How Much to Charge for House Cleaning: 2026 Pricing Guide
· 8 min read
Most US house cleaners charge $25 to $50 per cleaner per hour, or about $0.10 to $0.20 per square foot for a standard clean, with a typical visit costing around $176, according to Angi's 2026 cost data. Deep cleans and move-out cleans cost more. But the market rate is only half the answer: your price also has to cover your own pay, supplies, driving, insurance and taxes, or you'll be busy and broke.
This guide shows you both sides: what customers are paying right now, and how to work out a price that leaves you a profit. There's a full worked example for a 3-bedroom, 2,000 sq ft home at the end.
What customers pay for house cleaning in 2026
Start with the going rate, because that's what your quote will be compared against. Here's what two large US cost guides report:
Standard clean, per visit: $118–$238, typical visit about $176 (Angi, March 2026). HomeGuide puts the typical range at $120–$280, with a national average of $200.
Hourly rate: $25–$50 per cleaner per hour (Angi); $25–$75 per cleaner per hour (HomeGuide).
Per square foot, standard clean: $0.10–$0.20 (Angi); $0.10–$0.17 (HomeGuide).
Per square foot, deep clean: about $0.25 (Angi); $0.11–$0.30 (HomeGuide).
Move-out clean: $0.22–$0.33 per sq ft, or $300–$500 for a 2,000 sq ft home (HomeGuide).
Deep clean, whole house: average $260, typical range $180–$375 (Angi deep-cleaning guide, 2026).
By home size, Angi lists a regular clean at $100–$200 for 1,000 sq ft, $200–$400 for 2,000 sq ft and $300–$600 for 3,000 sq ft.
These are national figures, and prices vary a lot by city and region, so check what local companies advertise before you settle on your numbers. Call two or three and ask for a quote on a home like the ones you plan to clean.
The three ways to price a cleaning job
There's no single "right" method. Most cleaning businesses use one of these three, or a mix.
1. Hourly rate
You charge a set amount per cleaner per hour, for example $40.
Good for: one-off jobs you can't predict, very cluttered homes, organizing work.
Downside: customers can't budget, and you earn less as you get faster. A cleaner who finishes in 2.5 hours instead of 3.5 is penalized for being good.
2. Per square foot
You multiply the home's size by a rate, for example 2,000 sq ft × $0.12 = $240.
Good for: quoting quickly over the phone or on a website form.
Downside: square footage doesn't tell you about pets, clutter, number of bathrooms or how long it's been since the last clean. Always keep the right to adjust after a walkthrough.
3. Flat rate by rooms (bedrooms and bathrooms)
You set a price per home type, for example "3 bed / 2 bath: $200", or build it up per room. Angi's deep-cleaning guide lists a typical range of $25–$60 per room.
Good for: recurring customers. Customers like a fixed price, and you keep the benefit when you get faster.
Downside: you need to know how long your jobs take, or one bad estimate eats your profit for the month.
A common setup is to quote flat rates to customers but calculate them from your hourly target behind the scenes. That's what the example below does.
How to work out your own price (not just copy the market)
Market rates tell you the ceiling. Your costs tell you the floor. Here's how to find the floor.
Step 1: Decide what you need to earn per hour
Pick an hourly figure for your own labor. For context, the median wage for maids and housekeeping cleaners in the US was $17.07 an hour in May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). As an owner you should aim higher than that, because you also do the quoting, driving, marketing and admin that nobody pays you for, and you have no paid leave.
Step 2: Add your job costs
For each clean, add:
Supplies: chemicals, microfiber cloths, paper towels, vacuum bags. Track what you actually use for a few weeks and divide by the number of jobs.
Travel: the IRS business mileage rate is 76 cents per mile for the rest of 2026 (it was raised from 72.5 cents on July 1, 2026). It's a fair way to cost your driving, since it's meant to cover fuel, wear and depreciation.
Overhead share: insurance, scheduling software, phone, marketing and equipment replacement. Add up a month's worth and divide by the jobs you do in a month.
Step 3: Add profit and taxes
Your hourly pay is not profit. Add a margin on top so the business can save for slow months, replace equipment and eventually hire. Remember that as a self-employed person you'll owe self-employment tax of 15.3% (Social Security and Medicare) on your net earnings, on top of income tax. Tax rules depend on your situation, so check with a tax professional.
Step 4: Compare with the market and adjust
If your cost-based price is below the local market, you're probably undercharging. Raise it toward the market rate. If it's above, look for ways to work faster, cut drive time by grouping jobs by neighborhood, or target customers who value quality over price.
Worked example: quoting a 3-bed, 2-bath, 2,000 sq ft home
A customer wants a first-time clean and then biweekly service for a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 2,000 sq ft house, 8 miles from your home. You work solo. The time and cost figures below are example assumptions; replace them with your own.
The cost floor for a biweekly clean
Your time: 3.5 hours × $25/hour = $87.50
Supplies: $8.00
Travel: 16 miles round trip × $0.76 = $12.16
Overhead share (insurance, software, marketing): $10.00
Total cost: $117.66
Add a 20% profit margin: $117.66 × 1.20 = $141.19
So about $141 is the lowest you should accept for this job.
The market check
Angi's regular-clean rate of $0.10–$0.20 per sq ft gives 2,000 × $0.10 = $200 to 2,000 × $0.20 = $400.
HomeGuide lists $110–$320 for a 3-bed, 2-bath, 2,000 sq ft home.
Your $141 floor sits well below the middle of both ranges. This is a common trap for new cleaners: pricing from their costs alone and leaving money on the table.
The quote
Biweekly standard clean: 2,000 sq ft × $0.10 = $200 per visit. That's at the bottom of Angi's per-square-foot range, a reasonable place for a new business with no reviews yet. You can present it as a discount from a one-time price of $230 (about 13% off, within the 10%–30% recurring discount Angi reports).
First visit as a deep clean: 2,000 sq ft × $0.18 = $360
Add-on, inside oven: $25 (HomeGuide lists $15–$35)
Add-on, inside fridge: $30 (HomeGuide lists $12–$50)
First visit total: $360 + $25 + $30 = $415
What you actually earn
On each biweekly visit: $200 − $8 supplies − $12.16 travel − $10 overhead = $169.84. Divided by 3.5 hours, that's about $48.53 per hour before taxes, nearly double the $25 you started with. That gap is what pays for your unpaid admin time, slow weeks and growth.
If you'd rather not do this math by hand for every quote, the Cleaning Business Starter Kit includes a Pricing Calculator workbook that works out your hourly rate and standard prices, plus quote templates you can send the same day.
Common pricing mistakes to avoid
Charging the same for the first clean and the recurring clean. A home that hasn't been professionally cleaned takes much longer the first time. Price the first visit as a deep clean.
Forgetting drive time. Twenty minutes each way is 40 unpaid minutes per job. Group customers by area or add a travel fee for far-away jobs.
Quoting blind. Ask for photos or do a quick walkthrough before you commit to a flat rate. Note pets, clutter and extra bathrooms.
Never raising prices. Review your rates at least once a year, and give recurring customers written notice before a change.
Skipping insurance to keep prices low. Many customers ask whether you're insured, and one damaged floor can cost more than a year of premiums. See the SBA's guide to business insurance; requirements vary by state.
Quick pricing checklist
Know your hourly target and your cost per job.
Check three local competitors' prices.
Pick one pricing method and write a simple price list (by home size or bed/bath count).
Set add-on prices (oven, fridge, inside windows, laundry, linens).
Decide your recurring discounts (weekly, biweekly, monthly).
Time every job for the first month and adjust.
FAQ
Should I charge by the hour or a flat rate?
For recurring homes, a flat rate is usually better: customers get a predictable bill and you keep the benefit as you get faster. Hourly rates make sense for one-off jobs you can't estimate, like heavy clutter or post-renovation cleans.
How much should I charge for the first cleaning?
Many businesses price the first visit as a deep clean. Angi puts the average deep clean at $260, with most falling between $180 and $375, and HomeGuide lists $0.11–$0.30 per sq ft.
How much of a discount should recurring customers get?
Angi reports recurring discounts of 10%–30% compared with one-time cleans. Only offer a bigger discount if the home really takes less time per visit, and check that the discounted price still clears your cost floor.
How much should I pay a helper?
The BLS median for maids and housekeeping cleaners was $17.07 an hour in May 2025, but local wages vary widely. As an employer you'll also owe payroll taxes and usually need workers' compensation insurance, so your cost per hour is higher than the wage. Requirements vary by state, so read the SBA's insurance guide and check your state's rules before you hire.
Do I need a license to start charging for house cleaning?
It depends on where you work. The licenses and permits you need depend on your business activities and location, so check with your city, county and state before you take paying jobs. The SBA's licenses and permits page is a good place to start.