Price guide · 2026
How much does house cleaning cost in Northern Virginia?
Many cleaning companies ask you to call for a quote. We publish every price, so here are real numbers for homes in Fairfax and across Northern Virginia, what makes them go up or down, and how to compare companies.
By Lantern Home Cleaning · Updated October 18, 2026 · Prices on this page update automatically when ours change.
The short answer
For a typical 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home (1,500–1,999 sq ft) with us today:
- $215 per visit, cleaned every 2 weeks
- $270 for a one-time standard clean
- $415 for a deep clean
- $490 for a move-in / move-out clean of the empty home
Smaller homes start at $130 per visit. Supplies and travel are included, and there are no booking or card fees.
Prices for common home sizes
Every price below comes straight from our price list. Enter your own home for the exact number.
| Home | Every 2 weeks | One time | Deep | Move-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio / 1 bed · 1 bath under 1,000 sq ft | $130 | $150 | $225 | $265 |
2 bed · 2 bath 1,000–1,499 sq ft | $180 | $225 | $350 | $410 |
3 bed · 2 bath 1,500–1,999 sq ft | $215 | $270 | $415 | $490 |
3 bed · 2.5 bath 2,000–2,499 sq ft | $245 | $305 | $470 | $550 |
4 bed · 2.5 bath 2,000–2,499 sq ft | $265 | $335 | $510 | $600 |
4 bed · 3 bath 2,500–2,999 sq ft | $310 | $385 | $590 | $690 |
Supplies and travel included. Enter your home's details for your exact price.
What changes the price
1. Size, and especially bathrooms
Time is what you pay for, and bathrooms take the most of it: tubs, showers, glass, toilets and tile. A 3 bed / 2.5 bath townhouse costs more than a 3 bed / 2 bath rambler mostly because of the extra bathroom and the extra square footage.
2. The kind of clean
A standard clean keeps a home in shape. A deep clean adds baseboards, doors, vents, cabinet fronts, grout and under the furniture, so it takes much longer. A move-out clean adds the inside of the oven, fridge, cabinets and closets on top of that.
3. How often
Regular visits cost less each time, because the home never gets far behind. Compared with every 2 weeks, a weekly visit costs 10% less, a visit every 4 weeks 20% more, and a one-time clean 25% more.
4. The first visit
If a home hasn't had a professional cleaning in the last four weeks, the first visit of a recurring plan is a deep clean. It's a one-time catch-up, and it's why regular visits after it can stay short and affordable.
5. Extras
Some jobs are priced separately, so you only pay for them when you want them:
- Inside the oven $50
- Inside the fridge $50
- Inside kitchen cabinets $60
- Interior windows $5 / window
- Change bed linens $12 / bed
- Heavy pet hair $30
Flat price or hourly rate?
Many cleaners charge by the hour, or give a price only after a phone call or a walk-through. An hourly rate can look cheaper, but you don't know the total until the job is done. A flat price tells you the total before you book. We use flat prices worked out from your home's bedrooms, bathrooms and size, and the price you see online is the price you pay.
Questions to ask any cleaning company
Prices only compare fairly when you know what's behind them. Before you book anyone, ask:
- Is the price fixed, or charged by the hour?
- Can I see the checklist of what's included in each room?
- Are supplies and travel included?
- Will the same person clean my home each time?
- Are the cleaners employees or independent contractors?
- What happens if something is missed?
- What's the cancellation policy, and how much notice is needed?
- How are my keys or door codes kept safe?
- Is the company insured, and are its cleaners background-checked?
Our answers are on our FAQ and policies pages: a fixed price, a written checklist, the same cleaner whenever possible, a free re-clean if you tell us within 24 hours, and free cancellation up to 48 hours ahead. We're insured. Our cleaners are background-checked.
Should you tip a house cleaner?
Tipping is common but always optional. Many people tip 15–20% on a one-time or deep clean, and some give a holiday tip to a regular cleaner instead. With us, you can add a tip after you see your visit report, and 100% of it goes to your cleaner.
How to spend less
- Book a regular schedule. Every 2 weeks costs less per visit than one-time cleans, and each visit is quicker.
- Pick up clothes, toys and papers before the visit, so the time goes to cleaning, not tidying.
- Add extras only when you need them, for example the inside of the oven a few times a year.
- Start with one deep clean, then keep it up with regular visits instead of repeated deep cleans.
What a cleaning price usually doesn't cover
These aren't part of our cleans, so check them when you compare:
- · Organizing, decluttering or putting away belongings
- · Washing dishes or laundry
- · Exterior windows, or anything that needs a tall ladder
- · Moving heavy furniture or appliances
- · Mold, pest waste, biohazards or construction dust