Commercial cleaning costs $0.05 to $0.25 per square foot, or $25 to $50 per hour per cleaner. General office space typically runs $0.09 to $0.20 per square foot. Medical and healthcare facilities run higher, $0.14 to $0.28, because the work involves disinfection protocols and regulated waste handling that general janitorial does not.
Below is the full breakdown by facility type, by building size, and by frequency, plus the one calculation that lets you compare any two bids on equal footing.
Commercial cleaning rates per square foot
Square footage is the standard basis for commercial contracts. Rates by facility type:
| Facility type | Cost per square foot | Why it lands there |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and healthcare | $0.14 to $0.28 | Disinfection protocols, regulated waste, compliance documentation |
| General office | $0.09 to $0.20 | The baseline for most commercial contracts |
| Industrial and manufacturing | $0.08 to $0.18 | Large open areas clean faster per square foot |
| Retail | $0.07 to $0.16 | High traffic, but mostly hard floor |
| Schools and education | $0.07 to $0.15 | Volume pricing on very large footprints |
These ranges follow the framework published by ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, and they hold reasonably well across US markets. Northeast metro areas, including New Jersey, sit in the upper half on labor.
The one calculation that makes bids comparable
Divide the monthly contract cost by cleanable square footage:
Monthly cost ÷ cleanable square feet = cost per square foot
A $12,000 monthly contract on 100,000 square feet is $0.12 per square foot. A $1,400 monthly contract on 8,000 square feet is $0.175. The second is more expensive, even though the first number is far larger.
Note the word cleanable. Total leased square footage usually includes areas nobody cleans: storage, mechanical rooms, unfinished space. A vendor quoting on total footage rather than cleanable footage will look cheaper per square foot and cost the same in reality. Ask which number the bid uses.
Commercial cleaning cost by building size
| Building size | Per visit | Monthly (typical schedule) |
|---|---|---|
| Small, under 5,000 sq ft | $100 to $300 | $500 to $800 |
| Medium, 5,000 to 10,000 sq ft | $300 to $500 | $1,000 to $1,500 |
| Large, 10,000+ sq ft | $500+ | $2,000+ |
A small professional office, a dental practice, a law firm suite, or a med spa almost always falls in the first row.
How frequency changes the price
Frequency changes the per-visit price sharply, and in the opposite direction from what people expect.
| Frequency | Per-visit cost | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Five days a week | Lowest per visit | Medical, dental, high-traffic offices, food service |
| Three days a week | Slightly higher | Mid-size offices, retail |
| Once a week | Higher per visit | Small offices, low headcount |
| Once or twice a month | Highest per visit | Warehouses, low-traffic space |
| One-time | Highest of all | Post-event, post-construction, turnover |
Daily service costs less per visit because each visit has less to remove. A space cleaned once a month accumulates a month of soil, and the crew spends the first hour catching up before any maintenance work begins. This is the same reason a one-time residential clean costs more than a recurring one, and it is covered in more detail in our guide to house cleaning costs.
Services priced separately from the base contract
Routine janitorial covers surfaces, restrooms, trash, vacuuming, and mopping. These are almost always quoted on top:
| Service | Typical cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet cleaning | $0.08 to $0.25 per sq ft | 1 to 4 times per year |
| Hard floor strip and refinish | $0.30 to $0.60 per sq ft | 1 to 2 times per year |
| Hard floor scrub and recoat | $0.20 to $0.40 per sq ft | 2 to 4 times per year |
| Electrostatic disinfection | $0.10 to $0.25 per sq ft | As needed |
| Interior window cleaning | Quoted per pane or per hour | 2 to 4 times per year |
| Post-construction cleanup | $0.20 to $0.45 per sq ft | One-time |
See our pages on window cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, and post-construction cleaning.
Why medical and dental offices cost more
The premium on healthcare facilities is not a markup for the word “medical.” It buys specific work:
- Disinfection protocol, not sanitizing. Hospital-grade disinfectants with defined contact times, applied in a defined sequence.
- Cross-contamination control. Color-coded equipment, separate materials per zone, and a cleaning order that moves from clean areas to dirty ones and never back.
- Regulated waste handling. Sharps containers and biohazard waste follow separate procedures.
- Documentation. Logs that hold up during an inspection.
- Trained, background-checked staff working around patient records and controlled areas, often after hours.
- Higher touchpoint density. Exam rooms, chairs, and equipment surfaces need far more attention per square foot than a desk.
The same reasoning applies to med spas and aesthetic clinics, where the standard is clinical but the environment also has to look immaculate to the client sitting in it.
Details on our medical and dental office cleaning in Monmouth County.
Hourly versus square foot versus flat monthly
- Per square foot is the standard for recurring contracts. It is predictable and it makes bids comparable.
- Hourly, $25 to $50 per cleaner, fits small spaces and irregular work. The risk is that you are buying time, not outcome. Only use it with a defined scope.
- Flat monthly is the simplest to budget and the most common contract format. It should still be built from a square-foot rate underneath, and you should ask to see that number.
If a bid gives you only a monthly figure and will not break it down, that is worth pressing on. A vendor who cannot show the rate per square foot either has not calculated it or does not want it compared.
Six questions to ask before signing
- Is the rate based on cleanable or total square footage?
- What exactly is in the base scope, and what is billed separately? Get floor care, windows, and carpet in writing.
- Are they licensed and insured, and is staff covered by workers’ compensation? Ask for the certificate, not a yes.
- Is staff background-checked? Non-negotiable for medical, dental, and legal offices.
- Who supplies consumables? Paper, soap, and liners are often excluded and can add meaningfully to the monthly cost.
- What happens when someone is out sick? A company covers the shift; a solo contractor does not.
Commercial cleaning costs in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County runs above national averages on labor, so local contracts tend to sit in the upper half of every range on this page. For a small professional office, a dental practice, or a med spa under 5,000 square feet, budget $500 to $900 per month for a standard schedule, and more if the facility is medical.
Maison Mop Stars provides commercial cleaning across Monmouth County, with a focus on medical and dental offices, med spas, aesthetic clinics, law firms, and corporate offices. See our commercial cleaning services and office cleaning pages, or the full Monmouth County service area.
Frequently asked questions
How much does commercial cleaning cost per square foot?
Commercial cleaning costs $0.05 to $0.25 per square foot. General office space runs $0.09 to $0.20, while medical and healthcare facilities run $0.14 to $0.28 due to disinfection protocols and regulated waste handling.
What is the average cost of commercial cleaning per month?
A building under 5,000 square feet typically costs $500 to $800 per month. From 5,000 to 10,000 square feet runs $1,000 to $1,500, and buildings over 10,000 square feet start around $2,000 per month.
What is the hourly rate for commercial cleaning?
Commercial cleaners charge $25 to $50 per hour per person. Hourly pricing fits small or irregular jobs; recurring contracts are normally priced per square foot.
How much does janitorial service cost per square foot?
Janitorial service falls in the same band as general commercial cleaning, $0.08 to $0.20 per square foot for most office and light commercial space, depending on frequency and scope.
Why does daily cleaning cost less per visit than monthly?
Because each visit has less accumulated soil to remove. Infrequent service means the crew spends the first part of every visit catching up before maintenance work begins, which raises the per-visit price.
Is floor care included in a commercial cleaning contract?
Usually not. Carpet cleaning, floor stripping and refinishing, and scrub and recoat are priced separately, typically $0.08 to $0.60 per square foot depending on the service. Confirm what is in the base scope before signing.
Get a quote for your facility
Every range here is a benchmark, not a quote. Real pricing depends on cleanable square footage, facility type, frequency, and scope.
Maison Mop Stars provides free walkthroughs and written estimates for commercial facilities across Monmouth County, New Jersey. Call or text (732) 268-0803, or request a free estimate.
