Move-out cleaning costs range from $100 to $750 for most residential properties, with the price driven primarily by square footage and condition at vacancy.
Based on Breasy’s 100K+ completed jobs across 12 U.S. markets, a 1,000-square-foot apartment in good shape runs $150 to $250, while a 2,500-square-foot single-family home left in rough condition can exceed $500.
Quick summary
- Most move-out cleans fall between $150 and $500 — studios and small apartments sit at the low end, large single-family homes in rough condition push the top.
- Property condition at vacancy — not just square footage — is the biggest swing factor, capable of doubling the base cost on its own.
- Get an accurate quote by documenting condition with photos before requesting pricing; add-ons like carpet and junk removal can push totals 50% above the base rate.
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GET A QUOTEHow Much Does Move-Out Cleaning Cost? #
The range depends on whether you’re cleaning a studio apartment or a four-bedroom house, whether the previous tenant left it broom-clean or trashed, and whether you need standard cleaning or deep cleaning with add-ons.
Why Move-Out Cleaning Costs Vary So Widely #
Most guides say square footage determines price. That’s only half the story. In our Phoenix market, we tracked a 1,500-square-foot home that cost $175 when the tenant left it spotless versus $580 for the same floor plan where grease was caked on the stove, soap scum had built up in the bathrooms, and dust coated every surface.
The real cost drivers are condition at move-out and timeline pressure. A unit requiring multiple cleaning passes or specialty treatments costs 40–60% more than one that just needs surfaces wiped and floors mopped.
Move-Out Cleaning Cost by Property Size #
Property size creates the baseline for move-out cleaning pricing, but the relationship isn’t perfectly linear. Kitchens and bathrooms take the most time regardless of overall square footage, so a 900-square-foot unit with two bathrooms costs more to clean than a 1,200-square-foot unit with one bathroom.
| Property Type | Size Range | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartment | 400–550 sq ft | $100–$150 |
| 1BR Apartment | 550–800 sq ft | $125–$200 |
| 2BR Apartment | 800–1,200 sq ft | $175–$275 |
| 3BR Apartment/Townhome | 1,200–1,600 sq ft | $250–$350 |
| Small SFR | 1,200–1,800 sq ft | $200–$350 |
| Medium SFR | 1,800–2,500 sq ft | $300–$500 |
| Large SFR | 2,500–3,500 sq ft | $450–$650 |
| Very Large SFR | 3,500+ sq ft | $600–$750+ |
These figures assume the property is vacant, in average condition, and needs standard move-out cleaning without major add-ons like carpet shampooing or heavy trash removal.
Apartment Move-Out Cleaning Cost #
Apartments cost less than single-family homes of similar size because they have fewer windows, no garage, and typically one entry point. Apartment turnovers often carry tighter timelines, however—rush service on a unit that must clear within 24 hours adds a 20–30% premium to the base price.
Single-Family Home Move-Out Cleaning Cost #
Single-family homes include more cleaning surfaces than apartments: garages, multiple bathrooms, sliding glass doors, and exterior entry areas all add time. Across our 12 markets, we consistently see Dallas-Fort Worth SFRs running higher cleaning costs than Orlando properties of comparable size because of larger attached garages and regional soil conditions that track more debris indoors. Single-family turnovers take 30–50% longer than comparable apartment units based on our operational data from 100K+ completed jobs.
Cost Per Square Foot Breakdown #
When comparing quotes, cost per square foot gives you a useful benchmark.
Standard move-out cleaning runs $0.10 to $0.20 per square foot for properties in average condition. Deep cleaning runs $0.15 to $0.30 per square foot when extra scrubbing, appliance interiors, and detail work are required.
We use $0.15 per square foot as our baseline because kitchen and bathroom labor represents the majority of total cleaning time regardless of overall property size. A 2,000-square-foot home doesn’t take twice as long as a 1,000-square-foot home if both have two bathrooms and one kitchen.
These numbers help you spot outliers. If a quote comes in at $0.35 per square foot for a standard clean, either the property condition is worse than described or the pricing is off-market. If it comes in at $0.06 per square foot, expect corners to be cut.
Factors That Affect Move-Out Cleaning Prices #
Four variables determine where your specific property lands within the typical price range. Understanding these helps you scope jobs accurately and avoid surprise charges.
Property Condition at Move-Out #
Condition is the single biggest swing factor in move-out cleaning cost.
A tenant who cleaned before leaving might reduce the cleaning bill by 30–40%. A tenant who left grease, grime, and neglected surfaces can double the cost. Heavy buildup, pet odor, or visible damage forces crews to spend more time, use more supplies, and apply specialty treatments.
We recommend property managers conduct a quick photo walk-through before requesting cleaning quotes. This lets you specify conditions accurately and get pricing that holds.
Our 90% quote approval rate comes from accurate scoping—when property managers provide condition photos upfront, quotes rarely need revision after the crew arrives on site.
Square Footage and Room Count #
Square footage sets the baseline, but room count matters more for the high-effort areas.
Kitchens and bathrooms take 3–4 times longer per square foot than bedrooms or living areas. A 1,400-square-foot home with three bathrooms costs more to clean than a 1,600-square-foot home with two bathrooms. When scoping jobs, count the kitchens and bathrooms first, then factor in total square footage.
Key takeaway
Budgeting by square footage alone will cause you to underprice turnovers consistently — a property with three bathrooms will almost always cost more to clean than a larger property with two, and that gap compounds across a full portfolio.
Location and Local Labor Rates #
House cleaning prices vary by market based on local labor costs and competition.
Move-out cleaning in Phoenix typically runs 10–15% below national averages due to a competitive labor market. Move-out cleaning in Seattle runs 15–20% above national averages. Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Orlando fall close to the national median.
These differences matter when managing portfolios across multiple markets. A flat-rate cleaning contract that works in Phoenix may leave you underserving properties in Seattle.
Turnover Timeline Pressure #
Rush turnovers cost more. Standard move-out cleaning assumes 3–5 business days for scheduling and completion. If you need a unit cleaned in 24–48 hours, expect a 20–30% premium.
Property managers handling peak leasing season turnovers often face this pressure. Units need to be ready the moment they clear, and that urgency comes with a cost. Planning turnover schedules, when possible, reduces these premiums.
What’s Included in Professional Move-Out Cleaning #
Once you understand what drives price, knowing what the service actually covers helps you confirm whether a quote is complete. Scope varies between providers, so knowing what’s included helps you compare quotes accurately and avoid missing critical items.
Standard Move-Out Cleaning Services #
A standard move-out cleaning covers kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, and bedrooms—including appliance exteriors, countertops, sinks, floors, baseboards, blinds, ceiling fans, and light fixtures—on a vacant property.
Deep Cleaning vs Standard Cleaning #
Deep cleaning costs 40–60% more than standard cleaning and includes extra attention to:
- Oven interior degreasing
- Refrigerator deep clean, including coils
- Grout scrubbing in bathrooms
- Baseboard detail cleaning
- Cabinet interiors
- Inside window cleaning
- Exhaust fan and vent cleaning
Most move-out cleaning guides recommend deep cleaning for every turnover. The reality is that deep cleaning makes sense after long-term tenants (3+ years) or when visible buildup exists. For units with shorter tenancies and reasonable condition, standard cleaning suffices.
Kitchens and bathrooms are where the decision matters most. The stovetop, oven interior, and refrigerator interior take the most time and show the most dirt—a sparkling living room won’t offset a greasy stove during a showing.
In bathrooms, grout lines, the toilet base, and exhaust fans create an immediate negative impression when neglected. If the previous tenant left these areas in poor shape, factor deep cleaning into your turnover budget.
Add-On Services and Extra Costs #
Standard move-out cleaning doesn’t include everything a turnover might require. Breasy prices these add-ons as separate line items, and the cumulative total can raise your cleaning cost by 50% or more.
Carpet Cleaning Costs #
Carpet cleaning adds $75 to $250 depending on total carpet area.
| Carpet Area | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 1-2 rooms | $75–$125 |
| 3-4 rooms | $125–$175 |
| Whole house | $150–$250 |
Most leases allow property managers to deduct carpet cleaning from security deposits, but check your state’s landlord-tenant laws. Some states only permit this deduction when carpets are damaged beyond normal wear.
Window Cleaning Costs #
Interior window cleaning is often included in standard move-out cleaning. Exterior window cleaning is not.
Exterior window cleaning adds $75 to $200 for single-family homes, depending on window count and accessibility. Multi-story homes with difficult-to-reach windows cost more.
For most turnovers, interior-only window cleaning is sufficient unless the property has been vacant during dusty or stormy seasons.
Hardwood Floor and Grout Cleaning #
Hardwood floor cleaning and polishing runs $100 to $300 depending on square footage. This service removes scuffs, applies polish, and restores shine without full refinishing.
Grout cleaning and sealing runs $150 to $400 for bathroom and kitchen tile. This add-on makes sense when grout has discolored or accumulated staining that standard cleaning won’t address.
Junk Removal During Turnover #
When tenants leave belongings behind, junk removal becomes part of the turnover scope.
Light trash-out services run $150 to $400. Heavy trash-outs with furniture, appliances, or debris can exceed $500 to $1,000. Breasy handles turnover and trash-out services as part of the work order process, so property managers can bundle these with cleaning under a single quote and receive one set of completion photos covering the full scope.
When you’re managing multiple turnovers at once, the line-item add-ons above compound quickly. That’s why property managers running portfolios at scale think about total turnover cost differently than individual landlords—and why the service model matters as much as the price.
Move-Out Cleaning for Property Managers: What’s Different #
Property managers handling portfolios have different needs than homeowners cleaning once before selling. Volume, consistency, documentation, and timeline matter more than getting the absolute lowest price on a single job.
Predictable Pricing for Portfolio Properties #
Variable pricing across dozens of monthly turnovers makes budgeting unreliable. The solution is market-rate pricing tied to clear scopes. When you know a 3BR/2BA single-family home in average condition costs $300–$400 in your market, you can budget accurately and identify outlier quotes quickly.
Breasy uses data-based pricing based on 100K+ completed jobs. Quotes reflect actual market rates for your specific property type, size, and market rather than guesswork.
Our 48-hour quote turnaround and integration with AppFolio and Buildium mean property managers can request, approve, and track cleaning jobs without leaving their existing workflow.
Completion Photos and Quality Verification #
Here’s the part property managers actually care about: knowing the work got done and done correctly.
Traditional cleaning services finish the job and send an invoice. Maybe they text you “done,” or maybe they don’t. You find out whether the cleaning was adequate when the next tenant complains or the showing goes poorly.
Breasy provides same-day completion photos before any invoice is generated. You see the kitchen, the bathrooms, and the key areas documented with photos. Breasy triggers photo delivery automatically the same day the crew finishes.
How Breasy Handles Turnover Cleaning #
Breasy manages move-in and move-out cleaning through the same work order process as all other turnover services.
How it works:
- Submit your cleaning request through your property management software, email, or directly through Breasy
- Within 48 hours, you receive a market-rate quote based on property size, condition, and location
- Approve the quote, and Breasy schedules the work
- The job is completed within 5 business days
- You receive completion photos the same day the work finishes
- Invoice follows only after photos are delivered
So you submit the request and consider it handled—no chasing, no vendor spreadsheets, no wondering whether the cleaning actually happened.
When Breasy Isn’t the Right Fit #
We serve 12 specific metro markets for single-family homes—not every situation. If you manage commercial properties, operate outside our current markets (Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Orlando, Seattle, and their surrounding metros), or need same-day emergency turnovers, Breasy may not be the right fit for your portfolio.
Our 5-day completion standard works well for planned turnovers, but true emergencies requiring crews within hours fall outside our service model. We’re also focused on SFRs and residential portfolios, not retail, office, or industrial properties.
Ready to take unpredictable turnover costs off your plate for good?
One work order handles cleaning, trash-out, and documentation across your portfolio.
START YOUR FIRST WORK ORDERFrequently Asked Questions About Move-Out Cleaning Cost #
How much does apartment move-out cleaning cost? #
Apartment move-out cleaning costs $100 to $350. Studios run $100 to $150, one-bedrooms run $125 to $200, two-bedrooms run $175 to $275, and three-bedrooms run $250 to $350. Condition and local labor rates determine where you fall in that range.
How much does empty house move-out cleaning cost? #
Empty house move-out cleaning costs $200 to $750 for most single-family homes. Size, bathroom count, and condition determine where you fall in that range. A 1,500-square-foot home in good condition runs $200 to $300. A 3,000-square-foot home needing deep cleaning runs $500 to $700.
How much does move out cleaning cost? #
Move-out cleaning costs $100 to $750 depending on property size and condition. A typical 2-bedroom apartment runs $150 to $275. A typical 3-bedroom single-family home runs $300 to $500. Deep cleaning, carpet cleaning, and rush timelines add to the base cost.
