Cleaning time estimator
Underestimating time is the fastest way to turn a good price into a bad job. This estimator gives you a starting figure to sense-check your gut feel before you quote.
Adjust the inputs for the property in front of you, then confirm the estimate on your first visit and update your own baselines over time.
An estimate only. Confirm against your own recorded times and adjust before you commit to a fixed price.
What drives cleaning time
Floor area sets the baseline, but bathrooms and kitchens carry far more work per square metre than bedrooms or hallways.
Condition is the biggest multiplier. A neglected property can take double the time of a maintained one, which is why first cleans should always be priced separately from regular visits.
Extra cleaners reduce elapsed time but not total labour hours, and there are diminishing returns once people start working around each other.
Turning time into a price
Once you have an estimate, multiply it by your labour cost, then check the result against your target rate using the hourly rate calculator.
Always quote from your own measured times where you have them. Use estimates only for properties you have not yet seen.
Frequently asked questions
Should I quote before seeing the property?
For standard domestic work, a well-structured set of questions is usually enough. For first cleans, end of tenancy and commercial sites, view it or price it as a range.
How do I handle jobs that run over?
Record the actual time every visit. One overrun is a bad day; a pattern is a mispriced job, and it should be repriced at the next natural review point.
Does adding a second cleaner halve the time?
Almost never. Expect a meaningful reduction but not a perfect split, because of shared spaces, handover and setup.
More free resources: all calculators, templates & checklists, cleaning business guides.