How much does commercial cleaning cost in United Kingdom?
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Key takeaways
- Most commercial cleaning jobs in United Kingdom land between £40–£1,700 — known locally as contract / office cleaning.
- UK cleaning contractors must hold employer's liability insurance and follow COSHH regulations for chemicals. When an office switches cleaning providers, TUPE rules can transfer the incumbent site staff to the new contractor — factor this into contract changes.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Commercial Cleaning prices by job size in United Kingdom
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small office (up to 200 m²), per visit Bins, floors, touchpoints, WC and kitchenette | £40 | £70 | £120 |
| Mid-size office (500 m²), monthly, 3x/week Recurring contract clean with consumables restocked | £600 | £1,000 | £1,700 |
| One-off deep clean / floor care Carpet extraction or hard-floor machine scrub for a small office | £200 | £380 | £700 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per hour (per cleaner) | £14 | £18 | £26 |
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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom
- Check public liability and employer's liability insurance (employer's liability is a legal requirement for any company with staff)
- Confirm cleaners are paid at least the National Living Wage and ask about TUPE implications if switching providers with the same site staff
- Walk the site and agree a written specification with visit frequency and consumables
- Ask about COSHH-compliant chemical storage and data sheets on site
- For regulated premises (medical, food), check relevant standards experience (CQC environments, food-safe cleaning)
- Agree keyholding, alarm and DBS-check policy where needed
Red flags
- No employer's liability insurance certificate
- Rates that imply below-minimum-wage pay
- No named supervisor or quality-audit schedule
- Contracts with long lock-ins and no exit clause
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 GBP, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: Checkatrade / British Cleaning Council rate guidance; London contract cleaning rate cards.
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.
What is TUPE and why does it matter when changing office cleaners in the UK?
TUPE regulations can automatically transfer the existing cleaning staff (with their terms) to your new contractor when a contract changes hands on the same site. Good providers will ask about incumbent staff during quoting — a provider that has never heard of TUPE is a warning sign.
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