Cleaning Service Costs: Key Insights
- The pricing model matters: hourly rates tend to work better for smaller spaces, while flat rates offer more predictability for larger homes.
- A home that hasn't had professional cleaning in over six months is often quoted at deep clean rates, even if it looks tidy.
- Regular bi-weekly bookings typically cost 10 to 20% less per visit than one-off cleans.
- Supply fees vary by company: eco-friendly products, HEPA vacuums, and fragrance-free cleaners are not always included in the base rate.
In this guide, you'll read about:
- How Much Does a Cleaning Service Cost on Average?
- Breakdown of Cleaning Service Costs
- Tips to Reduce Your Cleaning Service Costs
- Find a Cleaning Pro on HomeStars
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Cleaning Service Cost on Average?
Cleaning companies in Canada charge either by the hour per cleaner or by the project at a flat rate. Hourly rates range from $30 to $55 per cleaner per hour nationally, with Toronto and Vancouver consistently at the higher end. For a flat-rate standard clean of a 2-to-3-bedroom home, most homeowners pay between $130 and $250.
| Service type | Estimated cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Standard clean, studio or 1-bedroom | $80 to $150 |
| Standard clean, 2-3 bedrooms | $130 to $250 |
| Standard clean, 4+ bedrooms | $200 to $350 |
| Deep clean | $200 to $500 |
| Move-in/move-out clean | $250 to $600 |
| Post-renovation clean | $300 to $700 |
| Recurring service, bi-weekly (average home) | $100 to $200 per visit |
| Hourly rate per cleaner | $30 to $55 per hour |
These figures reflect national averages for 2026. Rates in major urban centres run roughly 15 to 25% higher than in smaller markets. Request quotes directly from local pros to get pricing that reflects your specific home and city.
You can also check out our guide to house and apartment cleaning costs](https://www.homestars.com/cleaning/price-guides/house-apartment-cleaning-cost) if you’re thinking of getting a cleaning service for a house or apartment specifically.
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Breakdown of Cleaning Service Costs
Several factors determine the final price of a cleaning service. Understanding each one helps you compare quotes accurately and identify where there may be room to adjust.
Labour
Labour makes up 60 to 75% of most cleaning quotes. Rates reflect local wages, the number of cleaners assigned, and the total time required. Depending on your location and the experience of the cleaning company, you can expect to pay around $25 to $55 per hour, per cleaner.
A standard 2-bedroom home cleaned by two pros for two hours in a major city puts labour alone at $160 to $220 before tax.
Number of Rooms
The more rooms in scope, the longer the visit and the higher the total. Most companies structure quotes around the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, since these take the most time per room.
Adding one extra bathroom to a standard clean typically increases the quote by $20 to $50, depending on the company. Some companies allow homeowners to exclude seldom-used rooms, which can bring the total down slightly.
Type of Clean
The type of service has a direct effect on cost:
- Standard clean: floors, surfaces, bathrooms, and kitchen cleaned to a maintenance level. This type assumes reasonable upkeep between visits and is most cost-effective when booked on a recurring schedule.
- Deep clean: adds baseboards, inside appliances, behind furniture, and other areas not covered during standard visits. Homes receiving their first professional clean almost always require a deep clean. Costs run $200 to $500 depending on size.
- Move-in/move-out clean: the most thorough option, covering inside cabinets, window tracks, closets, and appliances. Costs range from $250 to $600 for most homes.
- Post-renovation clean: removes construction dust, adhesive residue, and debris from all surfaces. Labour-intensive and typically quoted per project, not by home size.
Property Condition
A home that hasn't been professionally cleaned in some time requires more effort per visit. Many companies apply a first-visit surcharge of $50 to $150 to account for the extra work.
Homes with pets, high foot traffic, or young children may also carry a small ongoing surcharge of $10 to $30 per visit. Once a regular schedule is established, maintenance visits are shorter and cost less.
Products and Equipment
Standard cleaning products are included in the rate at most companies. Specialty items often carry an extra charge:
- Eco-friendly or fragrance-free products: add $5 to $20 per visit at many companies
- HEPA-filter vacuums: included as standard by some companies, an optional add-on at others
- Interior appliance cleaning (oven, refrigerator): typically $20 to $40 per appliance
Confirm what's included before booking, especially if you have allergies, pets, or children with product sensitivities. Homes with ongoing indoor air quality concerns may also benefit from periodic duct cleaning between visits; see our duct cleaning cost guide for what to expect.
Location
Operating costs are higher in dense urban markets, and that is reflected in cleaning rates. As a rough guide for 2026:
- Toronto and Vancouver: $40 to $55 per cleaner per hour
- Calgary, Ottawa, and Montreal: $30 to $45 per cleaner per hour
- Smaller Ontario cities, Prairie markets, Maritimes: $25 to $35 per cleaner per hour
These ranges apply to residential cleaning. For office or commercial cleaning projects, rates and pricing structures differ. See the commercial cleaning cost guide for a separate breakdown.
What Does a Standard Home Cleaning Service Include?
A standard clean is a maintenance-level service designed for homes that are kept in reasonable condition between visits. It covers the main living areas but does not include the detailed work
that falls under a deep clean.
Typically included:
- Floors: vacuuming carpets and rugs, mopping hard floors
- Kitchen: wiping countertops, exterior appliance surfaces, and the stovetop
- Bathrooms: scrubbing sinks, toilets, tubs, and showers, wiping mirrors
- General: dusting accessible surfaces, emptying bins, tidying visible clutter
Typically excluded:
- Interiors: inside the oven, refrigerator, cabinets, or dishwasher
- Detail work: baseboards, window tracks, light fixtures, and door frames
- Behind and under: furniture, appliances, and hard-to-reach areas
- Specialty tasks: carpet shampooing, grout scrubbing, interior window cleaning
Note: The above excluded items are typically covered under a deep clean, which is priced separately. Before the first visit, ask the company for a written scope so you know exactly what's included and can flag anything specific to your home.
Tips to Reduce Your Cleaning Service Costs
A few practical adjustments can bring your cleaning service costs down without affecting the quality of the clean.
Commit to a recurring schedule. One-off cleans take more effort because pros start from a higher baseline each time. Booking bi-weekly or monthly service reduces the work required per visit and often triggers a discount of 10 to 20% compared to one-off rates. Many companies apply this automatically; others require you to ask.
Tidy before the cleaner arrives. Cleaning companies quote based on cleaning, not decluttering. If a cleaner spends time moving items before wiping down a surface, that time appears in the bill. Putting things away beforehand keeps the visit focused on what you're paying for.
Maintain with standard cleans rather than resetting with deep cleans. A deep clean every six months costs more overall than a bi-weekly standard clean schedule that prevents the same build-up. The more regularly a home is cleaned to a maintenance level, the easier and cheaper each visit tends to be.
Ask about a first-visit discount when signing up for recurring service. Many companies waive or reduce the first-visit surcharge when you commit to a recurring booking at the same time. If you plan to book regularly anyway, asking about this before the first appointment can save $50 to $150 upfront.
Compare cleaning pros and prices on HomeStars
Find a Cleaning Pro on HomeStars
Finding a cleaning service takes time when you search independently: rates aren't always posted, availability shifts, and reviews are scattered across platforms. HomeStars connects you with cleaning pros near you who have been ID-checked at registration and reviewed by verified Canadian homeowners. Browse profiles, read reviews, and reach out to available pros all in one place. You can also post your cleaning project for free and compare quotes from multiple pros.
Post your cleaning project on HomeStars
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a home cleaning service cost subject to GST or HST in Canada?
Yes. Residential cleaning services are taxable in Canada. GST applies nationally, while provinces with harmonized sales tax apply the higher combined rate. At Ontario's 13% HST, a $200 quote becomes $226 after tax. When comparing quotes from different companies, ask whether the price shown is before or after tax, as companies vary in how they present this.
How often should I schedule professional cleaning?
For most households, bi-weekly cleaning strikes the best balance between cost and cleanliness. Weekly cleaning suits homes with young children, pets, or high foot traffic. Monthly cleaning can work for smaller spaces or households that handle upkeep in between. That said, the longer the gap between visits, the more intensive each session tends to be, which can offset any savings from booking less often. HomeStars lets you connect with cleaning pros who can accommodate recurring schedules; you can confirm frequency and availability directly with them before booking.
What should I ask a cleaning company before confirming a booking?
Before confirming, ask what specific tasks are included and excluded from the quote, whether the same cleaner is assigned on repeat visits, what the policy is for re-cleaning if something is missed, whether the company carries liability insurance, and whether the rate quoted is before or after tax. Posting your project on HomeStars lets you ask these questions to multiple pros at once and compare their responses before committing.
How do cleaning costs compare between a house and a condo?
Condos and apartments typically cost less to clean than houses with a comparable bedroom count, because building maintenance handles hallways, lobbies, and sometimes windows. A 2-bedroom condo generally runs $100 to $180 for a standard clean, compared to $130 to $250 for a 2-to-3-bedroom house. The difference is more pronounced for deep cleans and move-out services, where houses involve more floor space, more storage areas, and more surfaces overall.