How much does commercial cleaning cost in Canada?
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Key takeaways
- Most commercial cleaning jobs in Canada land between CA$90–CA$2,800 — known locally as janitorial / commercial cleaning services.
- Commercial cleaners in Canada must register with the provincial workers' compensation board (e.g. WSIB, WorkSafeBC) and follow WHMIS chemical-safety rules. Hiring a contractor without a clearance certificate can expose the client business to premium liability in several provinces.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Commercial Cleaning prices by job size in Canada
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small office (up to 2,000 sq ft), per visit Bins, floors, touchpoints, one washroom and kitchenette | CA$90 | CA$150 | CA$240 |
| Mid-size office (5,000 sq ft), monthly, 3x/week Recurring janitorial contract with consumables restocked | CA$1,000 | CA$1,700 | CA$2,800 |
| One-off deep clean / floor care Carpet extraction or floor strip-and-wax for a small office | CA$350 | CA$600 | CA$1,100 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per hour (per cleaner) | CA$30 | CA$45 | CA$65 |
| per sq ft (per visit) | CA$0 | CA$0 | CA$0 |
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 Canada 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 Canada
- Verify liability insurance and provincial workers' compensation registration (WSIB in Ontario, WorkSafeBC in BC) — ask for a clearance certificate
- Walk the site together and agree a written scope and frequency
- Confirm WHMIS-compliant chemical handling and labelling
- Check references from similar facilities and ask who supervises your account
- Agree key/alarm protocols and staff screening
- Confirm GST/HST is itemized on quotes
Red flags
- No workers' compensation clearance certificate — you can be liable for premiums of uninsured contractors in some provinces
- Bids without a walkthrough
- Cash-only pricing without tax invoices
- No supervisor or inspection schedule
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 CAD, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: HomeStars and Canadian janitorial rate surveys; Provincial minimum wage plus overhead modelling.
Frequently asked questions
Can cleaning happen outside business hours?
Yes — evening and early-morning service is standard for offices so cleaning doesn't disrupt staff. Out-of-hours access requires a key/alarm protocol; some companies charge a small premium for late-night or weekend slots.
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.
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.
What is the difference between janitorial and commercial cleaning?
Janitorial usually means recurring day-to-day cleaning (bins, floors, bathrooms), while commercial cleaning also covers periodic heavy work: carpet extraction, hard-floor machine scrubbing, high-level dusting, and post-construction cleans.
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.
How is commercial cleaning priced?
Three common models: per hour per cleaner (small offices), per square metre/foot per visit (larger spaces), or a fixed monthly contract based on visit frequency. Most quotes are set after a walkthrough that counts desks, bathrooms, kitchens and floor types.
Why should I ask a Canadian cleaning company for a WSIB/WorkSafe clearance certificate?
Because in provinces like Ontario and BC, if your contractor isn't registered and a worker is injured on your site, the workers' compensation board can pursue the hiring business. A current clearance certificate closes that exposure and takes two minutes to check.
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