House Cleaning Price Calculator
Updated · By the CalculatorDash editorial team · How we check our maths
Quick answer
A standard clean usually costs about $0.10–$0.15 per square foot, so a 1,800 sq ft home lands near $200–$250 per visit. Deep cleans cost 50–100% more, and move-out cleans for a typical house run roughly $250–$600. Weekly and biweekly customers normally get 10–20% off.
How this calculator works
Most residential cleaners price by square footage because it tracks how long a job takes far better than bedroom count. This calculator starts from a per-square-foot rate for a standard clean, applies a multiplier for deep or move-out work, and then discounts recurring service, which is how most independent cleaners and franchises build a quote.
Deep and move-out cleans take longer because they include work a standard visit skips: baseboards, inside cabinets, door frames, behind appliances and built-up grime. Recurring customers get a lower rate because a home cleaned every one or two weeks never builds up that grime, so each visit is quicker.
Business owners can embed this calculator on their own website with their own rates. Visitors get an instant ballpark, and the business gets a lead with the home size and service type already filled in.
The formula
- Base price
- home size × rate per sq ft × cleaning-type multiplier × frequency discount
- Pets
- base price × 1.10
- Price per visit
- the larger of (base price + add-ons) and your minimum charge
- Monthly cost
- price per visit × visits per month (4.33 weekly, 2.17 biweekly)
Worked example
A 2,000 sq ft home booked for a deep clean at $0.12 per sq ft comes to 2,000 × 0.12 × 1.6 = $384. If the owner has a dog, add 10% for $422.40. Add inside-oven cleaning ($35) and the quote is about $457, or roughly $410–$505 once you allow for the home's condition.
Tips
- 01Quote a range, not a single number, until you have seen the home. It protects your margin without scaring the customer off.
- 02Set a minimum charge so small apartments still cover travel time and setup.
- 03Offer the first visit as a deep clean, then move the customer to a recurring standard rate.
- 04Price add-ons such as ovens, fridges and interior windows separately. They are easy upsells and customers like seeing them itemised.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge per square foot for house cleaning?
Many cleaners charge around $0.10–$0.15 per square foot for a standard clean and $0.15–$0.25 for deep or move-out work. Adjust for local wages and competition, and check that the result still covers at least your target hourly rate.
Is it better to charge hourly or by square foot?
Square-foot or flat pricing is easier for customers to accept because they know the cost upfront. Hourly pricing protects you on very dirty homes. Many cleaners quote by square foot and reserve hourly billing for heavy-duty jobs.
How much more is a deep clean than a regular clean?
Expect 50–100% more than a standard visit. This calculator uses a 1.6× multiplier for deep cleans and 1.9× for move-in or move-out cleans; change the rate field if your market differs.
Do recurring customers get a discount?
Usually. Weekly customers commonly get around 20% off and biweekly customers 10–15%, because homes cleaned regularly take less time per visit.
Sources for the default values
Defaults are typical figures from these sources; change any value to match your situation.