Why Cleaning Prices Vary So Much in Ireland
If you have ever searched for cleaning prices in Ireland, you have probably found the results frustrating. One company quotes €15 per hour. Another quotes €25. A third gives you a monthly figure that seems to bear no relation to either hourly rate. The truth is that cleaning prices in Ireland depend on a complex set of variables, and until you understand those variables, you cannot compare quotes meaningfully.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We have compiled the real 2026 pricing for every major cleaning service type in Ireland, based on our own contract pricing and verified market data from across the industry. Whether you are a facilities manager budgeting for the year ahead, a landlord costing a tenancy changeover, or a hotel owner reviewing your housekeeping contract, this guide gives you the numbers you need.
Master Cleaning Price Comparison Table
The table below provides a quick reference for all commercial cleaning service types in Ireland as of 2026. All prices are exclusive of VAT (23%) unless otherwise stated.
| Service Type | Price Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Office Cleaning | €13 – €25 | Per hour |
| Office Cleaning (Contract) | €400 – €800 | Per month |
| Hotel Room Cleaning | €12 – €25 | Per room |
| End-of-Tenancy Cleaning | €120 – €400 | Per property |
| Post-Construction Cleaning | €250 – €600 | Per property |
| Carpet Cleaning | €3 – €5 | Per m² |
| Window Cleaning | €2 – €8 | Per window pane |
| Pressure Washing | €1.50 – €4 | Per m² |
| Commercial Laundry | €2.50 – €4 | Per kg |
| Student Accommodation Cleaning | €150 – €300 | Per unit |
| Healthcare Cleaning | €18 – €30 | Per hour |
| Industrial Cleaning | €20 – €35 | Per hour |
Office Cleaning Prices in Ireland
Office cleaning is the bread and butter of the commercial cleaning industry. In 2026, the standard hourly rate for contract office cleaning in Ireland ranges from €13 to €25 per hour, depending on the scope of work, the frequency, and the location.
The lower end of the range (€13–€16/hr) covers basic evening cleaning: emptying bins, vacuuming, mopping hard floors, wiping desks and surfaces, and cleaning kitchens and washrooms. This is the standard 5-night-per-week contract cleaning that most Irish offices use.
The mid-range (€16–€20/hr) includes additional tasks such as internal glass cleaning, detailed dusting, sanitisation of high-touch surfaces, and restocking of washroom consumables.
The upper range (€20–€25/hr) applies to specialist environments: data centres, laboratories, medical offices, pharmaceutical facilities, and offices requiring day-portering or front-of-house cleaning during business hours.
For monthly contract pricing, a typical Irish office of 200 square metres with 5-night-per-week cleaning costs between €400 and €800 per month. Larger offices of 500+ square metres typically pay €800 to €2,000 per month. These contract rates represent significant savings over ad-hoc hourly cleaning because they guarantee the cleaning company regular revenue.
If you want to understand exactly what should be included at each frequency, read our office cleaning checklist guide.
Hotel and Hospitality Cleaning Prices
Hotel cleaning is priced per room rather than per hour because the output is what matters: a guest-ready room to a defined standard, completed within a target time. In 2026, hotel room cleaning in Ireland is priced as follows:
- Occupied room service (stay-over): €12–€18 per room. Includes bed making, bathroom clean, vacuum, surface wipe, bin emptying, amenity restocking. Target: 20–30 minutes per room.
- Checkout deep clean (departure): €18–€25 per room. Full linen change, deep bathroom clean, under-furniture cleaning, window ledges, mirror and glass polish, full amenity reset. Target: 35–50 minutes per room.
- Public area cleaning: €15–€22 per hour. Lobbies, corridors, lifts, function rooms, restaurants, spa areas.
- Deep clean (periodic): €35–€60 per room. Includes carpet cleaning, curtain vacuuming, mattress flip, full grout and tile clean, behind-furniture cleaning. Typically quarterly or twice yearly.
Hotels that bundle room cleaning with laundry and linen services through Optus Glean typically achieve 15–25% cost savings compared to using separate providers.
End-of-Tenancy Cleaning Prices
End-of-tenancy cleaning is one of the most searched-for cleaning services in Ireland because tenants and landlords both want to know what it costs. In 2026, the standard rates are:
| Property Type | Price Range | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed apartment | €120 – €180 | 2–3 hours |
| 2-bed apartment | €160 – €250 | 3–4 hours |
| 3-bed house | €220 – €320 | 4–6 hours |
| 4-bed house | €280 – €400 | 5–7 hours |
| 5+ bed house | €350 – €500+ | 6–8 hours |
These prices include a full kitchen deep clean (oven, hob, extractor, fridge, cupboards inside and out), bathroom sanitisation (limescale removal, grout cleaning, tile scrubbing), all rooms vacuumed and mopped, skirting boards, light switches, door handles, internal glass, and general surface cleaning. Carpet cleaning and window cleaning are usually add-ons charged separately.
For a complete room-by-room breakdown of what end-of-tenancy cleaning covers, read our end-of-tenancy cleaning checklist.
Post-Construction Cleaning Prices
Post-construction cleaning (builders cleans) is priced by property size and by the phase of clean required. In 2026, the standard rates are:
| Clean Phase | Residential (per property) | Commercial (per m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Rough clean | €100 – €250 | €1.00 – €2.00 |
| Phase 2: Builder’s clean | €150 – €300 | €1.50 – €3.00 |
| Phase 3: Sparkle / final clean | €100 – €250 | €1.00 – €2.50 |
| Full 3-phase clean | €250 – €600 | €2.00 – €5.00 |
The wide price range reflects the enormous variation in construction site conditions. A new-build house with careful builders will need far less cleaning than a renovation with plaster dust in every crevice. For a detailed explanation of what each phase involves, read our builders clean guide.
Carpet and Floor Cleaning Prices
Carpet cleaning for commercial premises is priced per square metre in Ireland. The 2026 rates are:
- Hot water extraction (standard): €3–€5 per m²
- Encapsulation cleaning (low-moisture): €2–€3.50 per m²
- Stain treatment: €5–€15 per stain
- Hard floor stripping and sealing: €4–€8 per m²
- Hard floor buffing/polishing: €2–€4 per m²
Minimum charges of €150–€250 typically apply for commercial carpet cleaning. Hotels, offices, and retail premises often include periodic carpet cleaning in their contract cleaning specification at a reduced per-visit rate.
Window Cleaning Prices
Window cleaning prices in Ireland vary significantly based on access method, height, and window type:
- Ground floor (hand clean or water-fed pole): €2–€4 per pane
- First/second floor (water-fed pole or ladder): €4–€6 per pane
- High-rise (rope access or MEWP): €6–€12 per pane
- Internal glass (partitions, doors, displays): €2–€4 per pane
- Conservatory roof: €50–€120 per conservatory
Commercial window cleaning contracts are usually priced per visit based on total window count, with monthly or bi-monthly frequency. A typical office building with 60 windows cleaned monthly costs €180–€360 per visit.
Pressure Washing Prices
Pressure washing is charged per square metre with minimum call-out charges:
- Driveways and car parks: €1.50–€2.50 per m²
- Patios and paving: €2–€3 per m²
- Building facades and cladding: €2–€3.50 per m²
- Chewing gum removal: €3–€5 per m²
- Graffiti removal: €15–€30 per m²
- Minimum call-out: €150–€250
A typical 50m² commercial forecourt or entrance area costs €150–€200 per pressure wash. Retail parks, petrol stations, and restaurant forecourts often schedule monthly or quarterly pressure washing as part of their facilities management contract.
Commercial Laundry Prices
Commercial laundry in Ireland is priced per kilogram, with specialist items priced per piece:
- Standard bed linen: €2.50–€3.00 per kg
- Towels: €2.50–€3.50 per kg
- Table linen: €3.00–€4.00 per kg
- Healthcare textiles: €3.50–€4.50 per kg
- Chef whites (per item): €3.00–€5.00
- Duvet (single): €8.00–€12.00
- Duvet (king): €12.00–€18.00
Minimum order is typically 20kg per collection. Hotels, B&Bs, and restaurants that bundle laundry with cleaning services through Optus Glean save 15–25% compared to using separate laundry and cleaning providers.
Student Accommodation Cleaning Prices
Student accommodation cleaning is typically priced per unit (bedroom plus shared areas) during summer turnaround periods:
- Standard unit clean: €150–€300 per unit
- En-suite room: €80–€130 per room
- Shared kitchen/living area: €100–€200 per area
- Common areas (corridors, lobbies, laundries): €15–€22 per hour
The summer turnaround — when all students vacate and thousands of units must be deep cleaned, snagged, and made ready for the next academic year — represents the largest single cleaning project most accommodation providers face each year.
Healthcare Cleaning Prices
Healthcare cleaning commands a premium over standard office cleaning because of the specialist training, compliance requirements, and infection control protocols involved:
- GP surgery / dental practice: €18–€25 per hour
- Nursing home / care facility: €20–€28 per hour
- Hospital / clinical environment: €22–€30 per hour
- Biohazard / deep decontamination: €30–€50 per hour
Healthcare cleaning must comply with HIQA cleaning standards, the HSE National Cleaning Standards Manual, and EN 14065 for laundry processing. The premium reflects the training, documentation, audit preparation, and specialist chemicals required.
Factors That Affect Cleaning Prices in Ireland
Understanding why cleaning prices vary helps you evaluate quotes more effectively. The eight main factors are:
1. Property Size
Larger properties cost more in total but less per square metre. A 100m² office might cost €500/month while a 500m² office costs €1,500/month — three times the space but only three times the price, not five, because fixed costs (travel, setup, supervision) are spread across more area.
2. Cleaning Frequency
More frequent cleaning is cheaper per visit. A 5-night-per-week contract costs less per clean than a once-weekly service because the cleaning company can schedule efficiently, the premises stay cleaner (less work per visit), and the revenue is more predictable.
3. Location
Dublin and Cork cleaning prices are typically 10–20% higher than regional Ireland. This reflects higher labour costs, higher travel costs, and higher parking costs in urban centres. Rural and regional pricing is generally more competitive.
4. Access and Working Hours
Cleaning outside normal hours (early morning, late evening, weekends) attracts a premium of 10–25%. Restricted access (security clearance, key-holding, alarm codes) adds administrative cost. Multi-storey buildings requiring equipment transport between floors take longer.
5. Level of Soiling
A clean office with desk workers generates less soiling than a busy restaurant or a manufacturing facility. The more intensive the cleaning requirement, the higher the cost per square metre.
6. Specialist Requirements
Healthcare compliance, food production hygiene, data centre protocols, cleanroom standards, and hazardous waste handling all increase costs because they require specialist training, chemicals, equipment, and documentation.
7. Supplies and Equipment
Some contracts are labour-only (the client provides chemicals, consumables, and equipment). Others are fully inclusive. A fully inclusive contract costs 15–25% more but eliminates the hidden cost and hassle of managing supplies.
8. Contract Length
Longer contracts (12+ months) attract better rates because the cleaning company has guaranteed revenue. Short-term or ad-hoc cleaning is priced at a premium to cover the uncertainty and setup costs.
How to Compare Cleaning Quotes
When you receive quotes from cleaning companies, use this checklist to ensure you are comparing like-for-like:
- Are prices inclusive or exclusive of VAT?
- Are supplies and consumables included or extra?
- Are equipment costs included (vacuum cleaners, floor machines, window tools)?
- What is the scope — exactly which rooms and tasks are included?
- What is the frequency — how many cleans per week?
- What insurance does the provider carry (€6.5M+ public liability is the minimum standard)?
- Are staff Garda vetted?
- Is there a backup plan when regular staff are sick or on leave?
- What is the contract notice period?
- Are periodic deep cleans included or charged separately?
The cheapest quote is rarely the best value. A cleaning company quoting €13/hour with no insurance, no vetting, and no supervision will cost you far more in the long run than a professional provider quoting €18/hour with full compliance.
For a comprehensive guide to evaluating and choosing a contract cleaning provider, read our contract cleaning guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning Prices in Ireland
How much does office cleaning cost in Ireland?
Office cleaning in Ireland costs between €13 and €25 per hour in 2026. For contract cleaning on a monthly basis, expect to pay €400 to €800 per month for a standard office of 100–300 square metres with 3–5 cleans per week. The rate depends on the scope of work, frequency, location, and any specialist requirements.
How much does end-of-tenancy cleaning cost in Ireland?
End-of-tenancy cleaning in Ireland costs between €120 and €400 in 2026 depending on property size. One-bed apartment: €120–€180. Two-bed apartment: €160–€250. Three-bed house: €220–€320. Four-bed house: €280–€400. Prices include kitchen deep clean, bathroom sanitisation, and all rooms.
How much does carpet cleaning cost in Ireland?
Carpet cleaning in Ireland costs between €3 and €5 per square metre for commercial hot water extraction in 2026. A standard hotel room carpet costs €25–€40 to clean. An office of 200m² costs €600–€1,000. Stain treatment is charged at €5–€15 per stain.
How much does post-construction cleaning cost in Ireland?
Post-construction cleaning costs €250 to €600 per property for residential, or €2–€5 per square metre for commercial in 2026. A full three-phase builders clean for a 150m² house costs approximately €400–€600.
How much does hotel room cleaning cost in Ireland?
Hotel room cleaning costs €12–€18 per room for stay-over servicing and €18–€25 for checkout deep clean in 2026. Public area cleaning is €15–€22 per hour. Hotels that bundle cleaning with laundry services save 15–25%.
How much does window cleaning cost in Ireland?
Window cleaning costs €2–€4 per pane for ground floor, €4–€6 for first/second floor, and €6–€12 for high-rise requiring rope access or MEWP. A typical office with 60 windows costs €180–€360 per visit.
How much does pressure washing cost in Ireland?
Pressure washing costs €1.50–€4 per square metre in 2026. Driveways and car parks are €1.50–€2.50/m². Building facades are €2–€3.50/m². Minimum call-out charges of €150–€250 apply.
Is it cheaper to hire a cleaner or a cleaning company?
An independent cleaner charges €13–€18 per hour. A cleaning company charges €15–€25 per hour but includes insurance, Garda vetting, backup staff, supervision, and supplies. For businesses, the total cost of employing a cleaner directly (PRSI, insurance, holiday pay, sick cover, supplies) typically exceeds the cleaning company rate.
What affects cleaning prices in Ireland?
The main factors are: property size and type, cleaning frequency, location (Dublin and Cork are 10–20% higher), access difficulty, level of soiling, specialist requirements (healthcare, food production), whether supplies are included, and contract length. Longer contracts attract better rates.
Do cleaning companies in Ireland charge VAT?
Yes. Cleaning services in Ireland are subject to 23% VAT. Most commercial cleaning quotes are presented exclusive of VAT. Always confirm whether a quote is VAT-inclusive or exclusive when comparing. VAT-registered businesses can reclaim the VAT charged on cleaning services.