How much does house cleaning cost in the UK?
Last updated October 28, 2026
A complete 2026 guide to UK house cleaning prices, covering hourly rates, room and service costs, regional differences and how to avoid overpaying for a cleaner.
How much does house cleaning cost in the UK?
Last updated October 28, 2026
A complete 2026 guide to UK house cleaning prices, covering hourly rates, room and service costs, regional differences and how to avoid overpaying for a cleaner.
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House cleaning in the UK averages £21 an hour in 2026. Independent cleaners typically charge £17, while agencies average £19. This tracks with Bark's analysis of over 2,000 house cleaning quotes across the UK in 2026.
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House cleaning prices move quite a bit depending on what you're booking. A standard weekly clean averages £63 for a typical 3-hour visit, while a full end of tenancy clean for a 2-bed flat averages £213. Location matters too, with London running around 20% above the rest of the UK.
This guide breaks down house cleaning rates by hour, room, service type and region. You'll also find what affects the price, what should be in a fair quote and how to avoid overpaying for a cleaner.
Note: All prices in this guide exclude VAT unless stated otherwise.
How much does house cleaning cost?
An average house cleaning session costs £21 an hour across the UK. That figure sits between the independent rate of £17 and the agency rate of £19. Larger agencies typically charge more to cover staffing and admin.
House cleaning rates by cleaner type (GBP, excluding VAT)
Cleaner type | Average hourly rate |
|---|---|
Independent cleaner | £17 |
Cleaning agency | £19 |
A typical weekly clean averages £63 for a standard 3-hour visit, which is the most common booking length for a 2 or 3-bedroom home. Most cleaning companies set a minimum booking length of around 2 hours, so shorter jobs can still cost close to this figure.
Per-room pricing isn't standard for general house cleaning in the UK. It mainly applies to carpet cleaning, which averages £49 per room, with most companies charging a minimum call-out fee of around £85 per visit.
House cleaning rates by UK city (GBP, excluding VAT, independent cleaner)
City or region | Average hourly rate |
|---|---|
Bristol | £16 |
London | £15 |
Manchester | £12 |
Brighton | £12 |
Rest of UK | £12 |
Bristol actually edges out London on independent hourly rates, which surprises most people who assume the capital is always the most expensive. Across service types more broadly, London and the South East still average around 20% higher than the rest of the UK.
What are the different types of house cleaning and how much do they cost?
House cleaning covers several distinct services, each priced differently. Regular cleaning is billed hourly, while larger or one-off jobs are usually quoted as a fixed price for the whole visit.
Cost by house cleaning service type (GBP, excluding VAT)
Service type | Average cost | Billing method |
|---|---|---|
Regular cleaning | £21 per hour | Per hour |
Deep cleaning | £26 per hour, or £218 per job | Per hour or fixed price |
End of tenancy cleaning (2-bed) | £213 | Fixed price by property size |
After-builders clean | £32 per hour | Per hour |
Carpet cleaning | £49 per room | Per room |
Oven cleaning | £60 for a single oven | Per appliance |
Deep cleaning covers everything a regular clean skips, including inside ovens and appliances, behind furniture and skirting boards. A typical deep clean takes around 6 hours and averages £218 for a whole property.
End of tenancy cleaning is priced by property size because it needs to meet a fixed standard for deposit return. Here's how the average cost scales with size.
End of tenancy cleaning cost by property size (GBP, excluding VAT)
Property size | Average cost |
|---|---|
Studio | £145 |
1-bed | £178 |
2-bed | £213 |
3-bed | £283 |
4 to 5-bed | £360 |
Carpet cleaning and oven cleaning are almost always booked as separate add-ons rather than bundled into these prices, regardless of which service type you choose.
Get quotes from end of tenancy cleaners on Bark based on your property size
What factors affect the cost of house cleaning?
Five factors move house cleaning prices more than any others. These are cleaner type, location, service type, property condition and booking frequency.
Cleaner type
Cleaner type is usually the first choice you'll make, since independent cleaners average £17 an hour against £19 for an agency. Agencies typically charge more because they offer greater flexibility and availability, especially if your usual cleaner is unavailable.
Location
Location shifts the price by a similar margin. London and the South East average around 20% more than the rest of the UK. Independent rates in cities like Bristol can rival or even beat the capital though.
Service type
Service type has the biggest single impact of the five. A regular clean averages £21 an hour, while a deep clean averages £26 an hour. Deep cleans cover ovens, skirting boards and areas a weekly visit skips entirely.
Property condition
Property condition is the factor most people underestimate before their first booking. A home that hasn't been professionally cleaned in over a year takes noticeably longer to bring up to standard than one on a regular schedule. Most cleaners charge accordingly.
Booking frequency
Booking frequency rewards consistency over convenience. Weekly and fortnightly clients consistently pay a lower hourly rate than one-off or ad hoc bookings. Cleaners can build a recurring visit into their regular schedule this way.
Factors affecting house cleaning cost (GBP, excluding VAT)
Factor | Effect on price | Example |
|---|---|---|
Cleaner type | Agencies cost more than independents | £19 an hour vs £17 an hour |
Location | London and the South East cost more | Around 20% higher than the rest of the UK |
Service type | Deep and specialist cleans cost more than regular cleaning | £26 an hour vs £21 an hour |
Property condition | Neglected homes take longer to clean | Extra time charged for years of build-up |
Frequency | Weekly bookings cost less per hour than one-off | Regular clients pay a lower rate than ad hoc bookings |
Property condition deserves a specific mention because it's something people underestimate when booking their first clean. A home that hasn't been professionally cleaned in over a year will take noticeably longer than one on a regular schedule. Most cleaners charge accordingly.
What additional costs should you budget for?
Beyond the core price for your service type, a handful of genuinely separate charges can apply. These are worth asking about before you book, not after.
Common additional costs to watch for:
- Minimum call-out charge for carpet cleaning, around £85 per visit
- Surcharge for same-day or short-notice bookings
- Premium for early mornings, evenings, weekends or bank holidays
- Cleaning products and equipment, if your cleaner doesn't provide these as standard
Carpet cleaning carries its own minimum call-out charge of around £85 per visit, so it's rarely worth booking alone. Many cleaners also charge more for same-day bookings, and for early mornings, evenings, weekends or bank holidays.
Cleaning products aren't standardised across the industry either. Some cleaners include products and equipment in their price, while others expect you to provide your own. It's genuinely worth confirming this upfront rather than assuming.
What should be included in a house cleaning quote?
A proper house cleaning quote should leave no room for surprises on the day. At minimum, it should state the exact rooms and tasks covered, whether the price is hourly or fixed, and whether products are included.
It should also confirm the visit length, any minimum charge that applies and the cancellation policy. If you're booking a recurring clean, the quote should state the rate for your chosen frequency, not just a one-off price.
Get no-obligation quotes from house cleaners on Bark and compare what's included
How long does house cleaning take?
A standard regular clean takes around 2 hours 30 minutes for a typical home. Most companies set a 2-hour minimum booking, and a 3-hour visit is the most common booking length.
Deep cleans take considerably longer, averaging around 6 hours for a full property. Larger or heavily neglected homes can take longer still, since every surface needs more attention than a regular visit allows.
Is it cheaper to clean your house yourself?
In pure cash terms, yes, since there's no hourly rate to pay. But DIY cleaning costs you time instead of money, and a proper deep clean can easily take a full day if you're doing it alone.
Professional cleaners also bring commercial-grade products and techniques that most households don't have access to. For a quick weekly tidy, DIY makes sense, but for deep cleans or end of tenancy work, a professional clean is usually worth the price.
When should you hire a professional house cleaner?
A few life moments make hiring a professional an easy call rather than a nice-to-have. Moving out of a rental is the clearest one, since a proper end of tenancy clean protects your deposit.
Post-renovation is another obvious trigger, given how much dust and debris an after-builders clean has to shift. Beyond that, it's worth calling a cleaner whenever your regular routine has slipped, or before hosting a big event at home.
How can you avoid overpaying for house cleaning?
The single biggest saving comes from booking regular rather than one-off visits, since recurring clients consistently pay a lower hourly rate. Weekly or fortnightly bookings work out cheaper than ad hoc cleans over time.
A few other habits help keep your house cleaning price down:
- Get at least two or three quotes for the exact same scope of work
- Ask upfront whether cleaning products are included in the price
- Book standard daytime hours rather than evenings or weekends
- Bundle carpet or oven cleaning into the same visit to avoid a separate call-out fee
- Compare an independent cleaner against an agency for the same job
House cleaning in the UK averages £21 an hour. That rises to £26 for a deep clean and up to £360 for a larger end of tenancy job. Location and booking frequency move that price further, with London running around 20% higher than the rest of the UK. Before you book, get quotes for the exact same scope and ask whether products are included.
Get free quotes from house cleaners near you on Bark without any obligation.
FAQs
Usually, yes. Independent cleaners average £17 an hour compared to £19 for an agency, though agencies often offer more flexibility if your regular cleaner is unavailable.
