How to Price Window Cleaning Jobs for Profit [Formula + Pricing Chart]
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- How to Price Window Cleaning Jobs
Knowing how to price window cleaning jobs gives your business the best opportunity to win bids, maximize profit and continue to grow.
There are a lot of things to consider, but once you have your formula down, it becomes second nature.
If you’re just starting out, our advice is to keep it simple. Use the window cleaning prices below as a starting off point, and then follow our formula to learn how to price window cleaning jobs consistently.
Average price of window cleaning
The average cost for window cleaning on a 1,500-square foot house is $260, ranging as low as $150 to as high as $370. This rate breaks down to an average hourly rate for window cleaning ranges from $40 to $75, and an average cost per window of $4 to $8.
Understanding the average price of window cleaning will help you make key pricing decisions for your own business that will keep you competitive for potential customers.
The average price of window cleaning varies depending on the contracting business, but it is either by hour or by number of windows.
READ MORE: Window cleaning industry statistics
Window cleaning pricing formula
In order to understand how to price window cleaning jobs, we first have to understand the pieces involved, including labor costs, material costs, overhead costs, and desired profit margin.
If we know each of these, you can properly price a window cleaning job to reach your goals.
Start by calculating how much the job will cost your business to complete by using this formula:
Total cost = Labor cost + material cost + overhead cost
Next, determine how much you should charge your customer by applying your profit margin to your total cost. Here’s the formula you should use:
Total price = Total cost + (profit margin x total cost)
Understanding the formula:
Labor Cost is the number of hours it takes to complete the job multiplied by your hourly rate.
Material Cost is the cost of cleaning supplies and other equipment needed to perform the job.
Overhead Cost is the cost of insurance, expenses for vehicles, as well as marketing and other administrative costs.
Total Cost is the total labor cost, material cost, and overhead cost put together.
Total Price with Profit Margin is the total cost plus your desired profit margin percentage of the total cost.
Labor costs
Before committing to any window cleaning price, you have to first evaluate the job to understand how long it will take and how much you will have to pay yourself and your team. Here are key things to watch out for in order to properly estimate the labor costs:
- Types of windows: Different windows require different tools and ways to clean, which could increase the length of the job.
- Number of windows: The more windows there are, the longer it’ll take to complete the work.
- Difficulty of access: Properties with multiple floors or hard to reach areas will require more time and effort to clean.
- Amount of dirt on windows: Depending how often the customer is getting their windows cleaned, you might be in for a significant effort if there is a large amount of dirt to deal with.
Material costs
Material costs are necessary to ensure you have the right tools and products to complete a job. You may already have many of the items you need, but depending on the size and scope of the job, you may need to get more or purchase something not yet in your inventory.
Here are some key materials and the costs to consider for your window cleaning pricing:
Soap and other cleaning liquids: A must-have for your window cleaning business, figure out what cleaning supplies and in what quantities you need for each job.
Tools and equipment: Things like squeegees, extensions poles, ladders, buckets, sprayers, and gloves are just a few key pieces of equipment you need to complete your window washing job. If you don’t yet have these supplies, you need to factor in the cost to rent or buy them into your final price.
READ MORE: 13 best window cleaning tools for window washing professionals
Overhead costs
Every business comes with operating expenses. These costs factor into your annual costs, but can also be broken down per job. These costs include your business insurance, vehicles to get to and from jobs, marketing efforts to win new business, and other administrative costs like bookkeeping, invoice management, and more.
The nature of the job may change—residential, construction, or commercial bids—but the formula is always applicable for how to price window cleaning. Use the industry-specific prices below to learn more about each category and build your estimates.
I believe most home service businesses do not charge enough, and the problems in the business result from poorly pricing the job to begin with.
We have set packages made up in Jobber for sizes of houses for house washing, window and gutter cleaning. Our systems are accurate about 80% of the time. For more challenging jobs, having an experienced person estimate the job in person is a must!
How to price residential window cleaning
Most residential window cleaners do not charge by the hour; they charge by the pane. Charging by the pane is more straightforward and fair in the long run. You won’t be penalized for learning faster techniques, and clients won’t worry that you’re working slowly on purpose just to charge more.
A pane is each individual piece of glass in a window. Standard windows have 2-3 panes. Storm windows will have up to 4.
Average window cleaning costs per pane across the U.S. are:
| Type of window | Cost |
|---|---|
| Decorative window | $5 per pane |
| Sliding window | $4 per pane |
| Individual glass panels | $6 per pane |
| Casement window | $8 per pane |
| Large single-pane picture window | $12 per pane |
| Large tri-fold picture window | $28 each set |
| Sliding doors | $7 per pane |
French windows are large windows (often doors) that are divided into multiple, smaller panes. The average charge is $6 for a half door and $12 for a full door.
If the panes are larger than 3-5 feet, count them as two panes and adjust the price accordingly.
Charging for sills and track is optional. Depending on the client’s request, you can offer a deep clean for another $2-4 per window (not pane), or offer a simple wipe-down for free.
Keep in mind that these prices are averages. Multiple factors can and will influence your window cleaning prices, including:
- The number of and size of the panes
- The number of screens
- Sills and tracks
- Accessibility to the windows inside and outside the house
- The level of dirt (including mineral deposits and paint)
- Demand and average prices in your region
If the windows are extremely dirty or hard to access, you can charge more, so long as it is within reason and you explain it well on the estimate.
Most homeowners have their windows cleaned twice per year. If a client requests a higher frequency, you can offer a volume discount and still be very profitable.
And if your window cleaning business offers additional services like gutter cleaning and repair, power washing, or Christmas light install, you can bundle these services and offer more incentive for residential clients.
Through integrations that we do with Jobber, we were given the opportunity to bundle services.
So we could say ‘well we know that you want window washing, so here’s our a la carte pricing, but if you get window washing, roof cleaning, and siding, we can bundle that and give you 10% off.’ You always want to be upselling.
How to price construction window cleaning
Construction cleans are priced higher because of the amount of time you’ll need to remove paint and grime. You may also need to wear special safety equipment (hardhats, boots), invest in new window cleaning tools, and do more ladder work.
The average price for a construction clean is estimated at $4 for exterior windows and $5 for interior windows.
As for even deeper cleans, such as removing mineral deposit stains, you may have to charge upwards of $12 per pane! Always visit the site and inspect the windows in person before giving an estimate.
How to price commercial window cleaning jobs
Bidding commercial jobs can feel like a whole different ball game.
Commercial window cleaning jobs, which include restaurants, car dealerships, storefronts, and office buildings, are generally more lucrative than residential window cleaning. That’s because they are more frequent (bi-weekly or monthly, vs semi-annually), the windows can be cleaned faster, and they provide work year-round, even in slow winter months.
All of this makes them more attractive—and more competitive.
To win commercial window cleaning bids, you’ll need to price competitively and have a solid window cleaning canvassing pitch.
The average price for commercial window cleaning is $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot. This will increase depending on the level of dirt, frequency, size, and access.
Before bidding, scope out the job from your truck or van. Is there signage or furniture that needs to be moved? Can you tell that the windows haven’t been cleaned in a long time? Is the building located near sprinklers and likely to have hard water stains? Do a walk-around and bid accordingly.
It’s also worth noting that commercial window cleaning jobs are only profitable if they are recurring. Avoid accepting one-off commercial window cleaning jobs.
Tips for Bidding Window Cleaning Jobs
The prices above are general guidelines. As you get out into the field and start bidding, you’ll quickly learn how to price effectively and for profit.
Here are some final tips to help you win more window cleaning contracts:
- Keep it simple. Charge a standard rate for all windows, and give your clients 1-2 options, max. You can always change your pricing as you grow, become more skilled, and build your reputation.
- Start small. Before you hire a whole production team, start by working in the field yourself. This will help you determine your capacity, overhead, labor costs, and the optimal pricing structure for your specific business.
- Provide professional estimates: Writing your bid in chicken scratch on a piece of paper or the back of a card can make you look unprofessional in clients eyes. Download a free quote template or use window cleaning software to give every single one of your prospects a professional, memorable estimate that will set you apart from your competitors.
- Get window cleaning insurance. Don’t clean a single window until you have window cleaning insurance. Even a small accident can put your business dreams to an end.
- Embrace the learning curve. The more you bid, the more you’ll learn. If you’re winning 100% of your bids, you’re probably bidding too low. If you’re losing bids, politely ask the client what the winning competitor offered. Stay confident and don’t be afraid to reach out to other window cleaners and service business owners for advice.
Originally published in July 2019. Last updated on May 17, 2024.
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