The move-out cleaning cost in 2026 runs $120 to $600, with the national average around $360. A move-out clean is a deep clean of an empty home designed to pass a landlord inspection and recover your security deposit — which is why it costs more than a routine cleaning. This guide breaks down move-out cleaning cost by home size, lists what's included versus what's an add-on, shows when paying beats doing it yourself, and includes a working calculator to estimate your move-out clean by square footage and extras.
The figures here reflect 2026 cleaning-cost data from Angi, HouseCall Pro, and professional move-out cleaning price sheets.
2026 move-out-cleaning-cost ranges by home size, standard deep clean of an empty unit.
| Home Size | Approx. Sq Ft | 2026 Cost Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bedroom | 400 – 750 | $120 – $250 | $180 |
| 2-bedroom | 750 – 1,100 | $200 – $350 | $275 |
| 3-bedroom | 1,100 – 1,800 | $300 – $450 | $375 |
| 4-bedroom + | 1,800 – 3,000 | $400 – $600+ | $500 |
A move-out clean is a deep clean of an empty home, so cleaners reach everywhere a recurring service skips: inside cabinets and drawers, inside the oven and refrigerator, baseboards, window tracks, inside closets, light fixtures, and switch plates. It is typically priced at 1.5 to 2 times a standard clean because the goal is a spotless unit that passes inspection. The empty home is an advantage — no furniture to work around — but the thoroughness is what drives the move-out cleaning cost.
Estimate your move-out clean. Enter square footage and choose the add-ons you need.
Example output: 1,000 sq ft at about $0.22 per sq ft = $220 base, plus carpet ($120) and oven ($45) = $385, near the national-average move-out cleaning cost. A small 400 sq ft studio falls to the $120 minimum-job floor.
| Included in Standard Move-Out Clean | Common Add-Ons |
|---|---|
| Kitchen counters, sink, cabinet exteriors & interiors | Interior oven ($25 – $50) |
| Bathrooms: toilet, tub, shower, tile, mirrors | Interior refrigerator ($25 – $50) |
| All floors vacuumed and mopped | Carpet shampoo / steam ($80 – $300) |
| Baseboards, door frames, switch plates | Wall washing ($50 – $150) |
| Inside closets, window sills and tracks | Exterior windows ($75 – $200) |
| Light fixtures, dusting throughout | Garage / patio ($40 – $120) |
The whole point of a move-out clean is the deposit. Landlords can deduct cleaning costs from your deposit if the unit isn't returned clean, and they often charge more than a cleaning service would. Many leases specifically require professional cleaning and/or professional carpet cleaning, sometimes with a receipt. Read your lease's move-out clause, photograph the cleaned unit on your last day, and keep the cleaning receipt. A $300 to $400 clean that protects a $1,500 deposit is an easy decision.
Cleaners price move-out jobs two ways: a flat rate by home size and condition, or an hourly rate (commonly $40 to $60 per cleaner per hour, with crews of two to three). Flat-rate is predictable and usually better for a standard unit. Hourly can be cheaper for a small, well-kept space but riskier for a dirty one because hours add up. Ask both ways and pick the lower for your situation.
The move-out cleaning cost runs higher in expensive metros and lower in smaller markets. A two-bedroom move-out clean that costs $200 to $300 in a mid-size city can run $300 to $450 in New York, San Francisco, or Boston, where labor rates are higher. Smaller and rural markets see the lower end. Always get local quotes rather than relying on the national average of around $360.
Move-out cleaning prepares the home you're leaving for inspection and deposit return. Move-in cleaning sanitizes the home you're entering before you unpack — wiping cabinets, sanitizing bathrooms and the kitchen, and cleaning floors in an empty unit. They cost about the same ($120 to $600 by size), and some movers offer both. If you're renting at both ends, budget for a move-out clean at the old place and consider a move-in clean at the new one.
A professional crew cleans a one-bedroom in about two to three hours, a two-bedroom in three to four hours, and a three-bedroom house in four to six hours, scaling with size, condition, and add-ons like carpet shampooing. A solo DIY effort typically takes much longer — a full day or two for a family-sized home — which is a key reason many renters hire out the move-out clean during an already busy move.
Doing it yourself saves the $120 to $600 fee but typically costs a full day or two and $30 to $60 in supplies (all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner, scrub pads, a mop). The hardest parts are the oven, the inside of cabinets, baseboards, and grout. If your lease requires professional cleaning with a receipt, DIY won't satisfy it. Weigh your time and the deposit at risk before going DIY.
Two homes of the same size can have very different move-out cleaning costs depending on the factors below. Understanding them helps you predict your quote and decide what to handle yourself.
| Factor | Effect on Cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home size (sq ft) | Largest driver | More surface area to deep-clean |
| Condition / buildup | +20% – 60% | Grease, grime, and neglect take longer |
| Carpet shampooing | +$80 – $300 | Specialized equipment and time |
| Interior oven & fridge | +$50 – $100 | Labor-intensive degreasing |
| Number of bathrooms | +$30 – $60 each | Bathrooms are detail-heavy |
| Pet hair / odor | +10% – 30% | Extra vacuuming and deodorizing |
| Metro location | +20% – 60% | Higher labor rates in big cities |
If your unit is in good condition and you handle the oven and surfaces yourself, you can keep the move-out cleaning cost near the low end of the range for your home size. Heavy buildup, pets, and add-ons push it toward the top.
Whether the tenant or landlord pays for move-out cleaning depends on the lease and the unit's condition. Normal wear and tear is the landlord's responsibility; cleaning beyond normal use (or a contractual professional-cleaning requirement) is typically the tenant's. If the lease requires professional cleaning, the tenant generally pays and may need to provide a receipt. If you leave the unit reasonably clean and the lease is silent on professional cleaning, the landlord usually cannot deduct ordinary cleaning from the deposit. Review your lease and local tenant law, document the unit's condition with dated photos, and keep any cleaning receipt to protect your deposit.
Move-out cleaning cost in 2026 runs $120 to $600, with the national average around $360. A studio or one-bedroom apartment typically costs $120 to $250, a two-bedroom $200 to $350, a three-bedroom house $300 to $450, and a four-bedroom or larger $400 to $600 or more. Heavy buildup, carpet shampooing, and interior oven and fridge cleaning add to the base price, which is usually quoted by square footage or by the home's size and condition.
Yes, move-out cleaning costs more than a regular recurring clean because it is a deep clean of an empty home: inside cabinets and drawers, inside the oven and refrigerator, baseboards, window tracks, inside closets, and scrubbing that recurring service skips. It is priced like a deep clean, typically 1.5 to 2 times a standard clean, because the cleaners cover every surface to help you pass a landlord inspection and recover the deposit.
Move-out cleaning usually includes vacuuming carpets but not carpet shampooing or steam cleaning, which is typically an add-on costing $25 to $75 per room or $120 to $300 for a home. Many leases require professional carpet cleaning at move-out, so confirm whether your cleaner offers it or whether you need a separate carpet service. Getting the carpets done can be the difference between a returned and a withheld deposit.
Pay for move-out cleaning when your lease requires professional cleaning, when the deposit at risk exceeds the cleaning cost, or when you simply do not have time during a move. Doing it yourself saves the $120 to $600 fee but takes most renters a full day or two and the right supplies. Since a withheld deposit often exceeds the cleaning price, professional move-out cleaning frequently pays for itself by protecting your deposit.
Move-out cleaning for a 2-bedroom apartment costs about $200 to $350 in 2026 for a standard deep clean of an empty unit. Add-ons raise it: carpet shampooing $80 to $200, interior oven cleaning $25 to $50, interior fridge cleaning $25 to $50, and wall washing or heavy buildup more. Prices run higher in major metros and for units in poor condition, and lower for smaller, well-kept apartments.
A move-out cleaning typically includes deep cleaning the kitchen (counters, cabinets inside and out, sink, appliance exteriors), bathrooms (toilet, tub, shower, tile, mirrors), all floors (vacuum and mop), baseboards, door frames, light fixtures, switch plates, inside closets, and window sills and tracks. Interior oven, interior refrigerator, carpet shampooing, wall washing, and exterior windows are common add-ons that cost extra. Confirm the checklist matches your landlord's move-out requirements.
To lower move-out cleaning cost, declutter and remove all belongings first so cleaners work in an empty space and bill fewer hours, do the easy tasks yourself (wiping surfaces, sweeping) and pay only for the deep work, skip add-ons you can handle (like the oven if you clean it yourself), book mid-week, and get two or three quotes. Ask whether a flat rate by home size or an hourly rate is cheaper for your situation, and confirm what the landlord actually requires.