Table of Contents

1. Introduction

• Who Is This Article For?

• What Will You Learn?

2. Average House Cleaning Rates

3. Types of Cleaning Services and Pricing Factors

• Regular House Cleaning

• Deep Cleaning

• Specialty Cleaning Services

4. Ways to Price Your House Cleaning Services

• Flat Rate Pricing (And Why to Avoid It)

• Hourly Rate Pricing

5. Key Factors to Consider When Pricing

• Location

• Size of the Property

• Client Requests

• Cleaning Frequency

• Taxes

• Competition

6. 5 Easy Steps to Price Your Cleaning Services

7. Conclusion

Who Is This Article For?

Have you just started your own house cleaning business or are planning on starting soon? 

Maybe you have been running your business for a little while but want to find a better way to price your services? 

This article is for you. 

What Will You Learn?

One of the first questions that comes to the mind of anyone who is getting into house cleaning is how to price your services. 

 

We are all in this business to make money, but charge too much and you risk scaring clients away, charge too little and you don’t make money. So what do you do? 

Keep it simple. 

 

There are many guides and calculators out there claiming to help you price your cleaning services, all with different strategies, price estimates, service types, and complicated calculations to make sure you are making a profit.

But they are all complicated and usually better suited for large scale cleaning companies with many employees and expensive overhead. 

You are just starting your business and need to keep things simple and straightforward. 

In this article we will explain to you how we learned to price our house cleaning services when running our own business and how you can use the same methods when starting your own. 

Average House Cleaning Rates

Average cleaning rates will vary due to many factors but to give you an idea they usually sit somewhere between $25 and $50 per hour. 

Individual cleaners and small new companies will likely be charging somewhere between $25 and $40 per hour, whereas larger companies and franchises are likely charging higher rates around $50-$60 per hour + tax. 

Since most cleaning companies are offering the same general cleaning service, price differences will come down to target market, and competition. 

1. Target Market (who you are selling to): 

1. The higher the rate you charge the less people will be able to afford your services, and the more competition you will have with other companies. 

2. The lower the rate you charge the more people will be able to afford your services, and the less competition you will have. 

2. Competition:

1. There's always demand for cleaning services, so supply isn’t the issue—pricing is. If you set rates low enough to attract budget-conscious clients, finding work won’t be a problem. Most competition comes from franchises and established companies charging premium rates. Pricing higher than them can be tough, but staying just below the competition ensures a steady flow of clients.

All you need to concern yourself with is what are the rates around you and where do you sit competitively, more on this later. 

Types of Cleaning Services and Pricing Factors

Regular House Cleaning

Regular cleaning covers basic maintenance tasks to keep a home tidy and hygienic. It typically includes:

• Dusting surfaces

• Vacuuming and mopping floors

• Cleaning bathrooms (toilets, sinks, showers)

• Wiping down kitchen counters and appliances

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning is a more detailed service that tackles built-up grime and neglected areas. It includes everything in a regular cleaning plus:

• Scrubbing baseboards, doors, and trim

• Cleaning inside cabinets and drawers

• Heavy scrubbing of kitchen and bathroom surfaces

• Window sills and frames

Typically you will charge $10-$20 more per hour than your standard cleaning rate for deep cleaning services.

Specialty Cleaning Services

Oven Cleaning

• Best offered as an add-on since it requires extra effort.

• Charge based on condition—light grease vs. heavy buildup.

• Consider charging a flat rate between $60 and $100 for oven cleaning or a higher hourly rate than your regular, test different prices with clients and see what they are willing to pay. 

Refrigerator Cleaning

• (get the client to clear all items from out of the fridge prior to cleaning)

• Includes removing shelves, scrubbing interiors, and sanitizing.

• Factor in time for deep grime, spills, and old food removal.

• Consider charging either your standard hourly rate, or a flat rate of around $50.

Window Cleaning

• Interior Windows: Typically part of deep cleaning or an add-on service.

• Exterior Windows: We do not recommend cleaning exterior windows unless you specialize in window cleaning.

• Pricing for windows can be tricky because of the variety of size and difficulty. You will have to quote the customer based on their house. Consider pricing around $10 per large window and $5 per small window.

Ways to Price Your House Cleaning Services

Flat Rate Pricing (And Why to Avoid It)

Flat-rate pricing might seem simple, but it can be risky because:

• You may underestimate time and effort, leading to lost profit.

• Homes vary—some take much longer than expected, reducing your hourly earnings.

• Unexpected messes (e.g., excessive pet hair, buildup) can make a job unprofitable.

When a Flat Rate Might Work:

• Small, predictable spaces like studio apartments or Airbnbs with set expectations.

• Repeat clients with consistently clean homes where time estimates are reliable.

 

Hourly Rate Pricing

Your hourly rate should cover expenses and ensure profit. The best approach:

1. Start at a higher rate—$40/hour is a good benchmark.

2. Adjust based on demand—If clients hesitate, lower it slightly ($35–$30/hour) until your schedule is full.

3. Never go too low—If you're not making a profit, you’re just working for free.

How to Know If You're Profitable

• Add up monthly expenses (gas, insurance, supplies, advertising, etc.).

• Compare to total revenue from cleaning jobs.

• If expenses outweigh revenue, increase rates or take on more jobs.

 

Selling “Hour Packages”

A set-hour package helps clients know exactly what they’re paying upfront. Instead of open-ended hourly billing, you predefine the time:
👉 Example: “We’ll do a 3-hour clean at $30 per hour + tax.”

Why This Works Well:

• Clients feel in control of costs—no surprise charges.

• You avoid clients expecting more work than they paid for.

• Most homes take 3–4 hours to clean, so a 3-hour package is a great starting point.

💡 Pro Tip: After the first clean, discuss if more or less time is needed for future visits.

Estimating Based on Residence Type & Size

• Apartments & Condos – Typically smaller, but often require detail work. Usually will take around 2 hours. If you have a minimum hour charge you can charge your minimum and take less time to clean.

• Bungalows & Houses – Estimating will be most accurate after your first clean, for a start we recommend setting an appointment for 3 or 4 hours. 

• Airbnb & Rental Properties – High turnover, frequent deep cleaning needs. Will require special services such as laundry and making beds. Best to charge hourly and bill how long it took you after the job is done. 

Key Factors to Consider When Pricing

Location

Market rates vary based on location. Urban areas typically have higher demand and higher costs of living, allowing for higher rates. In smaller towns or rural areas, cleaning rates are generally lower, so adjust pricing to match the local market. Check what other cleaners in your area charge to stay competitive.

Size of the Property

Larger homes require more time and effort, all this means to you is that you may want to suggest a longer set number of hours. Such as 4 hours of cleaning at your standard rate instead of 3. If you need more time, either ask the owner if they want you to continue the first clean or suggest that on their next clean you come for a longer period of time. 

Client Requests

Some homes require extra work beyond standard cleaning. There is nothing wrong with helping a client with custom requests, and it is not always necessary to charge a different rate, it just may mean more time at the house. If the job they are requesting is more difficult you can consider charging extra, and if you don’t want to do it you can simply say that you don’t offer that service. It's up to you:

✔ Pet Hair Removal – More vacuuming, brushing, and cleaning.
✔ Excess Clutter – Slower cleaning due to moving items.
✔ Post-Event Cleanup – More dirt and garbage to handle.
✔ Eco-Friendly Products – If using special supplies, account for the extra cost.

 

Cleaning Frequency

• Weekly Clients – Homes stay cleaner, making the job easier. Consider offering a 5% discount to encourage frequent bookings.

• Bi-Weekly Clients – Standard pricing, as there's a moderate amount of buildup.

• Monthly Clients – More dust and dirt accumulate, requiring extra time and effort. Charge 50% more than your standard rate to cover the additional labor and to encourage clients to switch to bi-weekly cleanings.

 

Taxes

Don’t forget to account for sales tax in your pricing. If your business is registered for tax collection, make sure to:

• Include tax in your final quoted price.

• Check your province’s sales tax requirements.

• Consider rounding up your hourly rate to simplify tax calculations.

 

Competition

Knowing your competitors' pricing helps you stay competitive. Research:

• Local cleaning businesses and franchises. Request quotes from these companies over the phone, ask for hourly rates, deep cleaning rates, what they include in their services, and whatever else you want to know.)

• How many companies there are in your area compared to the population. Most cleaning companies have full schedules with no room for many more clients. Leaving many people without a house cleaner. 

You don’t have to be the cheapest—and remember that most competitors are charging high rates. Just test different pricing and see what works best. 

 

5 Easy Steps to Price Your Cleaning Services

1. Research Local Market Rates – Check what others charge in your area.

2. Decide on a Pricing Model – We recommend charging hourly. 

3. Calculate Your Costs – Factor in travel, supplies, and overhead.

4. Create a Pricing Guide – Create hourly rates for standard and deep cleaning services.

5. Test & Adjust – Start with a price and tweak based on customers.

Note: Don’t be afraid to charge a higher rate, test it for a while (at least a couple weeks) and see what kind of response you get. Don’t lower your price if you get one person who says it's too high, there may be 10 more willing to pay it. 

 

Conclusion

• Keep pricing simple and effective—don't overcomplicate it.

• Hourly Rates—Start with a 3 hour minimum at your desired hourly rate and start setting up cleaning appointments for 3 or 4 hours. 

• Services—Keep your service offerings simple, usually standard cleaning and deep cleaning are the only 2 services anyone will really want. Always ask the client what is most important to them so you don’t miss it. 

• Get Clients—go out there and get your first clients, as you build your business don't be afraid to raise your rates for new clients, be wary of raising the rates of your existing customers if you don’t want to lose them, but don’t be afraid to lose them if you can get more. 

Starting A Cleaning Business? 

Are you thinking of starting your own cleaning business? You might be interested in this

Cleaning Business Starter Package

With everything you need to start your business including equipment, guides, customer branded apparel, and 1 on 1 consulting, we help you every step of the way!

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If you have questions about how to start give us a call directly at 1-888-497-5797 and we would be happy to help answer questions you might have.