Quick Answer: Chicago commercial cleaning costs $0.10-$0.35 per square foot per month. A 5,000 sq ft office typically pays $500-$1,750/month. Medical offices cost 20-40% more. Downtown locations cost 15-25% more than suburbs.
### What's Included in Standard Cleaning Pricing?
TL;DR: Standard cleaning includes vacuuming, mopping, trash removal, restroom cleaning, surface wiping, and break room maintenance. Deep cleaning, window washing, and carpet extraction cost extra.
Daily or Regular Service:
- Vacuum carpets
- Mop hard floors
- Empty trash and recycling
- Clean and restock restrooms
- Wipe break room surfaces
- Spot clean spills
- Dust horizontal surfaces (weekly)
- Clean glass entry doors
What's NOT Included:
- Carpet extraction (deep cleaning)
- Floor stripping and refinishing
- Window washing (beyond entry doors)
- Upholstery cleaning
- Deep cleaning beyond standard scope
### How Does Pricing Vary by Office Size?
TL;DR: Smaller offices pay more per square foot due to minimum charges. Larger offices get volume discounts. A 2,000 sq ft office pays $300-$800/month; a 10,000 sq ft office pays $900-$2,500/month.
Small Offices (Under 2,500 sq ft):
- Rate: $0.25-$0.40/sq ft/month
- Monthly cost: $300-$1,000
- Why higher per sq ft? Minimum charges apply. Fixed costs spread over small area.
Medium Offices (2,500-10,000 sq ft):
- Rate: $0.15-$0.30/sq ft/month
- Monthly cost: $375-$3,000
- Most common size. Competitive pricing available.
Large Offices (10,000-50,000 sq ft):
- Rate: $0.10-$0.25/sq ft/month
- Monthly cost: $1,000-$12,500
- Economies of scale. Better per-square-foot rates.
Very Large (50,000+ sq ft):
- Rate: $0.08-$0.20/sq ft/month
- Monthly cost: Custom quote
- Requires custom pricing. Volume discounts.
### What Additional Services Cost Extra?
TL;DR: Carpet extraction costs $0.20-$0.40/sq ft quarterly. Floor stripping runs $0.50-$1.00/sq ft annually. Window washing is $2-$5 per window. Budget $1,000-$3,000/year for special services beyond standard cleaning.
| Service | Cost | Frequency |
|
|
|
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| Carpet extraction | $0.20-$0.40/sq ft | Quarterly or as needed |
| Floor stripping/refinishing | $0.50-$1.00/sq ft | Annually |
| Window washing (interior) | $2-$5/window | Monthly or quarterly |
| Window washing (exterior) | $2-$8/window | Quarterly or annually |
| Upholstery cleaning | $50-$150/piece | Annually |
| High dusting | $0.10-$0.20/sq ft | Quarterly |
| Post-construction cleaning | $0.30-$0.75/sq ft | One-time |
| Deep cleaning (entire space) | $0.20-$0.50/sq ft | Quarterly |
### How Does Building Type Affect Pricing?
TL;DR: Medical offices cost 20-40% more due to HIPAA compliance and medical-grade disinfectants. Industrial facilities cost 10-30% less per sq ft due to larger spaces. High-security buildings cost 10-20% more.
Standard office: Base price
Medical office: +20-40% premium for HIPAA compliance and medical-grade disinfectants
Industrial/warehouse: -10-30% per sq ft (larger spaces, lower per-sq-ft rate)
High-security: +10-20% premium for security protocols and clearance
Historic building: +10-20% premium for careful cleaning of original finishes
### Why Does Downtown Chicago Cost More?
TL;DR: Downtown cleaning costs 15-25% more than suburbs due to parking ($15-$40/visit), building security requirements, freight elevator access, and after-hours scheduling.
Downtown/Loop Premium: 15-25% higher
Why: Parking costs, security access, building restrictions, after-hours requirements
West Loop/River North Premium: 10-20% higher
Why: Similar to Loop but slightly less restricted
Suburban Office Parks: Base pricing
Why: Easy access, free parking, standard buildings
Example:
- 5,000 sq ft suburban office: $800-$1,200/month
- 5,000 sq ft downtown office: $920-$1,500/month
### How Do I Calculate My Cleaning Budget?
TL;DR: Multiply square footage by rate ($0.15-$0.25/sq ft), add location premium if downtown, add 10-20% for annual services. A 5,000 sq ft suburban office budgets $1,000-$1,200/month.
Step 1: Calculate Base Monthly Cost
Square footage × Rate = Monthly cost
Example: 5,000 sq ft × $0.20/sq ft = $1,000/month
Step 2: Add Location Premium (if applicable)
- Downtown: +15-25%
- Medical: +20-40%
Example: $1,000 × 1.20 (downtown) = $1,200/month
Step 3: Add Annual Services
- Carpet extraction (quarterly): $500-$800/year
- Window washing (quarterly): $200-$500/year
- Floor refinishing (annual): $500-$1,000/year
Example: $600/year ÷ 12 = $50/month
Step 4: Total Monthly Budget
Base + Location Premium + Annual Services
Example: $1,200 + $50 = $1,250/month
### What Are Sample Budgets for Different Office Sizes?
TL;DR: Small offices (2,500 sq ft) budget $560-$850/month. Medium downtown offices (7,500 sq ft) budget $1,400-$2,400/month. Large suburban offices (25,000 sq ft) budget $2,900-$5,000/month.
Small Office (2,500 sq ft) - Suburban:
- Daily cleaning: $500-$800/month
- Quarterly carpet extraction: $200/year
- Quarterly window washing: $150/year
- Total Annual: $6,700-$10,000
- Monthly Budget: $560-$850
Medium Office (7,500 sq ft) - Downtown:
- Daily cleaning: $1,300-$2,200/month
- Quarterly carpet extraction: $600/year
- Quarterly window washing: $400/year
- Total Annual: $17,000-$28,000
- Monthly Budget: $1,400-$2,400
Large Office (25,000 sq ft) - Suburban:
- Daily cleaning: $2,500-$4,500/month
- Quarterly carpet extraction: $2,000/year
- Quarterly window washing: $1,000/year
- Annual floor refinishing: $2,000/year
- Total Annual: $35,000-$60,000
- Monthly Budget: $2,900-$5,000
### How Do I Get Accurate Quotes?
TL;DR: Request on-site visits for accurate pricing. Provide square footage, restroom count, flooring types, desired frequency, and special requirements. Get 3-5 quotes for comparison.
Request On-Site Visits:
Phone quotes are estimates. On-site visits give accurate pricing. Cleaners need to see the space.
Provide Same Information:
Give each company the same square footage, requirements, and frequency. This ensures apples-to-apples comparison.
Ask for Itemized Quotes:
Monthly service, special services, and additional charges should be separate line items.
Compare Scope:
Make sure each quote includes the same tasks. One quote may be lower because it includes less.
### What Questions Should I Ask for Accurate Quotes?
TL;DR: Provide exact square footage, restroom count, flooring types, desired frequency, and building access details. These factors most affect pricing accuracy.
When requesting quotes, provide:
- Exact square footage
- Number of restrooms and fixtures
- Flooring types by area
- Desired frequency
- Building access (parking, security)
- Current condition
- Any special requirements
### How Do I Compare Quotes Fairly?
TL;DR: Quotes should be within 20-30% of each other. Wildly low quotes cut corners. High quotes may include unnecessary services. Compare scope, not just price.
Apples to Apples:
Make sure all quotes include the same scope. One may be lower because it includes less.
Watch For:
- Supplies included or extra?
- Frequency the same?
- Additional charges?
- Contract length differences?
Price Range:
Quotes within 20-30% of each other are normal. Wildly low quotes are suspicious. High quotes may include unnecessary services.
Need accurate pricing for your Chicago office? Get a free quote or call 630-349-2862. We'll measure your space and provide detailed pricing.