedrooms.
Villa
- Think about offering tiered pricing based on the number of bedrooms or bathrooms. Villas often have a range of sizes and may not need the same level of attention.
How Housecall Pro Helps Determine Pricing Based on the Size of the Property
At the end of the day, how you price your home cleaning services is up to you. If you decide to charge for home cleaning based on the size of the property, our pricing form can help you figure out the specifics. With a house cleaning business software like Housecall Pro, you can streamline your pricing for faster, more accurate quotes. You can customize the fields to charge per bedroom, per bathroom, or per square foot. You can also include additional information in the pricing form for upcharges, pets, and preferred cleaning products.
Keep in mind that the fields you enter on the pricing form will be what your customer will select through your booking page. We recommend creating multiple pricing forms if you charge different rates based on the frequency or type of cleaning.
For example, you might want to use unique pricing forms for weekly, biweekly, and monthly cleanings. Individual pricing forms can also come in handy for move-out cleans and deep cleanings.
If you charge based on an hourly rate or flat rate, we still recommend creating a pricing form. This will allow you to gather all the booking information from the customer when they are scheduling the cleaning job. On the pricing form, you can add a service line item for your hourly rate or flat rate
To Wrap Up
Figuring out how much to charge for cleaning a house involves considering factors like home size, type of cleaning, and competitive rates. You might not know your immediate pricing structure but researching your local market and competitors is a great start. With outdated processes, inaccurate estimates, lack of efficiency, and limited visibility, adopting software for your cleaning business will help you stay competitive. By leveraging technology and staying informed, cleaning businesses can optimize pricing strategies, improve efficiency, and ultimately succeed in a competitive market. Take the next step by exploring how cleaning business software can transform your business today!
House Cleaning Pricing FAQ
- What Do Most House Cleaners Charge per Hour?
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Most house cleaners charge per hour, with rates typically ranging from $25 to $75 per cleaner. Like we mentioned earlier, the average cost of house cleaning per hour depends on plenty of factors (like property size, location, and frequency of the cleaning), but this average hourly range gives you a good idea of what the going rates are.
- Is It Better to Clean Someone’s Home for an Hourly Rate or a Set Price?
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This is completely up to you, but here are a few things you’ll want to consider when deciding between an hourly rate and a set price.
Hourly rates offer flexibility and transparency, allowing clients to pay for the exact amount of time spent cleaning.
A set price provides predictability for both the cleaner and the client, eliminating the uncertainty of hourly fluctuations.When it all comes down to it, a set price has the potential to be more profitable for cleaning companies. It can allow for consistent pricing and may lead to higher profits—although this depends on their specific situation.
- What Kind of House Cleaning Services Should I Provide?
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As a residential cleaning company, you’ll want to ensure you’re providing the right kind of service options to not only take care of your customers but also to compete with your competition. Here are some of the house cleaning services you can offer:
- Basic Cleaning: Complete essential cleaning tasks like dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and surface cleaning for a general tidy-up.
- Deep Cleaning: Provide thorough cleaning for hard-to-reach areas and neglected spaces, plus extra attention to fixtures and appliances.
- Specialized Services: Give clients the option to request add-ons like carpet cleaning, window washing, upholstery cleaning, or oven cleaning.
- Eco-Friendly Options: Cater to eco-conscious clients by using environmentally friendly and organic cleaning products.
- One-Time vs. Recurring: Allow clients to choose between one-time cleanings for special occasions or recurring cleaning services (weekly, biweekly, monthly etc.).
- Move-In/Move-Out Cleanings: Provide deep cleaning services for clients moving into or out of a home, giving them a fresh start in their new place or leaving a property sparkling for the next family.
In addition to cleaning homes for the people who live in them, many house cleaning companies will also offer additional services, such as:
- Airbnb Cleaning
- Carpet Cleaning
- Disinfecting Service
- Office and Commercial Cleaning
- How Do You Write a Cleaning Service Quote?
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When writing a cleaning service quote, be sure to include a detailed list of services, the frequency of cleaning, and any additional or specialized services. You’ll also want to think about the type of space, its size, the level of cleaning required, and any specific client requests.
Next, be sure to provide a clear breakdown of costs, whether you’re using a flat rate, price per square foot, or hourly rate, and be transparent about any additional fees or surcharges. Remember, you want to build trust with your customers, and that trust is built in the details. Finally, outline your terms and conditions, including payment expectations and any guarantees or warranties offered. This will not only cover you legally, but it will also help your customer know what to expect.
