How Much Does Post-Construction Cleaning Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $274 - $709
Post-construction cleaning costs $478 on average, and most homeowners pay somewhere between $140 and $1,300.
If you are nearing the completion of a big construction project—like a newly built home or major renovation—some essential cleaning must be done before it's move-in ready. On average, construction site clean-up costs around $478 for residential services.
You could pay as little as $140 or as much as $1,300, depending on a few factors, but most totals fall between $274 and $709.
- Average
- $478
- Low end
- $140
- high end
- $1,300
Once the builders leave the site, you may find a lot of dust, junk, and dirt inside and outside your home. The general contractor often takes care of the rough cleaning during the construction, and in many cases, they handle the final clean-up, too. For post-construction deep cleaning, many homeowners also hire professional cleaners to eliminate any scraps or hard spots that the contractor might have missed. In this guide, we’ll dive into post-construction cleaning costs so you can get your home back into tip-top shape.
Post-Construction Cleaning Cost Factors
Professional cleanup after a big construction job can vary quite a lot in price, partially because there are so many factors that can influence your total.
Size
The size of the construction job will play a significant role in your cleanup costs, and many professionals will even charge you for the work based on square footage. The typical price per square foot for post-construction cleaning is around $0.25 per square foot. You can use the table below to get a sense of your total amount based on the size of space you need cleaned.
| Project Size (Sq Ft) | Average Cleanup Cost | Typical Cleanup Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $125 | $50–$250 |
| 1,000 | $250 | $100–$500 |
| 1,500 | $375 | $150–$750 |
| 2,000 | $500 | $200–$1,000 |
| 2,500 | $625 | $250–$1,250 |
| 3,000 | $750 | $300–$1,500 |
Materials
Your total cleanup price will vary based on the type of materials your professional uses, which will depend on the debris and types of surfaces they are cleaning. The table below includes some typical prices for commonly used cleaning supplies by professionals after a construction job, as well as average prices.
| Material | Cost |
|---|---|
| Contractor bags | $30 for 50 |
| Dust masks | $3 for 5 |
| Window cleaner | $4 |
| All-purpose cleaner | $6 |
| Wood floor cleaner | $12 |
| Grout cleaner | $10 |
| Countertop cleaner | $10 |
In many cases, these costs will be included in your total project cost. However, if you know your project will demand more of a specific material, you might need to adjust your project cost estimate accordingly.
Accessibility
Accessibility to the area you need your professional to clean can make a difference in your cost, as well. In most cases, accessing a new construction project at its completion will be easy. But, if you finished a second-floor dormer or a basement renovation project, your cleaning pro might charge extra because it will take more time and effort to move up and down stairs, especially with cleaning tools and supplies.
Accessibility charges might bring your total significantly higher if your professional needs to carry large debris up or down stairs, although that will often be included in your contractor’s final clean.
Type of Cleaning
There are many different types of construction projects, and the construction you’re having done will determine the type of cleaning you’ll need.
| Type of Cleaning | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Carpet cleaning | $120–$240 |
| Exterior cleaning | $190–$1,000 |
| Floor waxing | $1–$1.50 per square foot |
| HVAC duct cleaning | $180–$400 |
| Interior cleaning | $200–$400 |
| Touch-up cleaning | $75–$200 |
| Window cleaning | $150–$300 |
New Construction vs. Renovation
The type of construction project will play a role in how extensive of a cleaning you need, as well as how easy it is for your cleaners to reach all areas of your home. On average, you can expect to pay a bit less for new construction cleaning than you would after a large-scale renovation.
During a renovation project, dust, dirt, and debris can track through your home or blow into areas that aren’t even part of your renovation, so it’s a good idea to pay for an entire house cleaning after any construction project. New construction cleaning rates are lower because there’s no furniture and no belongings throughout the home to interfere with the cleaning.
If you only do a partial renovation, your cleaners will spend more time and energy working around bulky furniture and dusting off belongings and decor, which can drive up labor costs.
Disposal Costs
In some cases, you might call on your house cleaners to haul away drywall, excess trim, and leftover debris from the construction work if your contractors missed something or if they left behind additional materials for replacements and touch-ups down the road. In that case, you might need your construction clean up pricing to include hauling away junk.
Small-scale junk disposal costs should cost you between $100 and $300, although your total could go up to around $800 depending on how much debris you have on site and whether you rent a dumpster or hire a large dump truck to take your debris away. These charges include dumping fees.
Labor
Labor will make up the large majority of your post-construction cleaning costs, often accounting for around 90% or more of the total. Therefore, anything that increases the amount of labor required will have a big impact on the total cleaning cost. Some things that can drive up your prices include the following:
Furniture that your cleaners need to work around or under
Multiple stories that you need cleaned
A variety of materials that need cleaning, like cloth couches, carpets, wood floors, stainless steel, and more
Removal of debris, which requires bagging, hauling away, and dumping
Additional square footage you need included in the cleaning
Location
Although the cost to clean up a construction site in different regions is relatively close, the pricing will depend somewhat on where you live. Here is a ballpark of the cost in different states to help you get an idea of the pricing near you:
| Location | Average Price |
|---|---|
| California | $640 |
| Florida | $385 |
| Illinois | $365 |
| Massachusetts | $360 |
| Missouri | $820 |
| New York | $545 |
| Texas | $470 |
| Utah | $380 |
| Washington | $450 |
Post-Construction Cleaning Rates by Type
Cleaning a construction site includes a few different types of cleaning. Each type depends on the nature of construction and can happen at different times during the construction process.
Rough Interior Cleaning Cost
Rough interior cleaning costs $0.10 to $0.15 per square foot. Rough cleaning generally happens during construction before adding the final element, such as floors, so your contractor will be responsible for this post-construction cleaning and will very often include this step in their initial estimate. This often includes vacuuming and dusting surfaces, removing debris, and washing windows.
Interior Cleaning Cost
The interior cleaning that you’ll want done after the construction or renovation is totally complete and costs between $0.15 to $0.50 per square foot.
This is a more intensive cleaning that involves cleaning walls, windows, doors, and floors and removing scuff marks, dust, and dirt from frames, tracks, and trims. It can also include wiping down appliances and countertops, dusting ceiling fans and other surfaces, and a deep cleaning of carpets, hardwood floors, grout between tiles, and more. This type of cleaning isn’t usually included in the construction costs.
Exterior Cleaning Cost
Exterior cleaning and junk removal can cost between $200 and $1,000 or more, depending on the specific services you need. Some common services in this type of cleaning include the following:
Exterior power washing for patios, decks, and walkways
Power washing for siding
Roof cleaning
Fence cleaning or power washing
Some general contractors take care of some of these items, but many won’t go above and beyond to include all of these services and more. You can hire a local junk removal service to clear away any construction waste and sweep, as well as power wash windows, entryways, or driveways. If you have hazardous waste on-site, find a junk removal professional who can dispose of asbestos shingles or other hazardous debris.
Touch-Up Cleaning Cost
In some cases, you might need a touch-up clean, where the pro returns after the final cleaning to wipe down affected surfaces–like countertops, window sills, and some floor areas. It can also include things like touching up paint, recaulking around windows or fixtures, and more. You can expect to pay between $0.25 and $0.50 per square foot for this type of cleaning, as it’s more involved than a standard cleaning service.
Check your construction contract to see if this is included in the original estimate, as it could end up saving you money over hiring a separate professional for these services.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro for Post-Construction Cleaning
If you’d prefer to clean the construction site yourself and have the time, you’ll save $20 to $50 an hour on labor or an average of $478. But keep in mind that you’ll need specific tools and supplies, which can cost around $70 or more. You’ll need to supply all of the cleaning tools and equipment, such as high-powered vacuums, power washers, and stain removers.
If you have the tools and time, it’s a simple DIY job that will save you money. Still, it is time-consuming, as there are many smaller cleaning jobs you’ll need to consider after your construction project is finished. Check out this house cleaning checklist, and decide if this is a project you want to take on yourself. If not, hire a house cleaning service near you to get the job done quickly and effortlessly.
Ways to Save Money on Post-Construction Cleaning Costs
Post-construction cleanup can get expensive quickly, especially if you need a deep clean rather than a regular clean or a number of touch-ups. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to help keep your costs down:
Do as much of the work yourself as you can. If you have the time and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can potentially save hundreds by doing some of the cleaning yourself.
See if your contractor will include cleaning services. Make sure you understand what—if any—cleaning services your contractor is going to include, and consider asking them to work in cleaning costs. Since they’re already on-site and doing other work, they may charge less than a standalone cleaning professional.
Hire a general cleaner. Instead of hiring window cleaners, carpet cleaners, and an HVAC technician separately to clean up, hire a general cleaner. They’ll typically charge less in total and can address everything at once.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
It usually takes around one hour for one person to deep clean a 100 to 200 square foot space, or between eight and 12 hours for a full home. Large construction projects may take longer, especially if your contractor didn’t do routine cleanups throughout the construction process. Your cleaning professional should be able to give you an estimate on how long they believe the job will take.
The best way to clean fine dust particles after construction is by combining dusting with vacuuming. Start up high by dusting ceiling fans, walls, window sills, countertops, and other surfaces throughout your house. Once the dust has settled, go over all of your floors with a high-powered vacuum, giving a little extra attention to the carpeting. Make a second pass with your vacuum, and then mop all hard surfaces to get any remaining dust. Don’t forget to vacuum your HVAC returns and supply vents and swap out the filters while you’re there.
Your contractor should do routine rough cleanups throughout the construction process, but you should schedule a dedicated house cleaning service to come in a day or two after the construction is complete. This will provide enough time for dust and debris to settle after the construction and will get your home move-in ready as quickly as possible after the work is done. If you schedule ahead of time, be sure to keep in contact with your contractor to make sure there won’t be any delays.