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A cleaner in the UK should be paid between £13 and £25 per hour, with the exact figure depending on location, experience, and whether you’re hiring independently or through an agency.
I’ve spent the best part of two decades working alongside cleaning teams and independent cleaners, and if there’s one question I get asked more than any other, it’s this one. The National Living Wage sets a legal floor of £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, but most domestic cleaners charge considerably more once you factor in travel, supplies, and self-employment costs. Where you live matters enormously too, with London cleaners often charging £10 more per hour than those working in smaller towns. Below, I’ll cover minimum wage rules, average rates, what a single hour or room should cost, and a practical checklist for settling on a fair figure.
Get the rate wrong and you’ll either struggle to book anyone reliable or end up paying well over the odds for what should be a straightforward arrangement.
What Is the Minimum Salary for a Cleaner in the UK?
The minimum salary for a cleaner in the UK matches the National Living Wage, currently £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over from April 2026. Younger cleaners and apprentices receive lower statutory rates set by the government.
That £12.71 figure, confirmed on the gov.uk National Minimum Wage rates page, applies to anyone aged 21 and over. Workers aged 18 to 20 must receive at least £10.85 an hour, while those under 18 or in the first year of an apprenticeship are entitled to £8.00.
Here’s the thing though, most professional cleaners earn considerably more than the statutory minimum because they’re self-employed rather than salaried. A self-employed cleaner setting their own rates isn’t bound by the National Minimum Wage at all, since that legislation only protects workers and employees. You’ll want to check the gov.uk guidance on setting up as a sole trader if you’re a cleaner considering going self-employed, since it changes how you’re taxed and paid.
Nobody needs a formal qualification to charge a fair rate, either.
You don’t have to be licensed to work as a housekeeper in England, and there’s no degree requirement, though plenty of cleaners build genuine expertise over years on the job (I’ve met cleaners who can identify a stone floor type on sight and know exactly which product will strip it without damage). If you’re weighing up whether formal training matters, it’s worth reading through do you have to be licensed to be a housekeeper and do you need a degree for housekeeping, which cover this in more detail.
How Do You Work Out a Fair Hourly Rate for a Cleaner?
Working out a fair hourly rate for a cleaner involves comparing local averages of £13 to £25 per hour against the size of your home, the frequency of visits, and whether you hire independently or through an agency.
This checklist lists the steps for settling on a fair hourly rate for a cleaner.
- Check the National Living Wage rate of £12.71 per hour before setting your baseline.
- Research local market rates, typically £13 to £25 per hour, across your area.
- Compare independent cleaners against cleaning agencies for price and included insurance cover.
- Measure your home’s room count to estimate how many hours a visit needs.
- Confirm who supplies cleaning products, since self-supplied kit can affect the rate.
- Choose a visit frequency, as weekly bookings cost less per hour than one-off cleans.
- Factor in travel time and any public holiday surcharges into the final figure.
- Agree a written hourly rate with your cleaner before the first booking starts.
Work through these in order and you’ll land on a number that feels fair to both sides, rather than a figure plucked from thin air.
How Much Is a 1 Hour Clean?
A 1 hour clean costs roughly £13 to £25 depending on region, covering tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, and bathroom or kitchen wiping down. Most professional cleaners finish two to three rooms comfortably within that single hour.
One hour is enough for a decent freshen-up in a small flat, but it won’t stretch to a full deep clean of a family home.
In that hour, expect dusting, vacuuming or mopping the main living areas, a wipe-down of kitchen surfaces, and a quick once-over of the bathroom. Anything beyond that, skirting boards, inside the oven, or window sills, usually needs extra time booked in.
UK Cleaning Rates by Job Type and Region
| Cleaning Type | Rest of UK (per hour) | London & South East (per hour) |
|---|---|---|
| Regular weekly clean | £13 to £25 | £20 to £28 |
| One-off or deep clean | £15 to £30 | £22 to £38 |
| Ironing or laundry add-on | £12 to £18 | £16 to £22 |
| National Living Wage minimum (21+) | £12.71 | £12.71 |
As the table shows, one-off and deep cleans command a few pounds more per hour than regular weekly visits, largely because there’s no routine upkeep to lean on. London rates sit consistently higher across every category, generally £6 to £10 more per hour than the rest of the UK.
Regular visits are almost always the better value, hour for hour. If you’re wondering how much tidying to do between visits, are you supposed to clean up every day covers exactly that.
Final Thoughts: How Much Should a Cleaner Be Per Hour?
So, how much should a cleaner be per hour? Somewhere between £13 and £25 for most of the UK, rising towards £28 in London, with £12.71 as the absolute legal floor for anyone aged 21 and over.
The right figure for you depends on where you live, how big your home is, and whether you value the flexibility of an independent cleaner or the reassurance of an agency. Neither choice is wrong, they just suit different households.
Trust your instincts, ask around locally, and don’t be afraid to negotiate.
- Check the National Living Wage (£12.71 per hour for 21+) as your absolute minimum baseline.
- Expect to pay £13 to £25 per hour outside London, and £20 to £28 within it.
- Weekly or fortnightly bookings work out cheaper per hour than one-off deep cleans.
FAQs: How Much Should a Cleaner Be Per Hour?
How much should a cleaner be per hour in the UK? Most UK cleaners charge between £13 and £25 per hour, rising to £20-£28 in London and the South East. The legal minimum, the National Living Wage, is £12.71 per hour for anyone aged 21 or over.
What is the minimum wage for a cleaner in 2026? From April 2026, the National Living Wage is £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 for 18 to 20 year olds, and £8.00 for under 18s and apprentices. You can check current figures on the gov.uk minimum wage rates page.
Do cleaners charge more for a one-off deep clean? Yes, deep cleans typically cost £2 to £5 more per hour than regular weekly visits. This is because there’s no routine upkeep to rely on, so more ground needs covering in the same time.
Is it cheaper to hire a cleaner independently or through an agency? Independent cleaners are usually £2 to £5 cheaper per hour than agency-employed cleaners. Agencies make up the difference with insurance, vetted staff, and cover if your regular cleaner is unavailable.
How many hours does a three-bedroom house take to clean? A typical three-bedroom, two-bathroom home takes around three to three and a half hours for a regular clean. A one-off deep clean of the same property usually takes longer, often four hours or more.
Do I need to pay a cleaner’s travel costs? Many self-employed cleaners build travel time into their hourly rate rather than charging separately. It’s worth clarifying this before your first booking so there are no surprises on the invoice.
What is the difference between a cleaner and a housekeeper? A cleaner typically focuses on set tasks like vacuuming, dusting, and surface cleaning within a fixed number of hours. A housekeeper often takes on a broader role, including laundry, organising, and general household management.
Do I need to register as an employer if I hire a cleaner directly? If you pay a cleaner above the National Insurance threshold and control how and when they work, you may need to register as an employer with HMRC. The gov.uk guide to employing staff explains the step-by-step process, including PAYE registration and pension duties.
