Window Cleaning Price Per Pane: What to Charge and How to Quote
· 7 min read
Window cleaning typically costs about $4 to $8 per pane, according to 2026 cost guides from This Old House and Housecall Pro. A standard window cleaned inside and out usually comes to $8 to $16, and a typical whole-house visit averages about $221 (Angi, 2026). Your own per-pane price should depend on what you count as a "pane", how high the glass is, and what extras like screens and tracks you include.
This guide covers what customers pay, how to define a pane so your quotes don't cause arguments, and a full worked quote for a 2-story house.
What customers pay for window cleaning in 2026
Here's what four national cost guides report. Use them as a sanity check, then compare with what local companies charge.
Per pane: $4–$8 (This Old House; Housecall Pro).
Per window, one side (inside or outside only): $4–$8 (Angi).
Per window, both sides: $8–$16 (Angi and HomeGuide); Housecall Pro lists $10–$18 per window.
Whole house: average $221, typical range $150–$302 per visit (Angi). This Old House lists $360–$400 for a home with 18–20 windows.
Above the second floor: $10–$40 per window (HomeGuide). This Old House suggests adding $3–$5 per window for second-story or hard-to-reach glass.
Hourly: $45–$75 per cleaner (Housecall Pro).
Minimum job charge: HomeGuide reports $100–$250; Angi says small jobs often carry a $75–$150 minimum.
By window type, This Old House lists single- and double-hung windows at $8–$16, picture and bay windows at $15–$25, and skylights at $25–$35.
The spread between these sources is wide, and prices vary by region. Treat the national figures as a range to land in, not a price list.
Pane vs. window: define it before you quote
This is an easy place for misunderstandings to start. Customers count "windows" (openings in the wall). Per-pane pricing counts pieces of glass. The cost guides above don't spell out a single definition, so you need to set yours and put it on the quote.
One simple way to count:
Double-hung or single-hung window: 2 panes (the top sash and the bottom sash).
Slider: 2 panes (one fixed, one sliding).
Picture window: 1 pane, but a large one. It's usually fairer to price these separately rather than at the standard pane rate.
French or divided-light window: each small square of glass is a pane (sometimes called a "lite"). A window with 12 lites is 12 panes.
Also decide whether your per-pane price covers one side or both sides of the glass. "$6 per pane" means something very different if the customer thinks that includes the inside.
When per-pane pricing breaks down
Per-pane rates work well for normal-sized glass. They get unfair fast on divided-light windows. At $5 per pane, a 12-lite French window would cost $60, while Angi lists multi-pane windows at $8–$15. Customers will notice. For divided lites, either use a lower rate per small lite or price the whole window as one unit with a surcharge.
The opposite happens with big picture windows: one large pane can take much longer than a standard one. Price those per window.
Per pane, per window or per hour?
Per pane
Good for: homes with mostly standard double-hung windows, and customers who want to see exactly what they're paying for.
Watch out for: divided lites and oversized glass, as above.
Per window
Good for: fast phone quotes. Count openings by type and story, multiply by your price for each type.
Watch out for: you need separate prices for standard, picture, French, sliding door and skylight, or you'll lose money on the odd ones.
Per hour
Good for: jobs that don't fit a count: mirrors, glass railings, post-construction cleanup, heavy hard-water work.
Watch out for: customers can't budget, and you're paid less as you get faster.
A practical approach is to quote per window or per pane but work out those prices from an hourly target behind the scenes. The same approach works for other service businesses; our house cleaning pricing guide walks through it step by step.
Worked example: quoting a 2-story house
A customer wants all windows cleaned inside and out on a 2-story home, 10 miles from your base. You work solo. The rates below sit inside the ranges above; the time and cost figures are example assumptions you'd replace with your own.
Count the glass
16 double-hung windows (8 on each floor) = 32 panes
2 picture windows on the ground floor
1 sliding glass door
16 screens (one per double-hung window)
Price it
Standard panes: 32 × $5 = $160
Picture windows: 2 × $15 = $30 (priced per window, not per pane)
Sliding glass door: $15 (HomeGuide lists $10–$25)
Second-story surcharge: 8 windows × $4 = $32 (within This Old House's $3–$5)
Screens: 16 × $3 = $48 (Angi and HomeGuide list $2–$5)
Total: $160 + $30 + $15 + $32 + $48 = $285
That works out to $285 ÷ 19 openings = $15 per window, which falls within the $8–$16 range in Angi and HomeGuide and the $10–$18 in Housecall Pro. It also sits inside Angi's $150–$302 typical range and below This Old House's $360–$400 for 18–20 windows, so there's room to charge more once you have reviews.
Check what you actually earn
Say the job takes you 3.5 hours on site. Your costs:
Travel: 20 miles round trip × $0.76 (the IRS business mileage rate from July 1, 2026) = $15.20
Supplies (solution, scrim, blades): $5
Overhead share (insurance, phone, software, marketing): $15
$285 − $15.20 − $5 − $15 = $249.80. Divided by 3.5 hours, that's about $71.37 per hour before taxes. For comparison, Housecall Pro lists hourly rates of $45–$75 per cleaner. If your time study shows the job takes 5 hours, the same quote drops to about $50 an hour, which is why timing your own work matters more than any published rate.
The Window Cleaning Business Starter Kit includes a Pricing Calculator that prices jobs by window type, story and side from your own measured minutes, plus a Window Count Sheet so every quote starts from the same count. Its guide also explains the per-pane method if you prefer that.
Extras to price separately
Quote these as line items so the base price stays comparable:
Screens: $2–$5 per screen (Angi, HomeGuide).
Tracks and sills: $2–$5 per window (Angi); HomeGuide lists $1–$3.
Hard water stain removal: $10–$30 per window (Angi). Test a small area first and show the customer the result, because some stains are etched into the glass and won't come off.
Skylights: $20–$30 (Angi) to $25–$35 (This Old House).
Storm windows: $10–$20 (Angi); This Old House lists $30–$40.
Common mistakes
Not defining a pane on the quote. Write "pane = one sash, both sides" (or whatever you use) on every quote.
Using one rate for every piece of glass. Divided lites and big picture windows need their own prices.
Forgetting screens and tracks. They add real time. Price them or say clearly they're not included.
No minimum charge. A 4-window job still costs you the drive and setup. The minimums in the guides above run from $75 to $250.
Skipping safety and insurance to save money. Ladder work carries real risk. OSHA's extension ladder fact sheet covers the basics: set the base one-quarter of the working length from the wall, extend the ladder three feet above the landing, and keep three points of contact. OSHA rules apply to employers, but they're a sensible standard for solo owners too. For coverage, see the SBA's business insurance guide; requirements vary by state.
FAQ
How much should I charge per pane for window cleaning?
National guides put it at $4–$8 per pane. Start near the middle of that range, time your first jobs, and adjust so your effective hourly rate covers your pay, costs and profit.
Does the per-pane price include both sides?
It depends on the company, which is why you should say so on every quote. If you price per side, a standard window cleaned inside and out counts twice.
Should I charge more for second-story windows?
Yes. This Old House suggests adding $3–$5 per window for second-story or hard-to-reach glass, and HomeGuide lists $10–$40 per window above the second floor. Higher windows take longer and carry more risk.
What's a fair minimum charge?
Cost guides list minimums of $75–$150 (Angi) to $100–$250 (HomeGuide). Set yours so a small job still covers your drive, setup time and at least an hour of your target pay.
Do I need a license to clean windows?
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. The SBA's licenses and permits page is a good starting point.