How much does a professional house cleaner cost in the UK? (2026 guide)

Professional cleaning costs vary widely depending on the type of clean, the size of your property, where you live, and whether you go through a platform like Scrubly or hire privately. Here's a realistic breakdown of what to expect in 2026, and what factors push the price up or down.

Average prices by service type

Standard (regular) clean

A standard clean covers vacuuming, mopping, dusting, kitchen wipe-down, and bathroom clean. For a typical 2-bedroom flat, expect:

London: £70–£110 for a one-off; £55–£85 for regular weekly/fortnightly
Rest of UK: £50–£80 for a one-off; £40–£65 for regular

Most standard cleans take 2–3 hours. Pricing is typically per-session, not hourly.

Deep clean

A deep clean is a top-to-bottom scrub including inside appliances, behind furniture, inside cupboards, grout, and hard-to-reach areas. It takes roughly twice as long as a standard clean.

London: £150–£250 for a 2-bed property
Rest of UK: £110–£180 for a 2-bed property

Larger homes scale up: a 4-bedroom house might be £250–£400 in London or £180–£280 elsewhere.

End of tenancy clean

End of tenancy cleans are the most comprehensive — and typically the most expensive per session. They need to meet a specific standard for inventory checks.

Studio/1-bed flat — London: £160–£220
2-bed flat — London: £200–£280
3-bed house — London: £260–£380
Studio/1-bed flat — Rest of UK: £120–£180
2-bed flat — Rest of UK: £160–£240
3-bed house — Rest of UK: £210–£320

Adding carpet cleaning (if required) typically adds £60–£120.

After-builders clean

Post-construction cleans require specialist equipment and products to remove plaster dust, paint splatter, adhesive residue, and construction debris. Prices start at £200 for a small flat and can reach £500+ for larger properties.

Factors that affect the price

Property size: Every extra bedroom and bathroom adds cost. Most pricing is structured around bedrooms and bathrooms.
Frequency: Regular (weekly or fortnightly) customers almost always get a discount — typically 7–15% off the one-off rate.
Add-ons: Oven cleaning (£25–£45), fridge cleaning (£15–£25), window cleaning (£20–£35), laundry (£20), ironing (£20–£30) are common extras.
Condition of the property: A property that hasn't been cleaned in 6 months takes considerably longer than one maintained weekly.
Access: Out-of-hours access, travel to rural areas, or complex access arrangements can affect cost.
Equipment: Most professional cleaners bring their own products. If you need specialist equipment like a steam cleaner or carpet washer, confirm whether it's included.

London vs the rest of the UK

London prices typically run 25–40% higher than the national average. This reflects higher labour costs, transport, and overheads. The South East and major cities like Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, and Birmingham tend to sit between London and the national average — typically 10–20% above smaller towns and rural areas.

Agency vs independent vs platform

Independent cleaners (found through word of mouth or Gumtree) are often the cheapest option — £12–£18/hour in most areas, £15–£22 in London. However, they typically aren't insured, aren't vetted, and there's little recourse if things go wrong.

Traditional cleaning agencies charge a premium for vetting, insurance, and replacement cover — usually 30–50% more than going direct.

Platforms like Scrubly sit in between: you get vetted, insured cleaners with transparent pricing, online booking, and a satisfaction guarantee — without the premium markup of a full agency.

What's included in a Scrubly booking

All Scrubly bookings include a fully vetted and insured cleaner, a clear itemised price upfront, the ability to rebook the same cleaner, and our satisfaction guarantee. Use our online calculator to get an instant quote tailored to your home's size and the type of clean you need.

The bottom line: professional cleaning is a genuine investment in your home, your time, and your wellbeing. Getting the right cleaner at the right price is about more than the headline rate — reliability, consistency, and quality matter just as much.