Cost guide
How much does school cleaning cost?
School cleaning costs £18 to £26 an hour on a term-time contract. A typical primary school runs £24,000 to £48,000 a year, a secondary school considerably more, and holiday deep cleans are a separate £1,500 to £6,000.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on the size of the school and what the holiday programme covers.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate, term time | £14 to £20 |
| Primary school, annual contract | £18,000 to £40,000 |
| Lunchtime washroom check, per day | £20 to £45 |
| Holiday deep clean, primary school | £1,500 to £6,000 |
| Sports hall floor strip and seal | £600 to £2,000 |
| Carpet extraction, per classroom | £40 to £90 |
Price the thirteen holiday weeks at the same time as the thirty-nine term ones. Schools that tender the term-time contract alone almost always find the holiday programme arriving as an unbudgeted quote in June, and the work it covers is the work that decides how long the floors last.
What moves the price
- Floor area and the number of teaching spaces.
- Term-time hours, and whether a lunchtime washroom check is included.
- The holiday programme, which is where the periodic work sits.
- Staffing. Enhanced checks and a settled team rather than rotating cover.
- Dining hall turnaround between sittings.
- Floor types, since sports halls and older vinyl need their own schedule.
Questions about school cleaning
Who cleans up an accident during the day?
Usually school staff for anything immediate, with the contractor dealing with it properly afterwards. Some schools buy a daytime presence, which settles the question and costs more.
Is a caretaker the same thing?
No. A caretaker looks after the building, the heating and the site; the cleaning team cleans it. Many schools have both, and the contract works better when the split is written down.