Thousands of maids and housekeepers work tirelessly every day to make sure their customers’ houses sparkle with their cleaning job. Individuals in this field need to be detail-oriented, physically fit, and able to interact effectively with others.
If you’re thinking about becoming a house cleaning, you’re undoubtedly wondering how much money you can expect to make each year with hourly rates upto $50 per hour.
Pay a Physical Visit to the Location
Going to the house should be one of your first steps. As a result, you’ll have a better idea of what to charge for the job that needs to be done and can set realistic expectations depending on the size of the property.
In addition, you’ll be able to set reasonable prices for the specific kind of cleaning services you’ll need to offer as a cleaning businesses. Do not give out estimates over the phone if at all possible. Visiting the home in person is a great way to clear up any misunderstandings with cleaning prices and type of cleaning service required.
Visiting the site in person is the best way to get a realistic price quote. Anything you didn’t know about, or something else you don’t know about, could cause delays if you don’t know about it. When estimating cleaning time, you won’t have to rely on the customer’s estimation, but rather on your own with cleaning cost.
It’s possible that the client already has an idea of what must be done and how much time will be required. Unfortunately, they won’t be as knowledgeable or experienced with the task at hand.
To what extent can you control the accuracy and fairness of your compensation?
Take accurate measurements of the area when you visit the home to get a feel for how much work will be involved. After that, you’ll have a better idea of what tools and how many people will be required, not to mention a time frame in which to do everything.
Methods and Tools for Calculating House Cleaning Prices
When it comes to setting your prices, there are a few tried-and-true approaches that can help you find the right balance between fairness and profitability.
First, you’ll find that many cleaners set their rates either by the hour or by the size of the job. To make sure your prices are on par with others in your area, take a moment to see what local cleaning businesses are charging—this research helps you stay competitive and avoid undervaluing your services.
Another handy approach is calculating the cost per square foot. Measuring the space and dividing your estimated time and effort by its size ensures you’re charging for the real amount of work involved, not just taking a wild guess.
For those who are starting out or want to save some time, online house cleaning price calculators—like those available from trusted industry sites—can simplify the process. These calculators usually ask for details like the type of cleaning (basic, deep, move-out, etc.), how often you’ll be cleaning, and whether there are pets in the home. Don’t overlook furry friends; they often mean more work, so factor them in when setting your rates.
Be sure to consider any additional costs, like supplies and travel, to make your pricing list as accurate as possible. Laying all these factors out upfront prevents surprises down the road and helps ensure your business stays both competitive and profitable.
Think About How Long It Will Take To Finish The Task
You can now begin to estimate how long it will take to complete the task now that you have seen the house and the job in its entirety. It will take more or less time to vacate cleaning a house than it will to clean a home that is occupied. Moreover, you may need to allocate more time and money for activities such as thorough cleaning.
The following is a guide from Dirt2Tidy
that estimates the time required to clean several different sized homes.
It will take about 1.5 hours to clean a small dwelling with one bedroom and one bathroom. In the event that extensive cleaning is necessary, it may take up to 2.5 hours to achieve the highest possible level of cleanliness. In this case, 450 square feet is used as a standard because that’s how much space is usually allotted to a single-bedroom home.
Houses with three bedrooms take slightly longer to clean, at about 4.5 hours. In Australia, a home with three bedrooms will typically be about 2,000 square feet in size. A typical residential property with five bedrooms and five bathrooms will take about five hours to clean for a spring cleaning and up to 8 hours if it is a vacate cleaning.
However, keep in mind that any additional services will increase the overall time required. For instance, repairing years’ worth of wear and tear on a home could necessitate expensive speciality materials and more man-hours.
You need to know exactly what has to be cleaned and where in order to receive the best price. It’s also beneficial to talk to the client about the criteria they have in mind. A simple cleaning may be all that some people seek, while others may demand nothing less than a spotless house.
There may be justification for doubling your charge for initial cleanings in cases where a space has been ignored and now needs extensive maintenance. You will then be able to charge the standard rate for additional cleanings after you have assessed the situation.
Cleaning service fees are a great approach to guarantee fair compensation. It’s a good idea to make it a habit to track how long you spend on each task. You’ll be able to precisely alter the costs of next jobs thanks to this information.
How Frequency Affects Cleaning Costs
The schedule you choose for cleaning can make a real difference in what you pay. Generally speaking, homes that are cleaned on a weekly basis are often eligible for a lower rate per visit compared to properties that only require cleaning on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. This is largely because less time and effort are required to maintain a regular clean, as grime and clutter have less time to accumulate between sessions.
Conversely, infrequent cleanings often take more elbow grease and attention to detail, which may bump up the price for those appointments. If you’re looking to keep costs in check, sticking to a more frequent cleaning routine could work in your favor, both for your wallet and the home’s condition.
Calculate the Labor Expenses
One of the most crucial components is likely to be an accurate estimate of the price of labour. Indeed reports that the going rate for a domestic cleaner in Australia is $31.35 per hour. Please note that this is a per-cleaner rate that may change based on the location of the task.
In order to calculate the total cost of a job, you’ll need to know how much time will be spent working on it every hour. You can calculate the labour costs this way. reports that the typical Australian house has a floor area of about 2,000 square feet.
Let’s pretend for a moment that you have the task of cleaning a 2,000 square foot Brisbane home. You have estimated that the cleaning will take 3.5 hours, and your hourly cost will be $31.35.
Calculating the price of labour is as simple as multiplying the number of hours worked by the rate per hour.
4.5 hours x $31.35/hour = $141.75 + GST
Don’t Overlook the Importance of a Markup for Profit
Including a markup on your services isn’t just a bonus—it’s an essential step in ensuring your business remains sustainable and rewarding. After all, your aim is not simply to cover your base expenses, but to ensure your efforts are worthwhile and your business can grow.
A general rule of thumb is to add around 30–35% to your calculated labor and supply costs. This margin helps account for overhead, surprises on the job, and gives your business a buffer for profit. Remember, you can adjust your markup depending on the competitiveness of your market or the nature of the job, but don’t be tempted to undervalue your work just to win every gig. Your expertise and time are valuable assets.
For instance, once you’ve tallied up the total cost of labor and materials—let’s say the cleaning comes to $212. To set a healthy profit margin, you would add approximately $70 (about 33% of the cost), bringing your final quote to around $282 (plus any GST). This approach not only keeps your business profitable but also positions you as a professional who values both quality and fairness.
How Much Does a Housekeeper in Australia Typically Make?
Potential for growth in pay for maids/housekeepers is high. In addition to the fact that seasoned house cleaners may set reasonable hourly prices (between $30 and $50), the overhead for their businesses is minimal.
Housekeepers can expect an annual salary of around $52,000 when first starting out. A higher compensation is guaranteed as you gain experience in the field. The typical annual income for a housekeeper is $60,450 ($31/hr).
Whether you operate a cleaning firm or work for someone else, as well as your location, the quality of your services, and the amount of time you put in each day all contribute to your earning potential.
There is no set educational prerequisite to enter the cleaning industry, however some credentials can help you stand out to potential clients or companies. You can improve your marketability by earning a Certificate II or Certificate III in Cleaning Operations. With a small staff, a seasoned housekeeper can easily bring in over $100,000 annually.
The Surging Need for Housekeeping Services
Australia is home to more than 52,000 commercial cleaning companies serving both commercial and residential clients. This market is worth more than $12 billion by itself. As people isolated themselves at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for in-home cleaning services dropped. There are, however, indicators that this service is gradually making a comeback. The time to enter this field is now.
Purchase a home-based insurance policy to safeguard your business. Company That Cleans
There are several dangers that come along with visiting a client’s house. While vacuuming, your customer could trip over an electrical cord, or the cleaning product could discolour a priceless artefact. To safeguard your assets in the event of a lawsuit or other claim, no matter how remote the possibility, you should have adequate insurance coverage in place.
See the upcover rapid quote generator to receive a price on the best insurance policy available for maid services today! To get started, just select “domestic cleaner” or “house cleaner” as your occupation, and input your anticipated income.
Highlights and Lessons
What has to be cleaned, and how much time it will take, are two of the most important factors to consider when setting a cleaning fee. It would take far less time to move into a one-bedroom apartment than a four-bedroom house. The time needed to complete optional services like deep cleaning, appliance repair, and gutter cleaning will also increase.
Follow the seven easy procedures indicated here to determine a fair price for your Australian house cleaning services.
It’s possible to strike a balance between charging a reasonable price and turning a profit.
To start, always consider visiting the property in person before providing an estimate. A site visit gives you a clear understanding of the work required and ensures there’s no confusion about expectations or the scale of the job. Measuring the space firsthand allows you to accurately assess what needs to be done, estimate the time involved, and identify any unique challenges that could affect your pricing.
By seeing the house yourself, you’ll be able to calculate the supplies needed, decide how many cleaners to assign, and avoid underestimating the job based on the customer’s description alone. This hands-on approach helps you set a price that reflects both the actual workload and the value of your expertise, ensuring your house cleaning business remains both competitive and profitable.
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