Cleaning cost estimator

How to use this cleaning cost calculator

Choose one cleaning job from the list. The calculator shows how many companies publish a rate for it, then the lowest, middle (when there is one) and highest published rate, each with its unit and what it covers. These are published rates, not a quote, so ask each company what its rate includes.

The jobs you can choose

Each job shows its unit and what the rate covers, exactly as the site prints them.

Part-time and ad hoc cleaning are priced per hour, so the figure is for one hour, not a whole session. The part-time cleaner hourly rate guide covers hourly cleaning in more detail.

Deep, move-out and post-renovation cleaning are priced per job, usually for the smallest home size the company prices. For a house cleaning price estimate on a bigger home, ask the company to price your size. Each job has its own guide: deep cleaning cost, move-out cleaning cost and post-renovation cleaning cost.

Curtain cleaning is priced per curtain piece or panel, and the tool does not add up a full set for you.

How the estimate uses directory rates

The figures come from the same directory data as the site's cleaning cost tables, loaded when the site is built. The script itself stores no prices.

Three rules apply:

• One rate per company. Each company counts once, with its lowest matching rate in the most common unit for that job.
• At least 3 companies. A job appears only when at least 3 companies publish a rate for it in the most common unit.
• A real middle rate. The middle figure is always one company's real rate. With an odd number of companies, it is the middle company's rate. With an even number, a middle is shown only when the two middle rates are equal.

Curtain cleaning has 6 companies whose two middle rates differ, so it shows no middle rate, only the lowest and highest.

How the calculation works (method and sources)

There is no calculation beyond choosing the job. The tool does not multiply an hourly rate by hours, a per piece rate by pieces, or a per job rate by rooms or flat size, and it adds no GST. The home cleaning prices page shows the same directory figures, with each row linked to its source.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) says prices displayed by GST-registered businesses should be the final, GST-inclusive prices, and they may not display, quote, advertise or publish prices without GST. Not all businesses are registered for GST, and only GST-registered businesses may charge it. IRAS has an e-Service to check whether a business is GST-registered, linked from its page on buying from a GST-registered business.

Limits of this estimate

The tool does not take flat size, hours, number of cleaners or frequency as inputs.

Other limits:

• Mattress, sofa and carpet cleaning are not offered, because fewer than 3 companies publish a rate for them in a common unit.
• Many rates are "From" prices with minimum hours or sessions, so check the minimum before you compare rates.
• The figures are directory figures, not market-wide prices.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is clear on part-time help. MOM says it is an offence for a foreign domestic worker to take on part-time work for another household, even with her employer's consent.

For part-time help, you can use a cleaning company instead. Under MOM's Household Services Scheme, companies can hire more migrant workers to provide part-time domestic services such as home cleaning, and MOM lists these companies. The legal part-time cleaner guide sets out your options.

Home cleaning companies need no licence from the National Environment Agency (NEA) for domestic cleaning. Its Cleaning Business Licence FAQ says businesses providing domestic cleaning at premises occupied as a private residence, not including condo common property, do not need to be licensed. The licence is for non-domestic general cleaning, such as office cleaning or condo common areas.

Before you book

Before you book, ask for a quote that covers these points:

• Hours or scope. For hourly jobs, how many hours. For per job cleans, which rooms and tasks are included.
• Number of cleaners. How many cleaners will come, and whether the rate is per cleaner.
• Supplies. Whether the company brings cleaning products and equipment or expects you to provide them.
• Minimum hours or sessions. The smallest booking the company accepts at the rate it publishes.
• GST. Whether the price you are quoted includes GST, if the company is GST-registered.

Browse home cleaning companies with their published prices and sources, then ask two or three of them to quote on the same scope so you compare like with like.

Questions