How long does it take to clean an average room?

A standard clean of an average-sized living room (15-20 m²) takes around 20-30 minutes. Kitchens and bathrooms take longer per square metre because they have more surfaces to clean and require sanitising. A quick tidy takes roughly half the time, while a deep clean can take 60% longer than a standard clean.

What counts as a deep clean vs a standard clean?

A standard clean covers vacuuming or mopping floors, wiping surfaces, dusting visible areas and emptying bins. A deep clean adds tasks like cleaning inside cupboards, washing skirting boards, cleaning behind furniture, descaling taps, cleaning light switches and door handles, and detailed attention to corners and edges.

Why do kitchens take longer to clean than bedrooms?

Kitchens have more surfaces that need cleaning — worktops, hob, oven exterior, sink, splashback, appliance fronts, and often a floor that needs mopping rather than just vacuuming. Grease and food residue also require more effort to remove than dust.

How accurate is this calculator?

The estimates are based on typical cleaning rates for domestic cleaners. Actual times vary depending on the cleaner's experience, the specific layout of the room, how much furniture needs moving, and the products and equipment used. Use the results as a planning guide rather than an exact target.

Room Cleaning Time Calculator — Free Domestic Cleaning Tool

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates cleaning time using a base rate per square metre that varies by room type. Kitchens and bathrooms have higher base rates because they require more intensive cleaning.

Base rates per square metre

Kitchen: 2.5 min/m² — multiple surfaces, grease, sanitising
Bathroom: 3.0 min/m² — sanitising, limescale, detailed surfaces
Living room: 1.8 min/m² — dusting, vacuuming, surfaces
Bedroom: 1.5 min/m² — dusting, vacuuming, bed making
Hallway: 1.2 min/m² — mainly floors and skirting

Condition multiplier

Light (0.8x) — room is already tidy, just maintenance. Moderate (1.0x) — normal weekly mess. Heavy (1.5x) — significant mess or hasn't been cleaned recently.

Depth multiplier

Quick tidy (0.5x) — surfaces and visible areas only. Standard (1.0x) — full regular clean. Deep clean (1.6x) — everything including behind and inside.

Formula: Room area × base rate × condition multiplier × depth multiplier

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities and timings for your specific situation.