By Project Genie Editorial Team ·
September 11, 2026
House cleaning typically costs $100–$300 per visit, or $30–$60 per hour per cleaner, for a standard recurring clean. A one-time deep clean or a move-out clean runs noticeably higher — often $200–$400 — because both cover ground a regular visit skips entirely. Here's how the pricing actually breaks down and what changes the number for your home specifically.
Quick answer: Standard recurring cleaning averages $120–$180 per visit for a typical home, billed either per visit or at an hourly rate of $30–$60 per cleaner. Deep cleaning (a first-time clean or a periodic reset) typically runs $200–$400. Move-in/move-out cleaning, which covers empty rooms end to end including inside cabinets and appliances, usually costs $200–$450. Add-ons like inside-oven, inside-fridge, or interior windows are commonly priced separately.
Every figure below is a general, typical range — actual pricing depends on your home's size and condition, your location, and the specific company. Get a real quote for your job rather than budgeting around these numbers alone.
What Actually Affects the Price
Home size — pricing scales with square footage and, more directly, with the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, since bathrooms in particular take disproportionately longer to clean
Current condition — a home that's been kept up costs less to clean than one that hasn't had a proper clean in months; some companies charge more for the first visit specifically for this reason
Cleaning frequency — weekly or biweekly recurring service is usually cheaper per visit than a one-time clean, since the crew isn't starting from scratch each time
Your location — labor rates and typical per-visit pricing vary significantly by region and even by neighborhood within the same city
Pets and clutter — pet hair and a heavily cluttered home both add real time, and some companies price for this separately
Add-ons requested — inside the oven, inside the fridge, interior windows, and inside cabinets are commonly quoted as extras on top of a standard clean
None of these are things you can fully control, but knowing them helps explain why two cleaning companies can quote noticeably different prices for what sounds like the same job. A 900 sq ft apartment and a 3,500 sq ft house with the same number of bedrooms will not cost the same to clean, and neither will a home that's cleaned weekly versus one being cleaned for the first time in a year.
How Much Does Your Location Change the Price?
Where you live has a real, sizable effect on cleaning cost. In higher-cost metro areas, a standard clean for an average-size home commonly runs $150–$320. In typical mid-size markets, the same clean is usually closer to $120–$210. In lower-cost regions, it can run as low as $100–$180. These are representative ranges, not a guarantee for your specific city — local labor rates and demand are what actually set the number.
Typical Costs by Cleaning Type
| Cleaning Type | Typical Cost |
|---|
| Standard recurring clean (per visit) | $100–$300 |
| Hourly rate (per cleaner) | $30–$60 |
| Deep cleaning (one-time or periodic) | $200–$400 |
| Move-in / move-out cleaning | $200–$450 |
| Add-on: inside oven or inside fridge | $25–$75 each |
| Add-on: interior windows | $4–$8 per window |
| Add-on: carpet cleaning | $75–$200 |
| Add-on: laundry | $15–$30 per load |
The gap between a standard clean and a deep clean is less about square footage and more about scope. A standard visit maintains a home that's already reasonably clean — surfaces, floors, bathrooms, kitchen. A deep clean adds the things a regular visit doesn't touch: baseboards, inside appliances, behind furniture, built-up grime in grout lines. If you've never had a professional clean before, most companies will recommend starting with a deep clean and switching to standard pricing for recurring visits after that.
Standard vs. Deep vs. Move-Out: Which Do You Actually Need?
A standard clean is the right call for an already-lived-in home getting regular upkeep — think wiping surfaces, vacuuming, mopping, and bathroom and kitchen cleaning on a repeating schedule. A deep clean makes sense for a first-time booking, after a long gap between cleanings, before hosting a big event, or simply as an occasional reset a few times a year even if you keep up with regular cleaning in between. A move-out (or move-in) clean is its own category — it assumes an empty or nearly empty space and covers every surface end to end, including the inside of cabinets, closets, and appliances, since landlords and new occupants both expect a completely reset space. Booking the wrong tier is a common source of surprise charges: if you ask for a standard clean but the home hasn't been cleaned in months, expect the crew to either scope it as a deep clean on-site or move slower than a standard visit's time allotment.
Recurring Service and Frequency Discounts
Weekly, biweekly, and monthly recurring plans are usually priced lower per visit than a single one-time booking, since the crew spends less time per visit maintaining an already-clean home compared to resetting a neglected one. Biweekly is the most common cadence for a typical household. If you're only planning occasional cleanings, it's worth asking upfront whether a one-time rate applies or whether the company assumes a recurring commitment by default — pricing structures vary by company, and this is exactly the kind of detail that's easy to miss until the first invoice.
Why the Cheapest Quote Isn't Always the Best Deal
An unusually low bid is worth a second look before accepting it. It can mean fewer cleaners on the job (taking longer or covering less), a narrower scope than what you actually asked for, or a price that doesn't hold once add-ons get tallied up afterward. For a full breakdown of why quotes for the same job can differ this much, see our guide to why contractor quotes vary. It's also worth checking whether a cleaner or company is insured before booking — see our guide to hiring a contractor without the spam for the red flags worth watching for, cleaning included.
How to Get a Fair Price Without the Guesswork
The usual advice — get a few quotes and compare — is good advice most people skip, because describing the same home and the same job to multiple cleaning companies takes real effort. Competitive pricing works best when pros are actually competing for your specific job, not when you're doing the legwork of collecting separate estimates yourself.
Post your cleaning job through Project Genie and cleaning pros bid for it directly — real competitive pricing without calling around, and you only pay the pro you actually hire. No membership fee, no cost to browse jobs — you're only ever paying for work you actually agreed to. The more detail you include (home size, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, pets, how long since the last clean, any add-ons you want), the more accurate the bids you get back will be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do house cleaning quotes vary so much for what sounds like the same home?
Usually it comes down to current condition and scope — a home that hasn't been cleaned in months takes longer than one on a regular schedule, and add-ons like inside the oven or fridge aren't always assumed by default. Ask exactly what's included before comparing numbers.
Is a deep clean worth it if I already clean regularly myself?
Often yes for a first professional visit or an occasional reset — deep cleaning covers things (baseboards, behind appliances, grout) that day-to-day upkeep typically misses, even in a well-kept home.
Do recurring cleanings really cost less per visit than one-time cleanings?
Usually, yes — a crew maintaining an already-clean home moves faster than one resetting a neglected one, and many companies price recurring plans lower per visit for that reason.
Are house cleaning costs the same everywhere?
No — labor rates and typical per-visit pricing vary by region and even by neighborhood, so a quote in one city isn't a reliable estimate for another.
How long does a house cleaning take?
For an average-size home, a standard clean usually takes 2–4 hours depending on square footage and how many cleaners are on the job. A deep clean or move-out clean typically takes longer.
Does the price include cleaning supplies?
It depends on the company — some include standard supplies in the price, while others charge a small supply fee or ask you to bring your own. Confirm this before booking so it isn't a surprise on the invoice.
Get a Fair Quote, Not a Guess
House cleaning costs vary a lot by home size, condition, and cleaning type, but the surest way to get a fair price is real competition on your specific job, not a single quote taken at face value. Post your cleaning job free and let cleaning pros bid for it. New to the platform? See how the whole process works.