Price too low and you'll be busy and broke; too high and the phone won't ring. The right rate depends on your area, the type of clean and how fast you work — but there are clear benchmarks to start from.
Typical hourly rates in 2026
UK: Taskrabbit's house cleaning guide puts the average at about £22 an hour, with London around £31. Independent domestic cleaners commonly charge somewhere between the mid-teens and mid-twenties per hour outside London and the South East.
US: Taskrabbit reports an average of about $33 an hour. Independent cleaners often charge roughly $25–$50 an hour, with higher rates in expensive metros like New York and California.
Hourly vs flat-rate pricing
Hourlyis easiest when you're new and don't know how long homes take. Agree a minimum visit (often two or three hours) so short jobs are worth the travel.
Flat rate— a price per visit based on bedrooms, bathrooms and the type of clean — is what clients prefer, and it rewards you as you get faster. Most cleaners switch to flat rates once they've timed a few homes.
Price by type of clean
- Regular clean: your base rate. Weekly and fortnightly clients usually get your best price.
- Deep clean: typically 1.5–2× a regular clean, because it takes longer and covers more.
- End of tenancy / move-out: priced per property size, usually the highest — extras like ovens and carpets are added on.
- Airbnb turnover: a flat fee per changeover, plus laundry if you take it.
- Extras: oven, fridge, inside windows, carpets — list them separately so the price is clear.
Work out your own rate
- Decide what you want to earn per year, then add tax, insurance, supplies and travel.
- Estimate how many hours you can actually bill per week — travel time isn't billable.
- Divide yearly cost by billable hours. That's your minimum hourly rate.
- Compare with local rates. If you're well below, you're leaving money on the table.
Show the value, not just the price
Clients compare cleaners on trust as much as price. Before & after photos and a short report after each visit make you look established — and make a higher rate easier to justify. When an end of tenancy clean is questioned, the same photos protect your payment.
