Move Out Cleaning Cost
The single most common reason a landlord deducts cleaning costs from a security deposit is a dirty oven. Move-out cleaning exists because of checks like that: it is the only cleaning tier scoped for every surface a landlord, a new tenant, or a home buyer will actually inspect. It costs close to double a standard visit, which for a typical 3-bed, 2-bath house between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet runs $335 to $435.
Move out cleaning cost by home size
| Home size (3 bed, 2 bath) | Move out clean |
|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | $210 to $280 |
| 1,000 to 1,500 sq ft | $265 to $355 |
| 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft | $335 to $435 |
| 2,000 to 2,500 sq ft | $415 to $525 |
| 2,500 to 3,000 sq ft | $480 to $600 |
| 3,000 to 4,000 sq ft | $570 to $720 |
| 4,000+ sq ft | $685 to $875 |
More or fewer bedrooms and bathrooms shift these numbers up or down. The calculator above is the exact math for your home.
What a move out clean needs to cover
Renting rather than owning a house? Apartments get priced by bedroom count, not square footage. The apartment cleaning cost calculator has the same move-in and move-out option built in, scaled for a unit instead of a house.
Questions people ask before booking
How much does move out cleaning cost?
For a house, a move-out clean runs about 95% more than a standard visit, which works out to $335 to $435 for a typical 3-bed, 2-bath home between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet. Enter your ZIP code, square footage, and bedroom count in the calculator above for a number specific to your place.
What is the difference between move-out and move-in cleaning?
The scope is basically identical, a full top-to-bottom clean of an empty space. The difference is timing and who it is for: move-out cleaning happens after the previous occupant leaves, move-in cleaning happens before the new one arrives. Pricing is the same either way.
What do landlords check most during a move-out inspection?
A dirty oven or stovetop is the single most common reason cleaning costs get deducted from a deposit, followed by stained carpet and mold or mildew around bathroom caulking. If you can only add one extra to your booking, make it the inside of the oven.
Can a landlord charge me for a full deep clean from my deposit?
Generally no. A landlord can charge to bring a unit back to the level of cleanliness it was at when you moved in, not to upgrade it beyond that with a deep clean between every tenant. The charge also has to reflect a reasonable, real market rate for the area, not an arbitrary number.
Is move-out cleaning the same price for a house and an apartment?
No, and this page's calculator is built for houses priced by square footage. Apartments are usually priced by bedroom count instead. See the apartment cleaning cost calculator for a studio through 4-plus bedroom unit.
How far in advance should I book move-out cleaning?
Book it for the day the space is empty, ideally right before your final walkthrough or the new occupant's move-in. An empty, furniture-free space cleans faster and more thoroughly than one that is still half packed.
Run the calculator above with the actual square footage of the place you are leaving or moving into, and keep the receipt. It is the easiest way to show a landlord, or yourself, that the cleaning was handled at a fair, real market rate.