How much house cleaning costs in NYC in 2026
Updated July 19, 2026 · 2 min read · EveryMaid editorial
Short answer
Most apartment cleaning in New York City runs $35 to $85 an hour, or $120 to $350 flat for a one-bedroom. Deep cleans and move-outs sit at the top of that range and often cost two to three times a standard visit.
What you should expect to pay
New York cleaning gets priced two ways, and which one you are quoted tells you something about the provider. Solo cleaners and small crews usually charge by the hour. Larger companies, and anyone working on an empty apartment, usually quote a flat rate per job. The scope is fixed, and they would rather absorb the timing risk than argue about it afterwards.
Hourly rates across the five boroughs start in the mid-thirties at the budget end and reach the mid-eighties for insured, bonded companies sending two-person teams. Flat rates for a standard one-bedroom begin around $120 and climb with square footage, bathroom count, and how long it has been since the last clean.
- Standard recurring clean, 1BR
- $120–$200
- Deep clean, 1BR
- $250–$450
- Move-out, 1BR
- $250–$500
- Post-construction
- $600+, quoted per job
- Hourly, one cleaner
- $35–$60/hr
- Hourly, two-person team
- $60–$85/hr
Rates run higher in Manhattan below 96th Street and in brownstone Brooklyn, and lower in eastern Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Some of that reflects the cost of doing business in those areas. Some of it is what the market bears.
What actually changes the number
Square footage matters less than people expect. Bathrooms and kitchens are where the time goes, so a 700-square-foot two-bathroom apartment can cost more than a 900-square-foot one-bathroom. Clutter matters a great deal. A cleaner who has to move your things before cleaning under them is doing two jobs.
Frequency changes the math. Weekly and biweekly clients almost always pay a lower per-visit rate than one-off bookings, because the apartment never drifts far from baseline. Most companies require an initial deep clean before starting a recurring schedule, so the first invoice will not represent what you pay ongoing.
Walk-ups add time above the third floor. So does a building with a service entrance, a freight elevator with limited hours, or a certificate of insurance requirement that costs the company an hour of paperwork.
How to read a quote
A quote worth trusting names the scope, not only the price. It should say how many cleaners, for how long, and what is excluded. Vague quotes are where disputes start. You thought inside the oven was included. They thought it was a deep-clean add-on.
Ask about supplies on the first call. Some providers bring everything. Some expect you to stock the apartment. Some bring their own but will use yours if you have sensitivities.
If a rate sits well below the range above, ask what accounts for it. Sometimes the answer is fine, like a solo cleaner with no overhead who lives ten minutes away. Sometimes it means no insurance, which becomes your problem if something breaks or someone is hurt in your home.
Common questions
Is it cheaper to hire an individual cleaner or a company?
An individual is usually cheaper per hour, often by $15 to $25. A company costs more because it carries liability insurance, covers payroll taxes, screens its staff, and can send a replacement if someone is sick. Which is the better deal depends on whether those things matter to you.
Should I tip a house cleaner in New York?
Tipping is common but not expected for recurring service. Many New Yorkers tip $10 to $20 per visit for a regular cleaner, or one visit's cost around the holidays. For one-off deep cleans and move-outs, 15 to 20 percent is a common gesture if the work was hard.
Why do move-out cleanings cost more than regular cleanings?
A landlord judges a move-out, not you, and the scope is bigger. It covers inside every cabinet and closet, appliance interiors, window tracks, and walls. There is also no furniture to work around, which sounds easier but puts every surface in scope.
Do cleaners charge more for walk-ups?
Often yes, above the third floor. Carrying equipment and supplies up five flights costs time, and most companies price that in either as a flat surcharge or by quoting more hours.
Keep reading
- Deep clean vs. standard clean, and which one you needThe specific tasks that separate a deep clean from a standard visit, when each is worth booking, and why cleaning companies insist on a deep clean first.
- How to vet a cleaning service in New YorkThe questions that reveal whether a cleaning company is legitimate, covering insurance, staffing, screening, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Prices and practices in this guide are general to New York City and change over time. Confirm anything that affects your booking with the provider before you hire them. Browse cleaners.