How Much Does Move-In Cleaning Cost for an Empty Rental?
A professional move-in clean of an empty unit typically costs about $120 to $280 for a studio or one-bedroom apartment and $250 to $600 for a three-bedroom house, in Canadian or US dollars at similar levels. Most quotes land a little under a move-out clean of the same unit, because nobody is living there and the previous tenant usually cleaned on the way out. If the place was left dirty, expect move-out pricing or higher.
These are typical market ranges, not fixed prices. Rates shift by city, by how the last occupant left the unit and by what you add to the scope. The only figure worth budgeting around is a written quote for your actual unit.
Typical price ranges by unit size
The table assumes an empty, unfurnished unit in average condition, with the inside of the oven, fridge and cabinets included.
| Unit | Typical range | Usual time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or one-bedroom apartment | $120 to $250 | 2 to 4 hours |
| Two-bedroom apartment or condo | $180 to $340 | 3 to 5 hours |
| Three-bedroom house or townhouse | $280 to $480 | 4 to 7 hours |
| Four bedrooms and up | $400 to $650+ | 6 to 9 hours |
Large houses are often priced by area instead, with rates in the range of $0.15 to $0.40 per square foot for a move-in scope. Apartments and condos are more commonly quoted flat by bedroom and bathroom count. Downtown Toronto, Vancouver, New York or the Bay Area sit toward the top of every range, and smaller markets toward the bottom.
Why move-in cleaning usually costs a bit less
A move-in clean and a move-out clean cover nearly the same rooms. The difference is the starting point. At move-out, the cleaner is undoing months or years of daily life: grease on the range hood, soap scum, scuffed baseboards, crumbs under every appliance. At move-in, the unit has usually had at least one clean already, so the job is more about sanitizing surfaces you will touch every day and catching what the last clean missed.
That gap disappears fast when the previous tenant skipped the clean or the landlord rushed the turnover. A cleaner who opens an oven full of carbon or a shower with a year of buildup will price the job like a move-out, and that is fair. Sending a few photos with your quote request avoids a surprise on the day.
What a move-in scope normally includes
A solid move-in clean covers the places you will not want to deal with once boxes and furniture arrive:
- Kitchen: inside and outside of cabinets and drawers, inside the fridge and freezer, inside the oven, range hood and filter, counters, backsplash, sink and faucet, and the front and top of the dishwasher.
- Bathrooms: toilet including the base and behind it, tub or shower, tile and grout surface clean, vanity inside and out, mirror, exhaust fan cover.
- All rooms: baseboards, door frames and doors, light switches and outlet covers, closet shelves and rods, interior window glass and sills, window tracks, floors vacuumed and mopped.
- Extras commonly quoted separately: carpet steam cleaning or extraction, interior walls washed top to bottom, inside of the washer and dryer, garage or storage locker, exterior windows.
Shiftclair's move-in cleaning service follows this kind of checklist, with the inside of the oven and fridge part of the standard scope rather than an add-on.
The details that change the quote
Condition left by the last occupant
This matters more than square footage. A clean two-bedroom can cost less than a neglected one-bedroom. Pet hair in the vents, nicotine film on walls, mold in a window frame or a greasy kitchen all add time.
Bathrooms and kitchen size
Bathrooms are the slowest rooms per square foot. A three-bedroom house with three and a half baths takes noticeably longer than the same house with one bathroom. A large kitchen with floor-to-ceiling cabinets adds time on its own.
Carpet
Vacuuming is part of the basic scope. Hot water extraction is not, and it is usually priced per room or per area. If the carpet was not cleaned at move-out, this is the one add-on worth considering before furniture covers it for years.
Access and building rules
High-rise condos sometimes require an elevator booking, a certificate of insurance from the cleaning company or a set work window. Parking downtown can also add to the cost. Mention any building rules when you ask for a quote.
Timing
Same-day or next-day requests, weekends and the busy end-of-month window cost more in many markets. The last two or three days of the month are when most leases turn over, so booking a week or more ahead helps with both price and availability.
Who pays for a move-in clean
In most rentals the incoming tenant pays if they want a clean beyond what the unit was delivered with. Landlords and property managers often book the clean themselves between tenants, since a spotless unit photographs better, rents faster and gives a clean baseline for the next inspection report. Our landlord turnover checklist covers that side of the job.
Lease rules vary by province and state, but in general a landlord is expected to hand over a unit that is reasonably clean and fit to live in. If the unit is clearly dirty on day one, take dated photos before you clean anything and send them to the landlord in writing. That record can matter later if there is a disagreement about the deposit.
Doing it yourself versus hiring it out
A move-in clean is very doable on your own if the unit is in decent shape and you have a free day before the movers come. Bring a degreaser for the kitchen, a non-scratch scrub pad, a bathroom cleaner, microfiber cloths, a vacuum with a crevice tool and a mop. Start high (cabinet tops, range hood, light fixtures) and finish with the floors.
Hiring it out makes more sense when the move-in and move-out dates overlap, when you are moving from another city, or when the unit needs real work. A professional crew brings the equipment and usually finishes in one visit, which leaves your own time for the move itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is move-in cleaning cheaper than move-out cleaning?
Usually it is a little cheaper, because an empty unit that was already cleaned once takes less time. If the previous tenant left the unit dirty, the work is the same as a move-out clean and the price will match it. Condition, not the label on the job, sets the quote.
How long does a move-in clean take?
A studio or one-bedroom typically takes 2 to 4 hours for a professional crew, and a three-bedroom house takes 4 to 7 hours. Heavy buildup, extra bathrooms or carpet extraction add time. Booking the clean for the day before your furniture arrives gives the crew empty rooms to work in.
Should the landlord pay for move-in cleaning?
A landlord is generally expected to deliver a reasonably clean unit, so if it is clearly dirty, raise it with them in writing and include photos. Paying for an extra deep clean beyond that standard is usually the tenant's choice. Check your lease and local tenancy rules, since they differ by province and state.
Should you tip a move-in cleaning crew?
Tipping is optional and not expected on a quoted job. Some people tip 10 to 15 percent when the crew handled a hard unit well or stayed late. A short note about what went well is also appreciated.
Get a move-in cleaning quote
Tell us the unit size, number of bathrooms, the date you get the keys and a word on its condition, and we will send a written quote. The cost guide explains how pricing works, and you can request your move-in cleaning quote here.