A move-out clean for a standard 2-bed/2-bath runs $260–$420 in 2026, with larger or neglected properties pushing past $600. That’s nearly double what you’d charge for a recurring standard clean on the same property — and for good reason. Move-out cleans are harder, dirtier, and almost always urgent.
The problem? Most new cleaners underprice them. They quote over the phone, show up to a trashed apartment, and end up working five hours for the rate they’d normally charge for two. This guide gives you real pricing by property size so you can quote accurately, charge what the job is worth, and stop leaving money on the table.
This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What Is a Move-Out Clean?
A move-out clean is a full deep clean of an empty property at the end of a lease or before a sale. It covers everything a standard clean does, plus the stuff nobody touches during a normal maintenance visit:
- Inside all appliances — oven, fridge, dishwasher, microwave
- Inside all cabinets and drawers
- Baseboards throughout the entire home
- Window tracks and sills
- Wall spot cleaning (scuff marks, handprints, splashes near stoves)
- Light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Garage or outdoor storage if the client requests it
Three types of clients hire for move-out cleans: tenants trying to get their deposit back, landlords resetting a unit between tenants, and real estate agents prepping a listing for photos. All three need the job done fast — move-out cleans are almost always booked 1–7 days out, which makes this a premium service in terms of urgency.
That urgency is also why you charge more. You’re clearing your schedule for a one-time job with a hard deadline, working in a property you’ve never seen, and dealing with whatever mess the previous tenant left behind.
Move-Out Cleaning Rates by Property Size (2026)
Here’s what move-out cleans should cost based on property size. These rates reflect 2026 pricing across mid-range U.S. markets — adjust up for high-cost cities like NYC, LA, or San Francisco, and down slightly for rural areas.
Cost Alert: These are your rates as the cleaner, not what consumers pay through platforms like Handy or TaskRabbit (which take a cut). If you’re working direct-to-client, you keep 100%.
| Property Size | Base Rate | With Appliances | ”Neglected” Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed 1-bath | $150–$200 | $200–$280 | +$50–$100 |
| 1-bed 1-bath apartment | $180–$250 | $230–$320 | +$75–$125 |
| 2-bed 1-bath | $220–$300 | $280–$380 | +$100–$150 |
| 2-bed 2-bath | $260–$350 | $320–$420 | +$100–$175 |
| 3-bed 2-bath | $320–$450 | $380–$550 | +$125–$200 |
| 4-bed 2-bath | $400–$550 | $460–$650 | +$150–$250 |
The “neglected” premium is for properties where nobody cleaned in months — heavy grease buildup, soap scum you need a razor blade for, pet stains, or cigarette smoke residue. You’ll know it when you see it. According to Housecall Pro’s 2026 pricing data, move-out cleans typically range from $250–$600 nationally, with condition being the biggest cost variable.
“Base rate” assumes the property is in reasonable shape and you’re cleaning surfaces, floors, and bathrooms — but not inside appliances. Most move-out cleans include appliances, so the middle column is what you’ll quote most often.
What’s Included vs. What Costs Extra
Your standard move-out clean should always include:
- All rooms cleaned top to bottom
- Inside oven, fridge, dishwasher, and microwave
- Inside all cabinets and drawers (wiped down)
- Baseboards and door frames
- Window sills and tracks
- Full bathroom deep clean (tile, grout, fixtures, mirrors)
- Floors vacuumed, mopped, or both
These are add-ons you charge separately:
| Add-On | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet cleaning (shampooing) | $75–$200 | Only offer if you own or rent a carpet extractor |
| Garage cleaning | $50–$100 | Depends on size and condition |
| Window washing (exterior) | $50–$150 | Priced by number of windows |
| Patio or balcony | $30–$75 | Common in apartment move-outs |
| Heavy oven/stovetop grease | +$25–$50 | Added to base rate |
One rule that will save you headaches: always include a walkthrough clause in your quote. Something like “heavily soiled conditions or properties exceeding X square feet may require additional time and cost.” Discuss this before the job, not after. Surprises at the end of a five-hour clean lead to disputes and bad reviews.
How to Calculate Your Rate
If you’re not sure where to land within the ranges above, here’s a formula that works.
Step 1: Estimate the time. A standard move-out for a 2-bed/2-bath should take 4–5 hours for an experienced cleaner. If you’re newer, budget 5–7 hours. A 3-bed/2-bath typically takes 5–7 hours.
Step 2: Apply your hourly target. If you’re targeting $50/hour as your effective rate (a solid target for solo cleaners in 2026), a 4-hour job = $200 and a 5-hour job = $250. According to HomeGuide’s 2026 data, cleaning professionals typically charge $35–$75 per hour depending on location and experience.
Step 3: Add a 30% contingency. Move-out cleans almost always have surprises — the oven that hasn’t been cleaned in three years, carpet stains nobody mentioned, ceiling fans caked in dust. Build a buffer into every quote. A $250 estimate becomes $325. That buffer is the difference between making money and regretting the job.
Step 4: Set a minimum. No move-out clean should go below $180, period. The prep time, drive time, and scope make anything less than that unprofitable — even for a tiny studio.
The walkthrough option: For larger properties or jobs booked through property managers, offer a free 15-minute walkthrough before quoting. You’ll give a more accurate price, the client will feel confident in your number, and you avoid the “this is way more than I expected” phone call afterward.
Move-Out Cleans vs. Standard Cleaning Pricing
Move-out cleans are always more expensive than standard recurring cleans for the same property. Here’s why:
Empty properties reveal everything. When the furniture is gone, you see years of dust behind the couch, stains under the bed, and grime along every baseboard. A standard maintenance clean might take 2 hours in a 3-bed house. A move-out on that same house takes 5–7 hours.
There’s also no prior knowledge. With a recurring client, you know their home, their problem spots, and their expectations. A move-out is a blank slate — you don’t know what you’re walking into until you’re there.
Rule of thumb: price a move-out at 1.75x–2.5x what you’d charge for a standard recurring clean of the same property.
If your standard bi-weekly for a 3-bed/2-bath is $160, your move-out price should be $280–$400. That multiplier accounts for the extra time, the deeper scope, and the fact that you can’t fill that slot with a recurring client.
How to Quote Move-Out Cleans Without Losing Money
The biggest mistake new cleaners make with move-out jobs is committing to a firm price over the phone. The client always describes the property as “mostly clean” or “just needs a quick wipe-down.” Then you show up and it’s a six-hour job.
What to say on the phone: “Based on what you’ve described, the range is $250–$380. I’d like to do a quick 10-minute walkthrough to give you an exact price — I can do that [day/time].”
This approach does three things: it sets the client’s budget expectations, it positions you as professional (not someone who guesses), and it protects you from underquoting.
Red flag phrases from clients:
- “It’s mostly clean, just needs a touch-up” — price as a full move-out anyway
- “The last tenant took good care of it” — the last tenant always “took good care of it”
- “It’s a small place” — small places with heavy neglect take just as long as big clean ones
Collect a deposit. For move-out cleans, requesting a 25–50% deposit at booking is standard practice. These are one-time clients you’ll likely never see again, and a no-show on a five-hour job that you blocked your schedule for is a real loss.
If you’re juggling multiple move-out quotes through text messages and phone calls, quoting software eliminates the back-and-forth. Jobber lets you build professional quotes with line items, send them for client approval, and automatically convert approved quotes into scheduled jobs — no more chasing people down for a “yes.”
Start Your Free Jobber Trial — Build Professional Quotes in Minutes
Getting Move-Out Cleaning Clients
Move-out cleans aren’t the kind of job you get from recurring clients. You need a steady pipeline, and the best sources are relationships, not ads.
Real estate agents are your best source. A single agent who trusts your work can send you 2–4 move-out jobs per month. Drop off business cards at local brokerages. Offer a first-job discount to get your foot in the door. Once you’re their go-to cleaner, the referrals don’t stop.
Property managers turn over rental units constantly. Large management companies might need a cleaning crew every week. Reach out directly — most property managers are tired of unreliable cleaners and will switch to someone who shows up on time and does thorough work.
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are where renters actively search for move-out cleaners in the weeks before their lease ends. Post your services with clear pricing, photos of past work, and your availability. These leads convert fast because the deadline is real.
Google Business Profile matters too. Add “move-out cleaning” and “end of lease cleaning” to your business description. When someone Googles “move out cleaning [your city],” you want to show up in the local pack.
Seasonal note: spring (March–May) and summer (June–August) are peak moving season. Boost your marketing spend and your Craigslist posts before these months hit — by the time June arrives, you want your pipeline full.
Move-out cleans are some of the best-paying one-time jobs in residential cleaning. The key is pricing them correctly from the start — not guessing on the phone, not undercharging because you’re worried about losing the job, and not showing up to a trashed property you quoted as “mostly clean.”
If you want to dial in your pricing across all your services, check out our full pricing guide or see how to price deep cleans for related rate-setting strategies. And if you’re still building your client base, here’s how to find your first cleaning clients for free. When you’re ready to stop quoting from your phone and manage jobs properly, our guide to the best cleaning business software covers tools that automate quoting, scheduling, and follow-up in one place.
Want the exact formulas? Download our House Cleaning Pricing Calculator — it includes move-out pricing by property size, add-on cost templates, and a minimum rate formula you can plug your numbers into.
