NYC price guide
How Much Does House Cleaning Cost in NYC?
A quote comes in and the first thought is: am I being overcharged, or is this actually normal for NYC. Here is the real range by apartment size and cleaning type, and what actually drives the price.
Quick Takeaways
- A standard recurring clean in NYC typically runs $90 to $300 per visit depending on apartment size, or roughly $40 to $80 an hour, based on multiple independent national cost guides reviewed in July 2026. Deep and move-out cleans cost more, see the breakdown below.
- Apartment size and cleaning type (standard, deep, or move-out) are the two biggest price drivers, not the company you pick.
- Deep cleans run 30 to 50 percent more than a standard clean; move-out or move-in cleans run 50 to 80 percent more, since every surface receives attention that is not typically included in recurring maintenance cleaning.
- Whether supplies are included, and whether the booking is recurring or one-time, both move the price more than most people expect.
- Ask whether a cleaner is bonded and insured before booking, especially in a co-op or condo that requires proof of insurance for outside vendors.
Estimate your house cleaning cost
A ballpark range based on multiple independent national cost guides, the same figures cited in this guide. It is a starting point, not a quote, so always get a few written estimates.
Price range by apartment size, standard (recurring)
Bars show the low-to-high range for each size, at the cleaning type selected above.
Is this quote actually fair
A quote comes in for $125 for a one-bedroom, or $300 for a two-bedroom, and the real question is not the number itself, it is whether it is fair. That uncertainty is normal. NYC cleaning prices genuinely vary by a factor of two or three for a similar apartment, which is exactly why it is hard to tell a fair price from an inflated one without a real reference point.
What house cleaning actually costs in NYC
Multiple independent national cost guides and marketplaces, reviewed in July 2026, converge on $90 to $300 per visit for a standard clean, or roughly $40 to $80 an hour. NYC tends to run at or above the high end of national averages, and within the city, dense Manhattan neighborhoods tend to sit toward the higher end of that range specifically, based on real homeowner-reported rates.
- Standard recurring clean: roughly $90 to $300 per visit across all apartment sizes, the range used above. Studio or 1 bedroom runs $90 to $180, 2 bedroom runs $150 to $230, 3 bedroom or larger runs $200 to $300.
- Deep clean (first-time, post-construction, or infrequent): roughly $130 to $420, about 30 to 50 percent more than a standard clean of the same size, since every surface receives attention that is not typically included in recurring maintenance cleaning.
- Move-out or move-in clean: roughly $150 to $500, the most thorough and most expensive tier at about 50 to 80 percent more than standard. If you are a renter, a professional move-out clean can also help if there is ever a dispute over your security deposit: NY law requires any cleaning deduction to be itemized, which gives you a real basis to review and dispute a charge that does not seem justified.
What's usually included in a standard cleaning
A lot of quote confusion comes down to scope, not price. "Cleaning" means different things to different companies, and a standard clean and a deep clean are not the same job.
- Usually included in a standard clean: vacuuming and mopping floors, dusting reachable surfaces, wiping kitchen counters and cabinet fronts, and a full bathroom scrub (toilet, tub, sink).
- Usually NOT included, and typically requires a deep clean instead: inside the oven, inside the refrigerator, grout scrubbing, vacuuming upholstery and under cushions, washing windows, and moving furniture to clean underneath it.
- Laundry, dishes, and organizing clutter are add-ons at most companies rather than part of either tier. Ask if you want them included.
What actually drives the price
Two quotes for the same square footage can still differ by a lot. The biggest price drivers are usually these, not the company name.
- Recurring vs one-time: a weekly or biweekly cleaner charges less per visit than a one-time deep clean of the same apartment, since the space stays maintained. Even a standard recurring booking often costs or takes more on the very first visit, since there is a backlog to catch up on before a regular maintenance routine can start.
- Supplies and equipment: some quotes include cleaning products and a vacuum, others expect you to provide them. Confirm before comparing two prices directly.
- Access and building rules: some co-ops and condos require proof of insurance or a building-approved vendor list, which can limit options and affect price.
- Condition: a cluttered apartment or one that has not been professionally cleaned in a long time takes longer, and time is what you are paying for.
- Pets: litter boxes, pet hair removal, and pet bowls are commonly treated as an add-on rather than included in a base quote. Ask upfront rather than assume either way.
How to find someone reputable, not just cheap
The lowest quote is not automatically the best one, and this is another spot where a lot of homeowners get burned on lead-marketplace sites: a "verified" badge is often just a company that paid a listing fee, not a real check.
- Ask whether the company or individual is bonded and insured, and ask for proof, not just a verbal yes. Insurance covers accidental damage or injury during the job, while bonding provides a backstop if an employee steals from a client.
- For a co-op or condo, confirm the building actually allows the vendor before booking, not after.
- Get the scope in writing, and make it specific: which rooms, whether supplies are included, whether it is a standard, deep, or move-out clean, and whether things like under furniture, high dusting, and moving light furniture are actually included rather than assumed. A rushed clean and a thorough one can look identical on a price quote and very different once you check under the bed.
- Read a handful of specific, recent reviews rather than trusting a star average alone. A wall of generic five-star reviews with no detail is itself a signal worth noticing.
Finding someone you can actually trust with this
Once you know what a fair price looks like, the next challenge is actually finding a provider who meets that bar.
A common piece of advice is that the best cleaners come through personal referrals, since established professionals often have enough steady work that they rarely need to advertise. That is often true, but it does not mean online searches are a bad option. The real issue is whether you are looking at verified information or just paid listings.
Many lead-generation marketplaces focus on collecting your contact information first, then distribute the same request to several competing companies at once, so your phone does not stop for the next hour. ServHom takes a different approach: you see real, ranked cleaning businesses with their information shown up front, so you can look for the same trust signals you would use when evaluating a personal referral, not just whoever bid first.
How Servhom Uses This Guide
This guide becomes the trust education layer that our service pages can link to. It explains what homeowners should check before hiring, while Servhom builds source-labeled provider data, money-blind ranking, and fair-price tools.
FAQ
How much does a house cleaner cost in NYC?
For a standard clean, expect roughly $90 to $300 per visit depending on apartment size, or about $40 to $80 an hour. A studio or 1 bedroom is typically at the lower end, a 3 bedroom or larger at the higher end. Deep cleans and move-out cleans cost more than a standard recurring clean.
Is 2 hours a week enough for a cleaner?
For a small apartment with light, regular upkeep, 2 hours a week can be enough for surface cleaning (kitchen, bathroom, floors, tidying). For a larger space, a deeper clean, or if it has been a while since the last professional clean, you will likely need more time or a less frequent but longer visit.
Is $50 an hour good for house cleaning in NYC?
Yes, $50 an hour falls within the typical $40 to $80 an hour range for NYC. Where it lands in that range often depends on apartment size, whether supplies are included, and whether it is a one-time or recurring booking.
How much does it cost to clean a 2,000 square foot house?
At NYC rates of roughly $40 to $80 an hour, a 2,000 square foot home typically takes a two-person team 2 to 4 hours for a standard clean, putting the total around $160 to $400. A first-time deep clean of a space that size usually runs higher, since it takes longer to get every surface caught up.
How much should you tip a house cleaner in NYC?
Tipping is not required but is common and appreciated, especially for a good recurring cleaner. A typical range is 15 to 20 percent of the bill for a one-time or infrequent clean, or a smaller flat amount per visit for a regular weekly or biweekly arrangement. Some homeowners tip more generously around the holidays for a cleaner they use year-round.
Do house cleaners bring their own supplies?
It depends on the company, so this is worth confirming before you compare two quotes. Many bring standard cleaning products and a vacuum as part of the price, while others expect you to provide your own, sometimes at a lower hourly rate in exchange. If you have specific product preferences (unscented, eco-friendly), ask upfront rather than assume either way.
What is typically included in a deep clean?
A deep clean covers everything a standard clean does, plus the areas that do not get touched on a regular maintenance visit: inside the oven and refrigerator, grout scrubbing, vacuuming upholstery and under cushions, washing windows, and moving furniture to clean underneath it. That extra scope is why a deep clean typically runs 30 to 50 percent more than a standard clean of the same size.
