Move-Out Cleaning Cost (2026): By Home Size, DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Updated
Verdict Do it yourself · 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house
A move-out cleaning costs $105–$157 to do yourself and $180–$350 to hire a pro, per 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house (about 1,000 sq ft).
Do it yourself if you have the day and the lease doesn't require a receipt: about $131 in supplies and a filler kit against $260 for a 2-bedroom, a $129 saving that works out to roughly $16 an hour of scrubbing, rising to $248 on a 4-bedroom with the carpet rental. Hire a company when the lease demands professional cleaning or steam-cleaned carpets, when the walkthrough is the same day the movers leave, or when the deposit is large enough that a $260 receipt with a re-clean guarantee is cheap insurance.
- DIY Studio or 1-bedroom apartment, about 600 sq ft
- DIY 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house
- Hire 3-bedroom, 2-bath house, about 1,800 sq ft
- Hire 4-bedroom house with garage, 2,500 sq ft and up
- DIY cost
- $105–$157
- 6–10 hours of your time · 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house
- Pro cost
- $180–$350
- typical $260 · per 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house (about 1,000 sq ft)
- Typical savings
- $129
- 50% less than a pro · ≈ $16/hour for your time
- Cleaning companies charge $0.15–$0.35 per square foot for a move-out clean: about $170 for a studio, $260 for a 2-bedroom, $420 for a 3-bedroom house, $600 for a 4-bedroom with a garage. Carpets, walls and junk are extra.
- Doing it yourself is $110–$350 in supplies, a filler kit and (for a house) a carpet-cleaner rental — a saving of $60 to $248, or about $11–$16 for every hour of scrubbing. The pro's price is almost all labor, and the labor is yours on moving week.
- The lease decides more than the math: 'professionally cleaned, receipt required' or 'carpets professionally steam cleaned' makes the $260 a defense of the deposit, not an expense.
- Whoever cleans, photograph every room, appliance and cabinet before you hand over the keys. It's the only evidence that counts in a deposit dispute.
DIY vs pro at a glance
| DIY | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per job (2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house) | $105–$157 | $180–$350 |
| Cost range (all sizes) | $90–$400 | $110–$800 |
| Your time | 6–10 hours | Getting quotes, ~1–2 hours |
| Skill needed | Beginner | None |
| Injury / damage risk | Low | Carried by the contractor (if insured) |
| Equipment you'd need to buy or rent | Rubber gloves, scrub brush, grout brush, razor scraper, Spackle, putty knife, sanding sponge and touch-up paint for nail holes | None |
| Best when | The lease doesn't require a professional receipt, or you've read the state rules and don't need one | The lease says 'professionally cleaned' or 'carpets professionally cleaned' and wants the receipt |
What pros charge for a move-out cleaning
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1-bedroom apartment, about 600 sq ft — one bath, a galley kitchen, inside the oven and fridge, all surfaces and floors | $110 | $170 | $250 |
| 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house — about 1,000 sq ft: kitchen appliances inside and out, two baths, closets, baseboards, windows inside | $180 | $260 | $350 |
| 3-bedroom, 2-bath house, about 1,800 sq ft — the same scope over more rooms, plus a carpet-cleaner rental for the bedrooms | $300 | $420 | $550 |
| 4-bedroom house with garage, 2,500 sq ft and up — three baths, a garage sweep-out, carpets in four rooms, and a full day for two people | $450 | $600 | $800 |
What moves the price
- Size and bathrooms
- Move-out cleans price at $0.15–$0.35 per square foot or by bedrooms and baths: $110–$250 for a studio or 1-bedroom, $180–$350 for a 2-bedroom, $300–$550 for a 3-bedroom house, $450–$800 for four bedrooms. Each bathroom is 45–60 minutes of the crew's time and prices like a room.
- Condition
- The quote assumes normal wear. Heavy grease on the range hood, a fridge that hasn't been emptied, pet hair in the vents, smoke residue on the walls, or a bathroom with mildew in the grout each add $50–$150, and a company that sees them on arrival re-quotes on the spot.
- What's included
- A true move-out clean is inside the oven, fridge and cabinets, baseboards, interior windows and tracks, light fixtures, blinds, closets and the inside of the dishwasher and washer. Cheaper quotes are a standard clean with the appliances as add-ons at $40–$120 each. Ask for the checklist.
- Empty or furnished
- The clean happens after the movers. A furnished unit costs 20–40% more and gets a worse result; most companies won't do a move-out clean with furniture in it, and landlords inspect an empty one.
- Carpets, walls and the garage
- Carpet steam cleaning is a separate line at $75–$300 by room count; wall washing and scuff removal $75–$300; garages, patios and balconies $50–$200. Leases often require carpet cleaning in writing.
- Timing and region
- Month-end and weekend slots book out and carry rush fees of $50–$200; a mid-week, mid-month clean is cheaper and easier to get. Big metros (Chicago, Austin, New York, the Bay Area) run 20–40% above the national typical.
- Guarantee
- The better companies re-clean free if the landlord flags something within 24–72 hours and provide an itemized receipt — the piece of paper that answers a deposit deduction. That's worth something on a large deposit.
Common add-ons
| Add-on | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Carpet steam cleaning | $75–$300 |
| Inside oven and refrigerator, if excluded | $40–$120 |
| Interior windows, tracks and blinds | $60–$200 |
| Wall washing and scuff removal | $75–$300 |
| Garage, patio or balcony sweep-out | $50–$200 |
| Junk removal of leftover items | $100–$500 |
| Heavy-soil, pet or smoke surcharge | $50–$200 |
| Same-week, weekend or month-end rush fee | $50–$200 |
What it costs to do it yourself
Studio or 1-bedroom apartment, about 600 sq ft: $90–$130 and 4–7 hours
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber gloves, scrub brush, grout brush, razor scraper | $15 | Purchase |
| Spackle, putty knife, sanding sponge and touch-up paint for nail holes | $25 | Purchase · fill and sand; paint only if you have the landlord's exact color |
| Vacuum with attachments | $150 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| Mop, bucket and step stool | $45 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| Screwdriver for vent covers and light fixtures | $10 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| All-purpose cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner | $22 | Materials |
| Oven cleaner, baking soda and vinegar, magic erasers | $13 | Materials |
| Microfiber cloths, sponges, paper towels, trash bags | $15 | Materials |
| Disposal | $0–$40 | Dump fees, haul-away or bagging |
| Total (own common tools) | $90–$130 | typical $110 |
| Total (own nothing) | $295–$335 | buying every tool listed |
2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house: $105–$157 and 6–10 hours
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber gloves, scrub brush, grout brush, razor scraper | $15 | Purchase |
| Spackle, putty knife, sanding sponge and touch-up paint for nail holes | $25 | Purchase · fill and sand; paint only if you have the landlord's exact color |
| Vacuum with attachments | $150 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| Mop, bucket and step stool | $45 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| Screwdriver for vent covers and light fixtures | $10 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| All-purpose cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner | $29 | Materials |
| Oven cleaner, baking soda and vinegar, magic erasers | $17 | Materials |
| Microfiber cloths, sponges, paper towels, trash bags | $20 | Materials |
| Disposal | $0–$52 | Dump fees, haul-away or bagging |
| Total (own common tools) | $105–$157 | typical $131 |
| Total (own nothing) | $310–$362 | buying every tool listed |
3-bedroom, 2-bath house, about 1,800 sq ft: $238–$310 and 10–16 hours
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet cleaner rental | $72 ($40/day) | Rental · a rental extractor and its solution; a pro steam clean is deeper if pet stains are the issue |
| Rubber gloves, scrub brush, grout brush, razor scraper | $15 | Purchase |
| Spackle, putty knife, sanding sponge and touch-up paint for nail holes | $25 | Purchase · fill and sand; paint only if you have the landlord's exact color |
| Vacuum with attachments | $150 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| Mop, bucket and step stool | $45 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| Screwdriver for vent covers and light fixtures | $10 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| All-purpose cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner | $40 | Materials |
| Oven cleaner, baking soda and vinegar, magic erasers | $23 | Materials |
| Microfiber cloths, sponges, paper towels, trash bags | $27 | Materials |
| Carpet cleaning solution and spot treatment | $36 | Materials |
| Disposal | $0–$72 | Dump fees, haul-away or bagging |
| Total (own common tools) | $238–$310 | typical $274 |
| Total (own nothing) | $443–$515 | buying every tool listed |
4-bedroom house with garage, 2,500 sq ft and up: $304–$400 and 14–22 hours
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet cleaner rental | $96 ($40/day) | Rental · a rental extractor and its solution; a pro steam clean is deeper if pet stains are the issue |
| Rubber gloves, scrub brush, grout brush, razor scraper | $15 | Purchase |
| Spackle, putty knife, sanding sponge and touch-up paint for nail holes | $25 | Purchase · fill and sand; paint only if you have the landlord's exact color |
| Vacuum with attachments | $150 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| Mop, bucket and step stool | $45 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| Screwdriver for vent covers and light fixtures | $10 | Purchase · most homeowners already own this |
| All-purpose cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner | $53 | Materials |
| Oven cleaner, baking soda and vinegar, magic erasers | $31 | Materials |
| Microfiber cloths, sponges, paper towels, trash bags | $36 | Materials |
| Carpet cleaning solution and spot treatment | $48 | Materials |
| Disposal | $0–$96 | Dump fees, haul-away or bagging |
| Total (own common tools) | $304–$400 | typical $352 |
| Total (own nothing) | $509–$605 | buying every tool listed |
Hidden costs of DIY
- The landlord's rate, not yours
- A deposit deduction for cleaning is charged at the landlord's contractor rate plus a handling markup — $200–$500 for what a company would have charged you $260 — and it comes off a deposit you've already stopped thinking about. The point of the clean is that line never appearing.
- The lease clause
- Many leases say 'professionally cleaned, receipt required' or 'carpets professionally steam cleaned.' Some states don't let a landlord require it if the unit is left as clean as it was received, but arguing that from a new address is slower than a $150 carpet receipt. Read the lease before deciding.
- Moving week
- The clean happens after the truck leaves and before the walkthrough, which is usually the same day or the next. Six to ten hours of scrubbing on the day you've packed a house is the real price of DIY, and it's why most people who hire do it for time, not money.
- Nail holes and paint
- Filling nail holes is expected; painting over them with the wrong sheen or shade turns a $2 hole into a wall the landlord repaints at your expense. Fill, sand, and leave it unless you have the original paint.
- Products that damage
- Bleach on natural stone, abrasive pads on stainless, oven cleaner on aluminum, magic erasers on flat paint. Each fixes one thing and creates a deduction. Test in a closet; use the mild product first.
- What's left behind
- A single bag of trash, a shelf in the garage, a curtain rod: leftover items are billed as junk removal at $100–$500. Empty means empty, including the fridge, the medicine cabinet and the space under the sink.
- Proof
- Whoever cleans, photograph every room, appliance and cabinet interior, with the date, before you hand over keys. It's the only evidence in a deposit dispute, and the one thing a cleaning company won't do for you.
When to DIY and when to hire
DIY makes sense when
- The lease doesn't require a professional receipt, or you've read the state rules and don't need one
- You have a full day between the movers and the walkthrough, and a second person for a house
- The unit is in normal condition — no pet stains, smoke or grease you can't remember the last time it was cleaned
- The deposit is modest and you'll photograph everything before handing over keys
Hire a pro when
- The lease says 'professionally cleaned' or 'carpets professionally cleaned' and wants the receipt
- The walkthrough is hours after the truck leaves, or you're moving out of state and won't be there
- It's a 3- or 4-bedroom house with carpets, a garage and three baths — two people, a full day, and a rented extractor
- The deposit is large and the landlord is known to deduct — a company's itemized receipt and re-clean guarantee are the defense
Why the math is close and the lease isn’t
A move-out clean is labor. Supplies for a 2-bedroom are $50; the rest of a company’s $260 is two people for three hours who’ve done a thousand ovens. The cost tables below show what that means: DIY saves $129 on the 2-bedroom, $60 on a studio, $248 on a 4-bedroom with a rented carpet cleaner — real money, at $11–$16 an hour of your time, on the day you’ve just packed a house.
That makes the decision about two other things. The lease. If it says the unit must be professionally cleaned, or the carpets professionally steam cleaned, with receipts, then the $260 isn’t an expense to save; it’s the cost of getting the deposit back without a fight, and whether the clause is enforceable in your state is an argument to have from a new address. The deposit. A landlord who deducts for cleaning does it at their contractor’s rate plus a markup, itemized on a statement you get weeks later — $200–$500 for what would have cost you $260 up front. On a $2,000 deposit with a landlord known to deduct, a company’s itemized receipt and re-clean guarantee is cheap insurance. On a $600 deposit with a reasonable landlord, a Saturday with the DIY checklist is the better trade.
Either way, the thing that decides a dispute is photos: every room, every appliance interior, every cabinet, dated, before the keys change hands.
How pros price it
By size and bathrooms, with condition and extras on top. The hire-a-pro page covers what to ask for and what the receipt should say. The lines that move the price most:
- Size — $110–$250 studio, $180–$350 two-bedroom, $300–$550 three-bedroom house, $450–$800 four-bedroom.
- Condition — grease, pet hair, smoke and mildew each add $50–$150 or a re-quote.
- Scope — a true deep clean includes appliance interiors and cabinets; cheap quotes add them at $40–$120 each.
- Carpets — $75–$300 by rooms, often required by the lease.
- Extras — walls, garage, junk removal, blinds.
- Timing — month-end and weekend rush fees $50–$200; big metros +20–40%.
Before you decide
Three things. Read the lease for the cleaning and carpet clauses and what receipts it wants. Ask for the pre-move-out inspection — in some states a right, everywhere a reasonable request — so the landlord tells you what they’ll flag while you can still fix it. Schedule the clean after the truck and before the walkthrough; if you’re using moving containers, that’s the day after the container leaves.
Run your own numbers. The move-out cleaning cost calculator prices it both ways: as DIY, with the tools you already own and a value on your time, or as a pro job at a low, typical or high quote with the add-ons that apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much does move-out cleaning cost?
$110 to $800, at roughly $0.15–$0.35 per square foot or by bedrooms and bathrooms: $110–$250 for a studio or 1-bedroom apartment, $180–$350 for a 2-bedroom, $300–$550 for a 3-bedroom house and $450–$800 for a 4-bedroom with a garage, with a national typical of about $260 for a 2-bedroom. That covers an empty unit inside and out — oven, fridge, cabinets, baseboards, interior windows, baths — but not carpet steam cleaning ($75–$300), wall washing ($75–$300) or hauling what you left behind ($100–$500).
What's included in a move-out cleaning?
Everything a landlord's walkthrough checks: inside and outside of the oven, stovetop and hood, fridge and freezer, dishwasher and microwave; inside cabinets and drawers; countertops and sinks; every bathroom fixture, tile and grout; baseboards, door frames, switch plates and light fixtures; interior windows, sills and tracks; blinds; closets and shelves; walls spot-cleaned; floors vacuumed and mopped. Carpet steam cleaning, garages and balconies are usually separate. Ask for the company's checklist and compare it to your lease's.
Is it cheaper to do move-out cleaning yourself?
Yes, but not by much per hour: about $131 in supplies against $260 for a 2-bedroom, a $129 saving for 6–10 hours of work — around $16 an hour — and $248 on a 4-bedroom house for 14–22 hours with a rented carpet cleaner. The pro's price is labor, and the labor is yours on the day the movers leave. Where DIY loses is a lease that requires a professional receipt, or a landlord who deducts at their own rate for anything missed.
Can a landlord require professional cleaning when I move out?
It depends on the state and the lease. Many leases include a clause requiring professional cleaning or carpet steam cleaning with a receipt; some states enforce those clauses, and some (California among them) only let a landlord charge for cleaning needed to return the unit to its move-in condition, minus normal wear and tear, regardless of the clause. Read the lease and your state's security-deposit statute. If the clause is enforceable where you live, a $150–$260 receipt is cheaper than the deduction.
How much do landlords charge for cleaning from a security deposit?
Usually more than a cleaning company would have charged you: $200–$500 for a standard unit at the landlord's contractor rate plus an administrative markup, itemized on the deposit statement they're required to send within 14–45 days depending on the state. Deductions can only cover cleaning beyond normal wear and tear and must be itemized; an unitemized or inflated deduction can be disputed in small claims, where your dated photos are the case.
How long does a move-out cleaning take?
A professional two-person crew does a 2-bedroom apartment in 2–4 hours and a 3-bedroom house in 4–6, plus an hour or two for carpets. Doing it yourself, plan 4–7 hours for a studio, 6–10 for a 2-bedroom, 10–16 for a 3-bedroom house and 14–22 for a 4-bedroom — after the furniture is out, because a move-out clean with furniture in place is a standard clean with a worse result.
How much does move-in move-out cleaning cost for an apartment?
$110–$250 for a studio or 1-bedroom and $180–$350 for a 2-bedroom — apartments price lower than houses of the same bedroom count because there's no garage, yard door or third bath. A move-in clean of the new place is the same price and often bundled with the move-out at a small discount. Rush fees of $50–$200 apply at month-end and on weekends, which is when everyone moves.
Does move-out cleaning include carpet cleaning?
Rarely; it's a separate line at $75–$300 depending on rooms, or $25–$70 per room, done with a truck-mounted or portable steam extractor. Leases often require it specifically — 'carpets professionally cleaned' — and want the receipt. A rental extractor ($40 a day plus solution) handles normal soil; pet stains and odors usually need the pro machine and treatment to survive a walkthrough.
What do cleaners not do on a move-out?
Exterior windows, high ceilings and fixtures beyond a step stool, mold remediation, heavy junk removal, painting or nail-hole repair, moving furniture, and biohazards. Many won't do a unit that's still furnished. Those are either add-ons or separate trades, and a company that finds them on arrival will re-quote or decline.
Sources
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (SOC 37-2012), Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics , U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026-04
- How Much Does Move-out Cleaning Cost? , HomeGuide, 2026-09
- How Much Does a Move-Out Clean Cost? , Angi, 2026-09
- How Much Does Move-Out Cleaning Cost? , HomeAdvisor, 2026-09
- Apartment Cleaning Cost , Thumbtack, 2026-09
- Tenant Rights , U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2026-09
- Security Deposit Limits and Deadlines in Your State , Nolo, 2026-09
Figures last reviewed . See how we estimate.