Setting a house cleaning price starts with estimating the time, labor and costs required to complete the work. Rather than copying a competitor's rate, use your own costs to build a quote you can explain.
Step 1: Define the cleaning job
Ask about the home's approximate size, number of bathrooms, condition, requested tasks and frequency. A first-time deep clean may take longer than a recurring maintenance clean.
Step 2: Estimate labor hours
Estimate the number of people and hours needed. For example, two cleaners working for three hours represent six labor hours. Account for setup and travel when relevant.
Step 3: Include direct costs
Consider supplies, transportation, equipment wear and any other costs associated with the job. Remember that your hourly labor target is not the same as your business profit.
Step 4: Review overhead and margin
Business insurance, administration, marketing and other overhead can affect your pricing. Compare your proposed quote with your total expected costs before sending it.
Step 5: Create a consistent estimate
Record your assumptions and what is included in the service. Our Cleaning Service Pricing Calculator is an editable Excel template for planning quotes using labor hours, hourly rates, supplies and travel costs.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge hourly or by the job?
Both approaches are used. An hourly rate can be straightforward for uncertain jobs, while a flat quote can provide customers with a clearer expected price when scope is well defined.
Does a pricing spreadsheet guarantee profit?
No. A spreadsheet organizes estimates, but profitability depends on accurate inputs, actual job time and business expenses.
For a broader set of forms and trackers, see the Cleaning Business Starter Toolkit.
Free cleaning quote preparation checklist
Copy these questions into your inquiry notes before estimating a residential cleaning job. Confirm the scope with the customer before treating an estimate as a booking.
- Home and rooms: What is the approximate size, and which rooms and bathrooms need service?
- Cleaning type: Is this a standard clean, deep clean, or move-in or move-out clean?
- Current condition: When was it last cleaned, and is there buildup or clutter that could change the time needed?
- Frequency: Is the request one-time, weekly, every other week, or on another schedule?
- Included tasks: Which surfaces and tasks are expected, and what is excluded?
- Extras: Are inside appliances, inside cabinets or interior windows requested?
- Access and travel: Are there parking, stairs, arrival-window or access details that affect the visit?
- Supplies and care: Who supplies equipment, and are there surfaces requiring special care?
Check your estimate after the first visit
Record the estimated labor hours beside the actual labor hours, then note what caused any difference. Keep the number of cleaners separate from elapsed time: a two-person team working for three hours uses six labor hours. Use what you learn when estimating similar work.
Confirm any change in scope and price with the customer before doing extra work. A worksheet can organize your assumptions, but the quality of a quote still depends on the information entered.
Turn a quote into an organized booking
- Record the requested service, agreed tasks and estimate assumptions.
- Use the editable cleaning pricing calculator if you want a prepared worksheet for labor, supplies and travel estimates.
- After the customer confirms, enter the visit in your booking records. Our client tracker guide shows a sample layout and review routine.
- Prepare a job checklist using the free cleaning-visit planning guide.
Need help choosing a file? Compare the standalone spreadsheets and full toolkit.
Ready to send a quote? Copy the free house cleaning estimate template and adapt the worked example to your next job.