A sensible 2027 house cleaning starting point is 5 to 8 percent above 2026 rates: roughly $32 to $80 an hour per cleaner, $140 to $215 for a standard three-bedroom, and $0.07 to $0.15 per square foot. Minimum wages rise in most indexed states on 1 January 2027 and supply costs are climbing, so notify recurring clients by early November.
What are house cleaning prices in 2026?
Two current, cleaning-specific guides give consistent ranges. Both are national; high-cost metros run 20 to 50 percent above them.
| Pricing model | ZenMaid (12 Aug 2026) | Housecall Pro (updated 21 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly, standard, per cleaner | $25–$50 (national average $40–$50) | $30–$75 |
| Hourly, deep or move-out, per cleaner | $40–$100 | — |
| 1-bedroom, standard | $80–$110 | $75–$110 |
| 2-bedroom, standard | — | $100–$150 |
| 3-bedroom, standard | $160–$200 (2,000 sq ft) | $130–$200 |
| 4-bedroom, standard | — | $150–$210 |
| Per square foot, standard | $0.05–$0.16 | $0.06–$0.14 |
| Per square foot, deep | $0.13–$0.17 | $0.12–$0.25 |
| Per square foot, move-out | $0.13–$0.20 | — |
| Deep clean, ~2,000 sq ft | $200–$400 | $240–$500 |
| Move-in/out, ~2,000 sq ft | $300–$400 | $250–$600 |
| Deep-clean premium over standard | 50–100% | Roughly 2× on the 2,000 sq ft figures |
| Recurring discount | About 5% biweekly; monthly about 50% more than biweekly | 10–15% off one-time rate |
Sources: ZenMaid, "How Much to Charge for House Cleaning in 2026" and Housecall Pro, "How Much to Charge for House Cleaning: 2026 Prices".
The two guides disagree on recurring discounts (5 percent versus 10 to 15 percent), which tells you the discount is a lever you set, not a market rule.
What cost pressures hit cleaning companies in 2027?
Labor is the largest cost in residential cleaning, so wage floors set the floor on price.
Minimum wages. Florida reaches $15.00 an hour on 30 September 2026, the last fixed step of its 2020 ballot amendment; it moves to annual CPI adjustments from 2027 (Hoodline, Sep 2026). California has confirmed $17.40 an hour from 1 January 2027, with the exempt salary threshold rising to $72,384 (Governor of California, 31 Jul 2026; California DIR, 13 Aug 2026). Nineteen states plus DC index their minimum wage to inflation every 1 January, and most announce the exact 2027 figure between September and November 2026 (Saving to Invest, updated 4 Aug 2026). For scale, the January 2025 round saw 21 states raise minimums for 9.2 million workers (EPI); expect January 2027 to look similar. Check your state on the locations pages or with your state labor department before you set numbers. Even where you already pay above minimum, the floor pulls everything up.
Supplies. On 22 August 2026 the US imposed 50 percent tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian imports, including the bleached softwood pulp used in tissue products. NC State's forest biomaterials researchers estimate manufacturing cost increases of 31 to 38 percent for premium paper towels and 11 to 20 percent for toilet tissue (NC State News, 31 Aug 2026). Paper is a small share of your costs, but microfiber and chemical inputs are under similar pressure.
Everyone else is raising, too. Jobber's 2026 Home Service Trends Report found 65 percent of home-service businesses raised prices in the past year, citing inflation and materials (72 percent) and labor (50 percent). Cleaning companies were the least likely to raise, at 55 percent, and the least confident in their pricing: 48 percent "very confident" against 55 percent across trades (Jobber, 2026). If you did not raise in 2026, you are two years behind your costs.
Suggested 2027 house cleaning rates (starting point)
These are the 2026 ranges above with 5 to 8 percent added: a starting point for your own calculation, not a survey result. Adjust for your metro, your wage rates, and whether you already raised in 2026.
| Service | 2026 range (both guides) | 2027 starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly, standard, per cleaner | $25–$75 | $32–$80 |
| 1-bedroom, standard | $75–$110 | $80–$120 |
| 2-bedroom, standard | $100–$150 | $105–$160 |
| 3-bedroom, standard | $130–$200 | $140–$215 |
| 4-bedroom, standard | $150–$210 | $160–$225 |
| Per square foot, standard | $0.05–$0.16 | $0.07–$0.15 (tighten the bottom) |
| Deep clean, ~2,000 sq ft | $200–$500 | $215–$530 |
| Move-in/out, ~2,000 sq ft | $250–$600 | $270–$640 |
| Deep-clean premium | 50–100% | Keep at 50–100% |
| Recurring discount | 5–15% | 5–10%, tied to frequency |
Build up from cost first: loaded hourly labor (wage, payroll taxes, insurance, drive time) times hours on site, plus supplies, overhead and margin. If that number is above the table, the table is wrong for you. The bottom of each range is for low-cost markets and solo operators; two-person teams in a metro should price from the middle up.
How do you phase in a price increase?
New clients: immediately. Quote the 2027 rate to every new caller from the day you decide. There is no reason to sell a new client at a price you are about to raise.
Recurring clients: 1 January, with notice in early November. Four to eight weeks' notice is standard. Early November lands before the holidays, and a 1 January start ties the change to the date most of their other costs move.
Grandfather selectively, in writing. Hold a rate for a long-standing client for a defined period ("through 30 June 2027"), not indefinitely.
Say the amount and the percentage. "$10 more per visit" is easier to accept than "6 percent." Tie it to wages and supplies; clients understand costs and dislike "market adjustment."
Make the phone match. Whoever answers in December must quote the new rate to new callers and explain the change to existing ones, consistently. A receptionist who under-quotes out of awkwardness costs you the whole increase. MeetZela quotes from your price list, so the new rate card goes live the day you set it and every caller hears the same number; see the house cleaning and maid service pages or the AI receptionist hub. Pricing is by call volume after a free demo.
Price-increase letter template (send early November)
Use on letterhead, by email, or as a printed note left at the next visit. Replace the bracketed parts.
Subject: Your cleaning rate from 1 January 2027
Dear [First name],
Thank you for trusting [Company] with your home this year. We wanted to give you plenty of notice about a change to your rate.
From 1 January 2027, your [biweekly / weekly / monthly] clean will be $[new rate] per visit, up from $[old rate]. That is an increase of $[difference] ([percent] percent).
Two things drive it. Our cleaners' wages are rising in January, in line with [state]'s minimum-wage change and our own commitment to keep the people you know on your home. And the cost of the paper, microfiber and cleaning products we bring has gone up this year.
Nothing else changes: same team, same checklist, same day and time. If you would like to adjust your frequency or scope to keep your monthly spend where it is, reply to this note or call us on [phone] and we will work it out.
Thank you for being a client.
[Owner name] [Company], [phone], [email]
Text-message version (for clients who prefer SMS; send the letter too):
Hi [First name], it's [Owner] from [Company]. Heads-up: from 1 Jan 2027 your [biweekly] clean will be $[new] per visit (up $[difference]). Our cleaners' wages and supply costs are rising in January. Same team, same schedule. Questions? Call or reply any time. Thank you for sticking with us.
Phone script: "Why did my price go up?"
The call will come. Here is the script for whoever answers, human or AI.
Caller: "I got your letter. Why is my price going up?"
Receptionist: "Thanks for calling about it, [First name]. Your rate is moving from $[old] to $[new] on 1 January, which is $[difference] a visit. Two reasons. Our cleaners' pay is going up in January with the state minimum-wage change, and we've chosen to keep your regular team rather than replace them with cheaper, newer staff. And our supply costs, especially paper and cleaning products, have risen this year. This is the first change since [date of last increase]."
Caller: "Can you keep me at the old rate?"
Receptionist: "I can't hold the old rate, but I can help you keep your monthly cost the same. We could move you from weekly to biweekly, or trim the scope, for example skipping [add-on] on alternate visits. Would either of those work, or would you rather keep the service exactly as it is at the new rate?"
Caller: "I'll think about it."
Receptionist: "Of course. Your next visit is [date] at the current rate; the new rate starts 1 January. If I don't hear from you, nothing changes. If you'd like [Owner] to call you, I can set that up now."
If the caller is upset: "I understand, and I'm sorry it's unwelcome news. Let me have [Owner] call you today." Then warm-transfer or book the callback. Do not negotiate the number on the call.
FAQ
How much should I raise house cleaning prices for 2027?
For most companies, 5 to 8 percent on recurring clients; more if you skipped 2026 or work in a state with a large 1 January wage step. Build the number from your own loaded labor cost first, then check it against the table above.
When should I send the price-increase letter?
Early November for a 1 January change: four to eight weeks' notice, before the holiday rush, aligned with the date wages move. Quote new clients the new rate immediately.
Will I lose clients?
Some, usually the ones who were price-shopping anyway. Jobber found 65 percent of home-service businesses raised prices last year, so your clients' other providers are doing the same. Offering a frequency or scope adjustment keeps most people who call to object.
Sources
- ZenMaid, "How Much to Charge for House Cleaning in 2026" (12 Aug 2026): https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/how-much-to-charge-house-cleaning-2026/
- Housecall Pro, "How Much to Charge for House Cleaning: 2026 Prices" (updated 21 Sep 2026): https://www.housecallpro.com/resources/house-cleaning-prices/
- Jobber, "2026 Home Service Trends Report" (survey December 2025, n=1,050): https://www.getjobber.com/home-service-trends-report/
- Governor of California, "Governor Newsom announces California will raise statewide minimum wage" (31 Jul 2026): https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/31/governor-newsom-announces-california-will-raise-statewide-minimum-wage/
- California Department of Industrial Relations, "California's minimum wage set to increase to $17.40 per hour on January 1, 2027" (13 Aug 2026): https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2026/2026-66.html
- Hoodline, "Florida Minimum Wage Hits $15 This Month" (Sep 2026): https://hoodline.com/2026/09/florida-minimum-wage-hits-15-this-month-capping-six-year-climb-from-voters/
- Saving to Invest, "2026–2027 Minimum Wage by State" (updated 4 Aug 2026): https://savingtoinvest.com/federal-and-state-minimum-wage-increases/
- Economic Policy Institute, "Over 9.2 million workers will get a raise on January 1 from 21 states raising their minimum wages" (January 2025 round): https://www.epi.org/blog/over-9-2-million-workers-will-get-a-raise-on-january-1-from-21-states-raising-their-minimum-wages/
- NC State News, "Trade War Could Hit Toilet Paper and Paper Towel Prices" (31 Aug 2026): https://news.ncsu.edu/2026/08/trade-war-toilet-paper/