House cleaning price calculator
House cleaners in the US charge $25–$60 an hour, or roughly $0.08–$0.20 per square foot. A standard clean of a 2,000 sq ft home usually lands between $140 and $260. Enter your home's details for a realistic quote range before you call anyone.
Estimated price per visit
$219 – $322
Estimated cleaner time
3.6 hours
One cleaner working alone.
Equivalent hourly rate
$61 – $90/hr
Annual cost at this frequency
$5,693 – $8,372
Estimates are based on 2026 market averages and are a guide only — always get local quotes.
Average house cleaning prices by home size (US, 2026)
| Home size | Standard clean | Deep clean |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bed | $90 – $130 | $150 – $220 |
| 1,000 sq ft, 2 bed | $110 – $170 | $180 – $280 |
| 1,500 sq ft, 3 bed | $130 – $210 | $220 – $340 |
| 2,000 sq ft, 3–4 bed | $150 – $260 | $260 – $420 |
| 3,000 sq ft, 4–5 bed | $220 – $380 | $380 – $600 |
| Hourly rate (single cleaner) | $25 – $60 | $30 – $70 |
Flat rate vs hourly: which should you accept?
Hourly pricing protects the cleaner; flat-rate pricing protects you. For a recurring clean of a home in normal condition, insist on a flat rate — the cleaner learns your home and gets faster, and you pay the same. For a first deep clean or a hoarding-adjacent situation, hourly is the only honest structure and reputable companies will say so.
Watch for quotes that look far below the table above. A $70 quote on a 2,000 sq ft home means either an uninsured solo operator, a 90-minute surface wipe, or a bait price that grows with add-ons on the day.
What a standard clean does and does not include
Standard maintenance covers dusting reachable surfaces, vacuuming and mopping floors, wiping counters and exteriors of appliances, and full bathroom sanitising. It does not include inside the oven or refrigerator, interior windows, baseboards, blinds, walls, or inside cabinets — those are deep-clean line items and usually cost $20–$45 each.
Frequency is the biggest lever on annual cost. Fortnightly service is typically 8% cheaper per visit than one-off, and weekly service 15% cheaper, because there is less soil to remove each time.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay a house cleaner per hour?
$25–$60 an hour for an independent cleaner and $35–$75 an hour through an insured agency, depending on your market. Major metros sit at the top of both ranges.
How much does it cost to clean a 2,000 sq ft house?
A standard clean runs $150–$260 and a deep clean $260–$420 for a 2,000 sq ft home in a mid-cost market in 2026.
Should I tip a house cleaner?
Tipping is optional for recurring service where the cleaner sets their own rate. For agency crews, 10–15% or a flat $10–$20 per cleaner is common, and an end-of-year bonus equal to one visit is a widespread norm.
Is a deep clean worth the extra cost?
Yes for the first visit, a seasonal reset, or before a house sale. After that, maintenance cleans at a regular interval keep the home at deep-clean standard for far less money.
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