Office cleaning is one of the few facilities line items where London prices vary by more than 50% between suppliers — often for identical specifications. This guide breaks down the real 2026 numbers, the London-specific cost drivers competitors rarely spell out, and how to sanity-check a quote before you sign a 12-month contract.
1. Headline prices — London 2026
| Pricing model | Greater London | Central London (ZONE 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate (daytime) | £16 – £19 / hr | £19 – £22 / hr |
| Hourly rate (out-of-hours) | £19 – £22 / hr | £22 – £26 / hr |
| Per sq ft, per clean | £0.08 – £0.14 | £0.12 – £0.18 |
| One-off deep clean | £0.35 – £0.55 / sq ft | £0.45 – £0.70 / sq ft |
Rates assume a compliant contractor paying at least the London Living Wage (£13.85/hour in 2026), full PAYE, Employer's Liability, and £10m Public Liability. Cash-in-hand cleaners quoting below £14/hour almost always fail one of those tests.
2. Monthly budget by office size
Based on a 5-day-per-week contract, mid-range specification (workstations, WCs, kitchens, reception), and typical London productivity of 300–400 sq ft cleaned per hour:
| Office size | Hours / visit | Monthly budget (5 days/wk) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft (10 staff) | 1.5 – 2 hrs | £560 – £820 |
| 3,000 sq ft (30 staff) | 2.5 – 3 hrs | £920 – £1,320 |
| 6,000 sq ft (60 staff) | 4 – 5 hrs | £1,470 – £2,200 |
| 12,000 sq ft (120 staff) | 7 – 9 hrs | £2,570 – £3,960 |
| 25,000 sq ft (250 staff) | 14 – 18 hrs | £5,140 – £7,920 |
3. Why London office cleaning costs more
A cleaner in Manchester and a cleaner in Farringdon do the same work — but the London contract has to absorb structural costs that don't exist elsewhere in the UK:
- London Living Wage (£13.85/hr, 2026). Reputable London contractors (and any landlord signed up to the LLW Employer scheme) pay this as a floor — around £2/hr above the national minimum.
- Congestion Charge (£15/day) and ULEZ (£12.50/day). Any van bringing equipment or supplies into Central London is billed daily; the cost is amortised across each site that day.
- £10m Public Liability. Standard elsewhere is £5m; most Central London landlords and MSPs require £10m before granting access — this raises the premium the contractor rolls into their hourly rate.
- Out-of-hours access. Most City and West End offices only allow cleaning before 8am or after 7pm — a 15–25% shift premium on the base rate.
- Supervisor / account management overhead. A named contact for scheduling, audits and TUPE compliance typically adds 8–12% to the raw labour cost.
4. What should be included in the quote
A compliant London office cleaning quote should itemise:
- Hourly rate + total weekly hours + monthly total (not just a lump sum).
- Full specification per area — reception, workstations, kitchens, WCs, meeting rooms.
- Consumables policy — who pays for bin liners, hand soap, loo rolls, blue roll.
- Equipment provided (colour-coded microfibre, HEPA vacuums, wet-floor signage).
- COSHH data sheets and RAMS for every chemical and task.
- Cover arrangement for sickness and holidays (should be included, not extra).
- Notice period and annual price-review clause (typically CPI or LLW-linked).
5. Hidden extras to watch for
- "Consumables billed separately" — can add £40–£120/month for a 30-person office.
- Deep clean surcharge on top of monthly. Ask whether the annual carpet, glazing and kitchen deep cleans are inside or outside the retainer.
- Call-out fee for reactive cover. Spills, out-of-hours emergencies, or extra event cleans should have a published rate — not "we'll invoice at the time".
- Annual RPI/CPI uplift without a cap. Insist on a written cap (e.g. LLW + 1%) so year-2 pricing doesn't spiral.
Office cleaning quotes across London
FG Cleaning has quoted and delivered office cleaning contracts across Enfield, Central London, Essex and Hertfordshire since 2003. Every proposal itemises hours, spec, consumables and cover — with London Living Wage compliance and £10m Public Liability included as standard.