How to price cleaning jobs
Every price needs to cover four things: labor (wages plus payroll taxes and insurance), direct costs (supplies and travel), overhead (software, ads, phone, your own admin time) and profit. The calculator works backwards from the margin you want:
Price = (labor + supplies + travel) ÷ (1 − overhead % − profit %)
Three ways to charge
1. Hourly
Simple when you start out, but clients see the clock running and you earn less as you get faster. Most U.S. cleaning companies land at $40–$55 per labor hour.
2. Flat rate per job (recommended)
Estimate the hours from the home's size, bathrooms and condition, then quote one price. Clients compare totals, and you keep the benefit when your team improves.
3. Per square foot
Common for move-out and commercial jobs. Residential standard cleans often work out to roughly $0.10–$0.20 per sq ft; deep and move-out cleans about double that.
Example flat-rate price list
| Home | Standard | Deep | Move-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed, 1 bath | $100 | $150 | $170 |
| 2 bed, 1 bath | $110 | $190 | $215 |
| 2 bed, 2 bath | $135 | $240 | $275 |
| 3 bed, 2 bath | $160 | $295 | $335 |
| 4 bed, 3 bath | $225 | $420 | $480 |
Example flat rates for a small company paying $18/hour, with 15% payroll costs, $18 supplies and travel per job, 15% overhead and 20% profit. Plug your own numbers into the calculator above.
Send the price as a professional quote
Once you have a price, create a branded PDF with the free cleaning quote generator, and bill the job afterwards with the invoice generator.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for house cleaning?
Work out how many labor hours the home takes and price it so you earn about $40–$55 per labor hour in an average market after supplies. For a 3-bed, 2-bath standard clean that typically means a flat price of roughly $170–$230.
How much should I charge per square foot for cleaning?
Residential standard cleaning often works out to $0.10–$0.20 per sq ft, deep and move-out cleaning to $0.20–$0.40. Commercial janitorial contracts are priced per month, often a few cents to around $0.20 per sq ft per month depending on frequency.
What profit margin should a cleaning business have?
Many residential cleaning companies aim for 15–25% net profit after paying cleaners, payroll taxes and overhead. If your price per labor hour is under $35, your margin is probably too thin.
Should I charge more for the first cleaning?
Yes. First visits usually take 30–50% longer. Many companies charge a deep-clean price for the first visit and then a recurring rate.