How to price cleaning jobs

Now that you’re in the cleaning business, it’s time to learn how much to charge per job. That includes regular cleaning, deep cleaning, and even tasks like gutter cleaning. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear idea of the rate you should charge for most cleaning tasks. 

How much to charge for different cleaning services

Learning how to price house and commercial cleaning jobs can be easy! We’ve studied the average costs of some common cleaning tasks and compiled them on this list for your reference. 

Commercial cleaning

House cleaning

Primary factors when pricing cleaning jobs

How do you price a house cleaning job? And what’s a fair rate for commercial cleaning? Here’s what to consider when calculating how much to charge your clients:

Standard industry labour rates

The average cleaner salary in Australia is around $20-55 per hour, while commercial cleaning can cost around $30-80 per hour. The rates depend on where you live, your experience as a cleaner, and the services you’ll offer (e.g., residential or office cleaning). However, you can use these figures as baselines for how to price cleaning jobs. 

Space size

Your scope of work can vary greatly, and sometimes an hourly rate might not be the best way to charge. Another approach you can take is to charge based on the size of the space you need to clean. The larger the space, the more work it takes. When checking how to price a house or commercial cleaning job, ask how big the space is or how many rooms you’ll need to work on. 

For reference, the typical rate for cleaning an office is $2-3 per square metre. That’s around $1,100-2,800 per month for a 2,000 square metre office with a kitchen and small washroom.

Space type

Before you can determine how to price a residential or commercial cleaning job, you’ll also need to know the requirements of each space. Does it have many bathrooms or carpeted bedrooms? And is it a commercial space in a high-rise building? For example, cleaning a medical or dental office can cost an additional $10 per hour vs. typical offices. 

Space condition

The condition of a space can also determine how to price a cleaning job. For example, if you want to know how to price gutter cleaning jobs, look into how old the property is and when the gutters were last cleaned. 

Cleaning frequency

If you’re offering regular cleaning solutions, such as daily janitorial services or monthly deep cleaning, you’ll need to know how to price them accurately. One-off services are usually more expensive than a “subscription service” model where you come in daily, weekly, or monthly. Learning how to price these jobs at a fair rate can also help you have a steady stream of income and loyal clients. 

Do you need help with pricing this kind of cleaning package? A good starting point is $50-95 for weekly office cleaning. 

Specialised cleaning

If you’re just starting your new cleaning business and don’t know how much to charge for each service you offer, you might also want to look into specialised types of cleaning. These can include deep cleaning, post-construction cleaning, and even cleanup projects for hospitals or restaurants. You could even look into very specific types of cleaning, like post-party cleanup! 

These types of cleaning jobs usually pay higher since they involve special tools. You’ll also want to charge extra for insurance and protective equipment if cleaning involves certain risks, like hazardous waste. If you have the qualifications, try offering these specialised services. Doing so could grow your cleaning business and help you earn more.

Your location

Your location will also affect how much you can charge for cleaning jobs. The Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales usually have higher average rates, so you might be able to earn more as a cleaner by servicing these areas.

Bidding on cleaning jobs on Airtasker

Since cleaning jobs are never one-size-fits-all, you’ll need to learn to craft and submit a bid based on the task at hand. This helps potential clients understand your rates. You can easily price a cleaning job in 5 steps: 

1. Ask for an ocular of the area you’ll be cleaning

Schedule a visit so that you can determine the size, condition, and other features of the home or commercial space. This also allows your client to explain any specifics of the task. 

2. Ask for details and photos of the space

In case you aren’t able to visit right away, ask your client to provide you with the square footage of the area, as well as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, fixtures, windows, carpets, and so on. Better yet, ask for photos of the home or commercial space so that you can give a more accurate quote. 

3. Determine the time and supplies you’ll need to do the cleaning job 

Consider as well if your client will ask you to use their own cleaning tools or if you have to bring all the necessary supplies. 

4. Account for other operational expenses and your profit margin

These include the employee wages of the team you’re working with (if applicable), travel expenses, and insurance. The last part is crucial for rather high-risk jobs (e.g., having to clean windows in a high-rise building). Lastly, give yourself a profit margin equal to 20% of the total project cost. 

5. Share your bid

On Airtasker, you can start bidding on cleaning jobs as soon as clients’ task posts pop up on your screen. Pick the jobs whose budgets fit your rates, submit your quote, and then wait and see if you’re chosen for the job!  

Get cleaning jobs on Airtasker!

Now that you know how to price cleaning jobs for both home and office spaces, you can start getting cleaning jobs. If you want to get the best rates and expand your client base, sign up on Airtasker! Our platform helps you connect with local clients looking for residential and commercial cleaners like you. And since they’re in your area, you can minimise the cost of lugging all your cleaning equipment with you and the time you spend travelling between jobs.