How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Housekeeper? [2026 Data]

The average cost to hire a housekeeper is $200, with most homeowners spending between $60 and $500 per visit. Prices vary based on the size of your home, the frequency of cleaning, and whether you hire a professional independently or through a company. Hourly rates range from $25 to $90, depending on the specific services required.

A housekeeper can help keep your home clean, comfortable, and organized, saving you time and effort. This guide explains the key cost factors, ongoing expenses, and tips for maximizing value when hiring a housekeeper.

Cost Factors for Hiring a Housekeeper

Understanding what drives housekeeping costs helps you make informed decisions and plan your budget. Let’s explore the main factors that impact how much it costs to hire a housekeeper.

Types

Housekeeping services come in several types, each affecting the total price. Standard cleaning covers routine dusting, vacuuming, and surface wiping. Deep cleaning involves more intensive tasks, such as scrubbing grout or cleaning behind appliances. Move-in or move-out cleaning services address empty homes or apartments, while post-construction cleaning tackles dust and debris after renovations. Specialty cleaning, such as eco-friendly or allergen-reduction services, may utilize unique products or techniques.

Hiring an individual housekeeper is often less expensive than working with a cleaning company. However, companies may offer more comprehensive services, including background checks and insurance. One-time services almost always cost more per visit than recurring arrangements.

Size

The size of your home is a major cost driver. Larger homes require more time and effort to clean, which increases the cleaning cost. Most housekeepers base their rates on square footage or the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Additional rooms or bathrooms add to the price, with high-traffic areas like kitchens and living rooms requiring more attention.

Materials

Who provides the cleaning supplies can affect your total bill. Some housekeepers bring their own supplies and equipment for a fee of up to $20 per visit, while others expect homeowners to provide them with these items. Supplying your own products can save money, but specialty items or eco-friendly options may be more expensive. If you request green or hypoallergenic products, expect a small upcharge of $5 to $25 per visit.

Labor

Labor is the most significant portion of the cost when hiring a housekeeper. Hourly rates range from $25 to $90, with individual housekeepers at the lower end and companies at the higher end. Experience, background checks, and insurance increase labor rates. Urban and high-demand areas tend to have higher prices than rural locations.

A standard cleaning for an average-sized home often takes two to four hours. Deep cleanings or homes with pets or clutter may require four to eight hours, impacting the final price.

Prep

Some homes require extra preparation before regular cleaning begins. An initial deep clean, often required for first-time clients, is more expensive due to the additional labor involved. Homes with significant clutter, pet hair, or post-renovation debris may also incur additional fees. Preparing your home before the housekeeper arrives—such as decluttering surfaces—can reduce both time and cost.

Tipping

Tipping is a common practice for housekeepers, although it is not always required. For one-time services, a tip of 10% to 20% of the total bill, or a flat rate of $10 to $20, is standard. For recurring services, some homeowners tip at holidays or every few months, rather than after every visit. Regional customs and whether you hire independently or through a company can influence tipping expectations.

Additional Cost Factors

Several optional services and situational fees can increase your total bill. Common add-ons include laundry, window washing, and organizing. Travel or parking fees may apply if you live in a remote area or a city where parking is costly. Last-minute bookings, cancellations, or rescheduling can result in extra charges. Independent housekeepers may charge for background checks or insurance, while companies often include these in their rates. Customized cleaning plans or special requests may also impact costs.

Why You Should Hire a Housekeeper

Housekeeping is something that any homeowner can do themselves, and depending on how often you need daily tasks done, tackling everything yourself could save you an average of $200 to $400 per week. However, hiring a professional housekeeper near you can save you hours of work every week, freeing up your time and saving you energy.

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a professional housekeeper

Having a housekeeper perform duties like cleaning and doing the laundry can get expensive over time, but there are a few reasons why it’s often worth the investment.

• Pros will save you time and energy, freeing up more of your day for hobbies or time with your family.

• The convenience of not having to worry about daily, monotonous tasks is worth the money for most people.

• Pros may offer a cleaner house, either because they spend more time on tasks or because they use the right cleaning solutions and tools to get the job done.

• A consistently clean living space and fewer daily tasks can reduce allergy symptoms and stress.

Cost of Common Housekeeping Add-Ons

Many housekeepers offer a menu of add-on services to customize your cleaning experience. These extras come with their own price tags, allowing you to tailor the service to your specific needs. Here are some of the most common add-ons homeowners include in their housekeeping services:

• Laundry and folding: $10 to $30 per load

• Window cleaning (interior): $5 to $10 per window; (exterior): $10 to $20 per window

• Refrigerator or oven cleaning: $20 to $40 per appliance

• Organizing closets or pantries: $30 to $75 per space

• Carpet or upholstery cleaning: $50 to $200 per room or item

• Pet care or pet-related cleaning: $10 to $50 per visit

• Green or hypoallergenic cleaning products: $5 to $25 per visit

• Post-party or event cleanup: $100 to $300, depending on scope

• Garage or basement cleaning: $75 to $250 per space

Tips to Reduce Housekeeper Costs

Housekeeping is a helpful service that saves you time and effort, and there are several ways to keep your expenses budget-friendly:

• Schedule regular cleanings for lower per-visit rates.

• Provide your own cleaning supplies to reduce costs.

• Limit service area to high-traffic rooms only.

• Bundle add-on services for discounts.

• Get multiple quotes and compare providers.

• Negotiate rates for long-term or recurring contracts.

• Prepare your home before the housekeeper arrives to reduce cleaning time.

• Consider hiring during off-peak times for better rates.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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