How Much Does Office Cleaning Cost in London? (2026 Price Guide)

Reviewed by the Crystal Facilities Management commercial team · Updated 2026

If you manage an office in London, “how much should cleaning cost?” is one of the hardest questions to get a straight answer to. Quotes swing wildly, hourly rates are quoted without context, and the cheapest number on the page is rarely the true cost. This guide breaks down current London rates, what actually drives the price, and how to compare quotes so you pay a fair rate for a service that lasts.

Crystal’s office cleaning rates at a glance

We publish our starting rates rather than hiding them behind a “request a quote” wall. Because every office and schedule differs, the final price is confirmed against a free site survey — but these are the “from” rates every quote starts at.

Option	Starts from	Notes
Office cleaning — labour only	from £19.00 / hour (+VAT)	You supply chemicals & equipment
Office cleaning — fully supplied	from £20.50 / hour (+VAT)	We supply chemicals & equipment
Minimum commitment	from 10 hours / week	Scheduled to suit your hours

All rates are “from” starting prices, +VAT. Your final quote is confirmed after a free site survey of your building.

What actually drives the price?

Two offices of the same size can be quoted very differently, and it’s rarely arbitrary. These are the factors that move a commercial cleaning price up or down:

• Floor area and layout — open-plan space cleans faster per square metre than a warren of small rooms, meeting pods and corridors.
• Washrooms and kitchens — the most labour-intensive areas in any office. More of them, or heavier use, raises the price.
• Frequency — daily cleaning costs more per month than three visits a week, but usually less per visit because the team is on a settled routine.
• Timing — early-morning, evening, overnight or weekend cleans (so your staff are never disrupted) can carry a premium for unsociable hours.
• Who supplies materials — a rate is lower when you provide chemicals and equipment, and higher when the contractor supplies everything.
• Footfall and sector — a busy client-facing office, a medical suite or a food-related site needs more frequent, higher-spec cleaning.
• Consumables — hand soap, paper towels, bin liners and washroom supplies are sometimes bundled and sometimes billed separately.

Why the cheapest quote is a warning sign

London has a higher wage floor than the rest of the UK. Once a provider factors in fair wages, employer’s National Insurance, holiday pay, public and employer’s liability insurance, training, supervision and professional equipment, there is a point below which a quote simply can’t be sustainable.

A suspiciously low headline rate usually means one of three things: the cleaner is being underpaid (high turnover, no-shows and poor standards follow), corners are being cut on insurance or materials, or the low figure will be topped up later with extras. A fair price protects you as much as the cleaner — which is why we quote transparently rather than racing to the bottom.

What Crystal charges — transparent, itemised pricing

We publish our starting rates rather than hiding them behind a “request a quote” wall, because transparency is the whole point of a fair comparison.

Because every office and schedule differs, we quote per contract rather than charging one flat rate. You receive a clear, itemised price before any work begins — no hidden fees, no vague “from” figure that balloons on the first invoice. Our operatives are trained, supervised, insured to £10m, and we work around your hours so your business is never disrupted.

How to compare office cleaning quotes fairly

The lowest number rarely wins once you compare like for like. Before you sign, check that each quote answers the same questions:

• Is it hourly or per-visit, and how many hours or visits are included?
• Are chemicals, equipment and consumables included or billed separately?
• Is VAT shown, and is the rate realistic for London wages, insurance and equipment?
• Who supervises the team, and how are missed cleans handled?
• What insurance is held, and is the provider certified (e.g. BICSc, CHAS)?
• Is there a clear contract, notice period and single point of contact?

Frequently asked questions

How much does office cleaning cost per hour in London?

Crystal’s office cleaning starts from £19.00 per hour for labour only, or from £20.50 per hour with chemicals and equipment supplied — both +VAT, minimum 10 hours per week. Because every office and schedule differs, the final price is confirmed against a free site survey rather than a single flat rate.

Is it cheaper to pay per hour or per square foot?

Neither is automatically cheaper — they are two ways of describing the same job. Hourly pricing suits offices where the scope varies; per-square-foot pricing suits predictable, open-plan spaces. A good provider will translate between the two and show you the total either way.

Why should I be cautious about very cheap quotes?

A suspiciously cheap quote usually means the cleaner is underpaid, insurance or materials are being cut, or extras will appear later. Underpaid teams bring high turnover, no-shows and inconsistent standards. A fair rate is what keeps the same trusted cleaner in your building month after month.

Does the price include cleaning materials and consumables?

It depends on the contract. With Crystal you can either supply your own materials (from £19.00/hour) or have us supply chemicals and equipment (from £20.50/hour). Consumables such as soap and paper towels can be bundled in — we itemise everything so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.

Can you clean outside office hours?

Yes. We clean early morning, evening, overnight and at weekends across London so your staff and clients are never disrupted. Out-of-hours scheduling is factored into your quote up front.