House cleaning cost: how cleaners price a home
How house cleaning is priced in Sydney and Melbourne: hourly or flat rate, what changes the cost, and how to get an exact written figure for your home.
House cleaning is usually priced by the hour or as a flat rate per visit, and the figure depends on the size of your home, how often you book, its condition and what is on your list. There is no honest single number for every home. What you can do is understand how a price is built, so you can tell whether a quote is fair for the job you actually want done.
Hourly or flat rate: how the two work
Most house cleaners in Sydney and Melbourne use one of two methods.
| Pricing | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | You pay for the time the cleaner spends in your home, sometimes with a minimum number of hours per visit. | Ask how many hours they expect your home to take, and what gets priority if time runs short. |
| Flat rate per visit | A set price for an agreed list of tasks, whatever the time taken. | Ask for the list in writing, so you know exactly what the price covers. |
Hourly pricing gives you flexibility. You can change what is done each visit and the cost moves with the time. Flat-rate pricing gives you certainty. You know the cost in advance, and the cleaner carries the risk if a visit runs long.
Either is fair. The thing to avoid is a price with nothing behind it: an hourly rate with no idea of how many hours, or a flat rate with no list of tasks.
What changes the cost
Size and layout
The number of bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas matters most. Bathrooms and kitchens take longer than bedrooms. Stairs, large windows and a lot of hard floor add time.
How often you book
Weekly, fortnightly and monthly visits are common. The longer the gap, the more there is to do each time, so each visit tends to take longer. A one-off clean is usually priced on its own.
Condition
A home that has not been cleaned in a while, has just been renovated or is being prepared for sale takes longer than one kept to a regular standard. Be honest when you describe it. It is better to get an accurate quote than a low one that turns into a rushed visit.
Extras
Inside the oven, inside the fridge, window tracks, walls, balconies, changing beds and carpet steam cleaning are often priced as extras or as part of a deep clean, rather than a regular visit. Our residential cleaning page shows how a regular clean, a deep clean and by-request jobs typically differ.
Products and equipment
Some cleaners bring their own products and equipment. Others ask you to supply them. Ask which, and whether it changes the price.
Pets, people and access
Pet hair, a busy household and limited access times can all add to the time a visit takes. Tell the cleaner up front so it is part of the quote.
What a regular clean usually covers
A regular clean keeps a home at a standard. It typically covers the jobs that build up week to week:
- Kitchen benches, sink and cooktop
- Bathrooms and toilets cleaned
- Floors vacuumed and mopped
- Dusting of surfaces you can reach
- Mirrors and glass spot cleaned
- Bins emptied
It does not usually include the jobs that only need doing now and then, such as inside the oven, skirting boards, grout and window tracks. Those belong in a deep clean or as an occasional extra. When you compare quotes, check whether each one is pricing a regular clean, a deep clean or something in between.
Why the first visit is often different
A first clean often takes longer than later ones, because there is more to catch up on. Some cleaners price the first visit separately, or suggest a deep clean first and a regular clean after. That is reasonable. Ask how the first visit is priced and what the regular price will be once the home is on a schedule.
Questions that make quotes comparable
Ask every cleaner the same questions and write down the answers:
- Is the price hourly or a flat rate per visit?
- If hourly, how many hours do you expect my home to take, and is there a minimum?
- What is on the list for each visit, and what costs extra?
- Is the first clean priced differently?
- Do you bring products and equipment, or do I supply them?
- What happens if I need to change or cancel a visit?
- What happens if something is missed?
When you put the answers side by side, it becomes clear which quotes are pricing the same job. A quote that is much lower than the others is usually a shorter visit or a shorter list, not the same clean for less.
How to get an exact figure
The quickest way to an accurate price is to describe your home clearly: the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas, the type of floors, any pets, how often you want a clean, and anything you want on or off the list. Photos help for a one-off or deep clean. Then ask for the price and the list together, in writing.
If you would like a written quote for your home, you can request one here.
Questions people ask
Why is the first clean sometimes more expensive?
A first visit often has more to catch up on, so it takes longer. Once a home is on a regular schedule, each visit has less build-up to deal with. Ask whether the first clean is priced separately from the regular one.
Is weekly cleaning cheaper than fortnightly?
Each weekly visit may be shorter than a fortnightly one, because less builds up between visits. Over a month you will usually pay more for weekly. Ask for both options and compare what each visit includes.
Do I pay extra for products and equipment?
It depends on the cleaner. Some bring everything and include it in the price, others ask you to supply products. Ask before you book so there are no surprises.
Can I get a price without someone visiting?
For a regular clean of a typical home, many cleaners can quote from a description: bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, floors and what you want on the list. A one-off deep clean or a home in difficult condition may need photos or a quick look first.