Short answer: In London in 2026, a regular domestic cleaner costs roughly £18 to £30 per hour, with a weekly three-hour visit averaging around £75. A one-off deep clean typically runs £180 to £350 for a three-bedroom home, while an end-of-tenancy clean in the capital ranges from about £200 for a studio to £450+ for a large house.
House Cleaning Costs in London at a Glance
London is one of the priciest places in the UK to hire a cleaner, but the market is highly competitive, which keeps quotes reasonably transparent. According to Checkatrade’s 2026 cost guides, independent cleaners across the UK typically charge around £25 per hour while cleaning agencies charge £25–£30 per hour, and London sits at the top end of those ranges. Specialist London cleaning firms put regular domestic cleaning at £18–£24 per hour in Greater London (Tulip Clean, 2026), while ProCleaner UK’s 2026 pricing data puts London domestic cleaning at £22–£28 per hour. A data-led 2026 market briefing from ZenSpotter reports UK domestic cleaning rates of £15–£25 per hour per cleaner in early 2026, with London and the South East running about 20–30% above the national average.
Price table: house cleaning services in London, 2026
| Service | Average cost | Low range | High range | Per-hour rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular domestic clean (weekly/fortnightly) | £75 per visit | £54 | £90 | £18–£24/hr |
| One-off deep clean (3-bed home) | £265 | £180 | £350 | £24–£32/hr |
| End of tenancy clean (2-bed flat) | £285 | £250 | £350 | Fixed price |
| Carpet clean (per small/medium room) | £50+ | £40 | £80 | Per room |
| Oven clean | £50 | £40 | £80 | Per appliance |
| Window clean | £28 | £20 | £40 | Per visit |
Figures compiled from Checkatrade’s 2026 house-cleaning and end-of-tenancy cost guides, Tulip Clean’s 2026 UK rate table, and ProCleaner UK’s 2026 pricing guide. London averages; actual quotes vary by borough and property condition.
What Each Cleaning Service Costs in London
Regular domestic cleaning
This is the most common service: a cleaner visits weekly or fortnightly to keep on top of dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and bathroom and kitchen sanitising. Checkatrade reports that a weekly cleaner typically costs around £75, based on three hours of cleaning per week. Hourly rates depend on who you hire: independent cleaners in London usually charge £14–£18 per hour if you pay them directly (though you supply the products), while fully vetted, insured cleaning companies charge £18–£24 per hour in Greater London, according to Tulip Clean’s 2026 comparison table. Agencies tend to charge more but offer cover when your regular cleaner is sick or on holiday.
One-off and deep cleaning
A deep clean resets a home: limescale descaling, inside cupboards and appliances, skirting boards, woodwork, and other jobs that routine visits skip. Checkatrade’s spring-clean guide puts a house deep clean at around £31 per hour, and Tulip Clean reports London one-off deep-clean rates of £24–£32 per hour. ZenSpotter’s 2026 market briefing places a deep clean of a three-bedroom house at roughly £180–£350. A typical three-bed deep clean takes two cleaners most of a day, so expect 8–12 billed hours in total.
End-of-tenancy cleaning
Moving out of a rented property is the one clean where the standard is set by someone else: the inventory clerk. Checkatrade’s end-of-tenancy price guide (updated August 2026) gives these London averages: a studio flat £200, a one-bedroom property £240, a two-bedroom £285, a three-bedroom £330, a four or five-bedroom £405, and six or more bedrooms £450+. UK-wide averages are lower — a two-bedroom averages £260 nationally — which shows the London premium clearly. Many London firms also advertise hourly-style rates of £22–£27 per hour for this work, but a fixed price is usually safer, since a fixed quote gives you cost certainty before the cleaner starts.
Common add-ons
Oven, carpet, and window cleaning are usually priced separately rather than included in the base rate. Checkatrade lists an oven clean at around £50 and carpet cleaning of a small to medium-sized room at £50 or more, with window cleaning starting from about £27.50. Upholstery cleaning of a sofa typically costs £35–£55. If you are booking an end-of-tenancy clean, ask explicitly whether the oven and inside cupboards are included — budget operators often leave them out of the headline price and add £30–£60 on the day.
Factors That Raise or Lower the Price
- Property size and number of bathrooms. The biggest single driver. A two-bathroom flat takes noticeably longer than a one-bathroom flat of the same size, because bathrooms need the most intensive work. End-of-tenancy pricing shows this clearly: each extra bedroom adds roughly £40–£75 to the bill.
- Frequency of booking. Regular clients pay lower hourly rates than one-off bookings. Weekly and fortnightly contracts are consistently cheaper per hour than single visits.
- Independent cleaner vs. agency. Independent cleaners are usually cheaper per hour — Checkatrade confirms this — but you provide the products and equipment, and there is no cover for sick days. Agencies cost more but handle insurance, supplies, and replacements.
- Property condition. Heavy limescale (common across much of London due to hard water), pet hair, and clutter all add time. Several London firms quote by condition category, with poor-condition properties priced significantly higher.
- Location within London. Central and inner-London postcodes generally cost more than outer boroughs, partly because of travel time and parking, and partly because demand is higher.
- Extras and specialist tasks. Oven interiors, fridge interiors, carpet steam cleaning, and exterior windows are add-ons that can add £40–£80 each.
- Supplies and VAT. Some quotes include products and equipment, others expect you to supply them. Fixed-price end-of-tenancy quotes sometimes exclude VAT (20%), so always check whether the quoted figure is the final price.
Money-Saving Tips
- Book a regular slot instead of one-offs. Weekly or fortnightly cleaning is cheaper per hour than one-off visits, and your cleaner works faster once they know the property.
- Declutter before the visit. Cleaners charge for their time. Clearing surfaces, floors, and laundry before they arrive means the paid hours go to actual cleaning, not tidying.
- Supply your own products if you hire independently. Independent cleaners charging £14–£18 per hour expect you to provide products and a vacuum — that trade-off can save you £5–£10 per hour versus an agency.
- Bundle add-ons. If you need carpet cleaning, an oven clean, and a deep clean, get them done in one visit. Companies typically discount bundled work compared with separate bookings.
- Get fixed quotes in writing. For deep and end-of-tenancy cleans, a fixed price protects you if the job takes longer than estimated. Ask for a written scope listing exactly what is included, and whether VAT is included.
- Check the oven question. On end-of-tenancy cleans, confirm whether the oven is included before you compare quotes. A £200 quote that excludes the oven is worse than a £240 quote that includes it.
- Consider a starter deep clean, then regular maintenance. Many London firms recommend beginning with one deep clean to reset the home, then switching to cheaper regular visits to keep it that way — the deep clean makes every later visit faster.
London and UK Regional Notes
London cleaning prices run about 20–30% above the national average, according to ZenSpotter’s 2026 briefing, and this gap shows up in every service category. Checkatrade’s figures put London end-of-tenancy cleaning roughly £25–£40 higher than the UK average per property size — for example, £285 in London versus £260 nationally for a two-bedroom property. If you have recently read our US house-cleaning cost guide, the structure is similar, but London’s headline hourly rates are higher while tipping is not expected in the UK (unlike the US, where 10–20% tips are customary).
A few London-specific practicalities: hard water across much of the capital means extra time spent descaling taps, shower screens, and tiles. Parking and congestion charges in central boroughs can also push quotes up, since mobile cleaning teams factor in travel time and the ULEZ. If you are booking an end-of-tenancy clean through a letting agent, make sure it meets the inventory clerk’s checklist — the re-clean guarantees reputable firms offer exist precisely for this.
Outside London, expect to pay noticeably less: Checkatrade’s cleaner day rates put the rest of the UK at £20–£25 per hour for hourly cleaning versus £22–£27 in London. The structure of services is the same, but the London premium is real and persistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do cleaners charge per hour in London in 2026?
Regular domestic cleaning in London costs roughly £18–£24 per hour through a professional cleaning company, with one-off and deep cleans at £24–£32 per hour, according to Tulip Clean’s 2026 rate table. Checkatrade puts independent cleaners at around £25 per hour and agencies at £25–£30 per hour. One London market briefing puts the broader UK average at £15–£25 per hour, with London running 20–30% higher.
How much does a weekly cleaner cost in London?
Checkatrade reports a typical weekly cleaner costs around £75, based on three hours of cleaning per week. For a two-bedroom flat, that usually covers dusting, vacuuming, mopping, bathroom and kitchen sanitising, and basic tidying. Weekly contracts get a lower hourly rate than one-off bookings.
How much is an end-of-tenancy clean in London?
Checkatrade’s August 2026 price guide gives London averages of £200 for a studio, £240 for a one-bedroom, £285 for a two-bedroom, £330 for a three-bedroom, £405 for a four or five-bedroom, and £450+ for six or more bedrooms. Always confirm whether the quote includes the oven, carpet cleaning, and VAT before comparing prices.
Is it cheaper to hire an independent cleaner or a cleaning agency?
Usually an independent cleaner is cheaper per hour — around £14–£18 in London — but you must supply all products and equipment, arrange cover for sick days, and check their liability insurance yourself. Agencies charge more but include insurance, supplies, vetted staff, and replacement cover. For end-of-tenancy work, agencies and specialist firms are usually the safer choice because they offer inventory-standard checklists and re-clean guarantees.
What is not included in a standard house clean?
Inside ovens, fridges, and cupboards, intensive limescale removal, carpet steam cleaning, and exterior window cleaning are typically deep-clean or add-on tasks rather than part of a regular visit. Oven cleaning (around £50), carpet cleaning per room (£50+), and upholstery cleaning (£35–£55) are usually priced separately — confirm the scope in writing before the visit.
Keep the rest of your home in budget too
Cleaning is just one part of running a home. If you are sorting out a new place, our plumber cost guide and electrician hourly rates guide will help you budget repairs. And for cross-Atlantic comparison, our AC repair cost guide covers US pricing in the same detail.
Note: prices are estimates based on published 2026 figures and will vary by property, borough, and condition. For an accurate figure, get 2–3 local quotes from checked, insured cleaners before booking.