Commercial cleaning services pricing refers to what businesses pay professional cleaning companies to maintain their offices, retail spaces, or facilities. These costs typically range from $0.07 to $0.25 per square foot or $25 to $90 per hour, depending on your building size, cleaning frequency, and specific needs. Understanding these numbers helps you budget accurately and avoid overpaying for services you might not need.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about commercial cleaning costs. You’ll learn how to estimate your own expenses, what factors drive prices up or down, and how to compare quotes from different providers. We’ll show you the current price ranges for 2026, explain why some services cost more than others, and give you practical tips to get the best value for your money.
Why commercial cleaning pricing matters
Knowing what to expect with commercial cleaning services pricing protects your business from budget surprises and helps you plan expenses accurately. Your cleaning costs can represent 5 to 15% of your total facility management budget, so getting these numbers right impacts your bottom line significantly. When you understand standard rates, you can spot overpriced quotes immediately and negotiate better deals with confidence.
Budget planning and cost control
Accurate pricing knowledge helps you allocate funds properly across your fiscal year. You can forecast monthly cleaning expenses based on your square footage and service frequency, which prevents cash flow problems down the road. Many businesses discover they’ve overpaid by 20 to 30% simply because they accepted the first quote without comparing rates.
Understanding market rates gives you negotiating power and protects your business from inflated prices.
Making informed service decisions
Price transparency allows you to match services to your actual needs rather than paying for unnecessary extras. You might realize that daily cleaning costs twice as much as three-times-weekly service but doesn’t provide proportional value for your space. This knowledge helps you customize a cleaning plan that balances cost with cleanliness standards, ensuring you invest in services that truly matter for your business operations and employee comfort.
How to estimate your commercial cleaning costs
Estimating your commercial cleaning services pricing starts with three basic measurements: your square footage, how often you need service, and what specific tasks you require. You can calculate a rough estimate in about 10 minutes using these factors, which gives you a realistic baseline before you request formal quotes. Most businesses discover their actual costs fall within 15% of their initial estimate when they use accurate measurements and honest assessments of their cleaning needs.
Measure your space accurately
Start by calculating your total cleanable square footage, which differs from your building’s total size. You measure only the actual floor space that requires regular cleaning, excluding storage areas, utility rooms, or spaces you clean yourself. Walk through your facility with a tape measure or use your building’s floor plans to get precise numbers, because even 500 square feet of miscalculation can throw off your estimate by hundreds of dollars monthly.
Most offices need 0.10 to 0.20 square feet cleaned per dollar spent, so a 5,000-square-foot space typically costs between $500 and $1,000 monthly for standard service. Your estimate becomes more accurate when you separate your space into zones: reception areas and bathrooms usually cost more per square foot than open office spaces or hallways.
Calculate based on service frequency
Your cleaning schedule dramatically impacts your monthly costs since daily service costs roughly twice as much as three-times-weekly cleaning. You pay for labor hours multiplied by frequency, so a team that spends two hours per visit at $50 per hour costs you $100 per visit or $1,200 monthly for daily service versus $600 monthly for three weekly visits.
More frequent cleaning doesn’t always mean better value, so match your schedule to your actual traffic and dirt accumulation.
Consider your facility’s foot traffic and what your employees or customers expect. High-traffic retail spaces with 100+ daily visitors justify daily cleaning, while a small office with 10 employees might only need weekly service. Your estimate should reflect this reality rather than an idealized standard.
Factor in your specific needs
Basic cleaning covers vacuuming, trash removal, and surface wiping, but you’ll pay extra for specialized services like carpet shampooing, window washing, or floor waxing. These additions typically increase your base quote by 20 to 50%, so list everything you need upfront. A medical office requires stricter sanitation protocols than a warehouse, which affects both the hourly rate and the time required.
Calculate additional costs for supplies if your contract doesn’t include them. Some providers charge $50 to $150 monthly for cleaning products and equipment, while others build these costs into their per-square-foot rate. Your estimate stays accurate when you clarify who provides what before you commit to any service agreement.
Typical commercial cleaning price ranges
Current commercial cleaning services pricing in 2026 varies significantly based on your business size and location. You’ll typically encounter three pricing structures: per square foot rates, hourly rates, or flat monthly fees. Understanding these ranges helps you identify whether quotes you receive fall within normal market rates or signal potential overpricing.
Per square foot pricing
Most commercial cleaning companies charge between $0.07 and $0.25 per square foot for standard janitorial services. Your actual rate depends on your building’s condition, layout complexity, and service frequency. A simple 3,000-square-foot office cleaned three times weekly costs approximately $210 to $750 monthly at these rates, while a 10,000-square-foot retail space runs $700 to $2,500 monthly.
Smaller spaces under 1,000 square feet often pay closer to the higher end of this range because cleaning companies need to cover their minimum service costs. You’ll notice that larger facilities typically negotiate lower per-square-foot rates since the economies of scale work in your favor. Expect to pay around $0.15 per square foot for average office spaces with moderate traffic.
Square footage pricing provides the most predictable monthly costs since your bill stays consistent regardless of time spent cleaning.
Hourly rate pricing
Hourly rates range from $25 to $90 per cleaner, with most businesses paying $30 to $50 per hour for standard office cleaning. Your costs multiply based on how many cleaners work simultaneously and how long they stay. A two-person team spending three hours at $40 per hour costs you $240 per visit, which translates to $720 monthly for three weekly visits.
Premium services like medical facility cleaning or specialized industrial cleaning command higher hourly rates between $50 and $90 because they require additional training and certifications. You might prefer hourly pricing for one-time deep cleans or irregular service schedules where square footage pricing doesn’t make financial sense.
Monthly cost benchmarks
Your total monthly cleaning budget typically falls within these ranges based on facility size:
- Small offices (1,000-3,000 sq ft): $200 to $600 monthly
- Medium spaces (3,000-7,000 sq ft): $400 to $1,400 monthly
- Large facilities (7,000-15,000 sq ft): $800 to $3,000 monthly
- Extra-large buildings (15,000+ sq ft): $2,000 to $6,000+ monthly
These numbers assume three-times-weekly service with basic janitorial tasks. Daily cleaning increases your costs by 40 to 60%, while weekly service reduces them by a similar percentage.
Key factors that affect cleaning service rates
Multiple variables influence what you pay for commercial cleaning services pricing, and understanding these factors helps you anticipate costs before requesting quotes. Your cleaning company considers everything from your building’s physical characteristics to the specific tasks you require when calculating rates. Recognizing these cost drivers allows you to adjust your expectations and potentially modify certain factors to reduce your overall expenses.
Building size and complexity
Your facility’s square footage directly impacts your cleaning costs, but layout complexity matters just as much as total size. A 5,000-square-foot open office costs less to clean than a 5,000-square-foot space divided into 20 small rooms because the latter requires more time for door handling, equipment movement, and detail work. Buildings with multiple floors, tight corners, or hard-to-reach areas command 15 to 25% higher rates than simple, open layouts.
Restroom quantity and kitchen areas significantly increase your costs since these spaces require specialized cleaning products and take three to four times longer to clean than standard office areas. You’ll pay more per square foot when your facility includes 10 restrooms versus just two, regardless of overall building size.
Service frequency and timing
How often you schedule cleaning directly affects your per-visit costs and monthly budget. Daily service typically costs 30 to 40% less per visit than weekly cleaning because your provider establishes efficient routines and doesn’t face heavy buildup between visits. However, your total monthly expense increases with more frequent service, so you balance cleanliness standards against budget constraints.
After-hours cleaning costs 10 to 20% more than daytime service because cleaners work less desirable shifts. You pay premium rates for weekend or holiday cleaning since providers must compensate employees accordingly.
Adjusting your service schedule by just one day per week can save you hundreds of dollars monthly while maintaining acceptable cleanliness.
Industry-specific requirements
Medical facilities, restaurants, and childcare centers face stricter sanitation standards that increase cleaning costs by 40 to 60% compared to standard offices. Your provider needs specialized training, certifications, and cleaning products to meet regulatory compliance in these environments. Manufacturing facilities require industrial-grade equipment and safety protocols that similarly drive up hourly rates.
Standard office spaces generally receive the lowest per-square-foot rates since they involve routine tasks without special requirements. Your industry classification immediately signals to cleaning companies what level of service you need, which shapes their initial pricing structure before they even visit your facility.
How to compare quotes and choose a provider
Comparing commercial cleaning services pricing requires more than just looking at the bottom-line numbers on each proposal. You need to evaluate what each quote includes, how providers handle problems, and whether they can deliver consistent results over time. Request at least three detailed quotes from different companies to understand the full pricing spectrum in your area, then systematically compare them using specific criteria rather than choosing based solely on the lowest price.
Request detailed written quotes
Get everything in writing before making your decision since verbal estimates often differ from final contracts. Your quote should break down costs per service rather than listing a single monthly total, which allows you to see exactly what you’re paying for and identify potential add-on fees. Ask each provider to specify their square footage calculation, cleaning frequency, tasks included, and whether they provide supplies and equipment.
Written quotes protect you from unexpected charges later and give you leverage if service quality drops. Providers who refuse to itemize costs or provide vague estimates often hide fees that appear after you sign a contract.
Evaluate service scope and guarantees
Compare what each provider includes in their standard service versus what costs extra. Some companies offer satisfaction guarantees or will re-clean areas if you’re unhappy, while others require additional payment for return visits. Check whether quotes include specialty services like window cleaning, carpet care, or floor maintenance, since these additions significantly affect your total costs.
A comprehensive service agreement with clear guarantees often provides better long-term value than the cheapest quote with minimal coverage.
Check credentials and references
Verify that providers carry proper insurance and bonding to protect your business from liability if accidents occur. Request references from current clients with similar facility types and sizes, then actually contact them to ask about reliability, quality, and hidden costs. Licensed and insured providers might charge 10 to 15% more than uninsured competitors, but this premium protects you from potential lawsuits and property damage claims that could cost thousands of dollars.
Make commercial cleaning prices work for you
Understanding commercial cleaning services pricing gives you control over your facility management budget and helps you make smart decisions. You now know the typical rates ($0.07 to $0.25 per square foot), factors that affect costs, and how to compare quotes effectively. Use this knowledge to negotiate better contracts, avoid overpaying, and choose providers who deliver real value.
Start by measuring your space accurately, determining your actual cleaning needs, and requesting detailed written quotes from multiple providers. Compare services line by line rather than focusing only on total costs. Get your free estimate from AlphaLux Cleaning to see how professional service fits your specific needs and budget while maintaining the high standards your business deserves.
