How much does office cleaning cost? Prices per m² and hourly rates (2026)
„How much does it cost, roughly?“ – almost every conversation about office cleaning starts with this question. The honest answer is: it depends. That is not an evasion, but a matter of calculation. An office of 150 square metres with eight workstations and carpet flooring is priced differently from an administrative floor of 400 square metres with a reception area and client footfall. Those who understand the pricing factors can assess quotes properly – and recognise when a price is too good to be reliable.
We are a family-run business based in Gladbeck and have been cleaning offices, medical practices and administrative buildings in the Ruhr area since 1983. In this guide, we set out transparently how the price of an office cleaning is built up, what benchmarks are typical in Germany in 2026 – and we work through two typical scenarios. With the full calculation, not blanket promises.
The four pricing factors: area, frequency, scope of service, accessibility
Every reliable quote is based on four variables. First, the area: It determines the time required, but not linearly. On large, contiguous spaces, travel time and setup time are spread more efficiently, so the price per square metre falls as the area grows. Small premises bear the travel cost almost entirely on their own – which is why 80 square metres costs more per square metre than 800.
Second, the frequency: This is the biggest cost lever. Between once a week and daily cleaning, monthly costs can easily differ by a factor of three to four. Which frequency suits which office situation, we have set out in a dedicated guide to the question „How often should an office be cleaned?“
Third, the scope of service: „Office cleaning“ is not a defined standard. Are waste bins, the kitchenette and restrooms included? Are desks wiped clear, or only unoccupied surfaces? Is the window cleaning of partitions and windows included or a separate line item? Two quotes at the same price can describe entirely different services.
Fourth, accessibility: Cleaning before 06:00 or after 20:00, locking systems and alarm systems, floors without a lift, heavily furnished rooms with many cables and obstructed surfaces – all of this costs time and therefore money. A clear open-plan office is cleaned faster than a maze of individual offices with the same floor area.
Market-standard benchmarks for 2026: hourly rates and prices per square metre
The hourly rate in building cleaning typically stands at around €33 to €54 (€28 to €45 net) per hour (gross, including 19% VAT) in 2026 – depending on region, property type and scope of services. This is not the cleaner’s wage, but the rate from which the company must cover everything: the collective-agreement minimum wage of the building cleaning trade as a floor, plus social security contributions, paid leave and sick days, cover staff, cleaning agents and equipment, travel, public liability insurance, administration and a margin from which the company lives.
On a per-square-metre basis, this means for offices: with weekly to twice-weekly regular cleaning, approximately €1.79 to €4.17 (€1.50 to €3.50 net) per square metre per month, depending on fit-out, depth of service and accessibility. Daily cleaning sits correspondingly higher, usually between €3.57 and €5.95 (€3.00 and €5.00 net) per square metre per month. These ranges are indicative figures for Germany, not a price list – our guide „How much does building cleaning cost?“ gives an overview of all trades.
Example calculation 1: Small office, 150 m², twice a week
A typical scenario: a law firm or a planning office with around 150 square metres, eight workstations, a kitchenette and two washrooms. Cleaning takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays after office hours. Here is how the calculation works:
- Time required per visit: With typical productivity rates of 150 to 250 square metres per hour in regular cleaning – washrooms and kitchens take longer than circulation areas – around 1 to 1.5 hours per visit is realistic here.
- Visits per month: 2 per week × 4.33 weeks = approximately 8.7 visits.
- Hours per month: approximately 9 to 13 hours.
- Costs: at €33 to €54 (€28 to €45 net) per hour, this works out to approximately €298 to €690 (€250 to €580 net); in practice, properties like this usually come in at €357 to €536 (€300 to €450 net) per month.
The cross-check via the per-square-metre rate confirms this: 150 m² × €2.38 to €3.57 (€2.00 to €3.00 net) also yields €357 to €536. Important: this is an indicative figure for an average property, not a quote. Carpet flooring instead of hard flooring, a heavily used meeting room or difficult access will shift the result.
Example calculation 2: Medium-sized office, 400 m², daily cleaning
Second scenario: an office floor with around 400 square metres, 25 workstations, a reception area, two meeting rooms, tea kitchens and a washroom block. Due to public footfall, cleaning takes place on all working days.
- Time required per visit: at a productivity rate of around 200 square metres per hour, approximately 2 hours per evening.
- Visits per month: 5 per week × 4.33 weeks = approximately 21.7 visits.
- Hours per month: approximately 43 hours.
- Costs: at 33 to 54 euros (net 28 to 45 euros) per hour, this works out to approximately 1,428 to 2,321 euros (net 1,200 to 1,950 euros) per month – equivalent to 3.57 to 5.83 euros (net 3.00 to 4.90 euros) per square metre.
The same applies here: these are guidelines, not fixed prices. In practice, a well-thought-out concept reduces costs without compromising results, because not every area needs full treatment every day. A light clean on four days, a thorough regular cleaning on one – this is how experienced operators manage effort and cost. A scheduled deep clean of the floor coverings is added separately, usually once or twice a year.
In-house cleaning or a service provider – which is more cost-effective?
Many small businesses employ their own cleaner on a mini-job basis. This can work – but the numbers still need to be calculated honestly. The statutory minimum wage in 2026 is 13.90 euros per hour; with the flat-rate contributions of around 30 per cent, the mini-job hour actually costs approximately 18 euros. On top of that come cleaning products and equipment, induction, quality control – and the question that causes the most trouble in practice: who cleans during holidays and sick leave?
A service provider costs more per hour but brings three things that are missing from the mini-job calculation: proven productivity rates (a trained cleaner with the right equipment covers significantly more area per hour), a managed cover system that requires no action on the client’s part, and protection through business liability insurance. Our honest assessment: for very small areas with one cleaning day per week, an in-house cleaner can be economical. From two visits per week and serious quality requirements, the balance usually tips in favour of a specialist firm.
Comparing quotes: how to spot dumping
The lowest price in building cleaning is rarely the cheapest. Anyone offering significantly below market rates is cutting corners in one of three areas: wages, time per area, or insurance cover. You pay for all three later – in poor results, constant complaints, or in the worst case, liability issues. Here is how to assess a quote:
- Work back the hourly rate: divide the monthly price by the calculated hours. If the result is below approximately 30 euros (net 25 euros), the provider’s figures only add up if something is being cut.
- Request a schedule of services: which rooms, which tasks, at what frequency? Without this document, quotes are not comparable.
- Site visit: a price without a prior site inspection is a guess – in either direction.
- Cover arrangements and point of contact: Who comes when someone is absent, and who do you contact for complaints?
- Proof of insurance: A public liability insurance certificate should be available on request.
- Subcontractors: Long chains drive down wages and dilute accountability. Ask who actually works on site.
Our approach: fixed price following a free site visit
We don’t quote office cleaning prices over the phone, and there’s a simple reason why: we’d have to guess. Instead, we visit the site, discuss the level of service and frequency you need, and prepare a schedule of works with a fixed monthly price – no hidden extras, with a clear cover arrangement. The site visit costs nothing and carries no obligation.
From our base on Hegestraße in Gladbeck, we service sites across the northern Ruhr area on fixed routes – from Bottrop and Gelsenkirchen to Essen. This keeps travel time low in our calculations, as long as the site falls within our route area. A typical process looks like this: enquiry, site visit within a few days, quotation with schedule of works, cleaning starts the following week – and then a dedicated point of contact rather than a call centre. This is how we’ve worked since 1983, and this is how we price: fairly for our staff, transparently for our clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does office cleaning cost per square metre?
For weekly to twice-weekly cleaning, the market rate in 2026 is approximately €1.79 to €4.17 (net €1.50 to €3.50) per square metre per month; for daily cleaning, typically €3.57 to €5.95 (net €3.00 to €5.00). The exact figure depends on floor area, level of service and accessibility – smaller sites cost more per square metre than larger ones, because travel and set-up time are spread over less area.
What is the hourly rate for office cleaning in 2026?
Market rates are approximately €33 to €54 (net €28 to €45) per hour, depending on region and site. This covers not only the collectively agreed wage but also social contributions, holiday and sick cover, cleaning products, travel, insurance and administration. Significantly lower rates only work economically if savings are made on wages, hours or safeguards – which almost always comes at the expense of the result.
Is an in-house cleaner cheaper than a service provider?
At first glance, yes: a mini-job hour costs around €18 in 2026 once contributions are included. But you also need to factor in materials, training, supervision and, above all, cover for holidays and illness. For very small offices with one cleaning day per week, an in-house cleaner may be worthwhile; from two visits per week onwards, a specialist firm is usually more economical due to higher throughput.
How do I recognise a suspiciously cheap quote?
Work out the hourly rate: divide the monthly price by the estimated hours. If it comes in well below €30 (€25 net), savings are being made on wages, time or insurance. Further warning signs: a price quoted without a site visit, no schedule of services, no cover arrangements, and long chains of subcontractors. A reliable quote specifies exactly which rooms are cleaned, how often and to what standard.
How do I get a fixed price for my office?
Through a site visit. Only on site can the floor area, flooring, sanitary areas and accessibility be assessed realistically. We then prepare a schedule of services and quote a fixed monthly price – the site visit is free and without obligation. You can reach us in Gladbeck on Tel. 02043 41100.
Questions or a quote?
Would you like to put your cleaning in professional hands? We’ll arrange a free site visit and prepare a transparent quotation — with a clear description of services and fixed prices.
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