How much should a cleaner charge per hour?
Real 2026 UK hourly rates for domestic cleaning, the gap between independent and agency pricing, and how to move from hourly to per-job rates without losing work.
Quick answer
UK domestic cleaning rates in 2026 run £14–£30 an hour, with most households paying £18–£22 for a regular clean. Self-employed cleaners charging directly typically get £15–£20 an hour; agencies charge £20–£30 because that covers insurance, cover, and equipment. London independents get £15–£20, agencies £22–£26, while rural rates can drop to £9–£12.
UK domestic cleaning rates, 2026
| Who | Hourly rate | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed, direct | £15–£20 | Your labour, often client's products |
| Agency / company | £20–£30 | Insurance, vetting, sickness cover, equipment |
| London independent | £15–£20 | Your labour |
| London agency | £22–£26 | Full service |
| Rural areas | £9–£12 | Lower demand, lower cost of living |
Step-by-step
- 1
Know the going rate before you set yours
The national range is £14–£30 an hour, and most regular domestic clients settle at £18–£22. If you're charging below £15 as a self-employed cleaner you're almost certainly underpricing, especially once you account for travel between jobs, products, and unpaid admin time.
- 2
Price the job, not the hour, once you're established
Hourly pricing punishes you for getting faster. A three-bed house at a fixed £60 rewards efficiency; the same house at £18/hr penalises it. Move to per-job pricing after a first visit lets you scope the property honestly. Clients generally prefer it too — they know the number in advance.
- 3
Decide whether you supply products
Supplying your own products and equipment justifies a higher rate and gives you consistent results, but it's a real cost and it fills your car. Using the client's is cheaper and lighter but you inherit whatever they've bought. Either is fine — just price accordingly rather than absorbing it.
- 4
Charge properly for one-off and deep cleans
End-of-tenancy, post-build, and deep cleans are harder and more time-consuming than a regular clean, and should carry a meaningfully higher rate — often 1.5 to 2 times your standard. They're also usually one-off, so there's no relationship discount to justify.
- 5
Publish your rates
Putting your prices on a website stops you quoting the same figure by text forty times a month, and it filters enquiries down to people who can afford you. It also makes an annual increase straightforward — you change a number on a page rather than having twelve awkward conversations.
Tips & best practices
- ▸Travel time between jobs is unpaid — cluster clients geographically or your effective rate collapses.
- ▸A minimum booking of two hours protects you from jobs that cost more in travel than they earn.
- ▸Public liability insurance is what lets you charge agency-adjacent rates as an independent.
- ▸Review rates every year; costs rise annually whether or not your prices do.
Common questions
How much should a cleaner charge per hour in the UK?
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In 2026, £14–£30 an hour depending on area and setup, with most regular domestic clients paying £18–£22. Self-employed cleaners working directly typically charge £15–£20; agencies charge £20–£30 because the rate covers insurance, vetting, cover and equipment.
Why do cleaning companies charge more than independent cleaners?
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Because the rate includes things an independent doesn't provide: public liability insurance, vetted and replaceable staff, cover when someone's ill, and all products and equipment. Clients paying £25 an hour to an agency aren't paying the cleaner £25.
Should I charge per hour or per job?
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Per job, once you know the property. Hourly billing means getting faster reduces your income, which is a strange incentive. Quote per visit after a first clean, and both sides know exactly where they stand.
How much should I charge for an end-of-tenancy clean?
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Typically 1.5 to 2 times your standard rate, priced as a whole job rather than hourly. They're physically harder, take longer than people expect, and are usually judged against a letting agent's checklist — which is worth pricing in.