Deep clean vs. standard clean: how much more to charge

Updated October 31, 2026 · QuoteCubby

A deep clean takes close to twice as long as a regular visit, so the price has to reflect that. Here are published US price ranges, a clear scope you can send clients, and a way to set your own deep-clean price without losing money.

On this page

Published price ranges
What a deep clean includes
How much more to charge
Worked example
How to explain it to clients

Published price ranges (US national averages)

Standard house cleaning: $120–$280 per visit on average (HomeGuide).
Deep cleaning: $230–$600 for an average-size house, or $0.15–$0.30 per sq ft; some services charge $25–$60 per hour per person (HomeGuide).
Deep cleaning is “often up to double the cost of standard cleaning” (HomeGuide).

Home size	Standard	Deep	Move-out
2 bed / 1 bath	$90–$120	$120–$175	$120–$180
2 bed / 2 bath	$95–$130	$135–$195	$135–$210
3 bed / 2 bath	$135–$180	$180–$280	$180–$300
4 bed / 3 bath	$140–$200	$200–$400	$200–$390

Source: home-size table in HomeGuide. These are what customers pay nationally. Your local market may be higher or lower.

What a deep clean includes

Most deep-clean disputes come from different ideas of what “deep” means. Put the scope in writing:

Included: everything in a standard clean, plus baseboards, doors and frames, switch plates and handles, vents, ceiling fans, light fixtures by hand, hard-water scale on showers and faucets, scrubbing grout, inside the microwave, appliance fronts and tops, behind and under furniture that moves easily.
Add-ons (priced separately): inside the oven, inside the fridge, inside cabinets, interior windows, blinds slat by slat, laundry and bed changes. See the add-on price list.
Not included: heavy mold, construction debris, biohazards, moving heavy furniture.

How much more to charge for a deep clean

Don’t pick a percentage out of the air. Price the extra time:

Estimate the standard time for the home (size, bedrooms, bathrooms, condition).
Multiply by your deep-clean factor. The calculator starts at 1.8× as an example; adjust it once you have timed a few deep cleans.
Price the person-hours at your hourly rate, then add supplies and travel.
Add any add-ons the client chose.
Check your real earnings per hour including the drive. If it’s under your minimum, raise the price or cut scope.

Person-hours, not clock hours. Two cleaners for 2 hours 40 minutes is 5 hours 20 minutes of labor. Price the labor.

Worked example: same home, standard vs deep

1,800 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, one-time visit, crew of two:

	Standard	Deep
Person-hours	2 h 55 min	5 h 15 min
Time on site (2 cleaners)	1 h 30 min	2 h 40 min
Price	$160	$275
Real earnings per person-hour	$43.63	$45.81

Example only, using the calculator’s starter numbers: $50 per person-hour target, $6 supplies, 12 round-trip miles at $0.35, $120 minimum job, prices rounded up to $5, average condition, no pets. Deep = 1.8× standard time, move-out = 2.2×, first clean = 1.5×. These are not market rates.

The deep clean comes out at 1.7× the standard price, which lines up with HomeGuide’s “up to double.” Add inside the oven and fridge ($35 each in the starter numbers) and it becomes $345.

Try it with your numbers

The free QuoteCubby calculator estimates the time for any home, prices standard, deep, move-out and first cleans, and shows what you really earn per hour after supplies and driving.

Open the free calculator

How to explain the price to clients

“A deep clean is a one-time reset. It takes about twice as long as a regular visit, so it costs more.”
“Inside the oven, fridge and cabinets are listed separately so you can choose.”
“After the deep clean, your regular cleanings are faster and cost less.”
“If the home needs more time than we agreed, I’ll text you before going over.”

Pricing a home that’s empty? See the move-out cleaning checklist with prices, or deep and move-out prices per square foot.

FAQ

How much more is a deep clean than a regular clean?

HomeGuide says a deep clean is “often up to double” the cost of a standard clean. HomeGuide’s national averages are $120–$280 for a standard cleaning and $230–$600 for deep cleaning an average-size house. Your own multiplier should come from how much longer deep cleans take you.

What is included in a deep clean that isn’t in a standard clean?

Baseboards, doors and frames, switches and handles, vents, ceiling fans, scale on showers and faucets, scrubbing grout, inside the microwave and behind or under furniture that moves easily. Inside the oven, fridge and cabinets are usually priced as add-ons.

Should I require a deep clean before recurring service?

It is common when a home hasn’t been professionally cleaned in a while. It resets the home so your recurring visits fit the recurring time and price.

Should I quote a deep clean by the hour?

Many cleaners quote a flat price after a walkthrough or photos, built from their hourly rate. For homes in rough condition, a price range or an hourly rate with an agreed cap protects both sides.

Quoting the same kinds of homes every week? The QuoteCubby kit (from $19, Google Sheets or Excel) keeps your price list, job log and client rates in one place. The free calculator stays free either way.

Related guides

Sources

Price ranges are national figures published by the sources below (accessed October 31, 2026). Local prices vary a lot. QuoteCubby examples are illustrations, not market data.

QuoteCubby is a calculator and a set of templates. It is not pricing, legal, tax or business advice. Starter numbers are examples only; use your own costs and local market.