Pricing
Hourly vs flat-rate cleaning in Edmonton: which is fairer?
Hourly billing vs flat-rate pricing — when each is honest, when each is a trap. The two scenarios where flat-rate is the right answer and two where hourly is.
TL;DR
Both pricing models can be honest in the right context, but Edmonton cleaning is moving toward hourly per cleaner — it pays the team fairly and never overcharges the homeowner. We chose hourly for every UEC service in 2026 ($35–$50 per cleaner per hour depending on service type). Here is how the two models compare and why we landed where we did.
Both billing models are honest in the right context and abused in the wrong one. The way to tell the difference is to ask whether the scope of work is genuinely predictable.
When flat-rate is fair
Residential cleaning of a known home has a tight bell-curve of completion time. A 2-bed/1-bath maintenance clean is 2.0–2.5 hours roughly 90% of the time. The reason we still charge hourly per cleaner is honesty in the rare 20-percent cases — you should not subsidize someone else's slow visit, and you should not be subsidized at the cost of your team's pay.
When hourly is fair
Office cleaning and post-construction cleanup have wide scope variance. An office may have an unexpected catered-lunch mess; a post-construction site may discover hidden drywall dust behind a fridge. Hourly billing lets both sides settle on actual work performed.
The two traps
- Flat-rate trap — quoted low to win the job, then 'add-ons' billed during the visit. Always ask what's included and what triggers an add-on charge.
- Hourly trap — work paced to inflate hours. Mitigate by setting a not-to-exceed cap before work begins, and by checking visible progress at the halfway point.
Our pricing model
Every service hourly per cleaner: standard recurring $35, deep / move-in/move-out / Airbnb turnover $40, post-construction $45, office cleaning $50. A not-to-exceed estimate is given before any post-construction job begins.
Frequently asked
- What if my home is bigger than the standard?
- We size the flat rate by bedrooms and bathrooms before booking — the price is firm before anyone arrives.
- Can I switch from flat-rate to hourly?
- For residential work, no — flat-rate is the model. For commercial, we do quarterly check-ins to see whether hourly or per-visit flat-rate suits the actual usage better.
- Are travel and supplies extra?
- No. Both are included in every quote.
- Do you charge GST on top of the listed prices?
- Our advertised prices are GST-inclusive. The number you see is the number you pay.
Related
- PricingHow much does house cleaning cost in Edmonton in 2026?
Edmonton house cleaning prices in 2026: $35/hour standard recurring, $40 deep/move-out/Airbnb, $45 post-construction, $50 office. Per cleaner per hour. Most homes need a two-person team. What drives the number and how to compare quotes.
- Niche & specialtyOffice cleaning frequency for small Edmonton businesses
How often should an Edmonton office actually be cleaned? Frequency by team size, the three rooms that change the answer, and the $50/hr Edmonton baseline.
- Move-in / Move-outMove-out cleaning prices in Alberta: what to expect
Alberta move-out cleaning costs in 2026 — Edmonton vs Calgary, condo vs house, what's included, and how the damage-deposit-back guarantee actually works.
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