Commercial Cleaning Prices in Wellington
Commercial cleaning quotes for the same Wellington building routinely differ by a wide margin, and it is almost never because one company is more efficient than another.
What commercial cleaning actually costs in Wellington
It is because they are quoting different work. This page explains how commercial cleaning is actually priced, what moves the number, and how to compare two quotes properly so you are not choosing on a total that hides a smaller scope.
Waikanae Commercial Cleaning Services has been quoting and running commercial cleaning contracts across Wellington and the Kāpiti Coast since 1987.
Local Since 1987
Based at 6 Parata Street, Waikanae, cleaning premises across this region for nearly 40 years
Hours That Suit You
Monday to Friday, 7am to 9pm, so the work happens around your operation rather than through it
Rated 5.0 From 21 Reviews
Consistent quality, checked by regular inspection rather than assumed
How commercial cleaning is priced
- Fixed price per clean, or per month. The most common structure for contract work. You agree a scope and a frequency, and pay a set amount regardless of how long a given visit takes. Predictable for budgeting, and it puts the efficiency risk on the cleaner rather than on you.
- Hourly rate. Suits one-off work, or sites where the scope genuinely varies week to week. The risk is that hours expand without the result improving, so it works best with a cap and a task list.
- Per-task or periodic pricing. Used for work that does not happen every visit: carpet cleaning, floor stripping and sealing, window cleaning, builders cleans. These should always be quoted separately from the regular schedule.
There are three common structures, and which one suits you depends on how predictable the work is.
We price contract work as a fixed amount against a written scope, with periodic work itemised separately. That way you can see exactly what the recurring cost buys, and defer a periodic item if a quarter is tight without renegotiating the whole contract.
What actually drives the price
Floor area is the number most people expect to be quoted on, and it is one of the weaker predictors. These matter more:
Frequency
The single biggest factor. Five nights a week costs more per week than two, but usually less per visit, because the building never gets far out of condition. A site cleaned twice weekly needs more work per visit to reach the same standard.
Bathrooms and kitchens
These take a disproportionate share of the labour in almost every contract. Two bathrooms in a small office can outweigh a large amount of open floor. When comparing quotes, check the frequency quoted for these specifically.
Headcount and how the space is used
Thirty people generate far more work than ten in the same floor area. A client-facing reception, a busy staff kitchen or a customer-facing retail floor all raise the standard the site has to be held to.
Layout
An open floor cleans faster per square metre than the same area broken into small rooms, corridors and stairwells. Doors, corners and edges are where the time goes.
Floor surfaces
Carpet, vinyl, tile, polished concrete and timber each carry different time, product and equipment costs, and different periodic maintenance cycles. A building with a lot of hard floor will carry a periodic floor care line that a fully carpeted one will not.
Access hours
Work outside normal hours, in buildings with restricted access, or on sites requiring escorts or sign-in procedures, costs more to staff. Our operating hours are Monday to Friday, 7am to 9pm.
Consumables
Hand towel, toilet paper, soap and bin liners are either supplied by the cleaner and charged, or bought by you. Both are normal. A quote that excludes them will always look cheaper than one that includes them, so check which you are reading.
How to compare commercial cleaning quotes
- Frequency against each task, not just overall. “Five nights a week” often means the floors five nights and the bathrooms three.
- Whether periodic work is included or extra. Carpet cleaning and floor stripping are significant costs. If one quote has them and the other does not, you are not comparing like with like.
- Consumables. Included or excluded.
- What happens when something is missed. Is there a stated response, and who do you contact.
- Notice period. A contract you cannot exit is a contract that does not have to keep earning your business.
- Who employs the cleaners. Directly employed or subcontracted changes who is accountable.
Put the scope documents side by side before you look at the totals. Specifically, check:
If one quote is materially cheaper, the usual explanation is a smaller scope rather than a better price. Ask the cheaper provider to quote against the more detailed scope and the gap normally closes.
In-house cleaner or a cleaning company?
For a single site with simple, predictable needs, employing someone directly can work out well. Beyond that the arithmetic usually shifts, because an employed cleaner brings costs that are easy to leave out of the comparison: annual leave and sick leave cover, ACC, KiwiSaver, equipment purchase and maintenance, consumables buying, chemical storage and handling, and the management time to supervise it all.
The practical difference is cover. When an employed cleaner is away, the building does not get cleaned. A contractor is responsible for providing cover, and that obligation should be written into the contract.
Frequently asked questions
How much does commercial cleaning cost in Wellington?
It depends on the factors above, principally frequency, the number of bathrooms and kitchens, headcount, surfaces and access hours. Any figure quoted without seeing the building is a guess. We visit the site, agree a written scope and quote a fixed price against it, so the number reflects your premises rather than an average.
Why do commercial cleaning quotes vary so much?
Almost always because the scopes differ. Different task frequencies, periodic work included or excluded, and consumables in or out will together move a quote substantially without either provider being unreasonable.
What should a commercial cleaning quote include?
A task list with a frequency against each task, periodic work priced separately, a statement on consumables, the access arrangement, a named contact, and the notice period. If a quote is a single figure with a paragraph of description, ask for the scope before you sign.
Is it cheaper to clean less often?
Per week, yes. Per clean, usually not, and there is a point below which a building never quite recovers between visits and needs periodic deep cleaning to catch up. For most offices the honest answer is that bathrooms and kitchens set the minimum frequency, and the rest can flex around them.
Do you charge more for after-hours work?
Standard evening and early-morning cleaning within our operating hours of Monday to Friday, 7am to 9pm, is priced normally. Genuinely unusual hours or restricted-access buildings cost more to staff and are quoted accordingly.
Is there a minimum contract?
No. We take on scheduled contracts and one-off cleans, and there is no minimum term. If the service is not working we can agree to end it at any time, subject to one month’s notice.
REQUEST A FREE SITE ASSESSMENT
Call 04 293 5662 or 027 452 1788, email info@waikanaecleaning.co.nz, or use the contact form. We will walk the building, agree a written scope and quote a fixed price against it. See also commercial cleaning in Wellington.