Building work always leaves more mess than people expect. Fine plaster and sawdust settle on every surface, inside cupboards and along the tops of doors, and paint and grout splashes need careful removal so finishes aren’t scratched. That’s why an after builders clean is priced differently from a normal clean. This guide uses the 465 after builders cleans we have completed since February 2023 to show what people actually pay, by property size, and what makes a job cheaper or dearer.
Key takeaways
- Our typical after builders clean cost £291, and the middle half of customers paid £228–£380 (465 jobs, February 2023 to October 2026).
- Size drives the price: about £217 for a 1-bed, £244 for a 2-bed, £334 for a 3-bed and £442 for a 4-bed in our 2025–26 jobs.
- Prices have held steady: the typical job was £297 in 2023 and £281 in 2026.
- Windows are almost always included: 92% of our after builders cleans covered interior windows, and about a quarter added exterior windows.
- Cleaners don’t take away building waste. Rubble, offcuts and old fittings need a licensed waste carrier before the clean.
From our job records
Counted from the 14,486 cleaning jobs we have completed since January 2023. See after builders cleaning.
How much does an after builders clean cost?
Across our 465 after builders cleans, the typical final price was £291. The middle half of customers paid between £228 and £380, and those figures include any extras they added, such as exterior windows or carpets. In the 12 months to October 2026 the typical job came to £281 (53 jobs, middle half £230–£375).
Industry price guides give a similar range. Fantastic Services’ 2026 guide puts most after builders cleans at £150–£400 outside London and £250–£650 in London, and says cleaners who charge by the hour typically ask £20–£40 an hour.
| Year | Jobs | Typical final price | Middle half paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 136 | £297 | £239–£400 |
| 2024 | 198 | £285 | £228–£372 |
| 2025 | 83 | £292 | £209–£368 |
| 2026 (to October) | 48 | £281 | £233–£376 |
After builders cleaning prices by property size
The biggest single factor is the size of the property. These are the typical prices our customers paid in 2025 and 2026, grouped by the number of bedrooms on the booking:
| Property | Jobs | Typical final price | Middle half paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or no bedrooms listed | 15 | £200 | £187–£295 |
| 1 bedroom | 17 | £217 | £190–£255 |
| 2 bedrooms | 38 | £244 | £212–£297 |
| 3 bedrooms | 41 | £334 | £283–£366 |
| 4 bedrooms | 12 | £442 | £388–£478 |
| 5 or more bedrooms | 8 | £681 | £523–£763 |
The 4-bed and 5-bed figures come from small numbers of jobs, so treat them as a guide. For comparison, Fantastic Services lists £160–£220 for a 1-bed flat, £180–£250 for a 2-bed flat and £240–£320 for a 3-bed house outside London, rising to £220–£310 and £270–£390 for the same 2-bed and 3-bed homes in London and the South East.
What makes an after builders clean cost more
Every renovation is different, which is why we price after builders cleans on a free quote rather than a fixed list. The things that move the price most are:
- How much dust there is. A full refurbishment or knock-through leaves dust in every room and every cupboard; a new bathroom affects far less of the home.
- Paint, plaster and grout splashes. These need removing carefully from glass, tiles, sanitaryware and floors, which takes time.
- Windows and frames. 92% of our jobs included interior windows; adding exterior windows adds time.
- Extras. About 21% of our after builders cleans added carpet cleaning, 26% included appliances and 10% added blinds.
- Size and access. More rooms, more stairs and no parking all add to the job. Parking, congestion charges and tolls are paid by the customer.
What an after builders clean includes
A good after builders clean goes top to bottom: ceilings and walls dusted, light fittings, switches and sockets wiped, skirting boards, doors and frames cleaned, every cupboard and drawer vacuumed and wiped inside and out, windows and sills cleaned, bathrooms descaled and floors vacuumed and mopped, often more than once because fine dust keeps settling.
In our records, nearly every job covered the kitchen (90%), bathrooms (91%), bedrooms (89%) and living areas (91%), and 42% included radiators. Utility rooms, dining rooms, conservatories and studies were added where the property had them.
What isn’t included: taking away building waste. Under UK waste law, you’re responsible for making sure household waste goes to someone authorised to take it, so ask your builder to remove rubble and offcuts or book a licensed waste carrier. Our moving-out services guide explains how to check a waste carrier.
When to book it
Book the clean for after the last trade has finished, not halfway through. Dust from sanding, plastering or cutting will settle again on anything already cleaned. If a decorator is still due, wait until the paint is dry.
Spring is our busiest time for after builders cleans: April, May and March were our three busiest months, and January the quietest. Booking a week or two ahead in spring gives you the most choice of dates.
How to keep the cost down
- Ask the builders to clear and sweep. A site that’s been cleared of rubble, protective sheeting and tools takes less time to clean.
- Send photos when you ask for a quote. It means the quote reflects the real job, with no surprises on the day.
- Book everything in one visit. Adding carpets, upholstery or ovens to the same visit is cheaper than a second call-out. Carpets are £25 a room and ovens from £30 on our price list.
- Don’t clean twice. Wait until every trade has finished so the clean only needs doing once.
After builders clean or deep clean?
A deep clean is a thorough top-to-bottom clean of a lived-in or empty home. An after builders clean covers the same ground but is aimed at construction dust and residue, so it needs more passes, more care with new finishes and different products. If the work was minor, such as a single room being painted, a deep clean may be enough. For anything involving plastering, sanding, tiling or knocking through, book an after builders clean.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an after builders clean cost in the UK?
Our 465 after builders cleans came to a typical £291, with the middle half of customers paying £228–£380. A 1-bed typically cost about £217 and a 3-bed about £334 in 2025–26. Industry guides put most jobs at £150–£400 outside London and £250–£650 in London.
Is an after builders clean priced per hour?
We price after builders cleans on a free quote based on the property and the work that was done, not by the hour. Some cleaners do charge hourly; Fantastic Services says £20–£40 an hour is typical.
Do after builders cleaners remove building waste?
No. Cleaners clean; they don’t take away rubble, offcuts or old fittings. Ask your builder to remove it or use a licensed waste carrier, because you’re legally responsible for where your waste ends up.
When should I book an after builders clean?
Once every trade has finished and any paint is dry. Cleaning earlier means dust from later work settles again and you pay to clean twice.
Can you clean windows and carpets at the same time?
Yes. Interior windows are part of almost every after builders clean we do, and exterior windows, carpets, upholstery and ovens can be added to the same visit.
Sources
- Fantastic Services: After builders cleaning cost guide (2026)
- GOV.UK: Dispose of household waste
- Tenancy.Cleaning job records, February 2023 to October 2026 (465 after builders cleans)
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Written by the Tenancy.Cleaning team
We complete end of tenancy, deep and specialist cleans across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our guides are based on that work and checked against current UK rules.
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