How Much Is a Deep Clean of a House
2 September 2026
How Much Is a Deep Clean of a House?
A professional deep clean of a 3-bedroom house in the UK costs between £180 and £320 in 2026. A 1-bedroom flat sits at the lower end of the range at £80 to £150, while a 5-bedroom family home can reach £400 to £600 depending on its condition and the region.
Those numbers assume a thorough, one-off deep clean: skirting boards, inside cupboards, behind appliances, limescale and grout, and all areas that regular weekly cleaning does not reach. A deep clean is not the same as a standard domestic clean it takes considerably longer, typically four to seven hours for a 3-bedroom property with a two-person team, and produces a noticeably different result.
What a Deep Clean Includes (and What It Does Not)
Understanding exactly what is and is not in the price before booking prevents the most common source of dispute with cleaning companies.
A standard deep clean should cover all rooms: vacuuming and mopping floors, wiping all surfaces, cleaning bathrooms including limescale removal from taps and showerheads, descaling toilets, cleaning inside the shower or bath, scrubbing grout, cleaning all kitchen surfaces including the inside of the microwave, wiping cabinet exteriors, and cleaning inside the fridge. Skirting boards, door frames, light switches, and window sills should also be included.
A standard deep clean typically does not include: oven cleaning (usually priced separately at £60 to £100), carpet shampooing, interior window cleaning beyond a basic wipe, laundry, ironing, or cleaning of any items that require specialist treatment.
Before booking, confirm in writing whether the oven is included. Oven cleaning is a significant job that many companies charge separately for, and the inside of a heavily used oven is often one of the main reasons a deep clean is needed in the first place.
Deep Clean Prices by Property Size
Property size | Typical deep clean cost (2026) |
|---|---|
Studio flat | £60 to £100 |
1-bedroom flat | £80 to £150 |
2-bedroom house or flat | £120 to £200 |
3-bedroom house | £180 to £320 |
4-bedroom house | £260 to £420 |
5-bedroom house | £350 to £600 |
After-build clean (3-bed) | £260 to £480 |
End-of-tenancy clean (3-bed) | £220 to £400 |
Figures based on InstantCost.co.uk's 2026 UK house cleaning pricing data. London and South East typically run at the upper end of each range. Condition of property affects the final price.
What Affects the Price Most
Property condition is the single biggest variable within any property size. A 3-bedroom house that has been regularly cleaned and maintained sits at the lower end of the range. A property that has not been properly cleaned for months, has accumulated grease and scale, or has specific problem areas such as heavily soiled bathrooms, takes significantly longer and costs proportionally more. Some companies will quote on sight after a brief walk-through rather than giving a fixed price over the phone for this reason.
Location affects the rate directly. London and the South East consistently sit at the upper end of pricing, with hourly rates often running £22 to £28. The Midlands, North West, Yorkshire, Scotland, and Wales tend toward £15 to £20 per hour. Rural areas may carry a travel surcharge for one-off bookings.
Agency versus independent cleaner produces a meaningful price difference. Independent self-employed cleaners typically charge £2 to £5 per hour less than established agencies. Agencies carry public liability insurance, handle replacements if the cleaner is unavailable, and conduct staff vetting and DBS checks. For a one-off deep clean of a property being sold or let, the insurance and accountability a reputable agency provides is worth the premium.
Add-on services increase the total. Oven cleaning (£60 to £100), carpet shampooing (£30 to £60 per room), interior window cleaning, and fridge cleaning if not included in the standard quote are the most common additions. Bundled packages that combine a deep clean with oven cleaning are common and usually priced at a small discount versus booking separately.
Deep Clean vs Regular Clean vs End-of-Tenancy Clean
These three service types are frequently confused when getting quotes, and comparing like-for-like prices is only possible when you know what each one involves.
A regular domestic clean is maintenance cleaning: hoovering, mopping, kitchen and bathroom surfaces, and dusting. It keeps a property that is already in reasonable condition tidy. It does not involve inside cupboards, behind appliances, grout, limescale, or the thorough attention to detail that a deep clean provides. For a 3-bedroom house, a regular clean costs £70 to £120 per visit.
A deep clean is a one-off intensive clean that addresses everything a regular clean does not. It is typically booked before moving into a new property, before selling, after building or renovation work, or after a period where regular cleaning has been neglected. Cost for a 3-bed: £180 to £320.
An end-of-tenancy clean is a deep clean graded against the standard that letting agents and landlords inspect against when returning a deposit. It almost always includes the oven and all cupboards as standard because these are the areas most commonly flagged on checkout inventories. Companies that specialise in end-of-tenancy cleaning often offer a guarantee to re-clean specific areas if the landlord raises issues at checkout. Cost for a 3-bed: £220 to £400.
An after-build or post-renovation clean removes plaster dust, paint overspray, adhesive residue, and construction debris from all surfaces. This is the most labour-intensive type and is priced accordingly at £260 to £480 for a 3-bedroom property.
How Long Does a Deep Clean Take?
A two-person team cleaning a 3-bedroom house in average condition takes four to seven hours for a thorough deep clean. A single cleaner working alone takes eight to twelve hours for the same property. Most companies send a team for deep cleans specifically to reduce the time on site.
Properties in better condition come in at the lower end of the time range. A property with significant grease accumulation in the kitchen, heavy limescale in bathrooms, or areas that have not been cleaned in several months sits at the upper end and occasionally beyond. Some companies quote on time rather than property size, which means a condition-dependent finish time and an open-ended final cost. A fixed price per property size is generally more predictable for the customer.
How to Tell If Your Quote Is Fair
Three comparisons help assess whether a quote is reasonable.
First, compare the quoted price to the typical range for your property size and region using the table above. A quote significantly below the lower end of the range either covers a reduced scope or reflects a company cutting corners on time, staff pay, or materials.
Second, confirm what is included before comparing any two quotes. A £200 quote that includes oven cleaning is directly comparable to a £140 quote that excludes it only after adding the £60 to £100 oven cleaning cost to the second quote.
Third, check whether cleaning materials and equipment are included. Most professional agencies provide their own; independent cleaners sometimes expect the client to supply products, which adds a small cost and the responsibility of having the right products available.
A reputable company will be willing to provide a written itemised breakdown of what the price covers. If a company resists putting the scope in writing, that is useful information before signing anything.
Before booking any professional cleaning service, it is worth running the figures through the InstantCost house cleaning cost guide which has a 2026 UK calculator you can filter by service type, property size, and region to generate an expected price range for your specific situation before getting quotes.
Once you have the price right, the process side matters too. Our related guide on how to deep clean a house covers the room-by-room sequence that professional cleaners follow and what areas to prioritise if you are doing any preparation work before the cleaners arrive.
Common Mistakes and What to Do Instead
Mistake: booking without confirming whether the oven is included. The oven is the most commonly disputed item on deep clean invoices. Confirm in writing before booking whether it is in scope.
Mistake: comparing quotes with different scopes. A quote that excludes oven cleaning, carpet shampooing, or interior windows is not comparable to one that includes them. Confirm the full scope of each quote before comparing prices.
Mistake: choosing the cheapest quote without checking what it covers. Prices significantly below the typical range usually reflect fewer hours on site, fewer cleaning tasks, or uninsured independent contractors. For a one-off deep clean before a sale or tenancy, the result quality matters more than saving £20.
Mistake: not getting a fixed price for end-of-tenancy cleaning. If a company quotes by the hour for an end-of-tenancy clean, the final cost is unpredictable. A fixed price per property type protects the budget and gives the cleaner an incentive to work efficiently.
Mistake: not confirming whether the company provides cleaning materials. Some companies provide everything; others do not. Discovering on the day that you need to supply products adds a trip to the shops and delays the start.
What It Costs in the UK
Service | Typical UK cost (2026) |
|---|---|
Hourly domestic clean | £15 to £25 per hour |
Regular clean, 1-bed flat | £45 to £70 per visit |
Regular clean, 3-bed house | £70 to £120 per visit |
Deep clean, 1-bed flat | £80 to £150 |
Deep clean, 3-bed house | £180 to £320 |
Deep clean, 5-bed house | £350 to £600 |
Oven cleaning (add-on) | £60 to £100 |
Carpet shampooing (per room) | £30 to £60 |
End-of-tenancy clean, 3-bed | £220 to £400 |
After-build clean, 3-bed | £260 to £480 |
Figures based on InstantCost.co.uk's 2026 UK house cleaning pricing data. Prices vary by region, property condition, and provider. London and South East typically sit at the upper end of each range.
Staying Safe
Professional cleaning companies entering your home should carry public liability insurance. This covers accidental damage to your property during the clean. Ask for confirmation of insurance before any booking, and for significant one-off cleans consider taking your own photographs of any valuable or fragile items before the cleaners arrive.
Reputable agencies conduct DBS checks on their cleaning staff, which is particularly relevant for properties where children or vulnerable adults are present, or for any clean that involves access to a property you are not present in.
Do not allow any company to start work before you have a written confirmation of the price, scope, and what happens if you are dissatisfied with the result. Most professional companies offer a re-clean of any disputed area within 24 to 48 hours if raised immediately after the clean.
Cleaning companies operating in the UK are not subject to a specific regulatory licensing scheme, though they are subject to general consumer protection law under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This means the service must be provided with reasonable skill and care, and you are entitled to request a remedy if it is not. Keep any written quotes and written scope confirmations as your evidence base if a dispute arises.
FAQ
How much does a professional deep clean of a house cost in the UK? A deep clean of a 3-bedroom house costs £180 to £320 in 2026. A 1-bedroom flat costs £80 to £150 and a 5-bedroom house £350 to £600. London and the South East sit at the upper end of each range. The condition of the property significantly affects the final price.
How long does a deep clean of a house take? A two-person professional team typically takes four to seven hours to deep clean a 3-bedroom house in average condition. A single cleaner takes eight to twelve hours for the same property. Heavily soiled or larger properties take longer.
What is the difference between a deep clean and an end-of-tenancy clean? An end-of-tenancy clean is a deep clean graded against letting agent standards and almost always includes the oven and inside all cupboards as standard. It typically costs £220 to £400 for a 3-bedroom house and often comes with a guarantee to re-clean disputed areas at no charge.
Is oven cleaning included in a deep clean? Not always. Many companies price oven cleaning separately at £60 to £100. Confirm in writing before booking whether the oven is in scope, since it is the most commonly disputed item on deep clean invoices.
Should I use an agency or an independent cleaner for a deep clean? Agencies carry public liability insurance, conduct staff vetting, and handle replacements if the cleaner is unavailable. Independent cleaners are typically £2 to £5 per hour cheaper. For a one-off deep clean before a sale or tenancy, the insurance and accountability of a reputable agency is generally worth the difference.
How do I know if a deep clean quote is fair? Compare the quoted price against the typical range for your property size and region. Confirm the full scope of what is included before comparing any two quotes, since a lower price that excludes oven cleaning or carpet shampooing may not be cheaper once those are added.