Professional move-out cleaning currently costs about $120–$420 for many homes, but the useful price is the one that matches the landlord’s, buyer’s, or property manager’s handoff list. Inside appliances, cabinet interiors, carpet treatment, windows, walls, garages, junk, parking, and difficult access may sit outside a low base price.
This guide helps you match the cleaning scope to the final inspection, compare prices for the same rooms and add-ons, schedule removal and repairs before the cleaners, prepare building access, and create a dated condition record before returning keys.
How much does move-out cleaning cost?
The $120–$420 range reflects consumer research checked July 31, 2026, not a fixed national price. Square footage, number of bathrooms, condition, pets, furnished versus empty service, local labor, parking, elevators, stairs, supplies, and the requested handoff standard all change the actual quote.
Angi’s July 2026 consumer cost research places professional move-out cleaning around $120 to $420 for many homes, with an average near $360. Apartments can start near $90, while larger, heavily soiled, furnished, or deeply cleaned homes can cost more.
| Home or service | Current starting range | Common reason for a higher price |
|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment | $90–$130 | Heavy kitchen or bathroom buildup, parking, minimum visit |
| One-bedroom apartment | $100–$190 | Pets, appliances, windows, furnished space |
| Two-bedroom apartment | $140–$210 | Second bathroom, carpet treatment, difficult access |
| House | $120–$420+ | Square footage, condition, floors, garage, number of cleaners |
| Deep cleaning | $200–$400+ | Grime, detailed appliances, grout, buildup, added rooms |
Start with the handoff standard
Read the lease, move-out instructions, inspection form, sales agreement, or property manager’s checklist. Send that document to the cleaner. It is more useful than requesting a “complete clean” because it names the surfaces and appliances that will be inspected.
Cleaning does not repair damage. Separate patching, painting, pest treatment, carpet repair, appliance repair, and removal of abandoned property from the cleaning order.
Define the base cleaning service
A base service commonly includes dusting, vacuuming, mopping, wiping accessible surfaces, and cleaning ordinary kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Confirm baseboards, doors, light switches, fixtures, fans, shelves, closets, cabinet fronts, and reachable interior glass.
List every room, bathroom, staircase, balcony, basement, garage, and storage area. State whether the home will be empty, whether utilities and water will remain on, and whether the crew supplies products, vacuum, ladder, and specialty equipment.
Price add-ons before the appointment
Inside appliances, cabinet interiors, carpet shampooing, exterior windows, blinds, wall washing, grout, hardwood polishing, fireplaces, garages, balconies, pet treatment, and junk removal are often separate. Photographs help the cleaner price grease, stains, hard-water buildup, hair, and neglected areas.
Ask whether the company charges hourly or by the job, how many cleaners are expected, the minimum, and how added work is approved. Parking, elevators, stairs, travel, last-minute service, and building access can also change the price.
Schedule cleaning after the movers
The most efficient sequence is usually removal, repairs, then cleaning. Movers expose dust behind furniture and can leave floor marks or packing debris. Reserve enough time after cleaning to inspect, correct missed items, take photographs, and attend the official walkthrough.
Coordinate keys, parking, elevator time, water, power, alarm, pets, and entry instructions. Moveline’s apartment moving checklist helps align building access with movers and cleaners.
Compare quotes on the same room list
- Which rooms, surfaces, and appliances are included?
- Is the price fixed or hourly, and what could change it?
- Are supplies, equipment, travel, parking, and taxes included?
- What is excluded or priced as an add-on?
- Does the company carry liability insurance?
- What is the re-clean policy if an included area is missed?
Review the local provider’s Google Business Profile for patterns involving punctuality, billing, missed areas, breakage, and response to complaints. Use recent reviews from the office that will perform the job.
Prepare the home and document completion
Remove belongings, food, trash, and moving materials. Defrost and empty appliances when required. Label anything that must remain. Photograph existing damage before the cleaners begin so repairs are not confused with cleaning.
Afterward, inspect in daylight and test cabinets, appliances, closets, and hidden areas named in the checklist. Take dated room-by-room photographs and save the invoice and walkthrough record. Moveline’s moving checklist can keep the clean, key return, address changes, and final utility readings on the same timeline.
Reduce the price without reducing the result
Remove junk before the appointment, keep the home reasonably clean before move week, supply clear access, and request prices early. Use Moveline’s decluttering guide to separate donations, recycling, disposal, and items that will move.
