How to Compare the Cost of Cleaning Services in Toronto. A Practical Guide to Pricing When Shopping for a Toronto Maid Service.
- Desmond Breau
- Jan 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 26
If you’ve been searching for a cleaning service in Toronto, you’ve probably noticed something right away: pricing can feel confusing.
Some Toronto maid services charge by the hour, others offer flat-rate packages, and many advertise a low “starting at” price that doesn’t include the tasks you actually need done. As a result, it’s often difficult to tell which service truly offers the best value.
This guide will help you:
understand how cleaning service rates are calculated in Toronto;
identify what actually affects the final price you pay; and
compare quotes properly so you can choose based on value, not just price.
The Two Most Common Pricing Models in Toronto
1. Hourly pricing
Hourly cleaning sounds straightforward: the cleaner (or cleaners) arrive, work for a set number of hours, and you pay an hourly rate.
Best for: Occasional users who need one or two specific tasks completed, such as cleaning the inside of an oven or washing interior windows.
Watch out for: Unclear expectations. If “four hours” is quoted without a defined checklist, you may be disappointed by what doesn’t get completed during that time.
2. Flat-rate packages
Flat-rate pricing is based on your home’s size, layout, and the scope of work to be completed.
Best for: Regular or occasional clients who want predictable pricing and a clearly defined cleaning checklist.
Watch for: Add-ons. Some services advertise a low flat rate, then charge extra for tasks many clients consider standard, such as inside ovens and fridges, interior windows, baseboards, bed changing, and dishwashing.
What Really Determines the Cost of Cleaning Services in Toronto
When you break it down, the real cost of maid service in Toronto depends on several key factors:
Factor | Why It Matters |
Number of cleaners | Team services clean faster but often do less detail. Services offering an ‘individual cleaner’ spend more time per visit. |
Pricing model | Hourly rates can fluctuate; flat rates offer cost certainty. |
Scope of “standard cleaning” | What’s included varies significantly between companies. |
Add-on charges | Some services rely heavily on extra fees to increase the final price. |
When you break it down, the real cost of maid service in Toronto depends on several key factors.
What’s Typically Included in a “Standard Cleaning”?
Team-Based Cleaning Services (2–4 Cleaners)
Team cleaning services emphasise speed and efficiency. Their standard cleanings usually include a general surface-level clean of the main living areas:
Bathrooms: sink/vanity, mirrors, toilet, tub or shower, floors.
Kitchen: countertops, sink, exterior of appliances, floors.
Bedrooms & living areas: light dusting, tidying, vacuuming and mopping.
Because team services work within tight time constraints, their standard cleaning usually does not include major jobs. Tasks that take extra time — such as cleaning inside ovens or refrigerators, washing interior windows, doing laundry, or sometimes even baseboards, dishes, and bed changing — are commonly treated as add-ons and billed at an additional cost.
Individual Cleaner Services (One Consistent Cleaner)
Cleaning services that send one individual cleaner focus less on speed and more on customised, thorough care. Their standard cleaning often includes:
Bathrooms: sink/vanity, mirrors, toilet, tub or shower, floors.
Kitchen: dishes washed, countertops, cupboard doors, sink, exterior appliances, floors.
Bedrooms & living areas: dusting, tidying, vacuuming and mopping.
Bed making or bed changing.
Baseboards, window sills, and door and window frames throughout the home.
Because one cleaner spends more time in the home, they are often able to include one major job per visit — such as cleaning the inside of an oven, refrigerator, or washing interior windows — without charging extra. These tasks can be rotated over multiple visits so the home is fully maintained on an ongoing basis.
The Verdict
A “standard cleaning” at one company is not the same as a “standard cleaning” at another.
To understand the real cost of any Toronto maid service, you must clarify exactly what their standard cleaning includes and which tasks are considered add-ons. Only then can you make a meaningful price comparison.
How to Compare Toronto Cleaning Services Properly
When comparing maid services in Toronto, don’t stop at the quoted price. Ask these questions:
Will you send a rotating team or one individual cleaner consistently?
Are your cleaners employees or independent contractors?
Is your service insured and bonded?
Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee or re-clean policy?
What exactly is included in your standard cleaning checklist?
Which tasks are considered add-ons, and how much do they cost?
The answers to these questions will quickly reveal whether a service is genuinely good value or simply appears inexpensive at first glance.
Ready to Book a Cleaning in Toronto?
If you’re looking for consistent, professional home cleaning by one regular cleaning lady (or man), with flexible scheduling — weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, occasional, or one-time — Custom Maids Toronto can help.
Call: 416-488-5254
Email: admin@custommaidstoronto.com
