Guide · Australia
How to price a cleaning job
A price that covers your costs, pays you properly and is easy for clients to understand. Here is a simple way to build one.
Published · Updated
General information, not advice. It doesn’t take your circumstances into account. Check the official sources linked below, and talk to a registered tax agent, accountant or lawyer about your situation.
1. Start with what a job costs you
Before you think about what others charge, add up what each hour of cleaning costs your business.
- Labour: your own pay, or your cleaners’ pay and on-costs such as super and leave if they are employees.
- Travel: fuel or transport, and the time between jobs that nobody pays for.
- Supplies and equipment: chemicals, cloths, vacuums and their replacement.
- Overheads: insurance, phone, software, vehicle costs and accounting.
- Unpaid time: quoting, messages, invoicing and re-cleans.
2. Estimate the time
Time a few of your own cleans and write down how long each room takes. Most owners find a pattern: a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom each take a fairly steady amount of time for a standard clean.
Then adjust for the type of clean (a deep or end-of-lease clean can take twice as long), the condition of the home and any extras such as the oven or inside windows.
3. Choose how you show the price
There is no single right method. Pick the one your clients find easiest to say yes to.
- Hourly: simple and fair when the job is hard to predict, but clients don’t know the total in advance.
- Per room: a set price per bedroom, bathroom and extra. Easy to quote by phone and consistent across your team.
- Package: one price for a defined clean, such as a 3-bedroom end-of-lease clean. Clear for the client, but write down what is included.
4. Add your margin and review it
Add a profit margin on top of your costs, and set a minimum charge so short jobs are still worth the travel. Review your prices at least once a year, and whenever wages or costs change.
Set your prices yourself. Agreeing prices with other cleaning businesses is price fixing, which is illegal.
5. Be clear about tax
If you are registered for GST, say whether your prices include GST. Our GST guide covers the basics.
6. Put it in writing
Send every quote in writing with what is included, what is extra, your minimum charge and your cancellation terms. It prevents most disputes before they start.
Official sources
- business.gov.au: Choose a pricing strategy (opens in a new tab)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Contract cleaning (opens in a new tab)
- ATO: Registering for GST (opens in a new tab)
Checked on 1 Nov 2026. Rules and thresholds change; the official pages are the current version.