How to Price a House Cleaning Job: A 6-Step Method
Updated October 30, 2026 · QuoteCubby
Pricing a cleaning job by gut feel leads to jobs that pay less than you think. This method takes a few minutes, works for standard, deep and move-out cleans, and gets more accurate every week.
1. Know your numbers before you quote
Decide these once, and write them down:
- Target pay per person-hour and the minimum you will accept.
- Minimum job price (covers drive and setup on small jobs).
- Supplies cost per clean and your cost per mile (your own estimate for gas and wear).
- Recurring discounts you offer, if any.
Not sure what your hourly rate should be? Start with how much to charge for house cleaning.
2. Do the walkthrough, or ask the right questions
Whether you visit or quote by text, collect the same facts every time: square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms (count half baths as 0.5), pets, how long since the last deep clean, the type of clean they want, how often, and any extras (oven, fridge, cabinets, windows, baseboards, laundry). Ask for photos of the kitchen and bathrooms. A standard walkthrough form keeps you from forgetting anything. The Complete Toolkit includes one in English and Spanish.
3. Estimate the time
Break the home into parts you can time:
Base minutes = setup and common areas + (bedrooms × minutes) + (bathrooms × minutes) + (sq ft ÷ 1,000 × minutes) + pets
The calculator’s example numbers are 45 base + 15 per bedroom + 25 per bathroom + 20 per 1,000 sq ft + 15 for pets, for a standard clean in average condition. They are a starting point only. Your own times will be different.
4. Adjust for condition, job type and add-ons
- Condition: light ×0.9, average ×1.0, heavy ×1.3 (examples).
- Job type: deep clean ×1.8, move-in/out ×2.2, first clean of a new recurring client ×1.5 (examples).
- Add-ons: priced separately, each with its own minutes, so your schedule stays realistic.
5. Turn time into a price, then check your real pay
Here is the full math for the calculator’s sample home: 1,800 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a dog, average condition, standard clean every 2 weeks, inside-fridge add-on, 12 miles and 30 minutes of driving round trip, two cleaners.
| Base minutes: 45 + 3×15 + 2×25 + 1.8×20 + 15 (pets) | 191 min |
| Labor: 191 ÷ 60 × $50 target | $159.17 |
| + supplies $6 + drive 12 mi × $0.35 | $169.37 |
| − 10% every-2-weeks discount | $152.43 |
| + inside fridge add-on | $187.43 |
| Rounded up to the nearest $5 | $190 |
|---|---|
| Time on site: (191 + 30 add-on min) ÷ 60 ÷ 2 cleaners | 1.8 h |
| Real pay: ($190 − $6 − $4.20) ÷ (3.68 + 0.5 drive) person-hours | $42.98/hr |
The real pay is lower than the $50 target because of the discount and the drive time. It is still above the $35 example minimum, so the quote passes. If it didn’t, you would raise the price, drop the discount, or limit the area you serve.
6. Send the quote, then calibrate
Send a short, clear quote: what is included, the price, the estimated time, how long the quote is valid and how to book. The free calculator writes this text for you in English or Spanish.
Then the step that makes the next quote better: write down how long the job actually took. After 10 or more jobs, compare actual and estimated minutes. If you are consistently 15% slower, raise your minutes or your price. The Business Tracker does this automatically and suggests new minutes per room.
Try it with your numbers
The free QuoteCubby calculator does this math for any home and tells you what you really earn per hour.
Open the free calculatorMore pricing guides
FAQ
How do you calculate house cleaning rates?
Estimate the person-hours the job will take, multiply by your target hourly rate, add supplies and travel, apply any recurring discount, add extras, and round up. Then check the result still pays your minimum per hour including drive time.
How do I price a residential cleaning job without seeing it?
Ask for square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, pets, the date of the last professional clean, and photos of the kitchen and bathrooms. Quote a range or a first-clean price, and confirm on arrival.
How long should a house cleaning take?
It varies with the home and the cleaner. Time your own jobs. After 10 or so, you will know your real minutes per bedroom, bathroom and 1,000 sq ft much better than any general rule.