How much does Tile & grout cleaning cost?

Tile is a practical and attractive surface material that can lose its luster if it gets dirty. The problem isn’t just with the tile itself, but the grout—the sand-and-cement material used to fill gaps between tiles. Because grout is porous, it attracts and absorbs dirt, grime, soap scum, mildew, mold, and bacteria—all of which can result in a dark or discolored appearance. That’s why cleaning your floor, bathroom, and kitchen tiles and grout lines should be a part of a regular home-maintenance routine.

Some homeowners see tile and grout cleaning as a DIY home-improvement project. But this takes a lot of time and work, and can cause problems if done incorrectly (for more information, read 3 best ways to clean grout).

Hiring a professional service will yield the best possible appearance, while preventing erosion of grout lines or other damage. A tile and grout cleaning company will also have the proper equipment—such as low-pressure steam-cleaning machines—and know the best cleaning methods for different types of tile.

In this guide, you’ll learn how much you’ll pay for professional tile and grout cleaning.

Professionals charge for tile and grout cleaning in several ways: as a flat rate (for the project), an hourly rate, or the number of square feet involved. In either case, the bids should include both cleaning materials and labor costs. 

Bid amounts are always influenced by tile size, which dictates how many lines of grout need cleaning. Larger tiles require fewer grout lines, so prices will be slightly lower per square foot. 

The average cost of tile and grout cleaning is $150–500. This will cover 2 small bathrooms or 1 larger area, such as a kitchen with tile countertops. To clean those areas plus a kitchen’s floor and backsplash, you’d likely pay $250–750. Large tiled kitchens or multiple large bathrooms can cost as much as $1,000+. 

When charges are based on square footage of the area to be cleaned, expect to pay $1.25–3.50 per square foot, on average.

Pros who charge by the hour may set a minimum fee of $50–100 to visit and set up in your home. After that, they’ll charge $30–60 per hour, per person on a cleaning crew. With a single cleaner, most jobs take about 2–5 hours to complete.

Grout sealing—an additional service—helps prevent the buildup of dirt, mold, soap scum, and other gunk that discolors lines between tiles. This should be done every 1–2 years in areas with high traffic or humidity, such as kitchens and bathrooms, and especially showers. Grout sealing costs are frequently bundled with tile and grout cleaning—if you want it included, you’ll typically pay $1.75–4.00 per square foot for the complete job.

These additional elements can affect total tile and grout cleaning prices. 

Here are a few ways to reduce the cost of professional tile and grout cleaning: 

What’s the average cost to clean tile and grout?

The average cost estimate for professional tile and grout cleaning in a medium-size area, such as a kitchen or two small bathrooms, is $150–500. You’ll pay $750 or more for larger areas, such as heavily tiled kitchens, bathrooms, and floors. 

How do professionals clean tile and grout?

Professional tile and grout cleaning services use a variety of different methods, including mopping, steaming, using tile-safe cleaning agents, and sometimes manual scrubbing for spot cleaning or in hard-to-clean areas.

How much does it cost to clean and seal grout?

Grout cleaning and sealant cost is dictated by tile size. The smaller the tiles, the more grout lines there are and the more time will be required to clean and seal them. You’ll generally pay $1.75–4.00 per square foot of tile.

Find a tile and grout cleaning professional in your area.