How should a cleaning business price its services?

The three common models are per-square-foot, hourly, and flat-rate pricing. Per-square-foot keeps quotes consistent for homes you have not seen, hourly protects you on unpredictable first-time jobs, and flat rates give clients certainty while rewarding efficient crews. Many owners quote the first visit hourly or by square footage, then move recurring clients to a flat rate.

Why do weekly cleanings cost less per visit?

A home cleaned every week stays cleaner between visits, so each clean takes less time and product. Cleaning businesses pass part of that savings on to win recurring revenue, typically discounting around 5% for monthly, 15% for bi-weekly, and 20% for weekly service compared to a one-time clean.

How long does it take to clean a house?

A useful rule of thumb is about 1.5 hours per 1,000 square feet for a standard clean with a 2-person crew, so a 2,000 sq ft home takes roughly 3 hours on site. Deep cleans and move-out cleans take 1.5x to 2x longer. Tracking your actual times against quotes is the fastest way to tighten your pricing.

House Cleaning Cost Calculator

Estimate house cleaning prices by square footage, cleaning type, frequency, and add-ons. Get a price range, estimated hours, and effective hourly rates.

Back to Calculators

How big is the house?

Square footage drives the quote. If you do not know it, pick bedrooms and bathrooms and we estimate the size for you.

Square Footage

Using estimated 1,750 sq ft from bedrooms and bathrooms

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Cleaning Type

Frequency

Recurring visits are discounted because the home stays cleaner between cleans.

Add-Ons

Quote Range

$140 - $210

1,750 sq ft (estimated) · Standard · One-Time

Time & Rate

~2.6 hrs

Effective rate: $26.67 - $40.00 per cleaner-hour with a 2-person crew

Based on typical North American pricing of $0.08-$0.12 per square foot for a standard clean, adjusted for cleaning type and visit frequency, with flat-rate add-ons. Rates vary by market, so calibrate against your local competition and your own costs before quoting a client.

How cleaning pricing works

Per-square-foot pricing is the most consistent way to quote homes you have not seen. Standard cleans typically run $0.08-$0.12 per square foot, with deep cleans, move-in/move-out cleans, and post-construction cleans priced at 1.5x to 2.2x that base. It scales predictably with home size and keeps quotes consistent across your team.

Hourly pricing charges for time on site, commonly $30-$50 per cleaner per hour. It protects you on unpredictable jobs like first-time deep cleans, but clients dislike open-ended totals, and faster crews effectively earn less. Many owners use hourly for the first visit, then switch the client to a flat rate.

Flat-rate pricing quotes one fixed price per visit, usually derived from a per-square-foot or hourly estimate like the one above. Clients love the certainty, and efficient crews earn more per hour as they get faster. Recurring weekly or bi-weekly clients typically get 15-20% off the one-time price because maintained homes take less work.

Price the job, then run your cleaning business in WorkZen

Turn this quote into a professional estimate, schedule the crew, invoice the client, and get paid, all from one place built for cleaning businesses.

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