The fastest commercial cleaning bid is square footage times a per-square-foot rate. It gives a quick monthly or per-visit price that you refine with labor and supply detail.
The example
12,000 sq ft, $0.09/sq ft.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | 12000 × 0.09 | — |
| 3 | Monthly bid | → $1,080 |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Use cleanable square footage — exclude unused or hard-floor-only areas if priced separately.
- Multiply by the rate per square foot for the facility type (offices, medical, industrial differ).
- Divide a monthly price by visits for a per-visit rate.
- Always sanity-check against labor — the sqft rate is a starting point, not the final price.
The per-sqft rate is a shortcut, not the truth. It works because facilities of a type clean at similar speeds, but a cluttered office or a restroom-heavy floor breaks the average. Use sqft × rate to quote fast and benchmark competitors, then validate with a labor build-up (production rate × wage). If the two disagree a lot, trust the labor number — that’s what the job actually costs.
Try it: interactive demo
Square feet, rate, visits per month.
Variations
Per visit
Monthly ÷ visits:
Annual contract
× 12:
Rate from a target price
Back out the rate:
Pitfalls & errors
Cleanable sqft. Use the area actually cleaned, not gross building size.
Facility type. Medical and industrial rates differ from office.
Validate with labor. The sqft rate is a starting point.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I bid cleaning by square footage in Excel?
How do I get a per-visit price?
Is the sqft rate the final price?
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