No two facilities are alike, which is why calculating commercial cleaning service prices starts with understanding the key factors that influence the cost for commercial cleaning.

• Facility size and layout: Large buildings take longer to clean but may have lower commercial cleaning rates per square foot due to scale. Smaller sites often have higher commercial cleaning rates per sq ft because setup time and overhead costs remain similar.
• Frequency of service: Daily cleanings typically cost less per visit than weekly or monthly deep cleans since maintenance is easier to manage.
• Location: Urban areas with higher wages and parking expenses can increase labor costs.
• Service type and standards: Specialized cleaning, such as healthcare sanitation or industrial degreasing, requires special training, tools, and compliance measures.
• Equipment and labor: Using high-efficiency tools like Nilfisk floor scrubbers or sweepers can reduce labor hours and improve cost predictability.

When you understand these cost drivers, you can create pricing models that reflect both your value and the unique needs of each client.

Learn more about starting a commercial cleaning business with our step-by-step guide for new contract cleaners.

While there’s no universal formula, most professional commercial cleaners use one of three main approaches:

• Hourly Rate: Multiply the total labor hours by your hourly rate.
• Per Square Foot: Multiply the building’s total square footage by a per-square-foot rate that reflects the service level.
• Flat or Contract Rate: Offer a fixed monthly or annual fee based on a combination of the above.

To determine your total rate, estimate:

• Labor costs (hourly wage × hours worked)
• Overhead (insurance, supplies, equipment)
• Profit margin (typically 10–30%)

Here’s a simplified formula: Total Cleaning Rate = (Labor + Overhead) × Markup (%)

After you calculate your base rate, compare it against market averages in your region to ensure competitiveness.

Larger buildings typically cost less per square foot because of efficiency gains. The table below shows example pricing ranges for different facility sizes.

The scope and intensity of services dramatically affect commercial cleaning pricing. Routine janitorial maintenance costs less than specialized deep cleaning or high-safety sanitation.

Including service variety in your quote helps clients understand the difference between standard upkeep and specialized cleaning.

Explore the difference between janitorial and commercial building cleaning services to better define your service offerings.

Different industries have unique cleaning needs, regulatory standards, and risk levels. Below are general pricing ranges based on business type.

Pricing also depends on facility occupancy and layout. For example, a medical office building with multiple patient rooms requires more time per square foot than an open warehouse.

Across the United States, the average price for commercial cleaning ranges from $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot, or $30 to $60 per hour per cleaner. Small facilities with minimal requirements may fall below this range, while high-compliance sites like laboratories and hospitals often exceed it.

To stay competitive, contractors should compare their costs to industry benchmarks while factoring in equipment efficiency and sustainability goals. Using modern machines such as Nilfisk floor scrubbers, sweepers, and vacuums can reduce cleaning time and improve accuracy, helping you maintain margins while delivering consistent results.

Regional labor rates and cleaning frequency will continue to be the biggest variables in pricing models. However, technology and data-driven cleaning are increasingly influencing pricing structures as facilities adopt smart equipment and IoT fleet management.

Pricing your services accurately starts with controlling your cleaning costs. Nilfisk helps professional commercial cleaners achieve both.

Our advanced cleaning machines, from floor scrubbers to robotic floor cleaners, are designed to improve efficiency, reduce water and chemical use, and extend equipment life. By minimizing manual labor and operational downtime, Nilfisk equipment helps you stay competitive in today’s cost-sensitive cleaning industry.

Ready to make your cleaning operations more profitable? Contact Nilfisk to request a quote or explore our professional cleaning equipment lineup for commercial and industrial applications.