Guides · Pricing guide · Facts checked 2026-09-05
How much to charge for house cleaning
Per-visit vs hourly, the first-visit surcharge, add-ons that should never be free, and how to price a recurring client so the first clean doesn't lose money.
Cleaning is priced per visit by most solo operators and small teams, hourly by a few, and the honest answer is that per-visit pricing with a clearly defined scope is what keeps the business profitable — because the customer knows the number and you are rewarded for being efficient. The ranges below are starting points from the house cleaning invoice template; your market sets the real number.
Typical ranges
| Service | Common range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard clean — 3 bed / 2 bath | $120–$220 | Recurring rate; the anchor price |
| Deep clean — first visit surcharge | $75–$200 | On top of the standard rate, first visit only |
| Move-out clean — empty unit | $250–$550 | Priced as its own job, never as a standard clean |
| Inside oven | $30–$60 | Add-on |
| Inside refrigerator | $25–$55 | Add-on |
| Interior windows | $4–$10 per pane | Add-on |
| Additional cleaner | $35–$60 per hour | For large homes or a deadline |
| Laundry and linen change | $20–$50 | Add-on, common for rentals |
Rough starting points for a blank estimate — not quotes, and not a survey of what anyone charges.
Why the first clean costs more
A home that has not been professionally cleaned takes two to three times as long as the same home on a fortnightly schedule. If you price the first visit at the recurring rate, you lose money on every new client and the good ones never know. Charge a deep-clean surcharge on the first visit, say why, and the recurring rate looks like the relief it is.
What moves the price
- Size, but more than that, condition. Bedrooms and bathrooms are the usual bands; pets, kids and clutter are the multipliers.
- Frequency. Weekly is cheaper per visit than monthly, because there is less to do. Price it that way and say so.
- Supplies. Bringing your own is normal and is in the price; a customer wanting specific products is a line.
- Add-ons. Ovens, fridges, windows, laundry, inside cabinets. None of these are 'while you're there'; each is a line with a price.
- Travel. A minimum job size or a travel charge for anything past your normal radius.
Hourly or per visit?
Per visit, with the scope written down, for recurring residential work. Hourly for one-offs you cannot see in advance (a hoarding situation, a construction clean) and for additional cleaners on a big job. If you quote hourly, give an estimate of hours and a not-to-exceed, or the customer will assume the low end.
Writing the estimate
One line for the standard clean at the recurring rate, one for the first-visit surcharge, one per add-on. A sentence listing what a standard clean includes — and what it does not. Your cancellation window. The cleaning estimate template has these lines ready, and the customer's acceptance becomes the invoice for the first visit.
Common questions
Should I charge more for a first-time clean?
Yes, and say why on the estimate. A first clean is a deep clean; the recurring rate assumes the home was cleaned two weeks ago.
How do I price a move-out clean?
As its own job, by the size of the unit and whether it is empty. It includes the inside of every appliance and cabinet by default, which a standard clean does not, so it is never a standard clean plus add-ons.
What do I do about cancellations?
A cancellation window (24 or 48 hours) and a fee for inside it, written on the estimate before the first visit. A rule nobody was told about is not a rule.