The cheapest cleaning services in NYC, and what the price hides
Updated July 31, 2026 · 3 min read · EveryMaid editorial
Short answer
Published hourly rates in this directory start around $42, but the cheapest rate is frequently not the cheapest job. Minimums, per-cleaner pricing, and whether supplies are included change the real total more than the headline number does. Compare the cost of one visit, not the rate.
The lowest published rates
Most companies do not publish a price at all, which is itself informative. These are the ones that do, cheapest first.
Lowest published hourly rates
How this was picked: Publishes an hourly rate, ranked cheapest first. Companies that quote per job are excluded because the two are not comparable.
- 1Diamond MaidsFrom $42/hr
Brooklyn only. $42/hr per maid with a two-maid minimum, or flat from $122 for a studio.
★ 4.7 (71) Google(347) 449-4470Brooklyn
- 2White Glove CleanerFrom $55/hr
Manhattan-based residential and commercial cleaning company serving clients across New York City.
★ 4.7 (34) Google(212) 470-4961All five boroughs
- 3Sunnyside Clean NYC$59–$99/hr
Three tiers: $59/hr if you supply products, $79 if they bring them, $99 same-day.
(212) 202-8400Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens
- 4Quicklyn$65–$85/hr
Brooklyn only, $65/hr with a three-hour minimum, app or web booking.
★ 4.9 (173) Google(800) 852-7101Brooklyn
- 5Maid MarinesFrom $70/hr
$70/hr or flat by bedroom count, cleaned by W-2 employees. Recurring discounts up to 20%.
★ 4.6 (185) Google(212) 390-1629Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx
- 6Planet MaidsFrom $80/hr
$80/hr per cleaner or flat from $150. Open 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.
★ 4.7 (197) Google(212) 381-0499Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens
Why the cheapest rate is often not the cheapest job
Three things move the real total more than the headline rate.
Minimums. The lowest rate in the directory is charged per maid, with a two-maid and two-hour minimum. That is a floor of roughly $168 per visit, which is more than a company charging $59 an hour for a two-hour booking. Always ask for the minimum before comparing anything.
Per cleaner versus per visit. Some rates are per person on the job. Two cleaners at $42 each is $84 an hour, not $42. It also means the work finishes in half the time, so the totals can end up closer than the numbers suggest.
Supplies. One company in the directory charges $59 an hour if you supply products and $79 if they bring them. That $20 gap is a fair way to price it, but it makes the two figures incomparable unless you know which is which.
- Lowest published hourly
- $42/hr per maid, 2-maid minimum
- Realistic floor per visit
- about $168
- Typical mid-market hourly
- $59–$70/hr
- Flat rate, studio
- from $120
- Flat rate, one bedroom
- $149–$200
What gets cut at the bottom of the market
Nothing here is an argument against hiring at the low end. It is an argument for knowing what you are buying.
The bottom of the market is usually an independent cleaner or a small contractor-based service. That typically means no general liability insurance, no workers' compensation, no background screening beyond a reference, and no replacement if the person is sick. If something is damaged, or someone is injured in your apartment, there is no policy behind it and most renters' insurance is unhelpful about this.
For a walk-up with no building requirements and nothing fragile, that trade is often perfectly reasonable. In a managed building it is not a trade at all, because a company without coverage cannot produce the certificate of insurance the building demands.
The reliable ways to pay less
Book recurring. Recurring clients typically pay 10 to 25 percent less per visit than one-off bookings, because the apartment never drifts far from baseline. Two companies in the directory publish discounts up to 20 percent for weekly service.
Declutter first. A cleaner who has to move your things before cleaning under them is doing two jobs, and you are paying for both.
Do not skip the initial deep clean and then wonder why. Most companies require one before starting a schedule. It costs two to three times a normal visit and it is what keeps the ongoing rate low. Trying to start at the recurring rate on a neglected apartment produces a disappointing result and an awkward conversation.
Ask about supplying your own products, which some companies discount for.
Where the genuine value sits
The best value in this market is usually not the cheapest rate. It is a company that publishes its price at all, has a low minimum, and carries insurance, which in practice lands in the $59 to $70 range.
Paying below that buys a real discount and real exposure. Paying above it buys larger teams, tighter scheduling, and the administrative work of dealing with buildings. Both are defensible. Choosing without knowing which one you picked is not.
Common questions
What is the cheapest cleaning service in NYC?
The lowest published hourly rate in this directory is $42, but that company charges per maid with a two-maid, two-hour minimum, so a realistic visit floor is about $168. A company at $59 an hour with a two-hour minimum works out cheaper for a small apartment.
Why is one cleaner $42 an hour and another $80?
Insurance, payroll taxes, screening, supplies, and whether the price is per cleaner or per visit. The bottom of the market is usually an independent working without liability coverage, which is fine for some homes and disqualifying in a managed building.
Is it cheaper to pay hourly or a flat rate?
Flat rates are usually better value for a predictable job like a studio, because the company absorbs the timing risk. Hourly is better when the apartment is unusually clean or you only want part of it done.
How can I lower the price without lowering the standard?
Book recurring rather than one-off, since recurring clients typically pay 10 to 25 percent less per visit. Declutter before the visit so nobody is paid to move your things. And supply your own products where a company offers a discount for it.
Keep reading
- How much house cleaning costs in NYC in 2026Typical hourly and flat rates for apartment cleaning in New York City, what changes the price, and how to tell a fair quote from a bad one.
- The best cleaning services in NYC, by what you actually needNo single company is best in New York. Here are the best by category, ranked from published rates, insurance, and Google ratings with each rule stated.
- How often should you get your apartment cleaned?Choosing between weekly, biweekly, monthly, and occasional cleaning based on household size, pets, allergies, and what you keep up with yourself.
Prices and practices in this guide are general to New York City and change over time. Confirm anything that affects your booking with the provider before you hire them. Browse cleaners.