Window Cleaning Pricing Guide: Average Rates and How to Price Jobs

The glass looks simple from the driveway.

Then the crew finds removable storm panels, painted-shut screens, hard-water deposits, a sunroom full of small panes, and a second floor that cannot be reached from level ground.

If the Estimate covers only the visible glass, the company pays for everything else.

This guide shows how to price residential and light commercial window cleaning in 2026. It covers published market ranges, pricing models, crew-hour formulas, minimum charges, add-ons, safety, quote examples, and the numbers to review after the job.

Pro tip from the author: “I count the work, not just the windows. A window can mean one easy pane or twelve detailed surfaces with screens, tracks, access problems, and years of buildup.”

Quick Answer: How Much Should You Charge for Window Cleaning in 2026?

Two current industry guides show how wide the market is.

Housecall Pro’s 2026 window cleaning pricing guide lists common residential and light commercial ranges such as $10 to $18 per window, $4 to $8 per pane, $45 to $75 per cleaner-hour, $0.10 to $0.35 per square foot, and a $100 to $150+ minimum service charge.

Jobber’s 2026 window cleaning price guide publishes broader ranges of $8 to $40 per window, $2 to $8 per pane, $40 to $75 per residential hour, $50 to $100+ per commercial hour, and $0.07 to $0.75 per commercial square foot.

Those figures are market checks, not a rate card. The broad range combines different cities, window types, property conditions, scopes, frequencies, access methods, and business models.

The combined ranges above preserve the endpoints published by Housecall Pro and Jobber. They are not an average of the two guides.

Build the actual price with this formula:

Selling price = (loaded labor + materials + equipment + travel + overhead + other job cost) / (1 - target operating margin)

Then compare the result with local competitors, Customer expectations, and the value of the scope.

Data and Methodology

There is no official national database of what independent window cleaning companies charge Customers.

The ranges in this guide were reviewed on August 18, 2026 from the current Housecall Pro and Jobber pricing pages linked above. Both are industry publishers. Their figures combine external cost guides, platform information, contractor studies, and editorial research. They should be treated as directional market evidence.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers an employee wage reference, not a customer price. In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics table, the broader category “building cleaning workers, all other” had a national median wage of $21.17 per hour and mean wage of $22.32 per hour.

That category is not limited to window cleaners, and OEWS wage data does not represent self-employed owner income or a service company’s billing rate. A customer price also has to recover payroll burden, nonbillable time, vehicles, insurance, equipment, supplies, sales, admin, callbacks, and profit.

Choose the Right Window Cleaning Pricing Model

The best pricing unit makes the scope easy to count and the cost easy to control.

Per-Window Pricing

Per-window pricing is easy for Customers to understand when most windows are similar.

Define what one window means. A double-hung unit may have two moving sashes, but a Customer may call the entire opening one window. Your price list should state whether the rate includes:

• interior and exterior glass
• both sides of each pane
• screens
• tracks and sills
• frames
• standard spot cleaning
• ladder or pole access

Create separate items for standard, large, specialty, storm, skylight, French-pane, and hard-to-access windows.

Per-Pane Pricing

Per-pane pricing can be more accurate when homes have divided lights or mixed window styles.

Count each individual piece of glass consistently. A door with multiple small panes should not receive the same price as one large, accessible pane if the detailing time is very different.

Use a field diagram or photo standard so every estimator counts the same way.

Crew-Hour Pricing

Crew-hour pricing fits uncertain condition, post-construction cleanup, unusual access, and work that is difficult to count in advance.

One crew-hour means one worker for one hour.

• One cleaner for four hours = four crew-hours
• Two cleaners for four hours = eight crew-hours
• Three cleaners for two hours = six crew-hours

Do not multiply only the time on the Customer’s clock. Multiply every person’s paid job time.

Per-Square-Foot Pricing

Square-foot pricing can fit large commercial glass areas when measurements and production rates are reliable.

Specify whether the measurement is the building floor area, facade area, or actual cleanable glass area. These are not interchangeable.

The price also needs modifiers for height, mullions, frames, obstructions, frequency, water access, pedestrian control, lift use, and interior restrictions.

Flat-Rate and Recurring Contract Pricing

A flat price works when the company knows the site and repeats the same scope.

Recurring storefront service can be efficient because the crew knows access, parking, water, glass count, and Customer expectations. That efficiency can support a lower per-visit price, but only if route density and service time stay profitable.

Write the frequency and exclusions into the agreement. A weekly exterior touch-up is not the same service as a quarterly interior, exterior, screen, and track detail.

Calculate Your Cost per Crew-Hour

Start with labor.

Loaded labor includes the wage or owner labor target plus payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, paid time, benefits, uniforms, training, and other labor costs.

Then calculate overhead per billable crew-hour.

Common overhead includes:

• general liability and vehicle insurance
• vehicles, fuel, maintenance, and parking
• ladders, poles, purification systems, hoses, and replacements
• phones, software, bookkeeping, and banking
• shop or storage space
• marketing and sales time
• licensing, permits, and professional fees
• nonbillable travel, estimating, and admin

Use:

Overhead per billable crew-hour = monthly overhead / realistic monthly billable crew-hours

If the company pays for 320 crew-hours in a month but can sell only 230 after training, weather, driving, loading, estimates, and callbacks, divide overhead by 230.

Illustrative Minimum Price by Crew-Hours

The chart applies one transparent example:

• loaded labor: $38 per crew-hour
• overhead: $27 per crew-hour
• fixed visit cost: $20
• target operating margin: 25%

The same calculation is available below for accessibility.

The formula is:

Price = (($38 loaded labor + $27 overhead) x crew-hours + $20 visit cost) / 0.75

This is a GetWorkly editorial scenario, not a market average or recommended price. Replace every input with actual company data.

Pro tip from the author: “If a two-person crew needs three hours, I test the Estimate against six crew-hours. Pricing it as a three-hour job hides half the labor.”

Count the Scope Before You Quote

A window count alone is not enough.

Record these details during intake or the site visit:

Glass and Window Type

• standard single- or double-hung units
• sliders and casements
• picture windows
• French panes or divided lights
• storm windows and removable panels
• skylights
• glass doors
• sunrooms and conservatories
• interior partitions and mirrors

Included Components

• interior glass
• exterior glass
• screens
• tracks
• sills
• frames
• screen removal and reinstallation
• paint, tape, adhesive, or construction-debris removal

Access and Condition

• floor level and height
• ladder, water-fed pole, lift, scaffold, or rope access
• slope and ground condition
• roof or balcony access
• furniture, landscaping, displays, or machinery in the work area
• security and building-access windows
• water and power availability
• ordinary soil, mineral deposits, oxidation, silicone, paint, or post-construction debris

Attach photos to the Estimate or job record. The crew should see the same conditions the estimator priced.

Price Add-Ons Separately

An add-on should have a defined unit, scope, and production assumption.

Do not hide a risky restoration task inside the standard glass price.

Set a Minimum Service Charge

A five-window job can still occupy a large part of the route.

The minimum should recover:

• booking and confirmation
• loading and equipment preparation
• round-trip travel
• parking or access time
• setup and breakdown
• minimum on-site labor
• payment and Customer questions
• job notes, photos, and Invoice work

Use:

Minimum charge = minimum visit cost / (1 - target margin)

Example:

• 1.5 crew-hours of loaded labor and overhead: 1.5 x $65 = $97.50
• vehicle and consumables: $17.50
• total visit cost: $115
• target margin: 25%

$115 / 0.75 = $153.33

A practical minimum might be $155 or $160 before tax, depending on local rules and how prices are presented.

Residential Window Cleaning Quote Example

Assume a two-story home has:

• 18 standard windows, interior and exterior
• 6 larger or detailed windows
• 20 screens
• 12 tracks requiring a deeper clean
• moderate second-story pole access
• no paint, mineral restoration, or storm panels

One possible Estimate could look like this:

Now test the quote against cost.

If two cleaners need four hours, the job uses eight crew-hours. Using the earlier $65 labor-and-overhead assumption plus $30 of consumables and access cost:

Cost = (8 x $65) + $30 = $550

At a $609 price, the operating margin before tax would be:

($609 - $550) / $609 = 9.7%

The count-based quote looks plausible, but the cost test says it is too low for those assumptions. At a 25% target margin, the price would need to be about:

$550 / 0.75 = $733.33

That is why per-window pricing still needs a crew-hour check.

Recurring Storefront Quote Example

Assume a route stop includes:

• accessible exterior storefront glass
• 12 large panes
• service every two weeks
• 35 minutes of on-site work for one cleaner
• 10 minutes of route travel and parking allocated to the stop
• no ladder, lift, screens, or interior displays to move

If the full stop uses 0.75 crew-hour, the earlier cost model produces:

Cost = (0.75 x $65) + $10 of route and consumable cost = $58.75

At a 25% margin:

$58.75 / 0.75 = $78.33

If nearby stops reduce travel allocation and actual service time falls after the first visit, the recurring price may improve. If the route requires special parking, early access, or interior service, it may not.

Do not discount recurring work until the route produces the expected efficiency.

Price Height and Access as a Safety Decision

Height should never be treated as a small cosmetic surcharge.

Access changes labor, equipment, training, insurance, rescue planning, and exposure. The applicable rules depend on the work environment and access method.

OSHA’s Walking-Working Surfaces standards cover ladders, scaffolds, fall protection, and training in general industry. OSHA also has specific requirements for scaffolds and rope descent systems, including anchorage information, inspections, training, separate fall arrest, equipment protection, weather restrictions, and rescue provisions.

The OSHA and International Window Cleaning Association alliance resources also include water-fed pole training materials.

Do not use this pricing guide as a safety plan. Train the crew, inspect the site, follow equipment instructions, confirm applicable rules, and decline work the company is not equipped to perform.

Price specialty access from a written plan that includes:

• equipment and rental
• setup and inspection time
• trained crew size
• building coordination
• pedestrian or work-zone control
• weather delay risk
• rescue and emergency procedures
• insurance or subcontractor cost

Check Licenses, Permits, Insurance, and Tax Rules

Requirements vary by business activity and location.

The U.S. Small Business Administration explains that licenses and permits can come from state, county, and city agencies and depend on what the business does.

Check rules for window cleaning, pressure washing, water discharge, lift operation, exterior building work, signage or work-zone use, employee safety, sales tax, and local business registration. Confirm that the insurance policy covers the heights, equipment, property types, and subcontractors being used.

Build Good, Better, and Best Packages

Packages make scope differences visible.

Exterior Refresh

• exterior glass
• standard accessible windows
• light sill wipe
• screens and tracks excluded

Complete Window Service

• interior and exterior glass
• standard screen cleaning
• sill wipe
• light track wipe

Detail or Restoration Service

• complete service scope
• deep tracks and frames
• specified mineral or residue treatment
• specialty windows priced separately

Do not use vague labels alone. Put the exact inclusions beside each option in the Estimate.

Create a Repeatable Window Cleaning Estimate

Every Estimate should state:

• property and service area
• count by window or pane type
• interior, exterior, or both
• screens, tracks, sills, and frames included
• add-ons and restoration work
• access method and floor level
• known exclusions
• estimated schedule and crew assumptions
• price, Deposit, and payment terms
• cancellation and weather policy
• Customer responsibilities for access, pets, alarms, displays, and furniture
• process for approving added work

Use photos for unusual windows and note existing glass, frame, screen, seal, or tint damage before work begins.

Workly can help a solo Pro or small crew turn a defined scope into an Estimate, collect a signature or Deposit, schedule the work, send an Invoice, and take payment. It does not replace a site-specific safety plan or production-rate system.

Track Estimated vs. Actual Results

After each job, record:

• estimated and actual crew-hours
• travel and setup time
• windows or panes completed
• production rate by window type
• add-on quantities
• supplies and equipment cost
• callbacks or damage claims
• final Invoice amount
• gross profit dollars and percentage

Use:

Production rate = completed units / crew-hours

Example:

• 48 standard window units
• 6 crew-hours

48 / 6 = 8 units per crew-hour

Keep separate production rates for standard windows, divided panes, storm windows, screens, tracks, mineral removal, and post-construction work. Combining them creates misleading averages.

The SBA’s break-even calculator can help a company check how price, fixed cost, variable cost, and expected service volume interact.

Common Window Cleaning Pricing Mistakes

Counting Openings but Ignoring Panes

A house with many divided lights can take far longer than a home with the same number of openings and large panes.

Forgetting the Second Side

Interior and exterior cleaning doubles the glass surfaces and adds entry, floor protection, furniture, pets, alarms, and Customer coordination.

Treating All Dirt as Standard Soil

Mineral deposits, paint, silicone, adhesive, oxidation, and construction debris require different labor, tools, testing, and risk controls.

Pricing Clock Hours Instead of Crew-Hours

Two workers for four hours cost eight labor hours.

Using Employee Wages as Customer Rates

Wages do not include the full cost of operating and protecting the business.

Discounting Recurring Work Before Measuring It

Frequency helps only when it reduces soil, travel, setup, selling, or admin enough to support the lower price.

Hiding Access Risk in a Small Surcharge

Specialty access needs a safety, equipment, training, insurance, and scheduling decision before it needs a price.

Window Cleaning Pricing FAQ

Is it better to charge per window or per pane?

Per-window pricing is simpler when openings are similar. Per-pane pricing can be more accurate for divided lights and mixed styles. Either model should be checked against expected crew-hours and total job cost.

How much should I charge per window in 2026?

Current industry guides publish broad ranges from about $8 to $40 per window, depending on scope and window type. Use the range only as a market check after calculating labor, overhead, access, condition, add-ons, and margin.

Should screens and tracks be included?

They can be included in a package or sold as add-ons. The Estimate should say exactly what level of screen and track cleaning is included.

How do I price hard-water stain removal?

Inspect and test the glass first. Price the work separately by pane, area, or crew-hour, and define the expected result and limitations. Do not promise restoration before checking whether the condition is removable or whether the glass is already damaged.

What is a good minimum charge?

The minimum should recover the complete visit cost and target margin. Published 2026 market guides often mention $100 to $150+, but the right minimum comes from the company’s travel, labor, overhead, route, and service area.

How often should prices be updated?

Review material and operating costs regularly, and review production data after repeatable jobs. Update the price book when actual crew-hours, travel, wages, overhead, or service scope no longer match the Estimate assumptions.

Price the Whole Visit

A profitable window cleaning price describes the work the crew will actually perform.

Count the glass and components. Inspect condition and access. Convert the plan into crew-hours. Recover labor, overhead, equipment, travel, and risk. Add the required margin. Then compare the result with the local market.

When the scope is ready, try Workly to move the job from Estimate and approval through Deposit, scheduling, Invoice, and payment.