In short
- The biggest cost drivers are the size of the site, how often it's cleaned and how long each visit takes.
- Kitchens, bathrooms, hard floors and busy public areas take more time than open desk space.
- The fairest way to compare quotes is against the same written list of tasks and frequencies.
- At Osso, most small and medium workplaces are $77–$120 per clean including GST, and larger sites start from $120.
Why cleaners quote per site, not per hour
An hourly rate on its own tells you very little. A cleaner who charges less per hour but takes twice as long costs more, and a quote built on a low hourly rate may simply plan fewer tasks. What you're really paying for is a set of tasks done to a standard, on a schedule.
That's why most commercial cleaners visit the site before they quote. They need to see the floor area, count the bathrooms, check the floor types and understand when the building is empty. At Osso the site visit and the quote are free, and the quote comes with a written plan listing every task.
Commercial cleaning prices at Osso
We price per site, not per hour. Most small and medium workplaces are $77–$120 per clean, including GST, and larger sites start from $120. That covers offices, clinics, childcare centres, gyms, shops and warehouses.
The exact price depends on the size of the space, how often it's cleaned and what's in your written plan, and we confirm it after a free site visit. See commercial cleaning prices.
The main things that change the price
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Floor area and layout | More space, more rooms and more stairs take longer to clean. |
| How often you clean | Frequent visits keep each one shorter. A weekly clean has more build-up to deal with. |
| Kitchens and bathrooms | Wet areas take the most time per square metre: sinks, fridges, toilets, basins and floors. |
| Floor types | Carpet is vacuumed, hard floors are swept and mopped, and some hard floors need machine scrubbing. |
| Foot traffic and visitors | Reception areas, clinics and shops get dirtier faster than a quiet back office. |
| Timing and access | Early-morning, after-hours or weekend cleans, keys, alarm codes and lift access all need planning. |
| Consumables | Toilet paper, hand soap, paper towel and bin liners can be supplied by you or by the cleaner. |
| Periodic extras | Carpet steam cleaning, tile and grout, pressure cleaning and high dusting are usually priced separately. |
How frequency changes the maths
Cleaning more often doesn't simply multiply the cost by the number of visits. When an office is cleaned every working day, each visit mostly resets the day's use: bins, kitchen, bathrooms and a vacuum of the busy areas. When the same office is cleaned once a week, there's a week of grime to deal with, so the single visit is longer.
Most plans mix frequencies. Bathrooms and kitchens might be done every visit, desks and glass weekly, and high dusting monthly. That keeps the price down without letting any area slide. Our guide to how often an office should be cleaned has a simple way to work out the right mix.
What a written quote should include
- Every area included, from reception to the car park if it's in scope.
- The tasks in each area, and how often each one is done.
- The days and the time window for cleaning.
- Who supplies consumables, and which products are used.
- Periodic work, such as carpet steam cleaning, and how often it's scheduled.
- How quality is checked and how missed tasks are put right.
- What isn't included, so there are no surprises later.
How to compare quotes fairly
- Give every cleaner the same scope, or ask each one for a task list you can compare side by side.
- Check what's excluded. A cheaper quote often leaves out kitchens, glass or consumables.
- Ask who actually does the work, and whether it's the same people each visit.
- Ask how problems are reported and fixed, and how quickly.
- Compare the total cost for the whole scope, not the hourly rate.
- Be wary of a quote far below the others. It usually means fewer hours on site than the job needs.
Our 12 questions to ask before hiring a commercial cleaner cover the rest of what to check.
Ways to keep the cost down without cutting corners
- Match the frequency to each area instead of cleaning everything every visit.
- Keep a clear-desk habit, so desks can be wiped quickly without moving paperwork.
- Ask staff to rinse their own cups and load the dishwasher.
- Put entry mats at every door. Less dirt comes inside, so floors take less time.
- Bundle periodic jobs, such as carpet and tile cleaning, into one visit.
- Review the plan after the first month and drop anything that isn't needed.
