Find out exactly how much to charge for house cleaning in 2026. Real pricing data, rate tables, and a free calculator from a cleaning business owner.
How Much to Charge for House Cleaning in 2026 (Complete Pricing Guide)
Setting the right price for house cleaning is the most important business decision you'll make as a cleaning professional. Too low and you can't cover costs or grow. Too high and you lose jobs. This guide gives you the exact pricing formula used by profitable cleaning businesses across the United States in 2026 — with pricing tables, a step-by-step formula, and answers to the most common pricing questions.
House Cleaning Prices by Bedroom Count (2026 National Averages)
Bedrooms
Standard Clean
Deep Clean
Move-Out Clean
1 Bedroom / Studio
$80–$120
$140–$200
$175–$250
2 Bedrooms
$100–$150
$175–$250
$220–$325
3 Bedrooms
$130–$200
$220–$320
$280–$400
4 Bedrooms
$170–$260
$280–$400
$350–$500
5+ Bedrooms
$220–$350+
$360–$520+
$450–$650+
Adjust up 20–30% for high cost-of-living cities (New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles). Adjust down 10–15% for lower cost-of-living markets in the Midwest and South.
House Cleaning Prices by Square Footage (2026)
Square Footage
Price Range
Per Sq Ft Rate
Under 1,000 sq ft
$80–$130
$0.09–$0.13
1,000–1,500 sq ft
$100–$165
$0.09–$0.12
1,500–2,000 sq ft
$130–$200
$0.08–$0.11
2,000–2,500 sq ft
$160–$240
$0.08–$0.10
2,500–3,000 sq ft
$190–$280
$0.07–$0.10
Over 3,000 sq ft
$240–$400+
$0.06–$0.09
Step-by-Step Pricing Formula for House Cleaning
Calculate your true hourly cost: Add labor cost + supply cost per hour + travel cost per hour + monthly overhead ÷ hours worked. This is your break-even rate.
Add your profit margin: Most cleaning businesses target 25–40% profit margin. If your cost is $60/hr and you want 33% margin, charge $90/hr equivalent.
Apply the square footage formula: Multiply sq ft × $0.08–$0.12 for a starting price. Cross-check against your hourly formula and use the higher number.
Verify against your local market: Research 3–5 competitors in your area. Price in the top third of the market — it signals quality and filters out price-shopping clients.
Set recurring pricing: Offer 10–15% off for biweekly recurring, 15–20% off for weekly recurring. Recurring revenue is more profitable long-term.
Send a professional proposal: Turn your price into a branded, itemized quote with Good/Better/Best tiers. First to quote wins — send within 2 hours of the inquiry.
How to Price Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning should be priced 40–70% above your standard rate. A 3-bedroom home you clean for $150 standard should be $210–$255 for a deep clean. Deep cleans take 1.5–2.5× longer because they cover inside appliances, inside cabinets, baseboards, grout scrubbing, and areas not touched during maintenance visits. Always charge a deep clean rate for first-time clients.
Hourly vs Flat-Rate: Which Is Better?
Flat-rate pricing wins for most cleaning businesses. Clients prefer it because they know the total cost upfront. You benefit because you earn more per hour as you get more efficient — efficiency becomes pure profit instead of being passed to the client. Use hourly pricing only for unknown commercial properties or heavily neglected homes where you can't predict time accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I charge for house cleaning?
National average for a 3-bedroom standard clean is $130–$200. Use the formula: square footage × $0.08–$0.12. Adjust for your market and profit target. Hourly equivalent is $25–$50 per cleaner per hour.
Should I charge more for deep cleaning?
Yes — 40–70% more than a standard clean. A $150 standard clean becomes $210–$255 deep clean. Deep cleans take significantly longer and require more supplies. Always charge the deep clean rate for first-time clients.
How do I price recurring clients?
Offer 10–20% off for recurring commitments. Weekly clients: 15–20% discount. Biweekly: 10–15%. Monthly: 5–10%. Recurring clients are more profitable despite the discount because they reduce marketing costs and provide predictable income.
What is the average hourly rate for a house cleaner?
Professional house cleaners typically charge $25–$50 per cleaner per hour. However, most experienced businesses use flat-rate pricing by square footage or bedroom count rather than quoting an hourly rate.
How much should I raise my prices?
Raise prices 5–10% per year to keep pace with inflation and labor cost increases. Announce increases 30 days in advance with a simple note to clients. A 10% price increase on 20 recurring clients worth $150/clean adds $360/month or $4,320/year to your bottom line.