When you’re moving out, cleaning is easy to underestimate, both in hours and in what it can cost you if it’s not done well. A professional move-out clean usually costs a few hundred dollars or less for an apartment. Compare that with what a landlord might deduct from your security deposit, and the math often favors hiring help. Here’s what to budget, what drives the price, and how to get the most for your money.
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Typical move-out cleaning costs
National cost guides give a useful range:
- Studio: roughly $90 to $210.
- Typical apartment: roughly $110 to $350.
- Three-bedroom, two-bath home: a base clean of roughly $180 to $300, rising to around $690 when add-ons such as inside appliances, interior windows, and wall spot-cleaning are included.
- Per square foot: move-out cleans can reach about $0.35 per square foot, higher than standard cleaning.
Labor is often priced at around $50 per cleaner-hour, with two cleaners on a typical job. Prices run higher in expensive metro areas and for homes in rough condition.
Why move-out cleaning costs more than regular cleaning
- Scope. Empty-home cleans include the inside of cabinets, drawers, closets, and appliances, all of which a regular clean skips.
- Detail. Landlords inspect baseboards, blinds, light fixtures, and window tracks.
- Buildup. Ovens, range hoods, and showers often haven’t had a thorough cleaning in a while.
- Timing. Demand spikes at the end of each month, when many leases end.
What affects your price
- Size: the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and square feet.
- Condition: heavy grease, soap scum, or pet hair add hours.
- Appliances: the oven and refrigerator are often add-ons and are among the biggest time sinks.
- Extras: interior windows, wall washing, inside the dishwasher, and the garage or balcony.
- Carpets: carpet shampooing is usually a separate service with its own price.
- Location and timing: big cities and end-of-month dates cost more.
Compare it with possible deductions
In most states, landlords can deduct reasonable cleaning costs from a security deposit if a unit isn’t returned in the condition required by the lease, beyond normal wear and tear. Rules on what’s allowed and how deductions must be itemized vary by state. Landlords who hire cleaners after you leave may also charge more than you’d pay to hire your own. A professional move-out clean, plus dated photos of the results, is often the cheaper and safer path. See move-out cleaning service for how to time it.
Doing it yourself
A DIY move-out clean costs little in supplies but a lot in time, often a full day or more for a larger apartment, right when you’re busiest with the move. If you go the DIY route, start with the hardest jobs: the oven, the refrigerator, and the shower. Our guides to cleaning an oven without harsh chemicals and removing soap scum will help.
Ways to save
- Do part of it yourself. Empty and wipe the fridge, take out all trash, and remove belongings before cleaners arrive.
- Book early, and avoid the last day of the month if you can.
- Get a flat quote based on photos, so you’re not surprised by hourly overruns.
- Bundle services. Some companies discount move-out plus move-in cleaning, or carpet cleaning with the clean.
- Ask about a re-clean guarantee if the landlord flags anything.
Booking tips
- Book one to two weeks ahead, especially for the last days of the month.
- Schedule the clean after the movers leave and before the final walk-through.
- Make sure the utilities are still on, since cleaners need water and electricity.
- Leave access instructions and a way to reach you during the clean.
- Ask the cleaners to tell you about anything they couldn’t fix, such as stains that won’t come out, so nothing surprises you at the inspection.
Who pays?
The departing tenant normally pays for move-out cleaning, unless the lease says otherwise. Some leases require professional cleaning, sometimes including carpets, and ask for receipts. Home sellers often pay for a move-out clean as part of preparing for closing, though it’s typically not required unless the purchase contract says so.
Common questions
Is professional move-out cleaning worth it for a small apartment?
Often yes, because the cost is modest and it protects a deposit that’s usually much larger. If your apartment is already clean, a DIY clean focused on appliances and the bathroom may be enough.
Can my landlord require a professional cleaning?
Some leases include this. Whether it’s enforceable depends on state law and how the lease is written. Read your lease and your state’s tenant rules.
How long does a move-out clean take?
A few hours for a small apartment, and most of a day for a large home, depending on condition and team size.
Does it include carpet cleaning?
Usually not. Book carpet cleaning separately if your lease requires it, and keep the receipt.