How long does it take to clean windows? Time your jobs to price them right
Updated November 1, 2026 · QuoteCubby
A simple time study for window cleaners: how to measure minutes per window, setup and add-ons, and how those minutes turn into a price.
Why your own minutes matter
Every per-window price is really a time estimate. If you guess 10 minutes and a window takes you 14, you lose money on every window. If you guess high, you lose jobs. The fix is a short time study on your next few jobs.
How to time a job
- Start a timer when you park and note when you finish setup (unloading, ladders, drop cloths).
- Count windows by type as you go: standard, large or glass door, skylight. Note inside, outside or both.
- Time screens and tracks separately, even roughly, so you can price them as add-ons.
- Note the conditions: stories, ladder moves, hard water, a first-time clean.
- Stop the timer when you’re packed up, then work out minutes per window: glass time ÷ number of windows.
After three or four homes, you’ll have a starting number for each window type. Put those in the calculator settings (Minutes per standard window, Minutes per large window) and every quote uses them.
How the job length changes (calculator example)
| Job | Work minutes | Price | Real $/hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter example: 20 standard + 2 large, inside and out, 1 story | 251 | $260 | $55.68 |
| Same home, outside only | 145 | $155 | $53.34 |
| Same home, 2 stories | 310 | $320 | $56.64 |
| Same home, dirty or first-time clean | 369 | $380 | $57.30 |
| Same home + 22 screens + tracks and sills | 405 | $415 | $57.39 |
Example only, using the calculator’s starter numbers: $60 per hour target, 10 minutes per standard window and 18 per large window (inside and out), 15 setup minutes, $5 supplies, 10 round-trip miles at $0.35 per mile, 20 minutes of driving, $150 minimum, rounded up to $5. These are not market rates. Outside only is 55% of the inside-and-out time, 2 stories add 25%, a dirty or first-time clean adds 50%, screens take 3 minutes each and tracks 4 minutes per window. All are starter numbers you can change.
What a few minutes per window does to your pay
| Minutes per standard / large window | Price | Real $/hour |
|---|---|---|
| 8 / 14 | $215 | $55.56 |
| 10 / 18 | $260 | $55.68 |
| 12 / 22 | $310 | $56.71 |
If you quote with 10 minutes per window but it really takes you 12, the price stays at $260 while your real pay drops to about $47.30 per hour. That’s why it pays to time yourself before you lower prices to win jobs.
The middle row is the calculator’s starter setting; the other rows only change the minutes per window.
Check your own numbers
The free QuoteCubby window cleaning calculator prices a home from its window count, inside and out or outside only, stories, dirt level, screens and tracks, adds your supplies and drive, and shows what you really earn per hour.
Open the free window cleaning calculatorFAQ
How long does it take to clean one window?
It depends on the window, the dirt and your tools, so time your own. The calculator starts at 10 minutes for a standard window and 18 for a large window or glass door, inside and out, only as an example you can change.
Should I count setup time?
Yes. Unloading, laying drop cloths, moving ladders and packing up happen on every job. Track it as its own number so small jobs don’t lose money.
How many homes should I time?
A few of each kind you clean (one-story, two-story, first-time cleans) is enough to start. Keep updating your numbers as you get faster.
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Spreadsheets for window cleaning businesses: quote homes from your own minutes per window, keep every client and job in one place, and see your real hourly pay.
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