How much should house cleaners charge?
Solo cleaners typically price per job (flat rate based on square footage and condition) but should still know their effective hourly rate to avoid underpricing larger or dirtier homes.
Estimate your rate
A starting point for house cleaning — adjust to your own numbers.
~$124.00 / visit
Based on a 120-minute visit at an effective rate of ~$62.00/hour. Formula: (target income + expenses) ÷ (billable hours/week × 50 working weeks), converted to a per-visit price. This is a starting estimate, not a guarantee — adjust for local market rates.
What moves the rate
- Home size (square footage, number of bedrooms/bathrooms)
- Cleaning type: standard maintenance vs deep clean vs move-out clean
- Frequency: one-time jobs typically command a higher rate than recurring weekly/biweekly clients
- Supplies: bringing your own products and equipment vs client-provided
- Local cost of living and competitor rates
- Travel time between jobs
Estimate hours needed for the home, multiply by your target hourly rate, then quote a flat job price so the client knows the total upfront. The $2,000/yr expense default assumes liability/bonding insurance (~$300-500), cleaning products and consumables (~$600-900), vacuum/equipment replacement, and mileage between jobs — higher than pet sitting or tutoring because of recurring product and equipment costs, but no dedicated commercial vehicle.