How much does commercial cleaning cost in Australia?
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Key takeaways
- Most commercial cleaning jobs in Australia land between A$80–A$2,800 — known locally as commercial / office cleaning.
- Cleaners in Australia are covered by the Cleaning Services Award with penalty rates for evening and weekend work, and companies must hold workers' compensation and public liability cover. Several states run labour-hire licensing schemes that can apply to cleaning labour providers.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Commercial Cleaning prices by job size in Australia
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small office (up to 200 m²), per visit Bins, floors, touchpoints, bathroom and kitchenette | A$80 | A$130 | A$200 |
| Mid-size office (500 m²), monthly, 3x/week Recurring contract clean with consumables restocked | A$1,100 | A$1,800 | A$2,800 |
| One-off deep clean / floor care Carpet extraction or hard-floor scrub for a small office | A$300 | A$550 | A$1,000 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per hour (per cleaner) | A$38 | A$50 | A$70 |
What affects the price
- Job size and scope — bigger or more complex jobs move you up the ranges above.
- Access and condition — hard-to-reach areas, older properties or neglected maintenance add labour time.
- Materials and quality level — where materials are involved, the grade you choose often matters more than labour.
- Urgency — same-day or out-of-hours work usually carries a premium.
- Where you live — large metros in Australia typically run above the national range; smaller towns below it.
How to save
- Get at least three quotes and compare like-for-like scopes, not just totals.
- Be flexible on timing — off-peak slots are often cheaper.
- Bundle related tasks into one visit to spread call-out costs.
- Agree the scope in writing up front to avoid change-order surprises.
How to hire a commercial cleaning pro in Australia
- Verify public liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage for all cleaners
- Check the quote is consistent with the Cleaning Services Award minimum pay rates — unrealistically cheap bids usually mean underpaid or sham-contracted labour
- Walk the site and agree a written scope, frequency, and consumables list
- Ask about police checks for out-of-hours keyholders
- Confirm safe chemical handling per Safe Work Australia codes and SDS availability
- For strata or retail sites, check contractor induction and SWMS requirements
Red flags
- Bids that can't be delivered at Award pay rates
- ABN-only 'contractors' with no insurance
- No site supervisor or QA inspections
- Long lock-in contracts with auto-rollover clauses
How Handld researches prices
These are researched estimates, not quotes and not our transaction data. We compile ranges from published sources — national statistics, trade bodies and incumbent cost guides — normalise them to AUD, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: hipages / Airtasker commercial cleaning guides; Fair Work Cleaning Services Award rates plus overhead.
Frequently asked questions
What does a standard office cleaning visit include?
Emptying bins, vacuuming and mopping floors, wiping desks and touchpoints, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, and restocking consumables. Window cleaning, carpet extraction, and floor stripping/polishing are usually scheduled extras.
How often should an office be cleaned?
A typical small office books 2-5 visits per week; high-traffic spaces with shared kitchens and customer areas usually need daily service. Bathrooms and touchpoints drive frequency more than floor area does.
Should I hire a cleaning company or an in-house cleaner?
Under roughly 10-15 hours of cleaning per week, a contracted company is usually cheaper once you count payroll, insurance, cover for absences, and equipment. In-house starts to win for large single sites with full-time cleaning need.
What insurance should a commercial cleaning company carry?
At minimum public liability insurance and employer's/workers' compensation coverage for their staff. Ask for certificates — if an uninsured cleaner is injured on your premises, the liability can land on you.
How do commercial cleaning contracts handle keys and alarms?
Reputable companies run signed key registers, alarm-code logs, and vetted staff lists. Ask how keys are stored, who can access your site, and whether staff are background-checked before handing over out-of-hours access.
Why are Australian office cleaning quotes higher on evenings and weekends?
The Cleaning Services Award sets penalty rates for early, late, and weekend shifts — commonly 15-50% loadings and higher on Sundays. Since offices mostly want out-of-hours cleaning, quotes bake in those award loadings; a bid that ignores them likely underpays workers.
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