Post-construction cleaning price: per sq ft rates and how to quote
Updated November 1, 2026 · QuoteCubby
Published post-construction cleaning rates, the three phases contractors ask for, and the questions to ask before you send a price.
Published price ranges (US)
- HomeGuide: $0.15–$0.60 per sq ft for interior post-construction cleaning; exterior cleanup $125–$800+ (HomeGuide).
- HomeAdvisor: $274–$707 typical range, $477 average, about $0.25 per sq ft (2025 data, HomeAdvisor).
- Thumbtack: $210–$379 typical range (Thumbtack).
| Phase (HomeGuide) | When | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Rough clean | During the work: debris, dust, trash | $0.15–$0.40 |
| Final clean | After the work: detailed top-to-bottom | $0.20–$0.60 |
| Touch-up clean | Before move-in: dust that resettled | $0.20–$0.60 |
| Home size | HomeGuide total range |
|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $100–$300 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $200–$600 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $300–$900 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $400–$1,200 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $500–$1,500 |
| 3,500 sq ft | $700–$2,100 |
Source: HomeGuide. National ranges; local prices vary a lot.
What to ask before you quote
- Which phase is it: rough, final or touch-up? Is the contractor still on site?
- Is debris removed already, or is hauling expected? (Many cleaners exclude it.)
- How many new fixtures, windows and cabinets need stickers and residue removed?
- Is there drywall dust inside cabinets, vents and window tracks?
- Is water and power on? Can you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter on site?
How to price it from your own numbers
Treat it like a deep clean with a longer time multiplier, then check it per sq ft against the ranges above. Walk through or ask for photos of every room. With the calculator’s starter numbers, a 1,800 sq ft move-out style clean (2.2× standard time) is $335, about $0.19 per sq ft, which falls inside HomeGuide’s per-sq-ft range. Construction dust can take longer than that, so time your first few jobs and adjust.
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.
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 calculatorFAQ
How much does post-construction cleaning cost per square foot?
HomeGuide lists $0.15–$0.60 per sq ft for interior post-construction cleaning, and HomeAdvisor says about $0.25 per sq ft on average.
What are the phases of post-construction cleaning?
HomeGuide describes a rough clean (debris and dust while work is still going), a final clean (detailed cleaning after the work is done) and a touch-up clean before move-in, priced $0.15–$0.40, $0.20–$0.60 and $0.20–$0.60 per sq ft.
Is post-construction cleaning the same as a deep clean?
No. It involves construction dust in every surface, stickers and residue on new fixtures, and debris. It takes longer and often needs different tools, so price it on its own.
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
- Deep and move-out cleaning price per square foot
- Move-out cleaning checklist with prices
- How to quote a very dirty house
Sources
Price ranges are national figures published by the sources below (accessed November 1, 2026). Local prices vary a lot. QuoteCubby examples are illustrations, not market data.
- HomeGuide – Post-Construction Cleaning Rates (2026)
- HomeAdvisor – Construction Cleanup Cost (2025 data)
- Thumbtack – Post-Construction Cleaning Rates