How much does move-out cleaning cost?

“Move-out cleaning can be one of the most expensive types of cleaning, because it is the most difficult and time consuming,” explains Stanley Chen, owner of BerryClean in Napa County, California. “The price will depend on the size of your home, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and appliances, as well as the condition and cleanliness of your home.”

From the cost to what you can expect from this service, here’s everything you should know about move-out cleaning.

“Small, clean homes cost less. Big, messy homes cost more.”
— Ryan Knoll, owner, Tidy Casa

How much does move-out cleaning cost?

Move-out cleaning typically costs between $200 to $500, according to Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa in Phoenix, Arizona. A broad, general rule of thumb, he says: “Small, clean homes cost less. Big, messy homes cost more.”

Forrest Webber, owner of Bear Brothers Cleaning in Huntsville, Alabama, explains that his company adds a flat rate of $150 to their standard square foot pricing.

He shares the rate charged for recent move-out cleanings:

$361 for 1500-1750 square feet.
$349 for 1250-1500 square feet.
$327 for 1000-1250 square feet.

Keep in mind, in addition to the size of the home, location should be factored into the price. For instance, according to Care.com’s Cost of Care Calculator, if using an hourly rate model, housekeepers in San Francisco are posting an average rate of $26 an hour for move-out cleaning, whereas in Tampa, Florida they’re posting a rate of $23.39.

Move-out cleaning cost vs. house cleaning cost

House cleaners are asking an average rate of $19.73 per hour for move-out cleaning, according to Care.com data. Here are the average posted house cleaning and move-out cleaning rates in top U.S. cities.

Current posted move-out cleaning and house cleaning rates per hour in top U.S. cities*

City, State	Hourly Move-Out Cleaning Cost	Hourly House Cleaning Rate
Atlanta, Georgia	$21.08	$20.08
Brooklyn, New York	$21.58	$21.35
Charlotte, North Carolina	$24.25	$19.32
Chicago, Illinois	$22.03	$20.87
Denver, Colorado	$21.79	$22.64
Houston, Texas	$21.58	$19.11
Las Vegas, Nevada	$23.42	$20.16
Miami, Florida	$22.13	$20.72
Orlando, Florida	$19.65	$19.28
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$20.69	$19.68
Portland, Oregon	$24.26	$22.31
San Antonio, Texas	$18.77	$18.72
San Diego, California	$21.81	$22.44
Seattle, Washington	$28.42	$25.95

*Based on average posted starting rates from housekeepers listed on Care.com, as of February 20, 2025.

Move-out house cleaning: flat or hourly rate?

All that being said, Chen, Knoll and Webber all note they use a flat rate model for move-out cleaning, as opposed to an hourly one.

“Some cleaners charge by the hour, with $40–$80 being typical. Others, like us, charge a flat fee so there are no surprises,” Knoll says. “Sometimes, hourly can be better if a home is pretty clean, but we prefer a flat rate because slow cleaners can cost more at the hourly rate.”

Chen adds: We charge a flat rate dependent on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and extra services requested. We believe this is the easiest, fastest and fairest way to price and service our customers.”

What’s included in move-out house cleaning?

Move-out house cleaning is a “deep clean to get the home ready for new people,” Knoll explains. Duties will vary among companies, but here are some of the tasks included, according to Knoll, Chen and Webber:

Sweep and mop floors.
Clean bathrooms.
Kitchens.
Wipe counters.
Dust fans.
Dust blinds.
Clean windows.
Clean the inside of drawers and cabinets.
Clean major appliances, such as the inside (empty) fridge, microwave and oven.
Clean range hood and drip pans.
Clean pantry.
Empty trash/wipe outside of trash cans.
Clean light fixtures.
Dust lampshades.
Clean baseboards.
Clean closets.
Dust furniture.

Extra services can be added, as well, notes Chen. “Extra services and unique home features may include cleaning balconies and/or garages,” he explains.

Note: Carpet cleaning, painting and fixing marks on the walls are not part of move-out cleaning, Knoll notes. “Those are different services.”

“Professionals will leave your home sparkling clean and ready to move-in for the next tenant.”
— Stanley Chen, owner, BerryClean

The importance of move-out house cleaning

Paying for a professional move-out clean is particularly important for folks who rent, as it can mean the difference between getting your security deposit and not.

“Your landlord can deduct cleaning fees from your security deposit if you move out and leave a mess,” notes Chen. “And the worst part is that the amount they can charge for and deduct is completely up to their subjective opinion.”

“If you’re selling,” Knoll adds, “it’s just the nice thing to do.”

The final word on move-out cleaning

“Unless you have the cleaning habits of Patrick Bateman, move-out cleaning is crucial,” says Chen.

“Professionals will leave your home sparkling clean and ready to move-in for the next tenant,” he adds. “The goal is to essentially leave the home in the same condition that you would find in a five-star hotel, so that the next person can comfortably move in.” And, if you rent, so you can get your deposit back.