The honest range across the US in 2026: $100–$300 per visit for a typical 1,500–2,500 sq ft home. The spread is wide because pricing isn't really about square footage — it's about how clean the house is when the team arrives, and what's expected at the end.
This guide breaks down the actual numbers, what drives them, and what a fair quote looks like.
Standard cleaning vs deep clean vs move-out
These three are completely different jobs at completely different prices. Most disputes start when the customer expects a deep-clean experience at a standard-clean price.
- Standard / recurring cleaning: $100–$200 per visit. Maintenance work — surfaces wiped, floors vacuumed/mopped, bathrooms and kitchen scrubbed. Assumes the home is reasonably tidy when the team arrives.
- Deep clean: $250–$500. Baseboards, inside the oven, inside the fridge, behind appliances, blinds, windows. Usually a one-time service or the first visit before recurring kicks in.
- Move-in / move-out clean: $300–$600. Empty home, full deep clean plus inside cabinets and drawers, walls if needed. Priced higher because the standard expectation is "ready for showings or a security deposit."
What changes the number
Beyond the basic service tier, the real drivers:
- Square footage: reasonable rule of thumb is $0.10–$0.20 per sq ft for standard cleaning, $0.25–$0.50 for deep clean.
- Number of bathrooms: bathrooms are the most labor-intensive room. Each additional bathroom adds $20–$40 to a standard clean.
- Pets: hair adds time. Most cleaners charge a flat $20–$40 pet surcharge.
- Frequency: recurring customers get 10–25% off the one-time rate. Weekly is cheapest per visit, monthly costs the most per visit (more buildup between visits).
- Location: Boston, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle run 30–50% above the national median. Smaller markets run 15–25% below.
What a fair quote looks like
A professional cleaner's quote should be itemized — not just a flat number. Look for:
- Scope written out: rooms included, what's done in each, what's NOT included (laundry, dishes, baseboards, inside-of-fridge, etc.).
- Hourly rate or flat rate, clearly stated: hourly typically $35–$60 per cleaner per hour. Flat rate is more common and what most customers prefer.
- Number of cleaners + estimated duration: a 2-person team for 3 hours on a 2,000 sq ft home is normal.
- Recurring discount if applicable.
- Tax line (manual entry, varies by state). If they're charging tax, it should be on the invoice.
Red flags
- Quote that's wildly below market: $50 for a full house clean usually means undocumented labor, no insurance, or both. The risk is yours when something breaks.
- No insurance: ask. A bonded and insured cleaner protects you if a $2,000 vase gets knocked off a shelf.
- Cash-only with no invoice: fine for a one-off favor, not for a recurring relationship. You want a paper trail for tax purposes if you employ help in your home.
- Day-of upcharges: the price quoted in advance should be the price charged. "Oh, your tile took longer" surprises after the fact = walk.
What to budget for in Boston specifically
Boston-area pricing runs about 30–40% above national averages because labor and insurance are expensive here. Real numbers we've seen for typical 2-bath colonials in Brookline, Newton, Cambridge, and Somerville:
- Standard recurring (biweekly): $160–$220 per visit
- One-time deep clean: $350–$550
- Move-out clean (3-bed): $500–$750
If you're getting quotes far below this band in Boston metro, the cleaner is probably either undercutting on insurance or new and trying to build a book. Sometimes the latter is fine; sometimes the former bites you.
When recurring saves real money
Most households see a 15–25% per-visit discount when they commit to weekly or biweekly. Beyond price, recurring is also faster — the team learns your home, brings the right products, knows where the cat is hiding. After 3–4 visits, a 3-hour job often drops to 2 hours, which means recurring at the lower rate is cheaper for both sides.
If your home maintenance budget is tight, biweekly is the sweet spot. Weekly is overkill for most households without kids or pets; monthly accumulates enough buildup that each visit creeps toward deep-clean territory anyway.
FAQ
Should I tip my cleaner? Optional but appreciated — $10–$20 per visit for a regular cleaner, more for a one-time deep clean if the team went above and beyond. Tipping is more common in some regions than others.
Do I need to be home? Most recurring customers leave a key or door code. The first visit is usually a walk-through together so the team understands your priorities; after that, they can come and go.
Do they bring supplies? Yes, almost always. If you have specific products you want used (eco-friendly, scent-free, no bleach), tell them at quote time so it's priced in.
What if they break something? A bonded and insured cleaner has coverage. Get the cleaner's insurance certificate before the first visit if it matters to you.