How Much Does Move-Out Cleaning Cost in 2025?
Highlights
Move-out cleaning usually involves sweeping, mopping, dusting, surface cleaning, and disinfecting.
Move-out cleaning costs between $0.15 and $0.25 per square foot, though many companies charge based on the number of rooms.
Move-out cleaning for a studio could cost as little as $150, while a four-bedroom house costs as much as $1,125.
Tasks like junk removal, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, and air vent and duct cleaning can be added to your move-out cleaning service for an extra fee.
You can reduce the cost of move-out cleaning by doing some cleaning yourself, ensuring the space is as empty for the cleaners, and booking your move-out cleaning far in advance.
Move-out cleaning services cost between $0.15 and $0.25 per square foot or between $150 and $1,125 for the entire house, depending on size and condition. Professional move-out cleaners usually charge $25 to $50 per hour per person. To determine the cost of move-out cleaning, consider key factors like the size of your home, the extent of cleaning needed, and extra tasks you might want to add.
Average Move-Out Cleaning Cost
| Average Cost | High Cost | Low Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $635 | $1,125 | $150 |
Move-Out Cleaning Cost Factors
Several cost factors affect your total cleaning service cost. Most importantly, consider the size of your home, the number of rooms being cleaned, whether you’re having the whole house cleaned or only parts of it, the number of cleaning tasks being done, and any extra services you add on.
Home Size
A larger home will take longer to clean and, therefore, costs more. Apartment cleaning costs less because most apartments can be professionally cleaned in just a few hours, while a multi-story house could take a full day (or longer).
| Home Square Footage | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 800 | $160–$360 |
| 1,000 | $200–$450 |
| 1,500 | $300–$675 |
| 2,000 | $400–$900 |
| 2,500 | $500–$1,125 |
| 3,000 | $600–$1,350 |
Number of Rooms
As with overall home size, a home with more rooms takes more time and effort to clean properly. Expect to pay more in professional cleaning costs for a large, four-bedroom house than a small studio apartment. Many cleaning companies charge based on the number of bedrooms (or number of rooms overall) rather than by the square foot.
| Home Type | Typical Number of Rooms | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 | $100–$210 |
| 1-bedroom house | 4 | $110–$230 |
| 2-bedroom house | 5–6 | $120–$380 |
| Condo | 6 | $130–$380 |
| Apartment | 4–6 | $140–$530 |
| Townhouse | 5–7 | $120–$880 |
| 3-bedroom house | 7–8 | $160–$630 |
| 4-bedroom house | 8–10 | $200–$750 |
Room Cleaning vs. Whole Home
You may not need to pay to have your entire home professionally cleaned. For example, you might want to handle the living room and bedrooms yourself while leaving the kitchen and bathrooms to the experts. In this case, you’ll pay by the room. Though the price varies depending on the local move-out cleaners you hire, you’ll typically pay between $80 and $200 per room.
Cleaning Tasks
Another key cost factor is the extent of cleaning you need to be done. For instance, simple junk removal costs far less than the average cost to deep clean a house. Many basic services are typically included in the base price of move-out cleaning, including:
Sweeping and vacuuming
Mopping
Dusting
Cleaning blinds
Cleaning kitchen appliances (e.g., oven, range, fridge, etc.)
Cleaning under/behind furniture
Disinfecting kitchens and bathrooms
Anything beyond these basic cleaning tasks will add more to your overall move-out cleaning bill.
Additional Cleaning Tasks
You can add other cleaning tasks to your move-out cleaning service, but these typically raise the cost. On average, adding these services to a regular move-out clean is cheaper than hiring an additional service.
| Cleaning Task | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Junk removal | $150–$300 per container |
| Tile & grout cleaning | $250–$700 |
| Carpet cleaning | $40–$90 per room |
| Gutter cleaning | $100–$360 |
| Air duct & vent cleaning | $270–$500 |
| Air conditioner coil cleaning | $100–$400 |
Junk Removal
Part of cleaning your home to move out is making sure it’s clear of all garbage, debris, and unwanted items. It’s best to do this step before having cleaners come so they can access the entire home. Junk removal costs about $150 to $300 per container.
Tile & Grout Cleaning
Tiles on floors, showers, or backsplashes can harbor a surprising amount of buildup, mold, or dirt, which can be stubborn to remove on your own. If you opt to have your tile and grout professionally cleaned, it will cost around $250 to $700.
Carpet Cleaning
Even if you vacuum regularly, carpets can become dusty, dirty, or stained over time. Many people choose to have their carpets professionally cleaned before moving out. Professional carpet cleaning costs about $40 to $90 per room.
Gutter Cleaning
If you want to go above and beyond when move-out cleaning, consider clearing your gutters of leaves and other debris. Professional gutter cleaning usually costs between $100 and $360.
Air Duct & Vent Cleaning
To ensure clean, fresh air flows throughout the home, consider getting your air ducts and vents professionally cleaned. Air duct and vent cleaning costs $270 to $500, on average.
Air Conditioner Coil Cleaning
Cleaning the coils on your air conditioner helps it run more efficiently, prevents problems with the unit down the line, and ensures good airflow throughout the house. Air conditioner coil cleaning costs $100 to $400.
Budgeting for Move-Out Cleaning
When you consider all the other costs associated with moving, you might want to look for ways to save on cleaning costs. Here are a few ways you can reduce the overall costs of having your house professionally cleaned before moving out:
Do certain rooms or cleaning tasks yourself to reduce the time professionals need.
Book your professional cleaners well in advance (as soon as you know your move-out date) to avoid last-minute booking fees.
Do your own decluttering and junk removal to make the process easier for your cleaning professionals.
Save money by buying standard cleaning supplies (or making your own) rather than specialty products for various tasks.
Consider renting a carpet cleaner and cleaning your carpets instead of hiring a professional.
Limit add-on services like gutter clearing, vent and duct cleaning, and tile and grout scrubbing when possible.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Move-out cleaning is a professional service that restores a home to its best possible condition in preparation for someone new to move in. Sometimes, it’s required as a lease term or a sale subject, but in other cases, it’s just a courtesy on the part of the previous occupants.
A professional move-out cleaning crew can clean a small home or apartment with most of the belongings emptied out in just two or three hours. However, larger homes could take a day or more, particularly dirty spaces or areas where the team has to work around furniture and other belongings.
Tip customs vary depending on the move-out cleaners you hire, though it’s more commonly expected for independent cleaners than larger cleaning companies. When tipping is suggested, it’s customary to tip an extra 10% to 20% to show your thanks.
In most places, it’s the tenant's responsibility to leave a property clean before moving out, though this doesn’t necessarily mean they need to hire a cleaning service. They may choose to clean it themselves. If the landlord wants the place professionally cleaned, they’ll have to pay for move-out cleaners or take the cost out of the tenant’s security deposit, depending on the lease.
Generally speaking, a deep clean is a more intensive process that covers often forgotten areas, such as walls, ceilings, baseboards, molding, and the spaces behind appliances. Deep cleaning usually involves more thorough disinfection of the kitchen and bathroom.
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