How to quote for domestic and end-of-tenancy cleaning
Cleaning quotes fail in two places: underestimating hours on a first deep clean, and quoting an end-of-tenancy job from a bedroom count alone. Regular work and tenancy work are different products with different risks, and they need to be priced differently. This guide covers both.
Quote regular cleans and tenancy jobs with scope, extras and guarantee terms spelled out.
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How to price domestic and end-of-tenancy cleaning
Use hourly pricing for ongoing domestic work where the scope repeats, and fixed pricing for one-off deep and tenancy cleans where the customer wants a result, not a timesheet.
1. Set an hourly rate that carries your real costs
Your rate must cover wages (yours or your cleaners'), travel between jobs, materials, insurance, replacement equipment, admin and holiday cover. Most UK domestic cleaning businesses need £18–£30 an hour per cleaner in 2026; sole traders working direct sit at the lower end, insured companies with staff and cover at the higher.
2. Quote regular work per visit, based on a timed first clean
Estimate hours from the property: roughly 2–2.5 hours for a one-bed flat, 3–4 for a three-bed house, on a maintained property. Price the first clean higher — a deep or initial clean is commonly 1.5–2x a regular visit — and say why, because the first visit is where profitability is usually lost.
3. Price end-of-tenancy on scope and condition, not bedrooms
Tenancy cleans are judged against a check-out inventory, so they include oven interiors, inside cupboards, skirtings, window interiors, limescale and appliance seals. Ask for photos before quoting, and be explicit about condition assumptions — heavy grease, mould or an unemptied property changes the job entirely.
4. Itemise extras rather than absorbing them
Oven deep clean, carpet cleaning, upholstery, interior windows, fridge and freezer defrost, balconies, garages and single-item jobs should each be their own line. Extras are where margin lives, and listing them lets the customer build the clean they want.
5. State materials, access and guarantee terms
Say who supplies the products and equipment and whether the property has hot water and power. For tenancy work, offering a 48–72 hour re-clean guarantee against a check-out report wins jobs from agents — but pair it with written condition assumptions so the guarantee is bounded.
What to put on a domestic cleaner quote
- Property size, number of bathrooms and rough condition
- Whether the clean is regular, one-off deep, or end-of-tenancy
- Room-by-room scope of what is and is not included
- Estimated hours and number of cleaners attending
- Extras: oven, carpets, windows, upholstery, appliances
- Who supplies materials and equipment
- Access arrangements, keys and parking
- Re-clean guarantee window for tenancy work
- Public liability insurance cover
- Payment terms, cancellation policy and VAT treatment
Realistic UK price ranges for domestic cleaners
Indicative UK figures for 2026. London sits well above these ranges; carpet and upholstery cleaning are normally quoted separately.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Regular domestic cleaning, per hour | £18 – £30 |
| Regular visit, 3-bed house | £55 – £95 |
| One-off deep clean, 3-bed | £150 – £300 |
| End-of-tenancy, 1-bed flat | £140 – £250 |
| End-of-tenancy, 3-bed house | £230 – £420 |
| Oven deep clean (single) | £45 – £80 |
Run your own numbers in the free quote calculator or check your margin with the markup & margin calculator.
Common quoting mistakes for domestic cleaners
- Quoting a tenancy clean from bedroom count alone, without photos or a condition check.
- Charging the regular visit price for the first deep clean.
- Absorbing materials and travel instead of building them into the rate.
- Vague scope, so 'inside the cupboards' becomes an argument at check-out.
- Offering an unlimited re-clean guarantee with no written condition assumptions.
- Underpricing to win agency work, then being locked into a rate that cannot pay staff properly.
Pricing FAQs
How much should a cleaner charge per hour in the UK?
Most domestic cleaning businesses charge £18–£30 an hour per cleaner in 2026. Sole traders working direct for householders sit at the lower end; insured companies employing staff with holiday cover and materials included sit at the higher end.
How much is an end-of-tenancy clean?
Typically £140–£250 for a one-bed flat and £230–£420 for a three-bed house in 2026, excluding carpet cleaning. The property's condition matters more than its size, so quote from photos or a viewing.
Should I charge hourly or a fixed price?
Hourly for ongoing regular work where the scope repeats and trust is established; fixed price for deep cleans and end-of-tenancy jobs where the customer is buying a defined result and a check-out pass.
Should I offer a re-clean guarantee?
For tenancy work it wins jobs, especially from letting agents. Bound it: 48–72 hours from completion, against a written check-out report, and subject to the condition assumptions stated on your quote.
Quote regular cleans and tenancy jobs with scope, extras and guarantee terms spelled out.
Accepted in one tap, invoiced in one click. Free trial, no card needed.
More reading
Want the long-form version with a worked example? How much to charge for a cleaning job →