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UK Cleaning Pricing Blueprint: Quote Profitably Without Scaring Clients

Pricing cleaning services in the UK shouldn’t feel like guesswork. If your quotes wobble, it’s usually because time and overhead are guessed, not measured. This guide gives you a simple, repeatable way to build quotes that protect your margin and still look fair to clients. Use it for domestic cleaning, deep cleans, end-of-tenancy, and commercial jobs.

Step 1: Know Your Cost Stack

Before you pick a price, know what every job costs you to deliver. At minimum, include:

Labour: Hourly pay, holiday pay accrual, National Insurance, employer pension.
Travel: Fuel, parking, congestion/clean air zones, vehicle wear.
Chemistry & Consumables: Eco solutions, degreasers/descalers, cloths, bin liners, PPE.
Tools & Maintenance: Vacuum, mop systems, scrapers, steamers, replacements.
Insurance & Compliance: Public liability, employer’s liability, DBS checks where needed.
Admin & Overheads: Scheduling software, phone, website, marketing, accounting.
Profit: A real margin so you can reinvest and grow.

Quick rule: if your quote price only covers wages and chemicals, you’re subsidising the job.

Step 2: Use Production Rates, Not Vibes

Production rate = how many square feet (or rooms) your team can clean to your standard in one hour.

Typical starting points (adjust for your market and standards):

Domestic maintenance clean: 400–600 sq ft per hour
Deep clean: 150–300 sq ft per hour
End-of-tenancy: 200–350 sq ft per hour + appliance time
Office/commercial (open plan): 800–1,500 sq ft per hour

If you price per room, use time targets instead:

Standard bedroom refresh: 20–30 min
Family bathroom (maintenance): 30–45 min
Kitchen (maintenance): 30–45 min
Oven degrease (add-on): 45–90 min depending on condition
Limescale removal (heavy): 20–40 min extra

Your numbers will tighten after a month of timing real jobs. Update your rate card as you learn.

Step 3: Build Your Hourly Cost

You need a true cost per billable hour. Here’s a simple way to get there.

Direct labour cost per hour
Pay rate + on-costs (NI, pension, holiday accrual).
Example: £12.50 pay + £2.00 on-costs = £14.50
Overheads per hour
Monthly overheads ÷ expected billable hours.
Example: £1,160 overhead ÷ 160 billable hrs = £7.25
Travel + materials allowance per hour
Average across jobs or treat as a job line.
Example: £2.25

Baseline cost per hour: £14.50 + £7.25 + £2.25 = £24.00

Add your profit margin. Many small UK operators target 25–40% on top of cost.
£24.00 × 1.35 (35% margin) ≈ £32.40 charge-out rate. Round to £33–£35/hr depending on service.

Step 4: Two Ways to Present Prices

Option A: Hourly Pricing (simple, flexible)

Good for domestic maintenance cleans, odd jobs, one-offs.

“Two cleaners for two hours at £35/hr each = £140 total.”

Pros: clear and easy to adjust if the scope shifts.
Cons: some clients only hear the hourly rate and shop you on that number.

Option B: Fixed Packages (premium, outcome-focused)

Great for deep cleans, end-of-tenancy, and commercial contracts.

“2-bed end-of-tenancy deep clean incl. oven + inside windows: £235 fixed.”

Pros: clients love certainty. You protect margin if you’ve estimated well.
Cons: you must control scope clearly to avoid scope creep.

Step 5: Estimate Time with a Mini-Scope

For each quote, write three lines:

Scope: rooms, surfaces, appliances, windows, extras.
Time: based on production rates and add-ons.
Assumptions: property empty or furnished, parking access, water/electricity available.

Example: 2-Bed End-of-Tenancy

Scope: 2 beds, 1 bath, kitchen incl. oven + extractor, inside windows, skirting, sockets/switches, limescale removal, cupboards in/out.
Time: 9.5 labour hours (two cleaners ≈ 4.75 hrs on site).
Assumptions: Property empty, standard condition, parking available, water/electricity on.

Costing with £33/hr charge-out:
9.5 hrs × £33 = £313.50
Add waste/parking contingency: £15
Quoted price: £329 inc. supplies and equipment.

If the market in your area sits closer to £250–£300 for a 2-bed EoT, adjust by tightening time (improving production) or streamlining the scope, not by erasing your margin.

Step 6: Add-Ons That Protect Margin (and Feel Helpful)

Offer these as optional lines, not surprises:

Oven deep clean
Fridge/freezer defrost and sanitise
Inside windows/tracks
Blinds detail
Hard water descaling
Carpet shampoo (per room or per m²)
After-builders dust down
Pet hair treatment

Present add-ons as solutions to visible problems. Keep each priced by time at your charge-out rate.

Step 7: Frequency Discounts That Still Make Sense

Recurring domestic clients reduce your admin and marketing cost. Reward that, lightly.

Weekly: –10% on package
Fortnightly: –5%
Monthly: standard rate

Only discount what is truly recurring and predictable. Put a minimum term on heavy first-time deep cleans before the discount kicks in.

Step 8: Email Quote Template (Short, Clear, Confident)

Subject: Your Cleaning Quote for [Address / Service]

Hi [Name],

Thanks for the details. Based on your 2-bed, 1-bath at [Postcode], here’s your quote:

Option A — End-of-Tenancy Deep Clean (Fixed): £329
Includes oven + extractor, inside windows, cupboards in/out, limescale removal, skirting, sockets/switches, floors, and bathroom/kitchen sanitising.
Estimated on-site time: two cleaners for ~4.5–5 hours. Supplies and equipment included.

Optional Add-Ons:

Carpet shampoo: £25 per room
Blinds detail: £15 per blind

Parking and access confirmed. Property unfurnished, water/electricity on.

If you’d like to go ahead, reply to this email with your preferred date, or book a free discovery session to walk through the scope together.

Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Phone] | [Email] | [Website]

Step 9: Handling Pushback Without Cutting into Bone

“That’s higher than another quote.”

Acknowledge and hold your ground politely:
“I understand. Ours includes a full appliance detail, eco-safe chemistry, and a re-clean policy if the agent flags anything within 48 hours. That’s how we protect your deposit and timeline.”

“How long will it take?”

Answer with team time, not just hours:
“Two cleaners for about five hours on site. We use a checklist so nothing’s missed.”

“Can we pay after check-out inspection?”

Offer a balanced policy:
“We take a 50% deposit to secure the slot and balance on completion. If the agent requests any rectifications within 48 hours, we’ll revisit at no extra cost.”

Step 10: Quick Margin Audit You Can Do Today

Are you timing every job for two weeks and logging it?
Do your quotes list add-ons as optional lines?
Do recurring clients have small, controlled discounts with clear scope?
Does every fixed price map back to your hourly charge-out?
Are you revising production rates monthly based on real data?

If you can tick these, your pricing will get sharper every month.

Example Rate Card (Edit to Fit Your Area)

Domestic maintenance clean: From £70 for a 2-hour visit (two cleaners)
Deep clean: From £180 for a small flat, subject to assessment
End-of-tenancy (2-bed): £299–£349 depending on condition and add-ons
Office nightly clean: From £15–£22 per 1,000 sq ft, scope dependent

These are placeholders. Replace them with your timed numbers, not what the market whispers.

Final Word

Good pricing is honest math plus clear communication. Time your work, know your cost per hour, pick the right pricing model for the job, and present options that clients can say yes to. When you control the scope and the time, profit follows.

Ready to tighten your pricing and win better clients?