How to use the cleaning estimate calculator
- Describe the job. Enter square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, cleaning type (standard, deep, move-in/out, post-construction), how often you’ll clean, the condition of the home and any add-ons.
- Enter your costs. Your labor cost per hour, supplies, travel and anything else this job costs you. The labor hours are estimated automatically — override them if you already know how long it takes.
- Choose how to price. “Cost + margin” works backwards from your target profit margin. “Per square foot” uses your own rate and shows whether that price is actually profitable.
- Generate your estimate. Click Generate Estimate PDF to fill in a professional estimate with the price and job description, ready to edit, download and send.
The formulas behind the quote
Method 1: cost + target margin
Labor cost = Estimated hours × Labor cost per hourTotal cost = Labor + Supplies + Travel + Other costsRecommended price = Total cost ÷ (1 − Target margin)Dividing by (1 − margin) is what makes the margin come out right. Adding 30% on top of cost (a 30% markup) only gives you a 23% margin — a common reason cleaning businesses earn less than they planned.
Method 2: price per square foot
Price = Sq ft × Price per sq ft × Cleaning type multiplier × Condition multiplier + Add-onsThe calculator still works out your cost for the job, so you can see the real profit and margin behind a per-square-foot price.
Worked example
A standard clean that takes 4 hours, with labor at $25/hour and a 30% target margin:
| Labor (4 hrs × $25) | $100.00 |
| Supplies | $15.00 |
| Travel | $10.00 |
| Other costs | $5.00 |
| Total cost | $130.00 |
Recommended price = $130 ÷ (1 − 0.30) = $185.71, rounded up to $186. Expected profit is $186 − $130 = $56, a margin of $56 ÷ $186 = 30.1%.
These numbers illustrate the math only — they are not typical US prices. Always use your own costs.
Don’t count labor twice
If you clean the homes yourself, the labor cost per hour is what you pay yourself for that time. The profit margin is extra money the business keeps on top of that — for slow months, equipment, taxes and growth. Want to know what your hourly labor rate should be? Try the hourly rate calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for house cleaning?
Start from your own costs, not a national average. Estimate the labor hours, multiply by what an hour of labor costs you, add supplies, travel and other job costs, then divide by (1 − your target margin). For example, $130 of cost at a 30% margin is $130 ÷ 0.70 = $185.71, which you might round up to $186. Local competition decides whether that price works in your market.
How do I estimate how long a cleaning job will take?
Time a few of your own jobs and work out how many square feet you clean per hour for a standard clean. This calculator starts with an example rate (600 sq ft per hour plus extra time per bedroom and bathroom), then adjusts for cleaning type, home condition, frequency and add-ons. Replace the defaults in the Assumptions panel with your own numbers — or type your estimated hours directly.
Should I price by the hour, by square foot or by the job?
Most customers prefer a flat price for the job. You can build that price from your costs (cost + margin) or from a per-square-foot rate. Either way, check the expected profit: a per-square-foot price that looks fine on paper can lose money on a home in heavy condition.
Are the default prices in this calculator real market rates?
No. The defaults are example numbers so the calculator works out of the box. Cleaning prices vary widely between US cities and businesses. Replace every default with your own wage, supply costs and prices.
Is my data stored anywhere?
The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server unless you create an account and save estimates to the cloud.