If you are budgeting for a new cleaning contract, the first question is simple: how much should it cost? The honest answer is that it depends on your building, your hours and the standard you need. But there are typical market rates, and knowing them helps you spot a quote that is too high, or one that is too low to be sustainable.
This guide sets out typical commercial cleaning rates in Essex and London for 2026, explains what affects the price and shows you how to compare quotes fairly.
Most contract cleaning is priced per cleaner hour. Published 2026 market guides put typical rates at:
| Service | Typical rate per cleaner hour |
| Contract office cleaning, UK | £15 to £25 |
| Contract office cleaning, London | £21.50 to £25.50 |
| One-off deep cleaning | £20 to £35 |
A 10-desk office in Essex needing two hours of cleaning every weekday uses about 43 cleaner hours a month. At £20 an hour, that is around £870 a month before VAT. The same hours in central London, at the higher London rate, would cost more.
The National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour in April 2026, and many responsible contractors pay the Real Living Wage of £13.45, or £14.80 in London. Employer National Insurance has also increased. Labour is the largest part of any cleaning price, so these changes flow directly into quotes.
Larger buildings need more hours, but layout matters as much as size. Open-plan floors clean faster than buildings divided into many small rooms.
Daily cleaning costs more each month than three visits a week, but it keeps standards consistent. Early morning, evening and weekend work can also affect the rate.
Kitchens, washrooms, medical rooms and high-footfall areas take longer to clean properly. Specialist sites, such as schools or clinics, may need vetted staff and specific products.
Carpet extraction, window cleaning, floor sealing and high-level cleaning are usually priced separately from the daily contract. Ask whether they are included or quoted as extras.
A quote should cover supervision, training, insurance, equipment and consumables. Very low quotes often leave these out, or rely on paying below the legal minimum wage.
Integra Cleaning Group builds every quote from a written specification for your building, so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Our contracts include supervision, quality audits under ISO 9001 and local cover when a cleaner is absent. We serve businesses across London, Essex and Kent from our base in Rainham, and Commercial Director Stephen Lynch or our office team will call you back within five minutes of your enquiry.
Most UK contract cleaning is priced per cleaner hour, based on how long your building takes to clean to the agreed standard. Some providers also quote per square metre for larger sites.
A very low quote may include fewer hours, leave out supervision or consumables, or rely on paying staff below legal wage rates. Always check the hours and specification behind the price.
VAT-registered cleaning companies charge VAT at the standard rate. Check whether each quote you compare is shown with or without VAT.
Tell us about your premises and get a tailored commercial cleaning quote in 60 seconds.
Powered by People. Driven by Integrity.
