Cleaning is priced in more ways than almost any other home service — hourly, per room, per square foot, per property, per visit — which makes quotes genuinely hard to compare. Here is how each works and what each actually costs.
The pricing models
Hourly — $25 to $60 per cleaner per hour. Common for recurring visits and for first-time cleans where nobody knows how long it will take. Fair to both sides, but you are buying time rather than an outcome, so agree the priorities before they start.
Flat rate per visit. The most common arrangement for regular domestic cleaning once a cleaner knows the property. You are buying a defined result, and the risk of a slow week sits with them.
Per square foot — $0.08 to $0.20. Usually for larger homes and for move-out work.
What a standard clean costs
| Property | Typical range per visit |
|---|---|
| Studio or one bedroom | $80–$130 |
| Two bedroom | $100–$170 |
| Three bedroom | $120–$250 |
| Four bedroom | $180–$320 |
| Deep clean, first visit | 1.5–2× the standard rate |
| Move-out or end of tenancy | $180–$500 |
Frequency changes the number: a weekly visit generally costs less per clean than fortnightly, and considerably less than a one-off, because the house never gets far from where it was left.
Standard versus deep — the distinction that matters
A standard clean is maintenance. Surfaces, floors, bathrooms, kitchen exteriors, mirrors, dusting, bins. It assumes the place was cleaned reasonably recently.
A deep clean is everything a standard clean does not reach: inside the oven, inside the refrigerator, inside cupboards, descaling shower screens and tile grout, skirting boards, door frames, light switches, interior windows, behind and under movable furniture.
Nearly every complaint about a cleaning service comes from booking the first while expecting the second. If it is a first visit, or the property has been neglected, book a deep clean and put the recurring standard clean after it.
Move-out cleaning is a different service
It is priced per property rather than hourly because the scope is a checklist, not a timeframe — the standard is whatever an inspection will accept. Two things are worth knowing.
Carpet cleaning is usually separate. Many tenancy agreements specifically require professionally cleaned carpets at the end. Budget $120–$350 on top for a typical home.
The property should be empty. The entire point is reaching what furniture normally hides. If large items cannot be moved, say so when booking so the quote reflects it and nobody argues about it afterwards.
What is normally not included
Ask about these rather than assuming — they are the usual sources of a disappointed handover:
- Inside the oven and the refrigerator (deep clean only)
- Exterior windows, and anything needing a ladder
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning — different equipment, different service
- Laundry and dishes, unless agreed
- Mould remediation, hoarding situations, biohazards
- Tidying. A cleaner is not a declutterer, and a surface covered in objects will be cleaned around
Products, keys and the practical stuff
Most cleaners bring their own products and equipment; if you would rather they used yours — allergies, pets, a stone worktop that hates acid — say so at booking. Vacuums are the common exception, and many cleaners prefer to use the one already in the house.
For recurring visits, agree access early: a key, a code, or being home. It is the single most common cause of a wasted visit that you still get charged for.
Getting the most from a clean
- Be specific about priorities. "Bathrooms and kitchen matter most, the study can be skipped" is far more useful than "everywhere, please".
- Clear the surfaces before they arrive. You are paying for cleaning time, not tidying time.
- Book the same person. A cleaner who knows your house is meaningfully faster by the third visit — and on Task Masters you can save a professional and rebook them directly.
Ready to book? Compare local cleaners by their own published prices and verified reviews: house cleaning → · move-out cleaning → · carpet cleaning →