Here's the direct answer: in 2026, professional house cleaning for a typical 1,500–2,000 sq ft home runs $100–$250 per standard visit, $200–$500+ for deep cleans, and $250–$600+ for move-out cleans. Hourly rates across the U.S. fall in the $35–$65/hr range for most markets, with major metros pushing $70–$90/hr.
But knowing the market range is just half the equation. If you're running a cleaning business and you're setting prices based on what competitors charge — without ever calculating your own cost structure — you're flying blind. That's how cleaning businesses end up busy and broke.
This guide covers every pricing model, breaks down what to charge for each service type and home size, and walks you through the cost-plus methodology that actually keeps a business profitable long-term.
These are U.S. national ranges. Your local market will vary — see the regional section below.
| Service Type | Typical Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard clean (recurring) | $100–$250/visit | Biweekly or weekly maintenance |
| Standard clean (one-time) | $120–$300/visit | Priced higher — no baseline established |
| Deep clean | $200–$500+ | Inside appliances, baseboards, full detail |
| Move-out / move-in clean | $250–$600+ | Full property, often empty, highest demand |
| Airbnb / short-term rental turnover | $80–$175/turnover | Volume-dependent; linen service extra |
| Post-construction clean | $0.15–$0.50/sq ft | Debris, dust, detail — premium rate |
| Hourly rate (standalone) | $35–$65/hr | $55–$90/hr in major metros |
There's no single "right" way to price cleaning services — but there are smarter and less-smart ways depending on your business stage and service type.
The most common starting point. Easy to explain, easy to adjust as you learn how long jobs actually take. The downside: as you get more efficient, you earn less for the same quality of work. A cleaner who finishes a home in 2.5 hours vs. 3 hours takes a $25 penalty for getting better at the job — that's the wrong incentive structure.
Use hourly pricing when: starting out, quoting unusual or first-time jobs, or when client scope is genuinely unpredictable.
The gold standard for recurring residential cleaning. You quote a fixed price for a specific home — the client knows exactly what they pay each visit, and you know exactly what each job is worth. Rewards efficiency. Predictable cash flow. Professional.
Use flat rates for: all recurring residential clients, once you've cleaned the home at least once and know the actual time involved.
Common for bidding commercial accounts and large residential properties. Rates range from $0.05–$0.15/sq ft for standard maintenance and $0.15–$0.25/sq ft for deep or detailed cleaning. Post-construction can run $0.25–$0.50/sq ft given the extra labor involved.
Use per-sq-ft for: commercial bids, post-construction quotes, or any time you're pricing a property you haven't seen in person.
A quick quoting shortcut. Typically $25–$60 per room depending on room size, type, and clean level. Less accurate than flat-rate but useful for ballpark estimates over the phone.
Use per-room for: rough estimates and quick quotes. Confirm with flat-rate once you see the property.
| Model | Best For | Typical Rate | Rewards Efficiency? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | New cleaners, one-time/unusual jobs | $35–$65/hr | No |
| Flat per-visit | Recurring residential | $100–$300/visit | Yes |
| Per square foot | Commercial bids, large properties | $0.05–$0.50/sq ft | Partially |
| Per room | Quick estimates | $25–$60/room | No |
The backbone of a residential cleaning business. Covers all main surfaces, floors, bathrooms, kitchen counters, and general tidying. Duration for a typical 3BR/2BA: 2–3 hours solo.
Everything in a standard clean, plus: inside the oven and refrigerator, inside cabinet doors, window sills, baseboards, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and grout scrubbing. Takes 2–4x longer than a maintenance visit. Price accordingly — this is not a "discount" upsell. It's a separate service.
The highest-demand specialty service. Empty homes take longer to clean properly — every surface is exposed. Clients need them spotless for security deposit returns or to impress buyers. Build in extra time for kitchen appliances, bathrooms, closets, and any areas that were covered by furniture. Never quote move-out work over the phone without seeing the property first, or at least getting a detailed condition description.
Weekly and biweekly recurring clients are your profit engine. Their homes stay cleaner between visits, so each clean takes less time as the relationship matures. This is where your per-job margin improves over time.
| Service | 2BR / 1BA | 3BR / 2BA | 4BR / 2.5BA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard clean (recurring) | $100–$160 | $150–$230 | $200–$290 |
| Standard clean (one-time) | $120–$190 | $170–$260 | $225–$330 |
| Deep clean | $200–$320 | $280–$450 | $380–$560 |
| Move-out / move-in clean | $250–$375 | $320–$500 | $420–$625 |
These are U.S. national ranges for 2026. Major metro markets will be 20–50% higher. Smaller and rural markets may be 20–30% lower. Use these as starting benchmarks — your cost-plus calculation is what sets your actual floor.
When quoting flat rates, home size is the primary driver. Use this table as a starting reference, adjusted for your local market and the specific home's condition.
| Home Size / Type | Standard Clean | Deep Clean | Move-Out Clean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1BR, 1BA (<800 sq ft) | $80–$130 | $150–$250 | $200–$320 |
| 2BR, 1BA (~1,000 sq ft) | $110–$170 | $200–$325 | $260–$390 |
| 2BR, 2BA (~1,200 sq ft) | $130–$195 | $230–$375 | $295–$440 |
| 3BR, 2BA (~1,500–1,800 sq ft) | $155–$240 | $280–$450 | $330–$510 |
| 4BR, 2.5BA (~2,200 sq ft) | $210–$300 | $380–$560 | $430–$625 |
| 5BR+ / Large home (3,000+ sq ft) | $280–$400+ | $500–$750+ | $600–$900+ |
Condition matters as much as size. A 1,500 sq ft home that hasn't had a professional clean in 18 months should be quoted as a deep clean, not a standard. Quote what the job actually requires — not what the client hopes it costs.
This is the section most pricing guides skip. Knowing what competitors charge is useful. Knowing what you need to charge to stay in business is essential.
The most common — and costly — mistake in the cleaning industry: setting prices based on what competitors charge, without ever running the numbers on your own cost structure. Your competitor may have lower supply costs, drive fewer miles, carry less insurance, or — most likely — they're already underpricing and don't realize it.
Use this cost-plus framework for every new service you price:
The formula:
Profitable Job Price = (Estimated Hours × Hourly Labor Cost) + Supplies per Job + Transportation per Job + Overhead per Job, multiplied by 1.20–1.30 for profit margin
Run this calculation once and you'll immediately know whether your current rates are sustainable. Many cleaners are shocked to discover their "competitive" pricing is actually below their cost-plus floor.
HomePro's ProfitPulse pricing calculator does this math for you automatically — plug in your numbers and it outputs your profitable floor rate and suggested market price. It's free to use.
Recurring clients are the lifeblood of a profitable residential cleaning business. A client who books biweekly for 12 months is worth $3,600–$6,000+ in annual revenue. A one-time deep clean might net $350. There's no comparison.
Offering a discount for recurring bookings is smart — but only if it's structured correctly:
| Frequency | Typical Discount Off Standard Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly recurring | 15–20% | Homes stay cleaner; jobs get faster over time |
| Biweekly recurring | 10–15% | Most popular frequency; strong margin |
| Monthly recurring | 0–5% | Homes are dirtier; discount rarely warranted |
| One-time / sporadic | No discount | Price at full rate or a premium |
Critical rule: only discount after your base rate is already profitable. If your standard rate is already at or near your cost-plus floor, a 15% recurring discount turns a thin margin into a loss. Build the recurring price into your cost-plus model — not as an afterthought discount.
U.S. cleaning prices vary significantly by geography. Use the ranges below as general orientation, then validate with actual local competitor research before setting your rates.
| Market Type | Hourly Rate Range | Standard 3BR Visit |
|---|---|---|
| Major metros (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, Chicago, Seattle) | $55–$90/hr | $200–$350 |
| Mid-size metros (Austin, Denver, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami) | $45–$70/hr | $160–$265 |
| Secondary markets (mid-size cities, suburbs) | $38–$58/hr | $135–$220 |
| Small towns and rural areas | $30–$50/hr | $100–$180 |
To research your specific market: check Thumbtack, Angi, and Yelp listings for cleaning services in your zip code. Local Facebook neighborhood groups often have recent "how much do you pay?" threads that give you real, unfiltered pricing data. Just don't let competitor rates override your cost-plus floor — pricing below your costs to "stay competitive" is a guaranteed path to burnout or closure.
Want to make sure your rates are right before you quote your next job? Run the free ProfitPulse pricing calculator — it takes about 3 minutes and will either confirm your pricing or show you exactly where you're leaving money on the table.
Most professional house cleaners charge $35–$65/hr in 2026 for standard markets, with major metros running $55–$90/hr. That said, hourly billing is rarely the best long-term model — most established cleaning businesses price by the job (flat rate) rather than by the hour. Flat rates reward efficiency and are more predictable for clients.
A standard recurring clean for a 3BR/2BA home typically runs $150–$250 in most U.S. markets. First-time or one-time visits are usually priced $20–$40 higher, since the home takes more time to bring to a baseline level of cleanliness. Major metro markets will be toward the higher end of these ranges; smaller markets toward the lower end.
A deep clean should cost 1.5x to 2.5x your standard visit rate. It covers everything in a standard clean plus inside appliances, cabinet interiors, baseboards, window sills, ceiling fans, and grout. For a home with a $175 standard rate, a deep clean should run $300–$435. Move-out cleans are priced even higher — full access to an empty property takes thorough effort and commands $250–$600+ depending on size and condition.
Flat-rate pricing is the preferred model for established cleaning businesses. Clients like knowing the exact cost; flat rates reward you for getting faster and better. Start with hourly if you're new and still learning how long jobs take — but transition to flat per-visit pricing as soon as you have enough data to estimate confidently. Per-square-foot pricing is useful for large commercial bids or quoting unfamiliar properties remotely.
Add up your real cost per job: labor (including your own pay), supplies (~$4–$12/job), transportation, and allocated overhead (insurance, software, marketing, admin). Then add a 20–30% profit margin on top. The result is your floor price — never quote below it, regardless of what competitors charge. Use HomePro's free ProfitPulse pricing calculator to do this calculation automatically for your market.
Market rates give you a starting range. Your cost-plus calculation gives you a floor. The difference between the two is your pricing power — and that's where experience, systems, and reputation come in.
New operators often feel pressure to undercut the market to get started. Resist it. Price your services to be sustainable from day one. You can always run a limited-time introductory offer — but build it on top of a profitable base rate, not below one.
The cleaning businesses that last 10+ years aren't the cheapest. They're the most consistent, the most professional, and the most systems-driven. If you're building that kind of operation, start here with our complete guide to launching a cleaning business without a franchise — and use the free Cleaning Smart Start playbook to build your foundation the right way.
Ready to nail your pricing and build a business that actually makes money? HomePro Pro gives you the complete operating framework — pricing tools, scripts, systems, and Sage AI coaching — for $79/mo. Franchise-grade infrastructure. No franchise fees.
HomePro Systems helps independent home service business owners build professional, profitable operations with franchise-grade systems — without the franchise. Learn more at HomePro Systems.