Key takeaways
- Price is driven mostly by how often you clean and how much there is to clean: square footage, restrooms, kitchens and floors.
- The scope matters more than the rate. Two quotes are only comparable if they list the same tasks at the same frequency.
- Floor care, exterior windows and pressure washing are often priced separately from recurring cleaning.
- A walk-through gets you a firmer price than a phone estimate.
Why there is no single price
Search for office cleaning prices and you will find per-square-foot and per-hour numbers from all over the country. They are rarely useful. Cleaning companies price the work, not the building, and two offices with the same square footage can need very different amounts of work.
A 5,000 square foot office with twelve people, one restroom and carpet is a different job from a 5,000 square foot dental office with four restrooms, exam rooms, a break room and hard floors that need care. The honest answer to "how much does it cost" is: it depends on the scope, and the scope should be in writing.
What drives the price
These are the factors that move a commercial cleaning quote the most:
- How often you clean. Nightly service costs more per month than weekly service, even though each visit may be shorter.
- Square footage and layout. Open floor plans clean faster than spaces broken into many small offices.
- Restrooms, kitchens and break rooms. These take the most time per square foot and usually need attention every visit.
- Floor types. Carpet, tile, sealed concrete and vinyl all need different care and equipment.
- Traffic and use. Visitors, food in the office and shared desks all add work.
- Hours and access. Most commercial cleaning is done after hours. Tight time windows or special access rules can affect staffing.
- Supplies. Whether paper towels, toilet paper, soap and liners are included or provided by you.
- Special areas. Exam rooms, server rooms, large glass walls and secured areas can each add time.
Recurring cleaning vs add-ons
Most quotes separate the recurring scope from project work that happens a few times a year. Knowing which is which keeps quotes comparable.
| Work | Usually in the recurring scope | Usually priced separately |
|---|---|---|
| Trash, restrooms, kitchens | Yes | |
| Vacuuming and mopping | Yes | |
| Dusting reachable surfaces | Yes | |
| Interior entry glass | Yes | |
| Carpet extraction | Yes | |
| Strip and wax or burnishing | Yes | |
| Exterior windows | Yes | |
| Pressure washing | Yes | |
| Post-construction or move-in cleaning | Yes |
How to compare quotes
When you have more than one quote, line them up against the same checklist:
- Does each quote list the same tasks, area by area?
- Is the frequency written for each task, not just "weekly service"?
- What is excluded, and what is priced as an add-on?
- Are supplies included, and which ones?
- How are missed tasks reported and fixed?
- What are the contract length and notice period?
- When can service start?
The lowest number is often the one with the thinnest scope. A written scope protects both sides.
What to have ready before you ask for a quote
- Approximate square footage, or a floor plan
- Number of restrooms, kitchens and break rooms
- Floor types and any floor problems
- How many people use the space and how many visitors you get
- The schedule you want and the hours the crew can work
- Access details: keys, fobs, alarm codes
- What is not working with your current cleaning, if you have it
Contract terms that affect what you pay
The monthly price is only part of the agreement. These terms change what you actually pay over a year:
- Term and notice period. How long the agreement runs and how much notice either side must give to end it.
- Price reviews. Whether and when the price can change, and how much notice you get.
- Closures and holidays. Whether you pay for visits on days the office is closed.
- Scope changes. How new tasks, new rooms or a change in frequency get priced and approved.
- Supplies. Whether supplies are part of the price or billed as they are used.
Ask for these in writing along with the scope, so the quote you approve is the price you pay.
Costs that are easy to miss
- Floor care that was never in the recurring scope, so carpet and tile wear out faster.
- Supplies billed separately from the cleaning price.
- An initial deep clean before recurring service can start, when the space has not been cleaned in a while.
- Project work such as exterior windows or pressure washing that you assumed was included.
- The cost of replacing carpet or tile early because regular maintenance was skipped.
If you are switching cleaning companies
Changing providers goes smoothly with a little planning. Check your current agreement for the notice period, then line up the start date with the new company before giving notice. Collect keys and fobs from the outgoing company and change alarm codes. Walk the space with the new company so the scope reflects what is actually wrong today, and expect the first visit to take longer if things have slipped.
Getting a quote from Opora Services
Opora Services quotes office cleaning across Sacramento and Northern California on a written scope. For most offices we walk the space first, then send the task list, schedule and price in writing before any work starts. Request a quote or call (916) 249-3013.
Common questions
Is it cheaper to clean less often?
The monthly cost is usually lower, but buildup can make each visit take longer, and restrooms and kitchens may not stay acceptable. Many offices combine light cleaning on most days with detail work once a week.
Do cleaning companies charge by the hour or by the job?
Recurring commercial cleaning is usually a set monthly price based on the scope. One-time jobs such as floor care or post-construction cleaning are usually priced per job.
Why do quotes for the same office vary so much?
Usually because the scope is different. One quote may include weekly detail work, supplies or floor care, and another may not. Line them up task by task before comparing prices.
Is a walk-through required?
For most offices it gives the most accurate quote. Very small or simple spaces can sometimes be quoted from details and photos.
Should supplies be included in the price?
Either can work. What matters is that the quote says clearly which supplies are included and who restocks them.
Written by Opora Services in Sacramento, California. Last updated September 2026.
