Average cost of house cleaning services
Quick answer: what does house cleaning usually cost?
Most U.S. homeowners pay about $120-$250 per standard house cleaning visit in 2025, with a national average near $175. That's for routine cleaning of an occupied home (not deep or move-out cleaning) from a professional service, based on recent national cost data.1 In hourly terms, you'll typically see quotes in the $25-$80 per labor-hour range, depending on whether you hire an independent cleaner or a larger company.1 Many companies also price by square foot, with standard cleans often around $0.10-$0.20 per sq. ft. for average conditions.1
Those ranges are broad on purpose: your actual quote will sit higher or lower based on home size, number of bathrooms, how "lived in" things are, your location, and how often you schedule cleaning.
How house cleaners charge
Before you compare prices, it helps to understand the main billing models you'll see for basic house cleaning:
1. Flat rate per visit
This is the most common model for standard whole-house cleaning.
- How it works: You get one price for the visit (for example, "$150 for a 3-bedroom/2-bath home"). The company estimates how long the job should take and staffs it accordingly.
- Good for: Predictable budgets, recurring weekly/biweekly cleaning, busy households that don't want to track hours.
- Watch for: Time caps (e.g., 3-4 labor-hours) or "reasonable effort" language. If the home is significantly dirtier than average, the cleaner may charge more or adjust on future visits.
2. Hourly pricing
- Typical range: About $25-$80 per labor-hour in 2025, with independents usually at the lower end and insured companies toward the top.1
- Good for: Smaller touch-ups, partial-home cleaning (e.g., just kitchen and baths), or very cluttered homes where it's hard to estimate.
- Watch for: Who controls the to-do list. You'll want a clear priority list so the most important tasks are done first if time runs out.
3. Price per square foot
- Typical standard-clean range: Roughly $0.10-$0.20 per sq. ft. for occupied homes in average condition; deep or move-out cleans can be higher.1
- Good for: Larger homes where time estimates are tied closely to floor area.
- Watch for: Minimum charges (small apartments may still have a base fee) and surcharges for extra-dirty areas or lots of glass, pets, or stairs.
Costs and price drivers
This section focuses on standard house cleaning (not heavy deep cleaning or post-construction), using broad 2025 U.S. averages.
Typical 2025 price ranges (U.S., standard cleaning)
These are common ranges for professional recurring or one-time standard cleans from reputable providers:
| Home size / type (occupied) | Typical per-visit price* | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio-1 bed (<900 sq. ft.) | $90-$150 | Often 1 cleaner, 2-3 hours |
| 2-3 bed (900-1,600 sq. ft.) | $120-$220 | Very common for small families |
| 3-4 bed (1,600-2,400 sq. ft.) | $150-$260 | More baths push toward top of range |
| Larger home (>2,400 sq. ft.) | $220-$400+ | May send 2-3 cleaners |
*Based on 2025 national cost data showing a typical range of $118-$237 and an average near $175 per visit, with bigger homes landing higher.1
For biweekly cleaning, a 3-bed/2-bath home that's reasonably tidy might come in around $150-$200 per visit, or $300-$400 per month. Weekly service on the same home might be slightly cheaper per visit (say $130-$180), but more per month because you're cleaning twice as often.
The main things that move your price up or down
1. Size and layout of the home
More square footage and more rooms simply take longer. Bathrooms and kitchens are the most time-intensive spaces, so a small home with three bathrooms can cost more than a larger one with only one or two.
2. Condition and clutter
- "Average lived-in" is usually assumed: some dust, light soap scum, basic picking up.
- If there's heavy buildup (grease, thick soap scum, lots of pet hair, or you haven't cleaned in months), expect a higher first-time visit-often 1.5-2x a maintenance clean-before you move to a lower recurring rate.
3. Who you hire (independent vs company)
- Independent solo cleaners often charge toward the lower end of the hourly range.
- Established companies charge more to cover payroll taxes, workers' comp, insurance, vehicles, and management overhead.
That overhead is a big reason a cleaner making around $16-$17 per hour in wages can translate to a $30-$40+ per-hour charge once business costs are added.2
4. Supplies, products, and insurance
- If the cleaner brings all supplies and equipment (vacuum, mop, products), that's usually built into the price.
- Green or hypoallergenic products may add a small premium.
- Bonded/insured companies typically charge a bit more than uninsured side-gig cleaners.
5. Frequency discounts
- One-time or occasional cleans are usually the most expensive per visit.
- Recurring weekly or biweekly service often comes with a 10-20% discount per visit compared with a sporadic booking, because the home stays easier to clean and the business gets predictable income.
A quick example calculation
Imagine a 1,800 sq. ft., 3-bed/2-bath home in average condition:
- You're quoted $45 per labor-hour.
- The company estimates it will take 3.5 hours of total labor each visit.
- 3.5 × $45 = $157.50 per visit.
- Biweekly schedule: about $315 per month.
If you later add oven and inside-fridge cleaning once a month, that might add $20-$40 to that specific visit.
What you actually get at different price points
Prices don't always equal quality, but they often reflect how much time and detail you're paying for. Here's a rough feel for standard house cleaning tiers (not strict rules):
Under about $120 per visit (whole house)
- Most suited to small apartments or studios, or very light cleanings.
- Usually covers: quick dusting, vacuuming/mopping, wiping kitchen counters, light bathroom clean, basic trash removal.
- Risk on a larger, lived-in home: the cleaner may have to rush or skip detail work to stay within the budget.
Around $120-$220 per visit
- Common for typical 2-3 bed homes on a recurring schedule.
- Usually includes: full kitchen and bath clean, dusting reachable surfaces, vacuuming/mopping all floors, making beds, wiping commonly touched areas.
- Recurring clients often get better consistency and the same cleaner or team.
$220+ per visit (standard clean)
- Often reflects larger homes, many bathrooms, high-cost metros, or more detailed standard checklists.
- May come with perks like higher staffing levels (2-3 cleaners), more thorough dusting, or more time of hands-on detailing each visit.
- In some cases, this overlaps with "light deep-clean" territory even if it's billed as standard.
Bottom line: When comparing quotes, always ask for the exact checklist and estimated labor-hours, not just the price. That's the clearest way to see if you're getting a quick tidy or a solid whole-house clean.
How to get accurate quotes for your home
Since this guide only covers national averages, your best move is to collect 2-3 local quotes with a consistent description of your home. Here's what to share to get realistic numbers:
-
Square footage and layout
Include number of floors, bedrooms, and bathrooms. -
Current condition, honestly
Mention if it hasn't been cleaned in a while, if there's heavy pet hair, or if the showers have a lot of soap scum. A quick reality check up front avoids surprise up-charges. -
What you want done every visit
For example: "Full kitchen and baths, dust all surfaces, floors throughout, change sheets in primary bedroom, tidy kids' rooms but no detailed toy organizing." -
Frequency and flexibility
Let them know if you're aiming for weekly, biweekly, or monthly. If your schedule is flexible, some pros offer better rates for filling open slots. -
Any special products or surfaces
Tell them about stone countertops, specialty floors, or product allergies. This can affect both time and supplies.
With that information, most cleaners or companies can give you a clear flat rate, a good-faith hourly estimate, or both, so you can decide what feels fair.
Conclusion
In 2025, most U.S. households can expect to spend somewhere in the $120-$250 range per standard house-cleaning visit, with the final price driven mostly by home size, condition, bathrooms, and how often you book.