Window Cleaning Prices

Windows and frames can quickly become covered in pollen, pollution, dirt and watermarks; the only way to bring them back to their shiny best is to give them a good old-fashioned clean.

Did you know that many window cleaners charge a premium for the first clean and then a discount for subsequent regular cleans?

They know that frequently cleaned windows are easier and quicker to clean, while windows that haven’t seen a sponge in years could take three times as long.

But how much do professional window cleaners charge, how long does the work take, and how often should they be cleaned?

Finding out how much window cleaners charge in the UK was easy. First, we took some photos of the front and back of our houses and then emailed a bunch of window cleaners from around the UK; we provided them with the photos and told them the number of windows on each house.

We were then given prices, including a “first clean” price, as our windows were quite grubby and neglected.

We enquired about how frequently they clean windows on houses nearby and how often they recommend we have our windows cleaned. We also asked about which method was best for cleaning windows; either a pole-fed system or a manual clean from ladders.

Below you’ll find average prices for window cleaning; we’ve grouped the figures by region as we noticed big differences from cleaners around the UK:

Project 1: Window Cleaning Cost – End of Terrace House

For our first project, we asked our chosen window cleaners how much they charge to clean windows on a 2-bed end of terrace house.

Key points:

• 7 windows in total.
• Front door. 
• Very dirty windows and frames.
• Good access all-round the property.

The vast majority of window cleaners who provided us with prices used a pole-fed cleaning system, meaning they didn’t go up ladders. Many of these did state that for the “first clean” they would use a ladder and then subsequent regular cleans would be done with a pole-fed system.

Here’s how much we were told it would cost us:

Project 2 – A Small Detached Home

We roped in mum and dad for this one and asked them to give us photos of their small detached property.

Key points:

• 11 windows.
• Front door.
• Dirty windows and frames.
• Good access all around the property.

This is how much we were told it would cost to clean the windows and frames:

Project 3 – A Larger Detached Home

We also asked for the cost to clean the windows on a larger detached home.

Key points:

• 13 windows.
• Front door.
• Side door.
• Patio sliding doors.
• Dirty windows and frames.
• Good access all around the property.

This is how much we were told it would cost to clean the windows, frame and doors:

How Often Should Windows Be Cleaned?

We asked our chosen window cleaners, how often their customers have their windows cleaned, and most said every 4 weeks.

The cleaners advised us that windows generally become dirty from pollution and pollen etc., within about 6 weeks of being cleaned.

To keep the windows clean all year round, the best option is a 4-weekly clean, but for those on a limited budget, an 8-weekly clean would still be acceptable.

Obviously, there’s going to be a difference from house to house. For example, windows facing roads tend to get dirty more quickly than those at the rear of the property. Also, the proximity of trees is a factor.

You can, of course, just have a clean every now and again, but if the windows are filthy, the cleaner may charge a premium as it will like a “first clean” each time.

4-Week Verses 8-Week Pricing

We noticed that many of the window cleaners we contacted increased their regular prices by 25-50% if we chose to have the windows cleaned every 8 weeks instead of every 4 weeks.

While this isn’t an industry-wide rule, we noticed more than a few firms pricing this way.

We were told that this pricing is because the windows will be dirtier after eight weeks and require more time to clean.

What’s Best: Pole-Fed or Manual Window Cleaning?

Here’s a quick description of the two window cleaning methods:

Manual window cleaning – the cleaner goes up a ladder and cleans the window and frame with detergent and a sponge, the frame is then wiped down, and the glass finished with a squeegee.

Pole-fed cleaning – the window cleaner uses a long pole to deliver filtered water to a brush that scrubs the window and frame. The water then rinses them down. One huge advantage of the pole system is reaching windows in awkward locations, such as high up, above a conservatory or down a narrow alleyway.

A pole-fed system is safer for the cleaner as they don’t need to go up ladders, but it might not be adequate for a “first clean” if the windows are filthy. Operators shouldn’t use pole systems with plain tap water as it leaves watermarks and streaks on the glass, especially if you live in a hard water area. Instead, pure filtered water is used; this leaves a much better finish but also means that cleaning fluids and detergents can’t be used.

Based on the information provided to us, we feel that if your windows haven’t been cleaned for a while, you should first have them manually cleaned and then monthly or bi-monthly cleaned with a pole-fed system.

Get a Price For Window Cleaning Today

We hope you found our guide to the cost of window cleaning insightful.

As every project is different, the best way to get an accurate price for window cleaning is to compare quotes from local cleaners.

Tap the button below to see how we can help you get a great price for your window cleaning project:

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