How much does a house cleaner cost?
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Typical cost per hour
£15 – £25
A house cleaner in the UK typically charges £15–£25 an hour. Regular weekly or fortnightly bookings sit at the lower end; one-off and deep cleans cost more per hour because the work is heavier and there is no ongoing relationship. Agencies charge more than self-employed cleaners but handle vetting, insurance and cover when your regular cleaner is away.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | £15 – £25 |
| Weekly clean, 2–3 hours | £40 – £75 |
| One-off clean | £80 – £200 |
| Deep clean | £150 – £350 |
| Oven cleaning (add-on) | £50 – £90 |
| Interior windows (add-on) | £20 – £50 |
Typical UK guide prices — see the note at the foot of this page.
Agency or self-employed?
Self-employed cleaners are cheaper, usually by a few pounds an hour, and you deal with one person who learns your home. The trade-offs are practical: if they are ill or on holiday there is no cover, and you should check they hold public liability insurance rather than assuming it.
Agencies cost more and the difference buys vetting, insurance, replacement cover and someone to complain to. For many people that is worth the premium; for others it is paying for problems they have never had.
Either way, ask three things: are you insured, are you the person who will actually attend, and what happens if something is damaged. The answers matter more than the hourly rate.
If you employ someone directly and regularly, be aware there is a point at which employment obligations can arise. Most domestic arrangements are genuinely self-employed, but it is worth understanding rather than assuming.
Regular, one-off and deep cleans
These are three different products. A regular clean maintains a home that is already clean — surfaces, floors, bathrooms, kitchen — and two to three hours covers most houses.
A one-off clean of a home that has not had one is slower per room, which is why the hourly rate is often higher or a fixed price is quoted instead.
A deep clean is a different job again: inside appliances, behind and under furniture, skirtings, door frames, limescale removal, extractor filters. It typically takes most of a day for a family home and is priced accordingly at £150–£350.
Booking a deep clean first and regular visits afterwards is the usual pattern, and it is the cheapest way to get and stay on top of a house.
Products, equipment and keys
Sort out three practicalities before the first visit.
Products and equipment: many cleaners expect you to supply both, some bring their own, and a few charge for materials. Neither is wrong, but assuming leads to a wasted first visit. If anyone in the house has allergies or you want particular products used, say so up front.
Access: most regular arrangements end up with the cleaner holding a key or a keysafe code. Agree how that is handled and what happens if the arrangement ends.
Scope: write down what is included. The most common friction in domestic cleaning is a mismatch about whether ironing, laundry, inside windows or the oven are part of the job. Ten minutes agreeing that at the start prevents nearly all of it.
How to keep the cost down
Book regularly. A maintained home is much faster to clean, so weekly or fortnightly visits cost less per hour and per visit than sporadic ones.
Tidy before they arrive. You are paying for cleaning, not for someone putting your things away — clear surfaces mean the whole time goes on actual work.
Be specific about priorities. If the kitchen and bathrooms matter most, say so, and a shorter visit can still cover what you care about.
Supply the products yourself. It is usually cheaper than paying a materials charge, and you control what is used.
Consider a shorter, more frequent slot. Two hours weekly often keeps a house in better shape than four hours fortnightly, for the same money.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a house cleaner cost per hour in the UK?+
£15–£25 an hour typically, with London and the South East at the upper end. Agencies charge more than self-employed cleaners.
How long does a standard clean take?+
Two to three hours covers most homes on a regular basis. First cleans and one-offs take longer because nothing has been maintained.
What is the difference between a regular and a deep clean?+
A regular clean maintains surfaces, floors and bathrooms. A deep clean covers inside appliances, behind furniture, skirtings and limescale — typically most of a day at £150–£350.
Should I use an agency or a self-employed cleaner?+
Self-employed is cheaper and more personal; agencies cost more but provide vetting, insurance and holiday cover. Either way, confirm public liability insurance before starting.
Do cleaners bring their own products?+
It varies. Many expect you to supply products and equipment, some bring their own, and a few add a materials charge. Agree it before the first visit.
Is ironing included?+
Usually not unless you agree it specifically. Ironing, laundry, inside windows and oven cleaning are the four things most often assumed by one side and not the other.
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