The cost of office cleaning depends mainly on how much time the job takes, and that comes down to the size and layout of your office, how often it’s cleaned, how many kitchens and washrooms you have, and what the specification includes. Out-of-hours timing, floor types, access and periodic deep cleaning also play a part.
Because every building is different, a reliable price comes from a site visit and a written specification rather than a rough figure from a website. Here’s what drives office cleaning costs for businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire, and how to get a fixed quote you can budget around.
Key takeaways
- Time on site is the biggest driver of cost, and it’s set by size, layout, frequency and specification.
- Kitchens, washrooms and lots of small rooms take longer than open-plan carpeted space.
- A written specification lets you compare quotes like for like.
- Cutting frequency too far often leads to a costly catch-up clean later.
How office cleaning is usually priced
Most contractors price office cleaning on the time needed to complete the specification at each visit, multiplied by the number of visits. Some quote per visit, others per month. The format matters less than what’s behind it: an honest estimate of how long it takes to do the job properly.
We give fixed quotes for office cleaning, agreed before work starts, so you know exactly what you’ll pay and what’s included. If your needs change, the quote is reviewed with you rather than quietly adjusted.
The main factors that affect office cleaning cost
These are the things any contractor will look at when working out a quote.
| Factor | Why it affects the cost |
|---|---|
| Size of the office | More floor space, desks and rooms take longer to clean. |
| Layout | Lots of small rooms, corridors and stairs take longer than one open-plan floor. |
| Frequency | More visits cost more overall, but each visit is usually quicker. |
| Kitchens and washrooms | These need detailed cleaning and disinfection every visit. |
| Floor types | Hard floors need mopping; carpets need hoovering and periodic deep cleaning. |
| Headcount and footfall | Busy offices and public-facing premises get dirty faster. |
| Timing and access | Early-morning, evening or weekend visits and complicated access affect scheduling. |
| Consumables | Supplying soap, toilet roll, paper towels and bin liners adds to the price. |
Size and layout
Size is the obvious one, but layout often matters just as much. A converted Georgian or Victorian building in Hull’s Old Town, with offices over several floors, narrow stairs and lots of doors, takes longer to clean than a modern open-plan unit of the same floor area on a business park.
Kitchens, washrooms and specialist areas
Washrooms and kitchens are the most time-consuming parts of most office cleans because they need thorough cleaning and disinfection every visit. The more of them you have, the more time is needed. Areas such as server rooms, labs or treatment rooms may need specific procedures that add time.
Headcount and how the space is used
A crowded office, a showroom with customers walking in from the street, or a team that eats lunch at their desks will all need more cleaning than a quiet office of the same size.
How cleaning frequency affects the price
Frequency is the factor you have most control over. Daily cleaning costs more in total, but each visit is shorter because there’s less build-up. Weekly cleaning costs less overall, but each visit has more to do, and kitchens and toilets can become unpleasant in between.
Many offices settle on a middle ground: daily or every-other-day visits for kitchens, toilets and bins, with full hoovering and dusting on a weekly rotation. Our office cleaning checklist shows how tasks can be split by frequency so you only pay for what’s needed. Hygiene matters too, as touch points such as door handles, kettles and taps shouldn’t wait for a weekly clean.
Periodic and specialist office cleaning
Some tasks don’t need doing every visit but should be in the budget for the year:
- Carpet deep cleaning by hot water extraction, through our carpet and upholstery cleaning service
- Upholstered chairs and reception seating
- Kitchen deep cleans, including inside appliances
- High-level dusting of light fittings and vents
- One-off cleans after a refit, an office move or an outbreak of illness
These are usually priced separately from the regular contract. If you’re unsure which carpet method suits your floors, our guide to hot water extraction vs dry carpet cleaning explains the options. Larger sites, shops and shared buildings may be better suited to a wider commercial cleaning contract covering several areas.
The hidden costs of cheap office cleaning
A low quote can look attractive, but it’s worth asking how the contractor can do the job in the time they’ve allowed. Under-priced contracts tend to show up as:
- Rushed visits where bins get emptied but surfaces don’t get cleaned
- Frequent changes of cleaner, with nobody learning your building
- Missed visits with no cover for sickness or holidays
- No insurance, vetting or COSHH paperwork
- Your own staff spending time chasing problems or cleaning up
Eventually the build-up means paying for a deep clean to get back to a reasonable standard, which wipes out any saving. Our guide to choosing a commercial cleaning contractor covers the checks that help you avoid this.
How to get an accurate office cleaning quote
- Arrange a site visit, or send floor plans and photos so the contractor can see the layout.
- List every area, including kitchens, washrooms, stairs, meeting rooms and bin stores.
- Say how many people use the space and whether visitors or customers come in.
- Agree the frequency and timing you need, including any out-of-hours requirements.
- Confirm who supplies consumables such as soap, toilet roll and bin liners.
- Ask for a written specification and fixed quote so you can compare providers like for like.
It also helps to sort out access early. If cleaners will let themselves in, our guide to key holding and security explains what to agree. For more on vetting providers, see our guide to choosing a cleaner you can trust.
Tip: Give every contractor the same written brief. If one quote is much lower than the others, ask how many hours it allows per visit before assuming it’s better value.
How to keep office cleaning costs down without cutting corners
- Introduce a clear-desk policy so cleaners spend their time cleaning, not working around clutter.
- Ask staff to rinse their own mugs and clear the fridge on a set day.
- Put good entrance mats down to cut the dirt walked into the building.
- Focus daily visits on kitchens, toilets and touch points, and rotate other tasks weekly.
- Book periodic deep cleans for quieter times of year.
Getting a fixed office cleaning quote
We provide office cleaning in Hull and across East Yorkshire, including Hedon and Pocklington. Our cleaners are insured, vetted and DBS-checked, bring their own equipment and products, and can work out of hours. Every job starts with a fixed quote agreed before work begins, and if anything isn’t right we’ll come back and re-clean it.
To find out what your office would need, see our office cleaning service or ask us for a fixed quote.
