If your home needs more than just a quick pickup, the cost of hiring professional maid services may be worthwhile. But before pulling out your credit card, it’s good to understand the typical maid service costs and rates for house cleaning services these days.
In this article, we’ll break down the average maid service costs per hour and flat rate per cleaning. We’ll also look at what affects rates and how to get the best value for your home cleaning dollar.
Average Maid Service Rates and Costs
The cost of maid services can range quite a bit based on other factors such as your location, the size of your home, and exactly what services you want done. However, on a national average, you can expect to pay:
$25 to $50 per hour per cleaner.
According to industry research by HomeAdvisor, the average hourly rate for maid service is $35 per cleaner. However, rates of maid costs can range from entry-level cleaners charging $25 per hour to experienced professionals charging up to $50 per hour.
$80 to $200 per visit for a 2-3 bedroom home
Based on a survey by Angie‘s List, the typical cost of a maid service cleaning a small to medium-sized home is $130. But prices can range from budget services charging $80 per visit to premium cleaners charging $200 or more for a top-to-bottom scrub down.
$130 to $350 per visit for a large 4-5 bedroom home
As reported by Consumer Reports, a full-time maid’s service for a big house of around 3,000 square feet or more can cost $200 to $350 per visit. Homes with lots of rooms or messy kids can be on the higher end of that range. As a cleaning company owner I interviewed explained, their rates for mansions and luxury homes start around $350 and go up from there based on the cleaners and hours required.
Many maid services charge by the project or number of rooms cleaned rather than strict hourly rates. Typical room rates are:
- $15 to $30 per bathroom cleaned
- $20 to $50 per bedroom cleaned
- $25 to $60 for kitchen cleaning
- $30+ for intensive refrigerator or oven cleaning
Prices are often lower for recurring or weekly cleanings compared to one-time visits. There are also usually minimum fees even for small jobs. Expect to pay at least $80 to $150 for maid service even if the job takes just an hour or two.
Factors That Change the Cost
The exact rate your local cleaning company charges per hour or project can vary based on these key factors:
Type of Home
Larger homes with more bathrooms and bedrooms take longer to clean and come with higher service costs. Home size, layout, messiness, and number of people or pets living there all are several factors that impact the time and supplies needed for cleaning.
Level of Service
Basic cleanings like vacuuming, dusting bathroom, and kitchen cleanup costs less than intensive services like inside oven cleaning, window washing, or scrubbing baseboards. Think about your priorities for what needs deep cleaning vs just maintaining tidiness.
Frequency
Many maid services offer discounts for regular weekly or bi-weekly appointments compared to one-time visits. The cleaning crew can work more efficiently in a home they’re familiar with.
Supplies Included
Some maid services bring their own equipment, cleaning products, equipment, and supplies. Others will expect you to provide them. Supply costs may be included in the rate or charged separately.
Experience and Reputation
More established local cleaning companies with extensive training and great reviews can command slightly higher hourly rates. But usually, the higher rates reflect more thorough cleaning.
Cost Breakdown of Professional Cleaning Services
To give you a better idea of real-world maid service rates in urban areas, here’s an approximate breakdown of average costs for common cleaning tasks:
- Tidying and basic surface cleaning: $25-$40 per hour
- Vacuuming floors: $30-$50 per hour
- Bathrooms: $15-$30 per standard bathroom
- Kitchen: $25-$60 full clean including appliances
- Dusting: $20-$40 per hour
- Windows (interior only): $1-$2 per window
- Changing bed linens: $5-$10 per bed
- Baseboards or ceiling fans: $10-$20 per room
- Oven or refrigerator: $30-$50 each
- Walls and cobwebs: $20-$40 per hour
- Floor mopping or waxing: $35-$55 per hour
- Carpet steam cleaning: $40-$70 per room
Keep these typical rates in mind as you evaluate whether to DIY or hire the pros. For extensive deep cleaning, hiring a maid or service is usually well worth the cost in time savings and cleaning effectiveness.
Standard vs Deep Cleaning Service Costs
Maid services generally offer two levels of cleaning: standard maintenance cleans and deep intensive cleans.
Standard or Basic Cleaning
This includes general tidying like:
- Vacuuming floors
- Bathroom and kitchen sanitizing
- Changing bed sheets
- Dusting
- Trash emptying
- Surface and floor cleaning
Pricing starts around $80-$130 per cleaning for a typical home.
Deep Cleaning
This is a more thorough cleaning including services like:
- Intensive scrubbing of bathrooms and kitchen
- Inside oven and refrigerator cleaning
- Baseboard scrubbing
- Window washing
- Ceiling fan cleaning
- Carpet cleaning or floor scrubbing
Deep cleaning costs $130-$250 or more per visit based on home size.
Figure your standard cleaning can be every 1-2 weeks with a deep clean 1-2x per year to keep cleaning inside of your home looking its best.
Saving Money on Maid Services
There are a few ways to cut costs on home cleaning help:
- Take on easier tasks like laundry and emptying trash yourself to reduce cleaning time
- Team up with a friend and hire cleaners together then split up the hours
- Book last-minute deals if a cleaning company has availability
- Ask about discounts for recurring services scheduled on slower days
- Provide your own eco-friendly cleaning supplies to avoid markups
- Look for coupons and deals, especially in spring and fall
- Use services just for heavy jobs like post-construction cleanup or moving prep
Just keep in mind the lowest rate options may also provide the least experienced staff and lower quality of cleaning.
Additional Maid Services and Costs
In- live in addition to standard house cleaning, some maid services offer specialty services that come with additional costs:
In addition to standard house cleaning, some maid services offer specialty services that come with additional costs:
Laundry and wardrobe: This includes having the maid service wash, dry, fold, and put away loads of household laundry. Pricing is usually around $50 or more per standard laundry load. For laundering delicate items like sweaters or formalwear that require special care, prices may be higher starting at $75 per load. Some services may charge by the piece for specialty items like wedding dresses that require hand-washing.
Interior window cleaning: To get the insides of windows sparkling clean, expect an add-on fee of around $2-$5 per standard window pane. For hard-to-reach or tall windows, the per window price may be higher. Screens can also be cleaned regularly by the maid service for an additional $5 per screen. Some companies may offer external window washing as well for an added fee.
Inside cabinet cleaning: Have maid services clean inside kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and other cabinets throughout the home for $20-$50 per standard cabinet. Greasy buildup in kitchen and dining room cabinets may cost more to scrub clean. Larger pantry closet cabinets may be at the higher end of the price range. Shelving dusting can be added on for $5-$10 per shelf.
Fridge and oven scrub: Intensive inside cleaning of fridge and oven which requires heavy-duty grease-cutting can cost $30-$75 per appliance. The oven cleaning charge depends on the size (single vs double oven) and how built-up the spills and grease stains are. Some maid services may charge hourly for extensive oven scrubbing jobs.
Upholstery cleaning: Sofas, chairs, ottomans, and other upholstered furniture can be cleaned by maid services for an extra fee, usually around $20-$40 per piece. Pet hair removal or treating stains may increase costs. Cleaning delicate antique furniture may be a higher cost. Some maid services also offer steam cleaning services for upholstery.
Think about any intensive deep cleaning tasks you want to be handled that require extra effort and expertise. Also consider add-ons like granite polishing, ceiling fan cleaning, and baseboard scrubbing for a super thorough clean.
Maid Services vs Independent Cleaners
Another factor that impacts cost is whether you hire an independent cleaner versus going through an insured maid service company. Here’s how the two other cleaning service options compare:
Maid Service Companies
Pros:
- Insured and bonded for your protection
- Consistent quality – cleaners trained on best methods
- Able to handle last-minute requests or substitutions
- Offer deep cleaning and specialty services
Cons:
- Slightly higher rates due to overhead costs
- Come only at scheduled appointment times
Independent Cleaners
Pros:
- More flexible scheduling and the ability to negotiate rates
- Lower rates without a company cut
- Develop a relationship directly with the cleaner
Cons:
- No guarantees of quality or training standards
- No insurance coverage if damages
- No backups if your cleaner is unavailable
For most homeowners, an insured maid service gives peace of mind that the job will be done right. But an independent cleaner can work if you find someone reliable that meets your standards.
Maid Service Price Guide
To sum it up, here’s a quick price guide to expect for common home sizes:
1 bedroom apartment or home: $80 – $120 per visit 2-3 bedroom home: $100 – $160 per visit 4-5 bedroom home: $160 – $250 per visit Large luxury home: $200+ per room per visit
Remember costs depend on the exact cleaning tasks requested. Get free quotes from companies that offer multiple services before booking.
Bottomline
Hiring professional maid services can make keeping up with household chores like cleaning easier, but costs can vary widely based on specific services required, frequency of cleaning, the overall cost per square footage, and additional services. According to most cleaning companies, rates are set based on several factors like the cleaning process used, the cleaning lady’s experience, equipment and supplies included, and the household’s specific needs. Package deals for regular cleanings may offer flat rates while one-time cleanings often have higher costs.
Overall price is influenced by factors like urban versus more rural areas, location, square footage, and frequency of deep cleaning. When hiring a maid service, read reviews and get quotes from various companies before choosing one that best fits your cleaning needs and budget. Reputable firms like Merry Maids offer set rates for standard cleaning services, while others may charge higher rates for add-ons like interior windows, daily tasks, or live-in maid services. With an experienced cleaning lady handling chores, you gain back time for other priorities.
