How Much Does Window Cleaning Cost?
Clean windows make a bigger difference than most people expect... your whole house looks better when the glass is crystal clear. Professional window cleaning runs $150 to $400 for most homes, and the results are noticeably better than what you get with Windex and paper towels. Whether it's worth the cost depends on how many windows you have and how high they are.
Average Cost
$150–$400
per home
What Affects the Price
Number of windows
Most companies charge $4-$12 per window pane, with "per pane" meaning each individual piece of glass. A double-hung window counts as 2 panes (inside and out = 4 cleanings). A house with 20 windows has 40+ panes.
Number of stories
First-floor windows are cheapest. Second-story windows require ladders and take longer. Third-story or higher needs specialized equipment and costs 2-3 times more per window.
Interior and/or exterior
Exterior only costs less because there's no need to enter the home and work around furniture. Interior and exterior together is the best value if you're going to have them cleaned.
Condition of the windows
Windows that haven't been cleaned in years have hard water deposits, mineral buildup, and oxidation that require extra work and sometimes special solutions. First-time cleanings often cost more.
Screens and tracks
Screen cleaning and track vacuuming are usually add-ons at $2-$5 per screen and $3-$8 per track. Some packages include them, others don't. Always ask.
Common Jobs & Costs
When to Hire a Pro
Hire a professional for second-story and higher windows (safety first), for windows with heavy mineral deposits or hard water stains, and for whole-house cleanings where doing it yourself would take an entire weekend. If you're prepping your home for sale, professional window cleaning is one of the cheapest ways to improve curb appeal. Commercial and storefront windows should always be done by pros for liability reasons.
When to DIY Instead
First-floor windows are easy to clean yourself with a squeegee, a bucket of water with a few drops of dish soap, and a lint-free cloth. This combo works better than any spray cleaner. Do it on a cloudy day... direct sunlight causes streaks because the solution dries too fast. For a house with mostly first-floor windows, you can match professional results with $15 in supplies and an hour of your time.
How to Save Money
- ✓Schedule twice a year (spring and fall) with the same company. Most offer 10-15% discounts for recurring customers.
- ✓Skip the add-ons unless you have specific problems. Screens and tracks don't need professional cleaning every time.
- ✓Do interior windows yourself and pay the pro only for exterior second-story windows you can't safely reach.
- ✓Get quotes based on your actual window count, not square footage. Per-window pricing is almost always more accurate and often cheaper.
- ✓Ask about group discounts. Some companies offer better rates if you and a neighbor book on the same day.
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠They give a quote without knowing how many windows you have or whether you want interior and exterior. That quote will change.
- ⚠Using high-pressure sprayers on residential windows. This can damage seals, especially on double-pane insulated windows.
- ⚠No insurance. A window cleaner on a ladder who falls and gets hurt on your property without insurance is your liability problem.
- ⚠Leaving behind streaks, drips on sills, or water on the floor inside. A professional job should look perfect.
- ⚠Quoting by square footage instead of window count. This almost always results in you overpaying.
Related Replacement Guides
Costs vary by location, complexity, and market conditions. Get at least 3 quotes before hiring.