Interactive cost planner
Commercial cleaning cost calculator
Estimate a recurring contract from cleaner-hours. Enter 0% VAT if you want to view net costs only.
Typical commercial cleaning rates in 2026
Commercial cleaning prices are not regulated and there is no official UK rate card.
The ranges below synthesise publicly available UK market and supplier guides reviewed in September 2026; they are indicative charge-out prices, not cleaner wages or guaranteed quotations.
Ask whether a quoted hourly rate is per cleaner, whether it includes equipment and chemicals, and whether VAT is additional. Two cleaners working for two hours create four cleaner-hours, not two.
| Service or circumstance | Indicative price | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring office cleaning | About £18–£30 per cleaner-hour | Minimum visit, supplies, supervision and VAT |
| London office cleaning | Often about £25–£40 per cleaner-hour | Travel, access window and local wage policy |
| One-off deep cleaning | Often about £30–£45+ per cleaner-hour | Team size, machinery, condition and fixed-price option |
| Specialist or clinical work | Often £30–£50+ per cleaner-hour | Training, method, PPE, validation and specialist waste |
| Out-of-hours or urgent work | Standard rate plus a premium | Evening, weekend, bank-holiday and call-out terms |
Hourly, per-visit, per-area or monthly pricing
An hourly rate is transparent when the required time is uncertain, but it does not by itself guarantee the result. A fixed per-visit or monthly price gives budget certainty when the tasks, frequency and service level are clearly specified.
Per-square-foot and per-square-metre rates can help benchmark larger sites. Public guides sometimes cite roughly £0.10 to £0.30 per square foot per clean for offices, but the time period is essential.
Never compare an annual, monthly and per-clean area rate as if they were equivalent.
| Pricing model | Useful when | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Per cleaner-hour | Time and attendance are the main variables | Does not define the result or productivity |
| Per visit | Tasks and frequency are stable | Variations and periodic work need separate prices |
| Per square foot or metre | Benchmarking comparable larger premises | Density, condition and frequency can be hidden |
| Monthly contract | A recurring specification is well defined | Annual uplift and extras must be identified |
| Fixed project price | Deep cleans and one-off outcomes | Assumptions and completion criteria must be explicit |
Office cleaning cost examples
The examples use cleaner-hours rather than floor area because the activity level, layout and standard usually matter more than size alone. Monthly figures use 52 weeks divided by 12 and exclude VAT and separately charged consumables.
| Assumed requirement | Rate | Weekly cost | Approximate monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 cleaner-hours a week | £22 | £220 | £953 |
| 20 cleaner-hours a week | £25 | £500 | £2,167 |
| 40 cleaner-hours a week | £28 | £1,120 | £4,853 |
| Two-person, six-hour deep clean | £38 | £456 | One-off £456 |
Why a cleaning company charges more than the wage rate
The commercial cleaning hourly rate is a service price, not the cleaner’s take-home pay. From April 2026 the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour.
A compliant provider must also allow for employer costs and the resources required to deliver the contract.
A quote that sits implausibly close to the legal wage floor deserves careful questions. It may omit supervision, absence cover, travel, materials or enough paid time to complete the specification.
- Employer National Insurance, pension and statutory leave
- Recruitment, training, vetting and uniform
- Supervision, quality inspections and absence cover
- Chemicals, cloths, machinery, maintenance and storage
- Insurance, travel, administration, overhead and profit
What changes office cleaning prices
Frequency can reduce the time needed on each visit but increases total weekly labour. Short visits may carry a higher effective rate because travel and opening the site cannot be spread across many hours.
Congested layouts, stairs, secure zones, heavy washroom use and kitchen facilities also affect productivity.
- Location, parking, travel and whether a minimum visit applies
- Occupancy, footfall, floor types and present condition
- Daytime, evening, overnight, weekend or bank-holiday access
- Required visit frequency and service-level standard
- Consumables, sanitary services and specialist waste
- Machinery, work at height, security or sector-specific training
How to compare commercial cleaning quotes
Send the same room schedule and task frequencies to each provider, then request a site survey. Normalise each response into cleaner-hours per week, recurring monthly price, annual price, VAT and separately charged extras.
Do not automatically select the lowest hourly rate. Test whether the proposed hours can plausibly cover the work, how missed cleans are handled and what happens when wage rates, scope or occupancy change.
Frequently asked questions
How much does office cleaning cost per hour in the UK?
For 2026 budgeting, standard recurring office cleaning is commonly advertised at about £18 to £30 per cleaner-hour. London, very short visits, evenings, weekends and specialist work can be higher.
Confirm whether VAT, supplies, equipment and supervision are included.
What is the hourly rate for a commercial cleaner?
Separate the cleaner’s wage from the customer charge-out rate. From April 2026, the National Living Wage for a worker aged 21 or over is £12.71 an hour.
The service rate also funds employer costs, leave, supervision, supplies, equipment, insurance, overhead and margin.
How much should I charge for commercial cleaning?
Build the price from compliant labour cost, realistic productive hours, employer on-costs, supplies, equipment, travel, supervision, overhead, contingency and profit. Then test it against the market and the exact specification.
A competitor’s hourly rate is not a substitute for your cost model.
How much does commercial cleaning cost per square foot?
Public UK guides sometimes cite about £0.10 to £0.30 per square foot per clean for offices, but the frequency, scope and standard must be stated.
For meaningful comparison, divide a clearly defined recurring or per-visit price by the cleanable area and keep the time period the same.
Is VAT included in office cleaning prices?
Not always. VAT-registered cleaning companies normally add VAT unless the quotation says the price includes it.
Ask for the net price, VAT amount and gross total, and check whether consumables and periodic work are separate.
How can I calculate a monthly cleaning cost?
Multiply cleaner-hours per visit by visits per week and the rate per cleaner-hour. Multiply the weekly result by 52 and divide by 12 for an average monthly figure.
Add VAT and separately charged supplies or periodic work where applicable.