How do I set pricing for my cleaning business?

Calculate your minimum viable rate by adding hourly labor cost + hourly overhead allocation + hourly supply cost, then divide by (1 − target profit margin). Most cleaning businesses need to charge at least $40–$55/hour effective rate to sustain a healthy business after all costs.

Should I price cleaning services by hour or by job?

Job-based (flat-rate) pricing is better for most cleaning businesses because it rewards efficiency and gives clients predictability. Set flat rates based on your average time plus a buffer. Only use hourly pricing for custom or unpredictable jobs like post-construction cleans.

What expenses should I include when pricing cleaning jobs?

Include: labor (including your own time at market rate), cleaning supplies ($5–$15 per job), business insurance ($80–$150/month), vehicle costs ($0.67/mile IRS rate), and general overhead (software, marketing, phone). Most cleaners underestimate supply and vehicle costs.

Cleaning Business Pricing Calculator 2026

Updated May 2026 · 8 min read

Undercharging is the #1 reason cleaning businesses fail in the first year. This guide shows you exactly how to price residential and commercial cleaning jobs so you cover your costs, pay yourself fairly, and still win clients.

The Core Pricing Formula

Every cleaning job price comes down to three inputs: your labor cost, your supplies cost, and your overhead. Add a profit margin and you have a floor price. Here is the formula:

Cleaning Business Pricing Formula

Job Price = (Labor Hours x Hourly Wage) + Supplies + Overhead Allocation + Profit Margin

Most new cleaning business owners skip the overhead and profit margin pieces, which means they end up paying themselves below minimum wage once you account for gas, insurance, equipment replacement, and the time spent on admin.

What Should Your Hourly Rate Be?

Your hourly rate is not the same as your wage. Your rate needs to cover your wage plus every business cost you have. A common target for solo operators is $35-$55/hour billed to the client, which works out to a take-home of $18-$28/hour after expenses.

Business Type	Typical Bill Rate	Take-Home After Expenses
Solo operator (no employees)	$30 – $50/hr	$18 – $30/hr
Small team (2-5 cleaners)	$45 – $75/hr per cleaner	Owner: $15 – $25/hr margin
Established company (5+ teams)	$60 – $100/hr per cleaner	Owner: $12 – $20/hr margin
Commercial / janitorial	$0.07 – $0.15/sq ft per visit	Varies by contract terms

Residential Cleaning Pricing by Home Size

Most residential clients want a flat rate, not an hourly quote. Here are standard market rates for a standard clean (not deep clean) in 2026:

Home Size	Bedrooms	Standard Clean	Deep Clean	Move-In/Out
Under 1,000 sq ft	Studio / 1BR	$80 – $120	$140 – $200	$175 – $250
1,000 – 1,500 sq ft	2BR	$110 – $160	$175 – $250	$220 – $320
1,500 – 2,500 sq ft	3BR	$140 – $210	$220 – $320	$270 – $400
2,500 – 3,500 sq ft	4BR	$185 – $275	$280 – $400	$350 – $500
3,500+ sq ft	5BR+	$230 – $350+	$350 – $550+	$450 – $700+

Rule of thumb: Standard clean takes 1 hour per bedroom plus 30 minutes for the kitchen and common areas. Deep clean takes 1.5-2x as long. Always add 15 minutes of buffer per job for setup, loading, and travel between clients.

How to Price Commercial Cleaning

Commercial jobs are priced per square foot rather than flat rate, because the square footage determines labor time more reliably than room count. Standard commercial rates in 2026:

Space Type	Per Sq Ft (Weekly)	Per Sq Ft (Monthly)	Notes
Office space	$0.08 – $0.14	$0.25 – $0.45	Most common contract type
Medical / dental office	$0.12 – $0.20	$0.40 – $0.65	OSHA compliance adds time
Retail store	$0.06 – $0.12	$0.20 – $0.38	High-traffic floors need more time
Restaurant / food service	$0.15 – $0.30	$0.50 – $0.95	Grease and high standards
Gym / fitness studio	$0.10 – $0.18	$0.32 – $0.55	Equipment cleaning included

The Square Footage Pricing Formula for Commercial

Commercial Cleaning Price Formula

Monthly Contract Price = Sq Ft x Rate Per Sq Ft
Labor Check: (Total Hours x Hourly Cost) + Supplies + Overhead < Monthly Contract Price

Always verify that the labor check passes. If cleaning a 5,000 sq ft office at $0.30/sq ft = $1,500/month but it takes your team 8 hours per week (32 hours/month) at $20/hr labor = $640 + supplies + overhead, you are profitable. If it takes 15 hours per week, recalculate your rate or scope.

Add-On Pricing

Add-on services are one of the fastest ways to increase your average job value without acquiring new clients:

Add-On Service	Typical Price Range
Interior oven cleaning	$25 – $50
Interior refrigerator cleaning	$20 – $45
Interior window cleaning (per window)	$4 – $8
Laundry (wash + fold)	$30 – $60 per load
Organization (per hour)	$45 – $75
Post-construction cleanup	$0.25 – $0.50/sq ft

Cleaning Job Price Calculator

Job Type

Home Size / Sq Ft

Your Hourly Labor Rate ($/hr)

Supplies Cost per Job ($)

Overhead per Job ($)

Target Profit Margin (%)

Estimated Hours

Estimated Hours—

Labor Cost—

Supplies + Overhead—

Pricing

Minimum Price (break-even)—

Recommended Price (with margin)—

Effective Rate per Sq Ft—

Common Pricing Mistakes to Avoid

Quoting by the hour to clients. Clients hate open-ended hourly rates. Flat-rate quotes build trust and make scheduling predictable. Use hourly internally to check your math.
Not accounting for drive time. If you spend 30 minutes driving to a job, that costs you money. Build a travel surcharge into jobs outside your main service area.
Underpricing to win the client. The clients who pressure you hardest on price tend to be the hardest to retain and the least likely to tip or refer. Price for the client you want.
No first-clean premium. First cleans always take longer. Charge 20-50% more for the initial deep clean, then drop to your recurring rate.
Not raising prices annually. Build in a 5-10% annual rate increase for all recurring clients. Give 30 days notice. Most clients expect it.

Recurring vs One-Time Pricing

Recurring clients are more valuable than one-time jobs, but they expect a discount in exchange for commitment. A standard approach:

Weekly clients: 20-25% discount vs one-time rate
Bi-weekly clients: 10-15% discount
Monthly clients: 5-8% discount
One-time / occasional: Full rate, no discount

Also useful: Startup Cost Calculator

Planning to launch or expand your cleaning business? Calculate your total capital requirement before you spend a dollar.

Calculate Startup Costs

Estimates are for planning purposes only. Actual rates vary by location, competition, client requirements, and business structure. Always verify local labor laws, insurance requirements, and licensing before setting prices.