Pricing is the single biggest challenge for most solo cleaners in the UK. Charge too little and you're working yourself into the ground for nothing. Charge too much and you lose clients before you even get started. This guide gives you a clear, practical framework for getting your cleaning prices right — every time.
What's the average cleaning rate in the UK?
According to Checkatrade's 2025 cost guide, the average hourly rate for a domestic cleaner in the UK is between £15 and £25 per hour, depending on your location, experience, and the type of cleaning you offer. In London and the South East, rates can reach £30–£35/hr. In the North of England and Scotland, £14–£18/hr is more typical.
But here's the thing: charging by the hour alone is often a mistake. The most profitable cleaners charge by the job — and that's where a cleaning pricing calculator like GoClean becomes genuinely transformative.
Quick reference: UK cleaning rates by region (2026)
| Region | Typical hourly rate |
|---|---|
| London | £22–£35/hr |
| South East | £18–£28/hr |
| Midlands | £15–£22/hr |
| North of England | £14–£20/hr |
| Scotland & Wales | £14–£19/hr |
The 5 factors that should determine your price
A professional cleaning quote isn't just "number of hours × hourly rate." Here are the five factors you should always account for:
1. Room-by-room time estimates
Different rooms take different amounts of time. A kitchen typically takes 30–60 minutes depending on its size and condition. A bathroom takes 20–40 minutes. A bedroom takes 15–30 minutes. Building your quote room by room — rather than estimating the whole property in one go — produces a far more accurate and defensible price. GoClean does this automatically, letting you select each room and adjust the time per room with a slider.
2. Your actual hourly rate
Your rate should cover not just your time but your business costs: insurance, supplies, travel, and a reasonable profit margin. The UK National Minimum Wage for adults in 2026 is £11.44/hr — your rate should be comfortably above this once you factor in the fact that you're self-employed and responsible for your own tax and National Insurance.
3. Fixed-price add-ons
Some tasks are better priced as fixed add-ons rather than by the hour: oven cleaning (typically £25–£50), fridge cleaning (£15–£25), ironing (per item or per hour), and end-of-tenancy deep cleans. These protect you from undercharging on labour-intensive tasks.
4. VAT
If your annual turnover exceeds the VAT registration threshold (currently £90,000), you must register for VAT and add 20% to your prices. GoClean handles this automatically — just toggle VAT on in the settings and it's included in every quote. Read our full guide on VAT for cleaning businesses for more detail.
5. Travel time and distance
Many cleaners forget to factor in travel. If a job is 30 minutes away, that's an hour of travel time round-trip. Either build this into your hourly rate, charge a travel supplement, or focus on clients within a tight geographic radius.
How to build a professional cleaning quote
A professional quote does two things: it gives the client a clear, itemised breakdown of what they're paying for, and it protects you by setting expectations in writing. Here's the structure of a good cleaning quote:
- Your business name and contact details
- Client name and property address
- Date of the quote and expiry date (quotes should be valid for 30 days)
- Room-by-room breakdown with time estimates
- Fixed-price add-ons listed separately
- Subtotal, VAT (if applicable), and total
- Payment terms
GoClean generates all of this automatically as a professional PDF you can send to clients in seconds — no spreadsheets, no Word documents, no guesswork.
Common pricing mistakes to avoid
- Undercharging to win clients — this sets a precedent that's very hard to reverse
- Not accounting for supplies — cleaning products cost money; factor them in
- Giving verbal quotes — always put it in writing to avoid disputes
- Ignoring price increases — review your rates at least once a year
- Forgetting about insurance — public liability insurance is essential and should be factored into your rate
The fastest way to quote cleaning jobs in the UK
The fastest, most accurate way to price a cleaning job is to use a dedicated cleaning pricing app. GoClean is built specifically for solo cleaners and small cleaning companies in the UK. You select your rooms, adjust the time per room, set your hourly rate, and GoClean calculates the total — including VAT — in under 60 seconds. You can then download a professional PDF quote or build a full branded quote to send to your client.
It's free to try, and the Pro plan is just £2.99/month. Try GoClean free today →
Want to grow your business once you've got your pricing sorted? Read our guide on how to grow your cleaning business in the UK.