Square footage typically translates directly to cleaning time, with homes under 1,000 sq ft taking around 2-4 hours, while larger homes (e.g., 2,000-3,000 sq ft) can require 5-8 hours or more. A general guideline is to charge around $0.05 to $0.10 per square foot, depending on the level of detail required.
To calculate the price, you need to multiply the home size by how much you'll charge per square foot. For example, basic cleaning for a 2,500-square-foot home will cost between $200 to $250. Meanwhile, the prices for one-time deep cleaning can range from $0.10 to $0.30 per square foot.
Cleaning time can be calculated as the amount of square footage to be cleaned divided by the production rate per hour multiplied by 60 to generate an output in minutes.
Hourly: $30 to $50 per hour, per cleaner on-site. Flat fee: $400 to $800 depending on the size of the job. Per room: $125 to $175 for an average single-family home. Per square foot: $0.10 to $0.50 per square foot.
Hourly: $20 to $50 per house cleaner. Flat fee: $100 to $170 for a single-family house cleaning job. Per room: $100 for 1 bed and 1 bathroom, with an additional $10 or $20 per bedroom or bathroom. Per square foot: $0.05 to $0.15 per square foot for standard cleaning services provided weekly or biweekly.
Current posted house cleaning rates in top U.S. cities*
CIty, State. Hourly House Cleaning Rate. Los Angeles, California. $22.97.
Flat fee: $100–170 weekly/biweekly for standard cleaning in a single-family home. Room rate: $100 for 1 bed/1 bath + $10–20 for each additional bedroom or bathroom. Square footage rate: 5–15¢ per square foot for weekly or bi-weekly cleaning (note that the higher the square footage, the lower your rate should be)
All-Purpose Liquid Cleaner
Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of plain household ammonia and 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1 gallon of warm water. Dispense in a spray bottle, and use as you would a commercial brand such as Formula 409.
The 20/10 rule is simple: spend 20 minutes cleaning followed by 10 minutes relaxing. This method is great because it's easy to follow and remember. By committing 20 minutes to cleaning, you can stay focused and accomplish more by knowing there is an end goal in sight: relaxation.
Regular cleaning usually involves cleaning tasks such as sweeping floors, cleaning and mopping floors, vacuuming carpets, wiping the dust from surfaces, appliances, and fixtures, cleaning and disinfecting the bathroom, cleaning kitchen appliances, cooking pots and floors as well as cleaning doors, window frames, ...
First, take the square footage of your client's home and divide it by your rate of square feet cleaned per hour. Then, multiply it by your hourly rate. The total number is how much you'll charge for a single job in that client's home.
Generally, most people can expect a bi-weekly cleaning service to be enough to keep their house in pristine condition.
Average Molly Maid prices
House cleaning by Molly Maid costs $60 to $100 per hour for a 2- to 3-person team, depending on your home size and needs. Most people pay about $120 to $300 per visit for a standard cleaning service that lasts 2 to 3 hours. Initial visits and deep cleans cost $300 to $500.
For example, if your hourly rate is $25 and you estimate a job will take four hours per visit, you'll multiply that by the number of days per week the job requires cleaning, then by 52 weeks in a year, and finally divide that by 12 to get your monthly charge.
Tipping housekeepers employed by professional house cleaning companies is not expected, but it has its place. For example, as paid employees of a residential cleaning service, professional house cleaners don't expect additional gratuity from customers—but they truly appreciate the kindness.