How Much Does Commercial Cleaning Cost?
Commercial cleaning is priced on scope, not on square footage alone. Two 6,000 square foot spaces can differ by more than double once you account for restroom count, floor type, frequency and how much of the work is detail versus coverage.
This guide explains the variables so you can read a quote and know what you are actually buying.
Key takeaways
- Frequency and restroom count move a commercial quote more than total square footage.
- Flat monthly pricing is normal for recurring work; one-time and construction work is quoted per project.
- A bid that is far below the others is almost always missing scope, not finding efficiency.
The pricing models you will see
- Flat monthly: the standard for recurring janitorial, based on a defined scope and frequency. Easiest to budget.
- Per visit: used for low-frequency accounts and seasonal work.
- Hourly: common for one-time projects, add-ons and variable-scope work. Our residential rates are $50 per hour standard and $60 per hour for deep and move-out work; commercial projects are quoted on scope.
- Per square foot: used mainly for large single-purpose spaces like warehouses, where the work is uniform.
- Per unit: standard for apartment turnovers, where a one-bedroom and a three-bedroom are separate line items.
What actually drives the number
When we price a building, these are the factors that change the estimate most, roughly in order of impact.
- Frequency: five nights a week versus two is the single largest lever
- Restroom count and fixture count: restrooms are the slowest square footage in any building
- Floor type and mix: carpet vacuums fast, tile and grout are slow, polished concrete and VCT need periodic restoration
- Kitchen or break room presence, and whether food is prepared on site
- Glass volume: storefronts and glass conference rooms add real labor
- Access constraints: badge escorts, alarm procedures, elevator-only access and after-hours restrictions
- Specialty requirements: medical protocol, clean rooms, gym equipment disinfection, biohazard readiness
- Consumables: whether you or the vendor supplies paper, soap and liners
Why one-time cleans cost more per hour
A first-time deep clean, a post-construction clean or a one-off event clean carries a higher effective rate than recurring service. The work is heavier, the crew has no accumulated knowledge of the building, and there is no schedule to spread mobilization across. Most recurring accounts start with an initial deep clean priced separately, then settle into the ongoing rate.
How to compare bids honestly
Bids are only comparable once the scope is identical. Before you look at price, make the vendors answer the same questions.
- Is frequency listed next to every single task, or only at the top?
- Are consumables included, and at what usage assumption?
- Are periodic services, like carpet extraction and floor restoration, included or billed separately?
- Is the crew employed or subcontracted?
- What are the insurance limits, and is workers' compensation carried?
- What is the callback policy and response time?
- Is there an escalation clause, and how much notice is required for a rate change?
Where buildings overspend
The two most common sources of waste we find are uniform frequency across areas with wildly different traffic, and periodic floor work scheduled by the calendar rather than by condition. Rebalancing those usually funds the increase a lobby or restroom actually needs, with no net budget change.
Getting an accurate quote
Any quote given without a walkthrough is a guess. We walk the building, count fixtures, note floor types and access constraints, and return a line-item scope with frequency attached so you can see exactly what is priced. Start on our commercial cleaning page or call (720) 995-3660.
Part of our commercial cleaning resource hub
This guide supports our main commercial cleaning services page, where you can see full scope, coverage areas and how our crews are staffed and insured.