Move-Out Cleaning Cost: Prices and What Is Included

Move-out cleaning in the US typically costs between $200 and $600 for most homes, based on HomeAdvisor/Angi cost survey data, though prices for large homes in high-cost metros can reach $800 or more. This type of clean is priced like a deep clean of an empty home -- billed at a flat rate by size and condition rather than an hourly estimate -- and covers the detailed work a landlord or property manager will inspect.

What Move-Out Cleaning Costs by Home Size

Most move-out cleaning companies price jobs at a flat rate based on square footage, bedroom count, or both. This is different from recurring maintenance cleans, which are often billed hourly. A flat rate makes sense for move-out work because the scope is defined in advance and the cleaner can plan the time accordingly.

The table below shows typical ranges by unit size, drawn from HomeAdvisor/Angi aggregated homeowner cost reports. These are national averages; prices in high-cost metros like New York, San Francisco, or Boston tend to run 20 to 40 percent higher, while smaller cities and rural areas often come in at the lower end or below.

Source: HomeAdvisor / Angi cost survey data, aggregated from self-reported homeowner job costs across the US.

Prices vary widely, and the condition of the home matters as much as the size. A home that has had pets, heavy cooking, or years of deferred cleaning will take longer and cost more than a well-maintained unit of the same square footage. When you request a quote, expect providers to ask about both.

What a Move-Out Clean Includes

A move-out clean -- also called an end-of-lease clean or move-in/move-out clean -- is substantially more detailed than a standard recurring visit. The goal is to return the unit to a condition that satisfies a landlord's turnover checklist or a new tenant's expectations. That means going into places a weekly or biweekly clean never touches.

Interior surfaces and cabinets

All kitchen cabinets and drawers are wiped inside and out, including shelving. Bathroom vanity cabinets and linen closets receive the same treatment. Countertops, backsplashes, and tile grout are scrubbed. The cleaner will also address baseboards throughout the home -- these collect dust and scuff marks and are a common inspection point.

Appliances

Inside-appliance cleaning is a standard part of a move-out scope:

• Oven: interior walls, racks, and door glass, including baked-on grease. This is often the single most time-consuming item.
• Refrigerator: interior shelves, drawers, and door seals. The freezer compartment is typically included.
• Microwave: interior ceiling, walls, and turntable.
• Dishwasher: door interior and filter trap, if accessible.
• Range hood and filter: grease buildup on the filter and underside of the hood.

Exterior surfaces of all appliances are cleaned as well. If you are leaving appliances behind, confirm that the inside-appliance scope is explicitly listed in the written quote -- some providers treat it as an add-on.

Fixtures and bathrooms

Toilets, sinks, tubs, and showers are deep-cleaned, including descaling around faucets and showerheads. Mirrors are polished. Light fixture covers and ceiling fan blades are wiped. Switch plates and outlet covers, which often get overlooked, are part of a thorough move-out scope.

Floors

All hard floors are swept, mopped, and detailed at baseboards. Carpeted areas are vacuumed; deep-cleaning or shampooing carpets is typically a separate add-on (see below). Some providers will also wipe down door frames, door hardware, and window sills as part of a standard move-out scope -- ask explicitly.

Empty-Home vs Occupied Pricing

If your belongings are already out when the cleaners arrive, the job is generally faster. There is no furniture to work around, no items to move off counters, and access to walls and corners is straightforward. Some providers price empty homes slightly lower as a result, or quote a shorter minimum time window.

That said, empty rooms are also more revealing. Without furniture covering the floors and walls, scuffs, stains, and buildup are more visible -- and a landlord walking through an empty unit will notice them. This is not a reason to skip thoroughness; it is a reason to make sure the scope specifically covers walls (spot cleaning at minimum), light switches, and baseboards, because those details stand out in an empty space.

If you are cleaning before the movers come -- with furniture still in place -- expect the quote to be slightly higher, or the time estimate to be longer. Movers in and out also increases dust, so timing the clean for after furniture is removed typically produces better results.

For renters moving into a newly vacated unit, see our Apartment Cleaning Cost: Studios to Multi-Bedroom Units guide, which covers move-in cleaning as a distinct use case.

Add-Ons and What They Cost

The base move-out clean covers the items above. Several additional services are commonly available and may be required by your lease or building management:

Carpet shampooing or steam cleaning: typically $80 to $200 for an average apartment, or $150 to $350 for a full house, according to HomeAdvisor/Angi cost data. Many leases require professional carpet cleaning at move-out regardless of visible condition. Confirm whether your lease specifies this before skipping it.

Interior window washing: $4 to $8 per pane for inside surfaces, according to aggregated pricing data on HomeAdvisor/Angi. A standard apartment might have 10 to 20 panes, putting interior window cleaning at roughly $40 to $160. Exterior window washing is a separate scope and often requires different equipment.

Wall washing: full wall washing -- removing fingerprints, scuffs, and surface grime from painted walls -- adds $100 to $300 depending on the size of the home and number of painted surfaces. Spot treatment (targeting specific marks) is typically less. Wall washing is not always included in a standard move-out scope; ask specifically.

Garage or utility room: cleaning a garage, laundry room, or storage area is often quoted separately. Expect to add $50 to $150 depending on size and condition.

Balcony or patio: $50 to $100 for a standard apartment balcony; more for a large deck or patio.

Getting a Written Scope That Matches Your Lease

The single most useful thing you can do before booking a move-out clean is to pull out your lease or your building's move-out checklist and send it to the provider when you request a quote.

Most leases describe the condition the unit must be returned in. Property management companies often have a printed inspection checklist they use at move-out. If you can get a copy of that checklist, share it with the cleaning company and ask them to confirm in writing that their standard scope covers every item on it -- and to list explicitly which items are add-ons.

This matters because move-out cleaning is not standardized across providers. One company's "standard move-out clean" might include inside-oven cleaning; another's might not. Without a written confirmation, you may pay for a clean that still leaves you with a deduction because a specific item was not covered.

For more on how to prepare before a cleaner arrives -- including how to communicate your expectations clearly -- see How to Prepare for a House Cleaner: A Pre-Visit Checklist.

Move-Out Cleaning vs a Standard Deep Clean

Move-out cleaning and deep cleaning overlap significantly. Both go further than a standard recurring visit. The key differences are context and accountability.

A deep clean of an occupied home is typically scheduled when the home has not been professionally cleaned in a while, or as a reset before starting a regular service. A move-out clean is specifically scoped for landlord or property manager inspection -- which means it prioritizes the items that show up on turnover checklists: inside appliances, inside cabinets, baseboards, and fixtures.

In practice, most move-out cleans are priced at roughly the same level as a deep clean of the same home. If you are booking a move-out clean, use that exact term when requesting quotes so the provider quotes you the right scope. Some companies offer separate pricing tiers for "deep clean" and "move-out clean" because the written guarantee and checklist confirmation add administrative time.

How to Get an Accurate Quote

Most reputable move-out cleaning companies will ask for the following before quoting:

• Square footage or bedroom and bathroom count
• Whether the home is empty or still furnished
• Whether pets have lived in the home
• The last time the home was professionally cleaned (or an honest description of current condition)
• Any specific add-ons required (carpet cleaning, window washing, wall washing)

Some companies send a cleaner for a walkthrough before quoting; others quote sight-unseen based on the information provided and adjust on arrival if the condition is significantly worse than described. Ask which approach the provider uses, and ask what happens if the job takes longer than quoted -- whether the rate is fixed or whether there is an hourly overage.

For a side-by-side look at how agency vs independent cleaner pricing and accountability works in this context, see Independent Cleaner vs Cleaning Agency: Comparing Your Options.

Flat-rate pricing is standard for move-out cleans and is generally preferable to hourly billing for this type of job -- it gives you a known cost and holds the provider accountable for completing the scope regardless of how long it takes. For more on this trade-off, see our guide on hourly vs flat-rate cleaning.

What to Do After the Clean

Once the clean is complete, walk through the home before the cleaners leave if you are present. Use your lease checklist or the provider's scope list as a guide. Check inside the oven, refrigerator, and all cabinets. Look at the baseboards in each room. Run a finger along the top of door frames. These are the spots an inspector will check.

Take photographs of every room -- floors, surfaces, appliances, and bathrooms. Date-stamp the photos. If a landlord later claims the unit was not returned clean, your photos, combined with the provider's written scope confirmation, are your documentation.

If you find a missed item before the cleaners leave, point it out on the spot. A reputable provider will address it immediately. If you discover something after they have left, contact the company the same day -- most move-out cleaning companies will return for a re-clean of missed items within 24 hours if notified promptly, though policies vary, so confirm this before booking.