I run a cleaning business based in Scarborough. About 30% of our work is commercial accounts now: dental offices, law firms, medical clinics, real estate offices, daycares.
Every week I get the same call. A small business owner tells me their last cleaner kept bumping the price every few months and they have no idea what the right number actually is. So here is the honest breakdown of what office cleaning should cost in Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York in 2026 — and what scope you should be getting.
Why office cleaning pricing is opaque
Most janitorial companies refuse to publish rates because their model depends on bait-and-switch. Quote low to lock you in. Bump the price every quarter. Add fees for things that should be in scope. By the time you notice, you have signed a year contract and switching feels like more work than fighting them.
Transparent flat-rate monthly contracts are still rare in the GTA. Here is what they should actually cost.
What a real office clean includes
For a standard 1,500-2,500 sqft office (10-25 staff, 1-2 washrooms, kitchen, reception), 3 nights per week:
Washrooms (every visit): toilets, urinals, fixtures, mirrors, vanities, sinks, floor mop and disinfect, restock soap/paper/sanitizer.
Kitchen / break room (every visit): counters, sink, fridge exterior, microwave inside + outside, dishwasher cycle if loaded, empty trash + recycling.
Workspaces (every visit): desk wipe (where clear), trash + recycling empty, floor vacuum (carpets) or sweep + mop (hard floors), high-touch wipe-down on door handles, light switches, elevator buttons.
Reception / lobby (every visit): glass clean (interior side), entry mat shake or vacuum, floor mop and sweep.
Once monthly: baseboards, vents, high dusting (>6 feet).
What it should cost — monthly flat rate
For a 1,500-2,500 sqft office, 3 nights/week, full scope above:
| City | Low | Honest | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto core | $850/mo | $1,150 | $1,650/mo |
| Scarborough | $750/mo | $980 | $1,350/mo |
| Etobicoke | $850/mo | $1,080 | $1,500/mo |
| North York | $850/mo | $1,080 | $1,500/mo |
Anything under $750/month is a cleaner who shows up once, leaves visible work undone, and tries to renegotiate after month one. Above $1,500/month for a 2,000 sqft office is overpriced unless you have specialty floors or medical-grade requirements.
How to compare quotes
Three questions cut through the marketing:
- Is this a flat-rate monthly or hourly? Flat rate keeps you protected against scope creep. Hourly creates an incentive to work slow.
- What is in scope vs add-on? Real companies tell you in writing. The shady tier hedges and adds bills later.
- What is your re-clean policy if I am unhappy? Real companies offer a 24-hour re-clean at no cost. The shady tier blames your staff.
If they hesitate on any of these, walk.
What I charge for each city
For full transparency, here is our flat-rate monthly commercial cleaning pricing — 1,500-2,500 sqft office, 3 nights per week, full scope as above:
- Toronto — $1,150/month scope here
- Scarborough — $980/month scope here
- Etobicoke — $1,080/month scope here
- North York — $1,080/month scope here
What to avoid
Patterns that have burned business owners in the GTA:
- "Special intro price" that is 30% below market — they will reset to market rate in 60 days.
- No insurance certificate sent before the start date. A legit GTA commercial cleaner has WSIB and liability — ask for proof.
- "We will rotate staff for variety" is code for inconsistent quality. The good companies assign the same crew to your office.
- Vague scope sheets. If the scope is one paragraph, you will be arguing about it in month 3.
Bottom line
For a 1,500-2,500 sqft office, 3 nights/week, in Toronto / Scarborough / Etobicoke / North York in 2026: budget $980-$1,150/month from a real, insured commercial cleaner. Below that, you are being lied to about scope. Above $1,500, you are paying for someone's branding.
Get three quotes, ask the three questions above, and book the company that answers cleanly.
If you want a flat-rate office cleaning quote in 60 seconds with no follow-up call, run our form at procleaningpros.ca/get-quote.
Rumy Reyal runs Pro Cleaning Pros, a family-operated cleaning company based in Scarborough serving the GTA.
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