House cleaning in New Zealand is priced one of two ways, and knowing which one you are being quoted explains most of the confusion.
Regular cleaning is priced on time. A cleaner charges an hourly rate, and your house takes however long it takes. One-off cleaning is priced on condition, a deep clean or a vacate clean is quoted as a job, because the variable is not the size of the house but the state of it.
Regular house cleaning
Hourly rates in New Zealand, per cleaner:
| Typical rate | |
|---|---|
| Independent cleaner | $35–$50/hr |
| Small local company | $45–$65/hr |
| Franchise or agency | $55–$80/hr |
Auckland and Wellington sit at the upper end; regional centres at the lower. The Waikato is generally $45–$65 through a company.
What that means per visit, for a home in reasonable condition on a regular schedule:
| Home | Time | Fortnightly cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom unit | 1.5–2.5 hrs | $80–$150 |
| 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom | 2.5–3 hrs | $120–$180 |
| 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom | 3–3.5 hrs | $140–$210 |
| 4+ bedroom | 3.5–5 hrs | $170–$300 |
Bathrooms drive this more than bedrooms do. A second bathroom adds more time than a fourth bedroom, because bathrooms are dense work and bedrooms are mostly floor.
Why the first clean costs more
Almost every reputable cleaner charges more for the first visit, and it is not an upsell. Regular cleaning maintains a standard; the first clean has to establish it. If a home has not been professionally cleaned in a year, the first visit is doing catch-up work that the ongoing visits will never need to repeat.
Expect the first clean to run 1.5–2× a regular visit, and expect to be told that before you book. If a company quotes an ongoing rate without mentioning the first clean, ask.
One-off cleaning
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| One-off "spring" clean | $250–$450 |
| Full deep clean | $450–$700 |
| End of tenancy / vacate | $350–$550 |
| Move-in clean (empty) | $280–$450 |
These are for a standard three-bedroom Waikato home. The ranges are wide because they are priced on what is actually there, see deep cleaning vs regular cleaning for what separates them.
What should be included in the price
Products and equipment should be included. If a quote excludes them, it is not really cheaper.
A regular clean should cover: kitchen benches, splashback, stovetop, sink and appliance exteriors; bathrooms sanitised including shower, toilet and basin; all floors vacuumed and hard floors mopped; dusting of reachable surfaces; beds made; rubbish emptied.
It should not be assumed to include: oven interior, inside cupboards, windows, behind appliances, or walls. Those are deep-clean scope. A company that quietly includes them in a maintenance quote is either underpricing or not doing them.
Getting a quote you can trust
Ask three questions:
- How long will you be here? A price without a duration is not a price.
- What specifically is included, room by room? Vague scope is where standards drift.
- Is the first clean priced differently? It should be.
Our own rates and what drives them are on the pricing page, and the free price guide has the full breakdown by property type.