Janitorial cost per square foot (2026)
HomeGuide's 2026 data puts commercial cleaning at $0.08 to $0.20 per square foot per month for offices and retail, based on about three visits a week. Restaurants and medical facilities cost more because of grease, restrooms and disinfection.
| Building type | Per sq ft / month | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office | $0.08 – $0.20 | $25 – $50 |
| Retail | $0.08 – $0.20 | $25 – $50 |
| Restaurant | $0.15 – $0.30 | $50 – $80 |
| Medical facility | $0.15 – $0.40 | $50 – $100 |
How to calculate commercial cleaning rates
- Measure the cleanable area. Use the square footage you actually clean, not the whole lease. Leave out storage rooms and areas the client doesn't want cleaned.
- Pick the rate for the building type. Start in the middle of the range above and move up for heavy traffic, lots of restrooms or strict standards.
- Multiply to get the monthly price at three visits a week. 5,000 sq ft × $0.14 = $700 a month.
- Adjust for visit frequency. This calculator scales the price in proportion to visits per week, using three visits as the baseline.
- Check your hours. Divide the monthly price by the cleaner-hours it takes. If that's below your target hourly rate, raise the bid or cut the scope.
Janitorial pricing chart: offices
Monthly price ranges for office cleaning at different sizes and visit frequencies, from the calculator above (low / typical / high):
| Office size | 3 visits a week | 5 visits a week |
|---|---|---|
| 2,000 sq ft | $160 / $280 / $400 | $267 / $467 / $667 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $400 / $700 / $1,000 | $667 / $1,167 / $1,667 |
| 10,000 sq ft | $800 / $1,400 / $2,000 | $1,333 / $2,333 / $3,333 |
For a 5,000 sq ft building at three visits a week, restaurants run about $750 – $1,500 a month and medical facilities about $750 – $2,000. For once-a-week contracts on small spaces, many cleaners set a monthly minimum so the job still covers travel and setup.
Example bid: 5,000 sq ft office, 3 nights a week
At the typical rate of $0.14 per square foot, the bid is about $700 a month. That's roughly 13 visits a month, so about $54 per visit and $8,400 a year. If a cleaner needs two hours per visit, the job pays about $27 an hour before supplies, which tells you whether to bid higher or tighten the scope.
| Space size | Monthly (3 visits/week) |
|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | $100 – $250 |
| 2,000 – 4,000 sq ft | $250 – $800 |
| 6,000 – 8,000 sq ft | $500 – $1,600 |
| 8,000 – 10,000 sq ft | $650 – $2,000+ |
Per square foot, hourly or flat monthly?
Most janitorial contracts are quoted as a flat monthly price, worked out from a per-square-foot rate. Clients like a fixed number, and you can compare bids easily. Hourly pricing suits one-off or irregular jobs where the scope is hard to measure. Whichever you quote, check the hours so the job stays profitable.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate commercial cleaning rates?
Measure the cleanable square footage, multiply by the rate for the building type ($0.08 to $0.20 per sq ft for offices and retail at three visits a week), then adjust for visit frequency and check that the monthly price covers your cleaner-hours at your target hourly rate.
What is the average janitorial cost per square foot?
Offices and retail typically run $0.08 to $0.20 per square foot per month at about three visits a week. Restaurants run $0.15 to $0.30 and medical facilities $0.15 to $0.40.
How much should I charge to clean a 5,000 sq ft office?
About $400 to $1,000 a month at three visits a week, with $700 typical. At five visits a week it's roughly $667 to $1,667.
How do I bid an office cleaning job?
Walk the site, measure the cleanable area, note restrooms and floor types, pick the rate for the building type, and multiply by square footage for a monthly price. Then check the hours: your crew's time per visit decides whether the bid is profitable.
Is this janitorial bidding calculator free?
Yes. It's free with no sign-up, and your numbers stay in your browser.
Why do medical offices cost more?
They need stricter disinfection, exam-room protocols and often more restrooms, which is why their rates run up to $0.40 per sq ft.
How do you estimate commercial cleaning?
Multiply the cleanable square footage by the monthly rate for the building type, about $0.08 to $0.20 per sq ft for offices and retail at three visits a week, then scale for visit frequency. A 5,000 sq ft office at three visits a week is about $400 to $1,000 a month.