How Much to Charge for House Cleaning per Hour
Solo house cleaners typically charge $25–$50 per hour, or a flat rate of $100–$250 for an average home once you know your own times. Deep cleans and move-in/move-out cleans run 50–100% above a standard recurring clean, and add-ons like inside the oven, inside the fridge, and interior windows are usually priced separately rather than folded into the base rate.
Hourly to start, flat rate once you know your times
$25–$50 per hour is the common range for solo house cleaners. It’s the right model early on, because you don’t yet know how long a given home actually takes.
Once you’ve cleaned a home a few times, convert to a flat rate per visit — typically $100–$250 for an average home on a recurring schedule. Flat rate pays you for skill instead of penalizing you for getting faster.
First clean, deep clean, and move-out cleans cost more
A first-time clean or deep clean is not the same job as a recurring maintenance clean:
- First clean. Homes that haven’t been professionally cleaned in a while take longer than any repeat visit will — price it like a deep clean, not like the recurring rate you’ll charge afterward.
- Deep clean. Baseboards, inside appliances, and detail work add 50–100% over the standard recurring price.
- Move-in/move-out. Empty homes get cleaned corner to corner with nothing to work around, but every cabinet and closet needs attention — price it in the same range as a deep clean.
The add-ons that need their own line
- Inside the oven
- Inside the fridge
- Interior windows
- Inside cabinets (beyond a standard wipe-down)
These are the requests that turn a routine clean into a longer one. Quote them as add-ons, not favors — folding them into the flat rate for free trains customers to expect them every time.
Recurring discounts, priced deliberately
Many cleaners offer a modest discount for weekly or biweekly recurring customers over one-off cleans, since recurring work means less setup time re-learning a home each visit. Decide the discount up front and keep it consistent — inconsistent recurring pricing is a common source of customer complaints when neighbors compare notes.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge hourly or flat rate?
Hourly is the safer starting point while you're learning how long homes actually take. Once you know your times, flat rate per home rewards you for getting faster instead of penalizing you the way hourly does.
How much more should a deep clean cost than a standard clean?
50–100% more is typical. A deep clean covers baseboards, inside appliances, and detail work a recurring clean skips, and it takes real extra time the first time through a home.
Do move-in/move-out cleans cost more than a deep clean?
Often yes, since an empty home still needs every surface, cabinet interior, and closet done with nothing to work around — but also nothing in the way, so it can go either direction depending on the home's condition.