Most move-out cleans in Ontario cost between $200 and $600 before HST, and a 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft home typically lands between $380 and $480, according to Ontario pricing published by a cleaning platform. Your own number depends on size, condition and what you want done. Our move-in / out clean starts from $280.
Below, you'll find the ranges by home size, the factors that move a quote up or down, what a proper move-out clean covers, and how to compare quotes so you pay for the same job each time.
TL;DR
- Ontario move-out cleans run roughly $200 to $600 before HST; a 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft home is about $380 to $480.
- Size, condition, number of bathrooms and extras like the oven, fridge and inside cabinets drive the price most.
- Move-in cleans are priced the same way, and are usually a little lighter because the home is typically in better shape.
- Ontario HST is 13%, so always ask whether a quote includes it.
- Our move-in / out clean starts from $280, with a custom checklist for your home.
Table of Contents
- What move-out cleaning costs in Ontario
- What changes the price of a move-out clean
- What a professional move-out clean includes
- Move-in cleaning: is it cheaper?
- Hourly or flat rate?
- How to get a fair, comparable quote
- Renting? Know where cleaning fits
- A realistic budget by situation
- Our perspective
- Book your move-out clean
- FAQ
- Sources
What move-out cleaning costs in Ontario
A move-out clean is a top-to-bottom clean of an empty home, done so the next occupant, the landlord or a buyer sees a property in its best state. Because the home is empty, cleaners can reach places a regular visit never touches: inside cabinets, behind appliances, along every baseboard.
The published Ontario range of $200 to $600 before HST covers a wide spread of homes. Here is how that spread tends to break down in practice. Treat the middle column as a planning guide, not a quote.
| Home type | What drives the price | Planning range (before HST) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or small apartment | Fewer rooms, one bathroom | Toward the low end of $200 to $600 |
| 1 to 2 bedroom condo or apartment | Kitchen and bathroom detail | Low to middle of the range |
| 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft house | Several bathrooms, more floors | $380 to $480 |
| Large detached home, 3,000+ sq ft | Hours of labour, multiple levels | Top of the range and often beyond it |
The one firm figure there is the 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft band. Smaller and larger homes scale around it, and a heavily soiled large home can exceed the top of the range.
Our starting price
Our move-in / out clean starts from $280, and a one-time clean starts from $180. "From" means the price starts there: the final figure depends on the home, which is why we quote each job against a checklist rather than a flat guess. We serve Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan and Aurora, and we turn quotes around quickly, with same-week availability for many bookings.
What changes the price of a move-out clean
Two homes of the same square footage can be quoted very differently. These are the factors that matter, roughly in order of impact.
Size and layout
Square footage is the starting point, but the number of bathrooms, kitchens and floors matters as much. A 1,800 sq ft home with three bathrooms takes noticeably longer than a 1,800 sq ft bungalow with one. Stairs, built-in shelving and large windows all add time.
Condition of the home
This is the biggest variable. A home that has been cleaned regularly needs a reset. A home with years of grease on the range hood, soap scum in the tub or marks on the walls needs real labour. If you've had a recurring cleaner, the move-out clean is typically easier and cheaper, which is one reason a regular cleaning routine pays off when you eventually sell or leave.
Appliances and inside-of-everything
A typical Ontario move-out scope includes the inside of the oven, fridge, dishwasher and microwave. Each is a job on its own. A fridge that hasn't been defrosted or an oven with baked-on residue adds time. Empty, unplugged and defrosted appliances are faster to clean.
Extras
Interior windows, wall spot cleaning, balcony or garage sweeping, and cleaning inside every closet and drawer can all be quoted separately. Ask for them by name so they don't appear on the invoice as surprises.
Timing
The last days of the month and the start of summer are when most leases and closings turn over. Booking early gives you a better choice of days and avoids paying for a rushed schedule or double-booking a move and a clean on the same afternoon.
Tax
Ontario's HST is 13%, combining 5% federal GST and an 8% provincial portion. On a $400 quote that's $52, so confirm whether the number you've been given is before or after tax.
What a professional move-out clean includes
A proper move-out clean is far more than a regular tidy. The scope typically published in Ontario includes:
- Dusting, vacuuming and mopping every surface and floor
- Bathrooms: toilets, tubs, showers, sinks, mirrors, fixtures
- Kitchen: counters, sinks, cabinet fronts, plus inside the oven, fridge, dishwasher and microwave
- Baseboards, light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Behind and under movable furniture
- Inside cabinets, drawers and closets
- Garbage removal
At Clean Sweep GTA, we build the checklist around your home. Our services cover appliances, cabinets, baseboards, vents, fixtures, bathrooms, kitchens and living areas. If your landlord has handed you a move-out checklist, or your buyer's agent has flagged specific areas, tell us and we add them.
Move-in cleaning: is it cheaper?
Move-in cleaning is priced on the same logic: size, condition and scope. The home is empty, so the work is similar, but a newly vacated home that has already been cleaned usually needs less than one that's been lived in for years. A new build needs a different job again: construction dust settles on every surface, and that is closer to post-renovation work.
Many people book a move-in clean even when the previous occupant cleaned, because it means unpacking into cupboards and a bathroom they know are fresh. Our move-in / out clean is one service with one starting price from $280, so you can book either side of the move on the same terms.
Hourly or flat rate?
You'll see both. Hourly pricing exposes you to the risk of a job running long, while a flat rate fixes the total for a defined scope. For move-outs, where you have a hard deadline for handing over keys, a flat price for a written checklist is usually easier to plan around. Whichever you pick, ask how many cleaners will attend and how long the visit is expected to take.
How to get a fair, comparable quote
Quotes are only comparable if the scope is the same. Ontario guidance suggests asking for:
- The total price for the visit
- The number of cleaners and the time, if charged hourly
- What is included and what costs extra
- Whether HST is included
- Whether the company carries liability insurance
Then give every company the same list of rooms and tasks, and get two or three quotes. Send photos of the kitchen, bathrooms and any problem areas, and note the size, number of bathrooms and whether appliances will be empty. The more precisely you describe the home, the less the price moves on the day.
Renting? Know where cleaning fits
If you're a tenant in Ontario, your landlord can't treat your last month's rent deposit as a cleaning fund. The deposit must go toward your final month's rent, not cleaning or repairs. Still, you're expected to leave the unit in a clean condition, and a documented professional clean is a straightforward way to show you did. Keep the invoice and take dated photos of every room after the clean is finished. For anything contested, check the Residential Tenancies Act or speak to a paralegal or a community legal clinic.
A realistic budget by situation
| Situation | What to book | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Handing back a rental | Move-out clean | Appliances, baseboards, bathrooms detail, photos after |
| Selling a house | Move-out clean before photos or final walkthrough | Larger scope; include windows and garage if relevant |
| Moving into a resale home | Move-in clean | Inside cabinets, drawers and appliances |
| Moving after renovations | Post-renovation clean | Dust removal across vents, fixtures and surfaces |
Our perspective
We've seen the same pattern many times: the move-out clean goes badly when it is treated as a last-minute errand, and goes well when it is planned like the rest of the move.
The first thing we do is build a checklist around your home, not a generic list. A condo with one bathroom and a four-bedroom house in Vaughan need different time and different attention, and the checklist is how we make sure nothing you care about is skipped.
The second is consistency. We send the same trusted team for every visit, so the people who learn your home are the people who clean it. For move-outs that means fewer misunderstandings about what counts as done.
The third is speed. We turn quotes around quickly and often have same-week availability, which matters when a closing date or a key handover has just moved. Our satisfaction guarantee is there so you hand over the keys with confidence.
vandal
Book your move-out clean
If you live in Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan or Aurora, we can price your move-out or move-in clean from a few details about your home. Our move-in / out clean starts from $280, and our one-time clean starts from $180. Tell us the size, bathrooms, condition and any extras, and we'll build the checklist and quote from there.
If you're staying in the area after the move, you can also set up weekly, bi-weekly or monthly visits so the next home stays in shape from day one. We also handle deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning on the same booking basis.
FAQ
How much does move-out cleaning cost?
In Ontario, a move-out clean typically costs $200 to $600 before HST, with a 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft home at around $380 to $480. Our move-in / out clean starts from $280. The final price depends on size, condition and extras.
Is move-in cleaning cheaper than move-out cleaning?
Not as a rule. Both are priced on size, condition and scope. A move-in clean can be lighter if the previous occupant left the home in good shape, but a dusty or neglected home costs the same to reset. With us, both fall under one move-in / out service.
Does the quote include HST?
Not always. Ontario's HST is 13%, so ask for the total with tax so you can compare quotes fairly.
Who should pay for move-out cleaning, the tenant or the landlord?
Tenants are generally expected to leave the unit clean, but a landlord can't draw on the last month's rent deposit for cleaning, as explained in this Ontario tenant guide. Keep your invoice and photos, and read your lease. For a dispute, contact a community legal clinic or paralegal.
How far ahead should I book?
As soon as you know your handover date. Month-end and summer are the busiest periods for moves, so earlier booking gives you more choice of days. We often have same-week availability, so call or send the quote form even if the date is close.
Sources
- House Cleaning Cost in Ontario: Prices by City and Home Size
- Ontario sales tax: 13% HST rates, registration and compliance guide
- Ontario Tenant Rights When Moving Out