A quote that just says “affordable rates” or “contact us for pricing” isn’t useful when you are trying to budget. Here is what commercial cleaning genuinely costs in Australia right now, broken down by pricing model, facility type, and real examples by office size, so you have an actual number to work with before anyone walks through your door.
Quick Answer
Commercial cleaning in Australia typically costs $0.40 to $1.20 per square metre per visit, or $35 to $65 per hour per cleaner. Most recurring contracts for a standard business fall between $250 and $1,200 per month, depending heavily on facility size and how often it is cleaned. Medical and industrial sites generally sit toward the higher end of these ranges due to stricter compliance and specialised sanitising requirements.
Average Cost by Facility Type
The nature of a business changes what its cleaning actually involves, and pricing follows accordingly.
| Facility Type | Cost per Sqm (Per Visit) | Cost per Hour |
| Retail spaces | $0.35 to $0.70 | $35 to $55 |
| Standard offices | $0.40 to $0.90 | $35 to $65 |
| Educational facilities | $0.45 to $1.00 | $40 to $65 |
| Industrial and warehouses | $0.30 to $0.80 | $45 to $70 |
| Medical offices and clinics | $0.70 to $1.50 | $50 to $80 |
| Post-construction sites | $1.50 to $4.00 | $50 to $75 |
Industrial and warehouse sites often cost less per square metre despite size, since open, uncluttered layouts let a team move through the space efficiently. Medical and post-construction cleaning sit higher due to compliance requirements and the intensity of the work involved.
Estimates by Office Size and Frequency
Most recurring commercial contracts are calculated by total floor area and weekly frequency rather than a flat, one-size-fits-all rate.
Small office, roughly 100 to 200 square metres. A weekly light clean typically costs $250 to $450 a month. A one off detailed deep clean generally runs $300 to $600.
Medium facility, roughly 500 to 1,000 square metres. Regular cleaning two to three times a week typically costs $700 to $1,500 a month.
Large facility, 2,000 square metres and above. Daily, high frequency cleaning contracts typically range from $2,500 to $5,000 or more per month, depending on scope and staffing.
Larger spaces often achieve a lower cost per square metre than smaller ones, simply because a team can move through an open, uncluttered layout more efficiently than a smaller site with more rooms, corners and interruptions per square metre of floor.
Why These Figures Vary So Much From Quote to Quote
A handful of factors explain most of the gap between a low quote and a high one for what looks like a similar job.
Frequency. Daily cleaning raises the monthly total but typically lowers the effective rate per visit, since a well maintained space takes less time to clean than one left for a week between visits.
Scope of work. A basic quote usually covers desks, bins, kitchens and bathrooms. Carpet steam cleaning, window cleaning, and specialised sanitising are commonly quoted as separate add ons rather than included as standard.
Compliance requirements. Medical, aged care and education sites often need documented cleaning records, specific product certifications and stricter protocols, all of which add to the cost regardless of floor size.
After hours or weekend scheduling. Most commercial cleaning happens outside business hours, though some providers charge a modest premium for very late or weekend-only work.
Access and building type. A CBD high rise with lift access and security checkpoints generally costs more to service than a standalone suburban site of the same size.
Hourly Rate vs Per Square Metre: Which Applies to You
Smaller sites, generally under around 300 square metres, are usually quoted hourly, since the workload can shift visit to visit and an hourly rate keeps pricing simple. Larger, more open layouts are typically quoted per square metre instead, since floor area reflects the actual job more accurately than time once a space passes a certain size. Very large facilities, often above 1,000 or 2,000 square metres, frequently move to a fixed monthly contract instead of either model, which gives predictable invoicing for both the business and the cleaning provider.
How to Get an Accurate Quote Instead of a Rough Estimate
A number given over the phone with no site visit is, at best, a starting point. A proper quoting process includes a site walkthrough to assess layout, floor area, and specific requirements; a written quote that specifies scope, frequency, and price; and a clear separation between what is included as standard and what is priced as an add-on. Treat a quote well below the ranges above as a reason to ask more questions, not necessarily a reason to book immediately, since a very low price usually means something is missing from the scope, the insurance coverage, or the time actually allocated to the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does commercial cleaning cost on average?
Commercial cleaning in Australia typically costs $0.40 to $1.20 per square metre per visit, or $35 to $65 per hour per cleaner. Most recurring contracts fall between $250 and $1,200 per month depending on facility size and frequency.
Does commercial cleaning cost vary by facility type?
Yes. Medical and industrial sites generally cost more per visit than standard offices or retail spaces due to stricter compliance requirements and specialised sanitising needs.
Is a larger facility cheaper to clean per square metre?
Often, yes. Larger, more open layouts let a cleaning team work more efficiently across the space, which can bring the per-square-metre rate down compared with a smaller, more compartmentalised site.
What is usually included in a standard commercial cleaning quote?
A standard quote generally covers desks, bins, kitchens and bathrooms, along with general floor care. Carpet steam cleaning, window cleaning and deep sanitising are commonly quoted separately.
Should I choose hourly or per square metre pricing?
Smaller sites under around 300 square metres usually suit hourly pricing better. Larger, more open spaces typically suit per square metre pricing instead, since it more accurately reflects the job’s actual size.
Conclusion
Commercial cleaning pricing is not random, even when it looks that way across different quotes. It follows predictable patterns based on facility type, size, frequency and scope. Use the ranges above as a genuine starting point, but always confirm a final number with a written quote based on an actual site visit rather than budgeting against an estimate alone.
Want an accurate, written quote for your own commercial site? Ms Clean provides commercial cleaning across Adelaide, South Australia, and Dee Why on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Call 0480 321 027 or email contact@msclean.au for a free quote.
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Ms clean Au
Address: 71 Alexandra Street, Prospect, SA-5082
M :Â 0480 321 027
E-Mail:Â contact@msclean.au
