Cleaning business hourly rate calculator
Most new cleaners set a rate by copying a competitor, then wonder why the money never arrives. Your rate is determined by your target take-home pay, the hours you can actually bill, and your overhead — not by what the person down the road charges. Run your real numbers below.
Leave room for holidays and sick days.
Travel, quoting and admin are not billable.
Insurance, vehicle, phone, software, marketing.
Minimum hourly rate
$54.36/hr
Rate to quote with 15% buffer
$62.51/hr
Covers cancellations and underestimates.
Billable hours per year
1344 hrs
Revenue you must invoice
$73,060
Typical 3-hour job price
$188
Estimates are based on 2026 market averages and are a guide only — always get local quotes.
What cleaners charge (2026)
| Model | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, cash, uninsured | $20 – $28 | Not a sustainable business |
| Solo, insured, registered | $32 – $50 | Realistic full-time income |
| Two-person team | $55 – $90 (team hour) | Faster, higher job value |
| Agency with employees | $40 – $75 per cleaner | Needs 30%+ gross margin |
| Specialist (post-construction, biohazard) | $60 – $120 | Certification required |
| Airbnb turnover flat fee | $60 – $150 / turn | Priced per job, not per hour |
Billable hours are the number everyone gets wrong
A 40-hour week is never 40 billable hours. Driving between jobs, quoting, buying supplies, invoicing, chasing payment and answering messages consume 30–40% of a solo cleaner's week. Twenty-five billable hours out of a 40-hour working week is a realistic, sustainable target — and pricing as if you will bill 38 is why so many cleaning businesses fold in year two.
Cluster jobs geographically. Cutting average travel from 25 minutes to 10 between three daily jobs recovers roughly 45 minutes a day — around 180 billable hours a year at no extra effort.
Raising rates on existing clients
Give 30 days' written notice, apply the increase to everyone at the same time each year, and keep it to 5–8%. Framing matters: state the new rate as a fact with an effective date rather than asking permission. Expect to lose 5–10% of clients, almost always the lowest-value ones, and to be better off in total within two months.
If you are fully booked with a waiting list, your rate is too low. That is the clearest pricing signal in this industry.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a cleaning business charge per hour?
$32–$50 an hour for an insured solo cleaner in 2026, and $55–$90 per team hour for a two-person crew. Your own floor is set by target income, billable hours and overhead — run the calculator above.
How many billable hours can a solo cleaner work?
20–28 hours a week sustainably. Beyond that, travel, admin and physical fatigue mean quality or income drops.
Should I charge hourly or flat rate?
Quote hourly until you know the property, then convert regular clients to a flat rate. Flat rates reward you for getting faster; hourly rates penalise it.
What overhead should I include?
Public liability insurance, vehicle costs and fuel, phone and internet, scheduling software, supplies, marketing, accounting, and equipment replacement. Budget $500–$900 a month for a solo operator.
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