How to Quote a House Cleaning Job (Without Undercharging)

Quoting is where cleaning businesses are won or lost. Quote too high and you never hear back. Quote too low and you’re scrubbing grout for minimum wage while the client adds “just one more thing.” Here’s how to quote like you’ve been doing it for years.

Step 1: Always See It (or Get Details) First

Never quote blind. Either do a quick in-person walkthrough or get thorough details: square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, pets, kids, last professional clean, and what they want done. Photos help. The biggest quoting mistakes come from assuming.

Step 2: Price Flat, Not Hourly

Hourly pricing punishes you for getting faster. Flat-rate per visit is the pro move:

• Recurring clean (3 bed / 2 bath): typically $150–$250 per visit

• First visit / deep clean: 1.5–2x the recurring rate — it’s always dirtier than they say

• Move-in/move-out: $250–$500+, priced on condition

Step 3: Charge the First Clean as a Deep Clean

The first visit is never a “maintenance clean.” There’s buildup, there’s neglect, there are baseboards nobody has touched in a year. Price it as a deep clean every time.

Step 4: Price Extras Separately

Oven, fridge interior, inside windows, laundry, blinds, chandeliers — these are add-ons, not included. Typical add-on pricing: inside oven or fridge $25–$45 each; interior windows $5–$8 per pane; blinds $5–$10 each; laundry $20–$30 per load. Listing extras separately protects your base price and makes the quote look professional.

Step 5: Put Every Price in Writing

Text, email, or a simple quote sheet — just get it written. Include what’s included, what’s extra, the price, and the date. This kills 90% of disputes before they start.

Step 6: Never Go Below Your Floor

Know your minimum before you walk in. Factor in drive time, supplies, and the fact that the job always takes 20% longer than you think. If the number doesn’t work, walk away politely. The clients who squeeze you on price before you’ve cleaned a thing are the same ones inspecting baseboards with a flashlight afterward.

The Undercharging Trap

Almost every new cleaner undercharges their first 10 jobs. Track your time on every job for the first month, compare it to what you charged, and adjust. Your prices should go up as your speed and confidence grow.

The Bottom Line

See the home, price flat, charge the first clean as a deep clean, list extras separately, write it all down, and hold your floor. Do that and you’ll quote better than half the cleaners already in business.

Want the exact pricing formulas plus a calculator that does the math for you? That’s in the Cleaning Business Launch Kit: https://www.cleaning-r-us.com

I go deeper on the pricing psychology (and the mistakes that cost me real money early on) here: /blog/how-much-to-charge-for-house-cleaning