How to Price Cleaning Jobs in 2026 (The Numbers That Actually Work)

Pricing is the #1 reason cleaning businesses fail. Undercharge and you work 60-hour weeks for $35K/year. Overcharge and you lose to whoever quoted first. Here are the actual 2026 numbers that work — for residential, commercial, deep cleans, and move-outs.

The Two Pricing Models That Work

Model A: Per-square-foot (recommended for residential)

• Standard recurring clean: $0.10-$0.15/sq ft
• Deep clean: $0.20-$0.30/sq ft
• Move-out clean: $0.25-$0.45/sq ft

A 1,800 sq ft home = $180-$270 standard, $360-$540 deep, $450-$810 move-out.

Model B: Hourly with minimum (recommended for solo operators)

• Standard recurring: $50-$75/hour
• Deep clean: $65-$95/hour
• Move-out: $75-$110/hour
• 2-hour minimum on all jobs

Specific 2026 Benchmarks

Residential recurring (weekly/biweekly/monthly):

• 1BR/1BA apartment (under 800 sq ft): $99-$139
• 2BR/2BA standard home (1,200-1,800 sq ft): $149-$219
• 3BR/2BA standard home (1,800-2,500 sq ft): $189-$289
• 4BR/3BA large home (2,500-3,500 sq ft): $249-$389
• 5BR+ luxury (3,500+ sq ft): $389-$589

Deep cleans (first clean, post-construction, neglected homes): 1.6-2.0x the recurring rate.

Move-out cleans: 2.0-2.8x the recurring rate. Includes inside cabinets, oven, fridge, baseboards.

Commercial:

• Standard janitorial: $0.07-$0.15/sq ft per visit
• Medical / dental: $0.15-$0.30/sq ft (higher due to disinfection)
• Restaurants: $0.20-$0.45/sq ft (greasy, hard work)

The Profit Math

To clear $80K/year solo as a cleaner, after taxes and overhead, you need to gross ~$120K. That requires either:

• 30 weekly recurring customers at $200 average = $24K/month booked, but you only realize ~$10K/month
• OR 50+ recurring customers at higher pricing
• OR a mix of recurring + one-time deep cleans

Hourly target: $60-$80/hour effective (after travel, setup, supplies).

If your jobs are coming in below $50/hour effective, you're underpricing.

Common Pricing Mistakes

1. Quoting "$25/hour" because it sounds reasonable. Real cost of being on the job (drive time, supplies, payroll taxes if you have help) eats most of it.
2. Free first cleans / heavy discounts. Signals desperation. Use "$50 off first clean" instead.
3. Forgetting supplies in your math. $15-$30/job in chemicals and consumables.
4. No deposit on big jobs. A $400 deep clean cancellation costs you the entire morning.
5. Pricing per visit instead of monthly subscription. Switch recurring customers to flat monthly autopay.

The Software That Handles It

Invoicerus lets cleaners build a pricing menu (deep / standard / move-out × home size), let customers self-quote on the booking page, and auto-charge monthly via card-on-file.

Sign up free at invoicerus.com. No credit card.