Pricing a cleaning job is arithmetic followed by a conversation, and the arithmetic exists to make the conversation survivable. An owner who knows a house costs them two hundred dollars can discuss two hundred and eighty with a straight face. An owner who picked two hundred and eighty because it sounded right will discount it the moment anyone pushes, because there is nothing underneath it to defend.
The arithmetic, in four lines
Paid hours: cleaners multiplied by hours on site, plus the travel you pay for. Loaded labour: paid hours multiplied by the wage plus the employer's payroll tax and insurance. Job costs: supplies consumed, the trip, and overhead per paid hour. Price: the total divided by one minus your target margin. That is the whole calculation and the free sheet on this site performs it as you type.
Estimating the hours before you have cleaned it
For a first quote, walk the property if you can and count what actually takes time: bathrooms, kitchen surfaces, floor area by type, clutter, pets, and how long since it was last cleaned properly. Square footage alone is a weak predictor; two identical houses can differ by an hour. Quote from your estimate, then record the actual hours on the first visit and correct the price if you were wrong, which is a normal conversation if you say in advance that you will have it.
Holding the price
When a customer asks for a discount, the useful answer is what would have to change: fewer rooms, a longer interval, no add-ons. Offering a lower price for the same work teaches the customer that your prices are opinions, and it is the beginning of the account that eventually costs you money. Knowing your cost is what makes that answer easy to give rather than a bluff.
Questions people ask about how to price a cleaning job
How much should I charge for cleaning a house?
Your cost divided by one minus your margin, then compared against your local market. National averages describe a market that is not yours.
Should I quote hourly or a flat rate?
Flat for recurring work. Hourly punishes you for getting faster, which is what happens on any house you clean regularly.
What if I quoted too low?
Correct it at the earliest honest moment with a reason and notice. Carrying a loss-making house for a year costs far more than one uncomfortable conversation.