Commercial Office Cleaning Cost: Key Insights
- Per-square-foot rates drop as office size grows, because travel and setup costs are spread over more area, which is why small offices pay the most per square foot.
- Labour accounts for 50 to 70 percent of a cleaning quote, so prices follow local wages far more than products or equipment.
- More frequent cleaning raises the monthly total but lowers the per-visit price, since each visit takes less time.
- Standard rates assume evening work; overnight or weekend access typically adds 10 to 20 percent to the quote.
- Carpeted offices carry a hidden annual expense: periodic extraction cleaning is billed separately from the regular contract.
In this guide, you'll read about:
- Average Commercial Office Cleaning Cost
- What Affects Your Commercial Office Cleaning Cost
- Commercial Office Cleaning Services and Their Costs
- Office Cleaning Cost: Cleaning Company vs. In-House Cleaner
- How to Save on Office Cleaning Costs
- How to Find an Office Cleaning Pro on HomeStars
- Frequently Asked Questions
Average Commercial Office Cleaning Cost
Recurring office cleaning in Canada averages $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot per visit, or $30 to $60 per hour per cleaner. Companies usually quote hourly for smaller spaces and switch to square-foot or monthly contract pricing once an office passes roughly 2,500 square feet.
Here is what different kinds of offices typically pay for cleaning services:
| Office type | Typical cleaning cost |
|---|---|
| Small office (under 1,000 sq. ft.) | $200 to $500 per month |
| Medium office (1,000 to 5,000 sq. ft.) | $500 to $2,000 per month |
| Large office (over 5,000 sq. ft.) | $2,000 to $5,000+ per month |
| Medical or dental office | $0.15 to $0.35 per square foot |
| One-time cleaning, any office size | $30 to $60 per hour |
Monthly figures assume two to five visits per week with a standard scope: floors, washrooms, kitchens, garbage and recycling, and touchpoint wiping. Offices with stricter sanitation requirements, such as clinics, pay more per square foot because the work takes longer and uses different products.
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What Affects Your Commercial Office Cleaning Cost
The total on your quote is built from a handful of variables. Knowing each one helps you see where the money goes and where there is room to negotiate.
Labour
Labour is the largest share of any cleaning quote, typically 50 to 70 percent. Cleaners in Canada bill out at $30 to $60 per hour in 2026, which covers wages, payroll costs, insurance, and supervision. Quotes for teams of two or three cleaners multiply accordingly, though the visit gets done faster.
Office Type
The kind of office sets the baseline before size or frequency enter the picture:
- Corporate and professional offices: standard rates apply, with $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot covering typical workstation and boardroom layouts.
- Medical and dental offices: run $0.15 to $0.35 per square foot because exam rooms need disinfection protocols and product changeovers between zones.
- Call centres and shared-desk offices: hot-desking means every workstation gets wiped down each visit, pushing time per square foot above a comparable private office.
- Client-facing offices: reception areas, showrooms, and street entrances collect more dirt and often need daytime touch-ups on top of evening service.
If your space mixes types, such as a clinic with an admin wing, expect the quote to be zoned rather than priced at a single rate.
Office Size and Layout
Bigger offices cost more in total but less per square foot, since fixed costs like travel and setup are spread over more area and crews work more efficiently in open space. Layout matters too: an open-plan floor cleans faster than the same footage divided into private offices, meeting rooms, and corridors.
Flooring: Carpet vs. Hard Surfaces
Day-to-day vacuuming and mopping are included in routine rates, but floor type changes the long-term math:
- Carpet: needs hot water extraction once or twice a year at $0.08 to $0.25 per square foot, on top of regular vacuuming.
- Vinyl and tile: low daily cost, but periodic stripping and waxing runs $0.30 to $0.60 per square foot.
- Hardwood and laminate: simple to maintain, though scratches may call for occasional refinishing outside the cleaning contract.
If your office is mostly carpeted, budget for extraction as a separate annual expense. Our carpet cleaning cost guide covers those prices in more detail.
Frequency of Cleaning
How often the cleaners come has the biggest impact on your monthly total. More visits raise the monthly bill but lower the per-visit price, since each visit takes less time:
- Daily service: highest monthly cost, common for offices with 50 or more staff or steady client traffic.
- Two to three visits per week: the standard choice for most small and mid-sized offices.
- Weekly service: lowest recurring cost, workable for low-traffic spaces under 10 people.
Pick the lightest schedule your space can handle, then adjust after a month or two of feedback from staff.
Products and Supplies
Standard cleaning products are usually built into the rate. Expect a surcharge of 5 to 15 percent if you request eco-friendly product lines or if your office requires hospital-grade disinfectants. Consumables such as paper towel, toilet paper, and soap are billed separately, either at cost or through a monthly restocking fee.
Location
Labour costs and demand vary across the country. Offices in downtown Toronto and Vancouver tend to pay near the top of the $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot range, while offices in smaller centres like Halifax, Winnipeg, or London often land closer to the bottom. Parking fees and travel time for buildings outside a company's regular route can also add a small premium.
Access and Scheduling
Most office cleaning happens after hours, and standard rates assume evening work. Overnight or weekend scheduling can add 10 to 20 percent. Buildings with security sign-in, restricted elevators, or loading dock booking requirements take extra time per visit, and that time ends up in the quote.
Good to know: cleaning services are taxable across Canada, so GST or HST is added on top of every figure in this guide. Confirm whether a quote is shown before or after tax when comparing offers.
Commercial Office Cleaning Services and Their Costs
Routine janitorial work is only part of the picture. These are the most common office cleaning services in Canada and what they cost in 2026:
| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Routine janitorial cleaning | $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot |
| Deep cleaning | $0.20 to $0.50 per square foot |
| Carpet extraction cleaning | $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot |
| Floor stripping and waxing | $0.30 to $0.60 per square foot |
| Interior window cleaning | $5 to $15 per pane |
| Post-construction cleaning | $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot |
| Disinfection add-on | $0.05 to $0.15 per square foot |
A few notes on scope:
- Routine janitorial: garbage, washrooms, kitchens, floors, and touchpoint wiping on a set schedule.
- Deep cleaning: baseboards, vents, under furniture, and high dusting, usually booked quarterly or before an event.
- Post-construction cleaning: dust removal and detail work after a renovation, priced higher because of the labour involved.
- Disinfection: fogging or wipe-down of all surfaces, often added during flu season or after an illness outbreak.
If your building needs services beyond the office itself, such as exterior windows or parking areas, our commercial cleaning cost guide covers the wider range.
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Office Cleaning Cost: Cleaning Company vs. In-House Cleaner
Some businesses weigh hiring their own cleaner against contracting a company. Here is how the office cleaning cost compares between the two routes:
- In-house cleaner: a part-time employee costs $18 to $25 per hour plus payroll taxes, vacation pay, equipment, and supplies that you purchase and store yourself.
- Cleaning company: a higher hourly rate of $30 to $60, but equipment, products, insurance, and coverage for sick days are included.
For offices under about 10,000 square feet, a contracted company is usually cheaper once you account for equipment and the administrative load of managing an employee. In-house staff start to make financial sense in large buildings that need someone on site every day.
How to Save on Office Cleaning Costs
There are practical ways to bring your office cleaning cost down without letting standards slip:
- Right-size the frequency: many offices that book daily service can move to three visits per week with a day porter handling garbage in between.
- Sign a longer contract: companies commonly discount 5 to 10 percent for a 12-month commitment over month-to-month service.
- Bundle services: booking carpet cleaning and floor waxing with your regular provider is usually cheaper than hiring a separate company for each.
- Trim the scope: ask staff to handle their own desks and dishes so paid cleaning hours go to floors, washrooms, and shared areas.
- Get multiple quotes: pricing for the same scope can vary by 30 percent or more between companies in the same city.
- Schedule specialty work in the off-season: floor waxing and deep cleans are often cheaper in winter months when demand drops.
HomeStars Tip: ask for the quote broken out by task and frequency. Line items make it easy to spot where a competing offer is padding hours.
How to Find an Office Cleaning Pro on HomeStars
Once you know your square footage, the rooms you want covered, and how often you want service, you are ready to collect quotes. Ask each company to break out labour, supplies, and any specialty work so you can compare offers on the same terms, and confirm that liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage are in place before anyone starts. A walkthrough of your space before quoting is a good sign that the company is pricing your office rather than guessing from a template.
HomeStars connects you with office cleaning pros near you, so you can compare companies, read feedback from past clients, and choose the right fit for your space. Post your project for free and let interested pros come to you with their assessments and quotes.
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FAQs: Your Questions About Commercial Office Cleaning Cost Answered
Do office cleaning companies charge a minimum visit fee?
Most companies set a minimum of $100 to $150 per visit, even for very small spaces. This covers travel and setup time, which is why tiny offices pay more per square foot than larger ones.
What does a day porter cost compared to evening cleaning?
A day porter handles light upkeep during business hours, such as restocking washrooms, tidying meeting rooms, and emptying bins, at $30 to $45 per hour. Many offices on HomeStars combine a few porter hours per day with evening janitorial visits instead of paying for a second full cleaning.
Should I provide cleaning supplies or let the company bring their own?
Letting the company supply products and equipment is standard and usually costs less than buying commercial-grade machines yourself. The exception is consumables like paper products and soap, where ordering directly from a wholesaler can beat the company's restocking fee.
How do cancellation terms affect office cleaning contracts?
Many contracts include a 30 to 60 day notice period, and some lock in pricing for the full term. Before signing, check whether rates can increase mid-contract and whether missed visits are credited back, since these clauses change the real cost of the agreement.
Can I check a cleaning company's track record before requesting a quote?
Company profiles on HomeStars show ratings, photos of completed work, and written feedback from other businesses and homeowners. Looking at how a company responds to negative feedback tells you a lot about how they will handle a missed visit or a complaint at your office.
Who pays for office cleaning in a leased space, the tenant or the landlord?
It depends on the lease: in a gross lease, cleaning of common areas is usually covered by the landlord through operating costs, while the tenant pays for cleaning inside their own unit. In a net lease, cleaning costs are commonly passed through to tenants, so review your lease before signing a separate cleaning contract to avoid paying twice.