Airbnb Cleaning Rates Per Hour: Australia Price Guide
Airbnb cleaning rates per hour in Australia typically range from $45 to $75 per hour, reflecting the labour time, hygiene standards, and turnaround pressure required to reset short-stay properties between guests. These rates are shaped by property size, layout efficiency, check-out to check-in windows, location access, and whether cleaning is handled by an independent cleaner or a professional provider such as Everyday Clean.
Airbnb cleaning is not maintenance cleaning. Each service is a full operational reset that must restore the property to a neutral, guest-ready condition within fixed time constraints. For hosts working with a dedicated Airbnb cleaning service, understanding hourly cleaning rates is essential for setting accurate cleaning fees, avoiding rushed turnovers, and maintaining consistent review quality.
How Airbnb Cleaning Rates Per Hour Are Calculated in Practice
Airbnb cleaning rates per hour are calculated based on real cleaning time, not theoretical room counts or surface area alone. Short-term rental cleaning follows a different operational model from residential cleaning because every clean must address hygiene, presentation, and compliance in one visit.
Cleaners must inspect the property, sanitise bathrooms and kitchens, reset bedrooms, clean floors, remove waste, and ensure the space visually matches listing expectations. This workload is repeated after every stay, regardless of how recently the property was cleaned. There is no cumulative benefit from previous cleans, which increases labour intensity.
Hourly pricing is commonly used when the cleaning duration varies between bookings. Properties with short stays, mixed guest profiles, or irregular booking patterns often cannot be priced accurately with flat fees. Charging per hour ensures enough time is allocated to complete the job properly without cutting corners to meet a fixed price.
Typical Airbnb Cleaning Rates Per Hour Across Australia
Across Australia, Airbnb cleaning rates per hour follow consistent market bands, with variation driven mainly by service structure and location.
Independent Airbnb cleaners typically charge $40 to $55 per hour. These rates reflect lower overheads but may exclude insurance, backup coverage, and quality control processes. Availability can be limited during peak periods or same-day turnovers.
Professional Airbnb cleaning services generally charge $55 to $75 per hour. These rates account for trained teams, public liability insurance, commercial equipment, scheduled staffing, and guaranteed completion within tight turnover windows.
For hosts comparing pricing models, the detailed guide
How Much to Charge for Airbnb Cleaning provides additional context on how hourly rates translate into total cleaning fees.
Operational Factors That Increase Airbnb Cleaning Hourly Rates
Several operational factors directly increase Airbnb cleaning rates per hour because they extend cleaning time or increase labour pressure.
Property size and layout are primary drivers. Larger homes, multiple bathrooms, stairs, and outdoor areas increase cleaning duration. Efficient layouts clean faster than segmented or cluttered spaces.
Turnover speed also plays a critical role. Same-day turnovers reduce margin for error and require cleaners to work within fixed windows. This urgency often increases hourly rates to reflect the pressure of guaranteed completion times.
Location access affects productivity. High-rise apartments, secure complexes, concierge procedures, and limited parking increase non-cleaning time, which still contributes to overall labour costs.
Additional services such as linen changes, laundry handling, restocking consumables, and reporting damages increase task complexity and extend cleaning time.
Average Cleaning Time by Airbnb Property Size
To interpret hourly rates correctly, hosts must understand how long a cleaning typically takes. Total cost depends on time multiplied by the rate.
Under normal conditions and reasonable guest use, studio and one-bedroom apartments generally require 1.5 to 2.5 hours to clean. Two-bedroom apartments usually take 2.5 to 3.5 hours, while three-bedroom houses often require 3.5 to 5 hours. Larger homes or multi-level properties may require five hours or more.
Properties with frequent short stays, large guest groups, or heavy kitchen use often exceed these averages, even when cleaned regularly.
Airbnb Cleaning Rates Per Hour Versus Flat-Rate Pricing
Hosts often compare hourly cleaning rates with flat-rate pricing to determine which model suits their operation.
Hourly pricing works best when cleaning time varies between bookings. It ensures cleaners are paid for actual labour and reduces the risk of rushed or incomplete cleans. However, it introduces variability in costs.
Flat-rate pricing becomes effective once cleaning time is predictable. Professional Airbnb cleaning companies often convert hourly data into flat rates after several cleans, absorbing small overruns internally. This approach simplifies budgeting and reduces disputes.
For a clear explanation of how Airbnb fees work and what they typically cover, see
Airbnb Cleaning Fee Included. This helps hosts align cleaning costs with platform pricing and guest expectations.
What Is Included in Airbnb Cleaning Rates Per Hour
Airbnb cleaning rates per hour generally include a defined scope of standard turnover tasks designed to restore the property to guest-ready condition.
This typically covers bathroom sanitisation, kitchen cleaning, bed making, floor vacuuming and mopping, surface wiping, bin removal, and final presentation checks. The objective is hygiene compliance and visual consistency.
Deep cleaning, stain removal, wall washing, outdoor cleaning, and heavy buildup are usually excluded unless agreed in advance.
How to Reduce Airbnb Cleaning Costs Without Lowering Standards
Reducing cleaning costs should focus on workflow efficiency, not speed. Cutting time without changing systems often leads to missed details and negative reviews.
Effective ways to reduce costs include:
- Standardising storage locations for linen and supplies
- Keeping property layouts consistent across listings
- Providing on-site access to cleaning materials
- Avoiding last-minute booking changes
- Using one cleaning provider across multiple properties
These steps reduce wasted time rather than affecting cleaning quality.
Airbnb Cleaning Services Sustainable at Current Hourly Rates

At sustainable hourly rates, Airbnb cleaning services must cover wages, travel, insurance, equipment, and administration. Rates that appear unusually low often result in rushed cleans, high staff turnover, and inconsistent outcomes.
For hosts, choosing the cheapest hourly rate frequently leads to re-cleans, missed turnovers, and review damage that outweighs short-term savings.
FAQs About Airbnb Cleaning Rates Per Hour
Airbnb hosts and property managers often ask similar questions when setting cleaning fees or comparing providers. The following answers address the most common concerns based on real operational scenarios and search behaviour.
What is the typical hourly rate for Airbnb cleaning services?
The typical hourly rate for Airbnb cleaning services in Australia ranges from $45 to $75 per hour. Independent cleaners generally sit at the lower end of this range, while professional services charge more due to insurance coverage, structured staffing, and guaranteed completion within tight turnover windows. Rates vary by city, property type, and access conditions, but this range reflects current market norms for compliant short-stay cleaning.
What factors influence hourly Airbnb cleaning costs?
Hourly Airbnb cleaning costs are influenced by property size, layout efficiency, guest turnover speed, building access, linen handling, and service reliability. Same-day turnovers and high-density locations often increase rates due to time pressure and reduced productivity. Additional tasks, such as laundry and restocking, also extend cleaning time.
Hourly vs flat-rate pricing for Airbnb cleaning: which is better?
Hourly pricing is better when cleaning time varies significantly between bookings, as it reflects actual labour. Flat-rate pricing is more suitable once the cleaning duration becomes predictable. Hosts with multiple listings often prefer flat rates for budgeting consistency and smoother operations.
What services are typically included in an hourly Airbnb cleaning fee?
Hourly Airbnb cleaning fees typically include bathrooms, kitchens, floors, bed making, surface cleaning, bin removal, and final presentation. Deep cleaning, stain treatment, and outdoor areas are usually excluded unless specified in advance.
Do Airbnb cleaning rates vary by city or state?
Yes. Airbnb cleaning rates per hour are generally higher in major metropolitan areas due to labour demand, traffic, parking limitations, and building access requirements. Regional areas may have lower rates but less service availability.
Choosing the Right Airbnb Cleaning Rate Strategy
Choosing the right Airbnb cleaning rate strategy requires balancing cost control with cleaning consistency and guest expectations. Hourly rates must reflect realistic cleaning time rather than optimistic assumptions.

For hosts prioritising reliable turnovers, hygiene compliance, and long-term review performance, working with a professional Airbnb cleaning provider offers predictable outcomes and reduced operational risk.
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