What affects the cost of office cleaning in London?

Ask three cleaning companies to price the same London office and you can get three very different numbers. That is not always a sign that someone is overcharging. Office cleaning costs depend on how big the office is, how often it is cleaned, when the work happens and exactly what is included.

This guide explains how commercial cleaning companies in London build a price, which factors make the biggest difference, and how to compare quotes so you are judging like with like.

How office cleaning is priced

Most regular office cleaning contracts are built from the number of cleaner hours your building needs each week. A contractor walks the site, works out how long each area takes, and multiplies that by the number of visits.

That price can be presented in different ways:

• Per visit, which suits offices cleaned on fixed days.
• Per week or per month, which is easier to budget for and is the most common format for a regular contract.
• Per hour, which some smaller contractors use, especially for ad hoc work.

A fixed monthly price for a regular contract is usually the simplest for both sides. Whatever the format, ask how many cleaner hours it covers so you know what you are paying for.

What changes the price of your office clean

Two offices of the same size can need very different amounts of work. These are the factors that move the price most.

Floor area and layout

Open-plan floors are quicker to clean than offices broken up into small rooms. Washrooms and kitchens take the most time per square metre, so an office with three kitchens takes longer than one with a single tea point.

How often you need cleaning

Daily cleaning costs more per week but often less per visit, because the office never falls behind. A small team might only need a cleaner two or three times a week. Our guide on how often an office should be cleaned has a simple rule of thumb by team size.

Time of day

Early-morning and evening cleans are the norm in London, because they keep cleaners out of the way of staff. Most contractors build their schedules around these slots.

What is included

Check whether the price covers cleaning products, equipment, bin liners and washroom consumables such as soap, hand towels and toilet rolls. Consumables add up in a busy office, so it helps to know whether they are in the price or billed separately.

Periodic tasks

High-level dusting, machine floor cleaning, inside fridges and glass partitions are not needed every visit. A good quote builds them into the schedule, for example monthly or quarterly. A quote that leaves them out can look cheaper at first and cost more later.

Building rules

Multi-tenant buildings in the City of London, Canary Wharf and other managed estates often require building inductions, risk assessments and method statements before a contractor can start. A good contractor handles this paperwork as part of the job.

Why London office cleaning costs more

Wages are the biggest part of any cleaning price, and London wages are higher than the national average. A contractor also pays holiday pay, employer National Insurance, pensions, supervision, training and insurance for every cleaner.

Travel adds cost too. Large parts of central London sit inside the Congestion Charge zone, and parking in Westminster or the City is tightly controlled. Some contractors add these as extras on the invoice. Others, including us, build travel into the quoted price. Ask which approach a contractor uses before you compare totals.

Be wary of a quote that is far below the others. Very low prices often mean short visits, missed periodic tasks or no cover when a cleaner is off sick.

How to compare office cleaning quotes

Price only means something next to the work it pays for. When quotes arrive, line them up against the same questions:

1. How many cleaner hours per week does the price include?
2. Which tasks are done on every visit, and which are weekly or monthly?
3. Are products, equipment and consumables included?
4. Is travel, parking or the Congestion Charge included?
5. Who covers holidays and sickness?
6. What is the notice period? A rolling agreement protects you if the standard drops.

The easiest way to make quotes comparable is to give every contractor the same written task list. Our guide to writing an office cleaning specification shows you how to put one together in an afternoon. For more questions to ask, see 15 questions to ask a commercial cleaning company.

Questions businesses ask about cleaning costs

Why won't cleaning companies give a price over the phone?

Because the price depends on your building. Without seeing the layout, the floors and the washrooms, any figure is a guess. A site visit lets a contractor give you a fixed price that will not change once the work starts.

Is it cheaper to employ a cleaner directly?

The hourly wage can look lower, but you take on holiday cover, sickness cover, products, equipment, training, insurance and employment admin. For most small and medium offices, a contractor works out similar or better value once those costs are counted.

Can I get a fixed monthly price?

Yes. Most contractors will give you a fixed monthly price for a regular contract once they have seen the site.

Get a personalised office cleaning quote

Every office is different, so we price every contract individually. We offer a free site visit anywhere in London, write the cleaning specification with you, and give you a fixed price with travel included. Request your personalised quote or read more about our office cleaning service.