Window cleaners use different methods to price their work. Some count individual windows or panes. Others start with the number of bedrooms and adjust for additional glazing or access. Behind these methods is the same practical consideration: estimating the work involved in cleaning a particular property.
I’ve studied and compared the online estimators and pricing methods used by many window cleaners across the UK. This article draws on those observations and my own experience running Window Hero to explain the main approaches and how they work.
Pricing by window or pane
One approach is to build the price from the property’s individual windows. A cleaner may charge for each window, count separate panes, or assign units to different window types.
In a unit-based system, a small, straightforward window might count as one unit. A bay window, a larger glazed section or a window requiring more work may count as several. Each unit has a monetary value, and the total forms the starting price.
There is no universal definition of a unit. Cleaners set their own categories and rates according to how they assess the work. Window size, design and access can all influence the weighting.
This method creates a detailed inventory of the glazing. The cleaner may collect that information during a visit, from photographs or through an online form completed by the householder.
Pricing by bedrooms and property size
Another approach uses the number of bedrooms as a starting point. Rather than counting every window, the cleaner assigns a base price to a property-size band.
The bedroom count acts as an approximation of the amount of glazing. It is a straightforward question for a householder to answer, making it useful for online estimators and initial enquiries.
However, homes with the same number of bedrooms can have different layouts. One may have a modest amount of glazing, while another has extra reception rooms, an extension or a conservatory. Bedroom-based systems can account for these differences by adding further questions and adjustments.
This is the approach I use at Window Hero. Bedrooms provide the starting point, while additional reception rooms and specific window features help refine the estimate. It combines a property-size band with details about the actual glazing.
Adjusting for additional glazing and access
Whichever starting method is used, additional features can affect the calculation. Conservatory panes, skylights, roof lanterns and windows above flat roofs may involve work beyond the standard allowance.
These adjustments can take different forms. A cleaner might add a fixed amount for a feature, charge per additional pane or assess the extra time required. At Window Hero, for example, some features are counted per window and others per pane.
Access is another consideration. Two windows of similar size may require different amounts of work because of their position, obstacles beneath them or the equipment needed to reach them.
Pricing from an assessment of the work
A window cleaner can also price a property by assessing the job as a whole. Instead of applying a detailed window count or a bedroom band, he estimates
how long the work will take and the resources it will require.
A visit or photographs can inform this assessment. It is particularly useful for unusual layouts or properties that do not fit a standard pricing model.
The methods can overlap. A cleaner may use a standard calculation for typical homes and an individual assessment for more complex work. Experience of similar properties helps inform both approaches.
First visits and regular cleaning
The condition of the windows can influence the price as well as their number and size. A first visit may require more work to remove accumulated dirt from the glass, frames and sills.
Some cleaners account for this with a fixed first-clean charge, others use a percentage increase or assess the condition individually. Subsequent visits are then priced as maintenance cleaning.
Cleaning frequency can also form part of the calculation. Some businesses vary their price per visit according to the interval between cleans, while others keep the same regular rate across their available schedules.
Monthly billing and payment per clean
Once the cleaning price has been established, businesses can collect payment in different ways. Some spread the planned cost across fixed monthly payments, even when visits take place every six or eight weeks.
Others, including Window Hero, charge for each clean. These are different billing arrangements: either can be used alongside window-based, bedroom-based or individually assessed pricing.