How Much Does Commercial Cleaning Cost in 2026? Rates in Major US Markets
Commercial cleaning is one of those line items that rarely gets much attention until the quotes come in and the numbers are all over the map. One vendor prices by the square foot, another by the hour, a third sends a flat monthly figure with no breakdown. For facility managers, office administrators, and property owners trying to budget for 2026, that inconsistency makes it hard to know what is fair.
This guide breaks down what businesses across the United States are actually paying for commercial cleaning this year, what drives the price up or down, and how rates differ between major markets like South Florida, New York, and the rest of the country.
National Average Commercial Cleaning Rates in 2026
Most commercial cleaning contracts in the US are priced one of three ways: per square foot, per hour, or as a flat monthly fee based on scope and frequency. The typical ranges for 2026 look like this.
| Pricing model | Typical 2026 range | Best suited for |
| Per square foot | $0.08 to $0.25 per sq ft per visit | Offices, retail, larger footprints |
| Hourly | $30 to $60 per hour per cleaner | Small offices, one-off jobs |
| Monthly contract | $500 to $5,000+ per month | Recurring service with a set scope |
| Specialty services | $0.25 to $1.00+ per sq ft | Floor stripping and waxing, carpet extraction, post-construction |
Facility type is the biggest single variable. A standard office with hard floors and shared restrooms sits at the low end. Medical offices, dental practices, and labs run higher because of disinfection protocols and biohazard handling. Industrial and warehouse space often prices lower per square foot but covers far more floor area, so the monthly total can still be significant.
Providers that operate across multiple states, such as Impact Cleaning Services, which offers commercial cleaning services across the US, tend to price within these ranges but adjust by region. Their 2026 facility manager’s guide, The Impact Report: Commercial Cleaning 2026, is a useful reference for anyone comparing costs across Canadian and American markets.
What Actually Drives the Price
Two buildings with the same square footage can get quotes that differ by 40 percent or more. Here is what accounts for the gap.
Frequency. Nightly service is cheaper per visit than weekly because the crew is maintaining rather than recovering. Weekly or biweekly cleans cost more per visit but less per month.
Square footage and layout. Open floor plans clean faster than buildings with dozens of private offices, and the number of restrooms matters more than most people expect. A restroom takes far longer per square foot than any other space.
Scope of work. Trash and restrooms only is the base tier. Add dusting, glass, kitchen and break room, vacuuming, and floor care and the price scales accordingly.
Day porter versus night crew. Day porters who stay on site during business hours are billed hourly and cost more than a night crew that works the building in one pass.
Supplies and consumables. Some contracts include paper products, soap, and liners. Others bill them separately. Ask which before comparing quotes.
Labor market. Wages for cleaning staff vary widely by metro, and that flows straight into the rate. This is the main reason a quote in New York looks nothing like a quote in Phoenix.
Compliance requirements. Medical facilities, food service, and any building with specific insurance or certification requirements will pay a premium for a vendor who can meet them.
Commercial Cleaning Rates by Market
Below are typical 2026 rates in several major US metros. Ranges reflect standard office space with recurring service; specialty work and medical facilities will run higher in every market.
South Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach)
The South Florida market is competitive, with a large number of providers serving office parks, retail plazas, medical buildings, and multifamily properties from Miami-Dade up through Palm Beach County. Typical 2026 rates:
- Per square foot: $0.10 to $0.22
- Hourly: $32 to $55
- Monthly office contract (5,000 sq ft, 3x weekly): roughly $900 to $1,800
Humidity and year-round foot traffic mean floor care and restroom service are heavier lifts here than in cooler climates, so budget for more frequent floor maintenance than you would elsewhere. Local providers such as CleanSpace, which delivers commercial cleaning services in Fort Lauderdale and throughout the region, typically build that into a recurring scope rather than billing it as an add-on. Property managers in the multifamily space should also look for vendors who are active in industry groups like the South East Florida Apartment Association, which is a reasonable signal that a company understands the volume and turnover that residential portfolios demand.
New York Metro (White Plains, Westchester County, New York City)
New York is the most expensive commercial cleaning market in the country, driven by labor costs, union considerations in Manhattan, and building access logistics. Westchester County and the northern suburbs are noticeably more affordable than the five boroughs but still well above the national average. Typical 2026 rates:
- Per square foot: $0.15 to $0.35 (higher in Manhattan)
- Hourly: $40 to $70
- Monthly office contract (5,000 sq ft, 3x weekly): roughly $1,400 to $2,800
Businesses in Westchester often get better value from a regionally based provider than from a Manhattan firm that treats the suburbs as an afterthought. WOW! Facility Services, which handles commercial cleaning in White Plains and across Westchester County, is an example of a locally based operation serving office, retail, and facility clients in the northern metro. When getting quotes in this market, confirm whether the vendor’s pricing includes insurance certificates and building management requirements, since those are often stricter in New York than elsewhere.
Chicago
Chicago sits in the upper-middle of the national range. Winter weather drives up floor care costs because of salt and slush tracked into lobbies from November through March.
- Per square foot: $0.12 to $0.28
- Hourly: $35 to $60
Dallas and Fort Worth
The DFW market is one of the more affordable major metros, with a deep labor pool and a lot of newer Class A office inventory that is relatively easy to maintain.
- Per square foot: $0.08 to $0.20
- Hourly: $28 to $50
Phoenix
Phoenix rates are similar to Dallas, with dust and hard-water mineral buildup being the main regional factors that affect scope.
- Per square foot: $0.08 to $0.20
- Hourly: $28 to $48
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is second only to New York on cost, with high labor rates and strict state compliance requirements adding to the baseline.
- Per square foot: $0.14 to $0.32
- Hourly: $38 to $65
How to Get an Accurate Quote
The fastest way to end up overpaying is to ask for a price before defining the scope. Before contacting vendors:
- Know your square footage by area type: office, restroom, kitchen, lobby, warehouse.
- Decide on frequency before asking for pricing. Nightly, three times a week, and weekly produce very different numbers.
- Write out the scope in plain terms. What gets done every visit, what gets done weekly, what gets done quarterly.
- Ask for a walk-through. Any serious vendor will want to see the space before committing to a number.
- Get at least three quotes and make sure each one covers the same scope, or the comparison is meaningless.
- Ask what is not included. Supplies, window exteriors, carpet extraction, and floor refinishing are the usual exclusions.
- Check insurance and references. Liability coverage and workers’ compensation should be provided without you having to ask twice.
Is Contracting Cheaper Than Hiring In-House?
For most businesses under roughly 50,000 square feet, contracting is cheaper once you account for wages, payroll taxes, benefits, equipment, supplies, training, and coverage for sick days and turnover. In-house staff starts to make sense for large single-site facilities that need cleaning throughout the day or have specialized requirements that a general vendor cannot meet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of commercial cleaning per square foot in 2026? Most US businesses pay between $0.08 and $0.25 per square foot per visit for standard office cleaning. Medical and specialty facilities run higher.
How much does office cleaning cost per month? A typical 5,000 square foot office cleaned three times a week runs $800 to $2,000 per month depending on the market, with New York and Los Angeles at the top of that range.
Why is commercial cleaning more expensive in New York? Labor costs, building access requirements, insurance minimums, and union rules in parts of the city all push rates well above the national average.
Do commercial cleaning contracts include supplies? Sometimes. Always confirm whether paper products, soap, and trash liners are included in the quoted rate or billed separately.
How often should an office be cleaned? Most offices with 20 or more employees benefit from nightly or three-times-weekly service. Smaller offices can often get by with weekly cleaning plus daily trash removal handled internally.
Is it cheaper to bundle floor care with regular cleaning? Usually yes. Vendors who already service the building nightly can schedule floor stripping, waxing, and carpet extraction more efficiently than a one-off specialist.