The quick and short answer is, window cleaning can cost anywhere between $4-12 per pane. This will depend on the size of the pane of glass and where the pane is located. But just going off the panel size isn’t as cut and dry as giving a panel price.
Some window cleaners charge an hourly rate and this can range from $35 p/h to as high as $100p/h depending on speed and experience.
There are a few things to consider when pricing up a window cleaning job.
Size of the Panel
Windows come in all shapes and sizes. They can be a small window within a French door or a colonial window or they can be a large window like a shop front. Cleaning the smaller panes of glass within the French door is going to take a lot longer to clean than a large shop front. This is due to the number of small panes to clean and the detailing you need to do for each pane.
Small panes of glass can end up costing more than a larger pane.
French doors and windows can cost upto $2.00 per pane
Louvers like the below image can cost from $0.50 – $2.00 per pane
Window Cleaning Prices
Here is a rough estimate of the prices you will pay depending on the window type you are looking to get cleaned. From this price guide, you can determine approximately how much your window cleaning can cost.
| Window Type | Average Price Range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Louver | $0.50 – $2.50 per pane |
| Double Hung | $8-12 per window |
| Casement | $4-8 |
| Awning | $4-8 |
| Slider | $4-8 per pane |
| Bay/Bow | $4-8 per pane |
| Picture | $8-12 |
| Skylight / Roof Window | $10-20 |
Location of Panel
Depending on the size of the building, will depend on where different panels are located. With the amazing architecture we have today there are many windows that can be located in places that aren’t as easy to get to as previously designed buildings.
This may require special gear like WFP (Water Fed Poles), ladders, or even the use of a harness. These windows will take longer to clean and would cost extra due to the cost of the specialised equipment or the cost of training needed to work at heights.
Type of windows
There are a variety of windows out there these days that have some pros and cons and this can change the way that a window can be cleaned.
You have:
- Float glass
- Laminated Safety Glass
- Obscured Glass
- Tinted Glass
- Tempered Glass
- Mirrored Glass
- Loe-E Glass
- Insulated Glass
- Wired Glass
All these types of glass have different cleaning requirements. For some of them you are unable to use any chemicals or mild abrasives to clean off dirt and contaminants as this can damage the glass or tint. While other types of glass can have chemicals and scrapers used on them without causing an issue.
Some types have a particular cleaning process, this can slow down the window cleaning and therefore add to the cost per panel.
Type of Building
There are a variety of buildings that need a window cleaner. You have residential buildings that normally range from 1 to 3 stories high and most windows can be accessed by a ladder or WFP (Water Fed Pole).
Commercial buildings can also range from 1 Storey upwards, and anything up to 6 stories can be used using a WFP. Anything higher than this is is usually done via rope access. This involves using ropes and harnesses to access the outside of the building. Training is required for this type of cleaning and is a specialised job.
High-rise buildings also fall into the category of rope access, some of the lower glass can be carried out from the ground, but all high work will be completed by a rope access technician. This will cost more than any work done on the ground.
Frequency of the Clean
Having your windows cleaned on a regular basis can reduce the overall cost of the cleaning. Having a commercial property or even a residential property that needs to be cleaned regularly due to pedestrian high traffic can end up costing you less per clean.
Window cleaners love having regular clients, this provides a predictable, regular income and therefore a cleaner will reduce the regular pane price or hourly rate because of this.
Additional Window Cleaning Services
Beyond basic window cleaning, professional window cleaners may charge extra for additional services. These can include cleaning window tracks, fly screens, and security screens, removal of stubborn stains or paint, and even tasks like gutter or solar panel cleaning. Each of these specialised services enhances the property’s overall cleanliness but can add to the total cost. Discussing these potential extra fees upfront is crucial to avoid unexpected expenses.
| Service | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Window Track Cleaning | Cleaning accumulated dirt in window tracks | $6.00 – $20.00 (per track) |
| Fly Screens Cleaning | Cleaning of fly screens attached to the windows | $5.00 – $15.00 (per screen) |
| Security Screens Cleaning | Cleaning of security screens, both removable and non-removable | $5.00 – $15.00 (per screen) |
| Removal of Dirt, Paint, and Non-Natural Materials | Removal of stubborn stains like bird poo, lichen, cement, render, paint, and silicone | 2-5x the normal window cleaning price (per panel) |
| Solar Panel Cleaning | Cleaning of solar panels with lichen or bat poo build-up | $8.00 – $15.00 (per panel); stand-alone service has a minimum fee of $150 – $200 |
Window Track Cleaning
Window tracks are normally the part of the window that gets missed or doesn’t get cleaned as often as it should. One of the reasons is that you don’t really see how dirty it is unless you are looking down into the track. The second reason is that when it hasn’t been done for a while, it is pretty dirty.
Cleaning tracks can take longer than cleaning the glass, so this is an added service and is not part of the glass cleaning price. Track cleaning can vary in price but I have seen it range from $6.00 – $20.00 depending on how dirty the tracks are.
Flyscreens and security screens
These are not normally found on high-rise or commercial buildings, but many residential buildings, definitely here in Australia, have fly screens. As these are part of the window set-up, many clients would like these to be cleaned at the same time as the window. These normally don’t alter the window cleaning price per pane but are normally an additional add-on to the window cleaning service.
Depending on the screen, these can range from $5.00 – $15.00 per screen to be cleaned. Security screens are normally more expensive as they cannot be removed and take some time to clean. Old fashioned, diamond security screens take longer to clean than Crimsafe screens as you have to get into all the groves with a brush. Removable screens can be taken out, cleaned with soapy water, and hosed down to create fresh-looking screens.
Dirt, paint, and non-natural materials
When it comes to window cleaning, there are many things to consider. A normal clean is carried out on a building to remove general dirt and grime that builds upon the glass over time due to pollution, insects, and general dirt. This needs a bit of a scrub for stubborn stains like bird poo, lichen, and pollen.
Builders cleans are a different kettle of fish. Builders window cleaning is more time-consuming, and a lot of care needs to be taken when cleaning the glass. The build-up of cement, render, paint, and silicone are just some of the contaminants that end up on a new pane of glass.
Chemicals and the tactical use of scrappers on certain types of glass can be used, but again this takes much longer than the general maintenance clean. This alone will increase the normal window cleaning cost by 2-5x the normal window cleaning price per panel.
Solar Panel Cleaning Cost
Solar panels are another service that a lot of window cleaning services provide. The prices will vary on how high the building is, as access can be a challenge. And also how dirty the solar panels are. Solar panels covered in lichen or bat poo can be very challenging to remove. Prices can vary from $8-15 per panel, and as a stand-alone service would normally have a minimum of $150 -$200 dollar fee. These prices can be cheap if done at the same time as the window cleaning service.
Time to Window Clean a House.
We mentioned earlier how much it costs to clean a pane of glass. Some window cleaners will price their jobs on how long it takes to clean the windows, tracks, and screens. This saves them time in quoting, but also it takes a while to build up the experience to know how long a job will take. Window cleaners can charge anywhere from $40.00 – $100.00 per hour.
The faster the window cleaner the quicker they can complete the job. Sometimes it’s worth paying the higher hourly rate for an experienced professional window cleaner, as they can get the job done quicker and has better knowledge of window cleaning and the types of windows to be cleaned.
How much does window cleaning cost? As you can see there are a variety of factors involved in the window cleaning process that can dramatically alter the window cleaning cost.
I hope this post has helped you to understand what is taken into account when planning out your window clean and the different factors that need to be considered throughout the quoting process. If you’d like a quote for commercial window cleaning or residential window cleaning, hit the link below, and we’ll be in touch.
