How Much to Charge for House Cleaning in 2026: Market Rates by Service Type
The market rates that professional cleaning companies are actually charging in 2026 — broken down by service type, frequency, and property size — plus the formula to find your personal price floor so you're never working at a loss.
2026 market rates at a glance
These are U.S. national ranges. Urban metros (NYC, LA, Seattle) run 20–35% above these figures; rural markets run 10–20% below.
Why cleaning prices vary so much
Cleaning pricing varies by roughly 2x between the cheapest and most expensive markets in the U.S. A biweekly clean on a 3-bedroom home in rural Mississippi might run $90–110. The same service in San Francisco or New York runs $180–240. Neither is wrong — they reflect labor costs, local competition, and client income levels in each market.
Within a market, price variance comes down to: service type (recurring vs one-time vs deep clean), whether the company is an independent cleaner or a multi-crew operation, insurance status (properly insured companies charge more and should), and the quality of the client experience (booking process, reminders, invoicing, cleaner consistency).
The biggest pricing mistake cleaning companies make is not charging enough to cover their actual costs. Before looking at what to charge, you need to know your personal cost floor — the minimum price at which a job makes economic sense.
Finding your price floor: the formula
Most cleaning businesses undercharge because they calculate price from the market backward ("what are competitors charging?") rather than from their costs forward ("what do I need to break even?"). The right order is: know your floor first, then see if the market supports your target price.
The cost floor formula
If your market price is below your calculated price floor, you're working at a loss on that job — even if gross revenue looks fine. This is the hidden math that kills cleaning businesses in years 2–5, when the owner is busy but somehow not profitable.
Rates by service type
Standard recurring cleans
Recurring cleans (weekly or biweekly) are the core of most residential cleaning businesses. They're the most predictable revenue, the easiest to schedule, and the most efficient per visit (properties stay cleaner between visits, so each clean takes less time).
| Property size | Weekly | Biweekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR/1BA studio or apartment | $80–110 | $95–130 | $115–155 |
| 2BR/1–2BA home | $100–140 | $120–160 | $145–190 |
| 3BR/2BA home | $120–165 | $140–190 | $165–220 |
| 4BR/3BA home | $155–210 | $175–240 | $210–280 |
| 5BR+ large home | $190–280 | $220–320 | $265–380 |
One-time and deep cleans
One-time and deep cleans should always carry a premium over recurring rates. They involve more work (usually messier starting condition), higher administrative cost (first visit, no established client relationship), and no guarantee of future revenue. Price them accordingly.
| Service type | Multiplier vs recurring | 3BR example |
|---|---|---|
| One-time standard | 1.2–1.4× | $168–210 |
| Deep clean / first visit | 1.5–2.0× | $210–280 |
| Move-in clean | 1.6–2.0× | $224–280 |
| Move-out clean | 1.8–2.5× | $252–350 |
| Post-construction clean | 2.5–4.0× | $350–560 |
Airbnb and STR turnover cleaning
Short-term rental turnovers are a growing revenue stream for cleaning companies. Airbnb hosts pay a cleaning fee that gets charged to guests, so there's typically less price sensitivity than in residential cleaning. The premium comes from the hard deadline (property must be guest-ready by check-in time), last-minute booking requirements, and often the need for photo documentation.
Don't price Airbnb cleans like recurring residential
STR turnovers often require linen service (strip and remake beds), restocking supplies (toiletries, coffee, paper goods), and photo documentation before and after. Factor these into your pricing. A $90 turnover that takes 2 hours including linens and photos is not the same economics as a $90 residential clean.
Add-on services worth charging for
Most cleaning companies leave money on the table by not offering priced add-ons. Clients will often say yes to add-ons they'd never request proactively if you present them clearly at booking. These are high-margin because they add to an existing job with minimal incremental overhead.
When and how to raise prices
Every cleaning business should raise prices at least once a year. Your costs — labor, insurance, fuel, supplies — increase annually whether you raise prices or not. Failing to raise prices means shrinking margins every year, even if your revenue looks stable.
Research consistently shows that cleaning clients absorb price increases under 12–15% without cancelling, especially clients who have been with you longer than 6 months. The fear of losing clients from a price increase is almost always greater than the actual client loss rate.
Run your own numbers
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Related reading
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics — Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners.
Frequently asked questions
How much does house cleaning cost in 2026?
In 2026, house cleaning costs range from $100 to $220 for a standard clean of a 3-bedroom home, depending on your market and frequency. One-time cleans run 20–40% higher than recurring appointments. Deep cleans and move-out cleans typically cost $200–400. Urban markets (New York, Los Angeles, Seattle) run toward the top of the range; rural and mid-size markets typically run lower.
How much should I charge per hour for house cleaning?
If you charge hourly, the market rate for residential house cleaning in 2026 is $40–65 per cleaner-hour in most U.S. markets, with urban metros running $55–80. However, most cleaning companies switch to flat-rate pricing within their first year — flat rates are easier to sell, eliminate awkward conversations about time, and incentivize efficiency. If you pay your cleaners $16–20/hr and charge $45–55/hr, your gross margin per hour is roughly 55–65% before overhead.
How much should I charge for a one-time house cleaning?
One-time cleans should be priced 20–40% above your recurring rate for the same property. A home you'd clean for $140 on a biweekly recurring contract should be priced at $170–195 as a one-time service. Reasons: no guarantee of return business, usually a messier starting condition, and higher administrative cost per job.
How much should I charge for a move-out clean?
Move-out cleans are the highest-effort service in residential cleaning. Price them at 1.8–2.5x your standard recurring rate for the same property size. A home with a biweekly rate of $140 should be priced at $250–350 for a move-out clean. Move-outs involve cleaning inside all appliances, inside cabinets, baseboards, window tracks, and areas that don't get touched during maintenance cleans.
How much should I charge for Airbnb cleaning?
Airbnb turnover cleaning typically prices at 1.2–1.5x your standard cleaning rate, plus a linen service fee if you're providing that. A property with a standard clean price of $120 would typically run $145–180 as an Airbnb turnover. Many cleaning companies charge Airbnb hosts a flat turnover fee ($80–150) for smaller properties. The key premium drivers are the hard deadline (cleaner must finish before next guest arrives), same-day booking requirements, and photo documentation.
When should I raise my cleaning prices?
Raise prices annually at minimum — your costs (labor, fuel, supplies, insurance) increase every year whether you raise prices or not. Additionally, raise prices immediately when: a client becomes difficult (difficult clients are subsidized by easy ones until you fix the math), your profit margin on a client drops below 15%, or supply costs spike more than 10%. Most clients absorb increases under 12–15% without cancelling. Give 30 days written notice and state a brief, honest reason.