Window Cleaning Cost in Australia 2026 — By Window Count and Storey
Getting your windows professionally cleaned is one of those jobs most homeowners put off until the streaks are impossible to ignore. Whether it's the grime from a Sydney summer, Melbourne's pollen season, or the red dust that settles on Perth homes, professional window cleaning makes a visible difference — and it's more affordable than most people expect.
Window cleaning in Australia typically costs $8–$15 per window for ground-floor inside and outside, with a safety premium of $3–$8 per window for second-storey access. A standard 3-bedroom single-storey home comes in between $80 and $150 for a full clean, while a double-storey property runs $150–$250 depending on access difficulty and add-ons like screens and tracks.
This guide breaks down every cost component — per window, per storey, screens, sills, solar panels, and whole-house packages — so you can budget accurately and compare quotes with confidence.
Last updated: May 2026.
Key takeaways
- Ground-floor windows (inside + outside) cost $8–$15 per window; second-storey adds $3–$8 per window
- A 3-bed single-storey house package runs $80–$150; double-storey $150–$250
- Screens cost $3–$6 each; sills and tracks add $2–$4 per window
- Solar panel cleaning is usually a separate add-on at $4–$8 per panel
- Regular customers (quarterly or bi-annual) often get 10–15% off compared to one-off cleans
- This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
Table of contents
- Per-window pricing breakdown
- Whole-house package pricing
- What's included vs what costs extra
- Solar panel cleaning add-on
- Window cleaning costs by city
- Regular cleans vs one-off pricing
- DIY vs professional window cleaning
- FAQs
Per-window pricing breakdown
The most transparent way tradies price window cleaning is by the window — you know exactly what you're paying for, and the quote scales cleanly with your home's layout.
This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
| Service | Price per window/item |
|---|---|
| Ground floor — inside + outside | $8–$15 |
| Ground floor — outside only | $5–$9 |
| Second storey — additional premium | $3–$8 extra per window |
| Fly screen cleaning | $3–$6 each |
| Sill and track cleaning | $2–$4 per window |
| Sliding door (full panel) | $12–$20 each |
The second-storey premium exists because of the additional time and equipment involved. Most professional window cleaners use a water-fed pole system — an extendable fibreglass pole that connects to a purified water supply — which allows them to clean second-storey windows safely from the ground without a ladder. The purified water system (also called a deionised or reverse-osmosis system) strips minerals from tap water so the water evaporates without leaving spots or streaks: what the trade calls a streak-free rinse. This equipment costs thousands of dollars and the time to set it up is reflected in the per-window rate.
These price ranges are based on estimates generated through Leadkit's window cleaning quote calculator using current Australian rates.
Whole-house package pricing
Most residential window cleaners offer house packages that bundle inside, outside, and a basic screen wipe into a single price. This is almost always better value than pricing each window individually, especially for larger homes.
This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
| Home size | Single storey | Double storey |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom / studio | $60–$90 | $90–$140 |
| 2-bedroom | $70–$110 | $110–$180 |
| 3-bedroom | $80–$150 | $150–$250 |
| 4-bedroom | $120–$200 | $200–$320 |
Prices assume a standard clean of all accessible windows, inside and outside, with a basic screen wipe. Sill and track cleaning, fly screen removal, and solar panels are typically quoted as extras (see below).
Access difficulty affects the final figure significantly. A double-storey Brisbane Queenslander with a wraparound verandah is much easier to reach than a rendered two-storey Melbourne home with minimal setbacks. Always get a site assessment or at least describe your home's layout when requesting a quote.
Want a tailored estimate for your home? Use the free window cleaning quote calculator — takes 30 seconds, no signup required.
What's included vs what costs extra
Window cleaning tradies are not all pricing the same scope of work, which is the main reason two quotes for the same house can look very different. Here's what to confirm before booking.
Typically included in a standard package
- Exterior glass cleaned (all accessible windows)
- Interior glass cleaned (if inside + outside package selected)
- Basic wipe of frames
- Squeegee and purified-water rinse for streak-free finish
Usually priced as extras
- Screen removal and wash — fly screens need to be removed, washed, dried, and refitted. At $3–$6 per screen, a 3-bedroom home with 15 screens adds $45–$90 to the job
- Sill and track cleaning — window tracks accumulate dead insects, grit, and mould. Detailed track cleaning at $2–$4 per window adds $30–$60 on a 15-window home
- Cobweb removal — often included but worth confirming
- Solar panel cleaning — always a separate line item (see below)
- Post-construction clean — much more intensive; often priced at $15–$30 per window due to paint overspray, silicone residue, and sticker removal
Across the quotes that flow through Leadkit's cleaning calculators, screens and tracks are the add-on homeowners most often forget to budget for — and they're the items that make the biggest visual difference to the finished job.
Solar panel cleaning add-on
Solar panel cleaning has become one of the most requested add-ons for window cleaning jobs, particularly in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia where dust and pollen accumulate quickly on rooftop arrays.
Solar panel cleaning costs $4–$8 per panel, depending on roof pitch, panel count, and access difficulty. A standard 6.6 kW system (16–20 panels) typically costs $80–$160 to clean as an add-on to a window clean.
This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
Why it's priced separately
Solar panels require a different approach to window glass. Most window cleaners use purified water and soft brushes specifically rated for panel surfaces — harsh squeegees or tap water (which contains calcium and magnesium minerals) can leave residue that reduces panel efficiency. The roof-access safety requirements also differ: working at height on a pitched roof is governed by Safe Work Australia's working-at-heights guidelines, and tradies must be appropriately trained and insured for that work.
How often should you clean solar panels?
Most solar installers recommend cleaning every 6–12 months, or every 3–6 months in dusty inland areas or coastal locations. A window cleaning tradie with purified water equipment can usually handle both jobs in the same visit, saving a separate call-out fee.
Window cleaning costs by city
Labour rates and travel costs vary across Australia. The table below reflects typical ranges for a standard 3-bedroom, single-storey house (inside and outside, no extras).
This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
| City | Typical range (3-bed single storey) |
|---|---|
| Sydney | $110–$170 |
| Melbourne | $100–$160 |
| Brisbane | $90–$150 |
| Perth | $95–$155 |
| Adelaide | $85–$140 |
| Gold Coast | $90–$150 |
| Canberra | $100–$165 |
Sydney and Melbourne command the highest rates, largely due to higher tradie labour costs and, in Sydney, the added complexity of navigating narrow inner-city blocks. Regional areas can be cheaper on the glass price but may include a call-out fee for travel if you're outside a tradie's regular service zone.
For a pressure-washing job at the same visit — driveways, patios, or paths — check out the pressure washing quote calculator to bundle your estimate.
Regular cleans vs one-off pricing
How often you book a window clean affects what you pay per visit.
| Frequency | Typical pricing adjustment |
|---|---|
| One-off clean | Full rate — no discount |
| Bi-annual (every 6 months) | 5–10% discount typical |
| Quarterly (every 3 months) | 10–15% discount typical |
| Monthly (commercial or large homes) | 15–20% discount typical |
The logic is simple: regular customers take less time because windows don't get as dirty between cleans, and the tradie can plan their schedule efficiently. From a homeowner's perspective, the discount makes a real difference over the course of a year.
First-clean premium: If your windows haven't been professionally cleaned in more than 12 months, many tradies will charge a first-clean premium — typically 20–30% above the regular rate — because of the extra time needed to remove built-up grime, oxidation, and water marks. After that first clean, ongoing visits are quicker and cheaper.
According to ABS household expenditure data, Australian households spend an average of $300–$500 per year on professional cleaning services, with window cleaning among the most commonly outsourced tasks in capital cities.
DIY vs professional window cleaning
A bottle of Windex and a microfibre cloth will get you through a ground-floor clean on a calm day. But there are clear situations where professional window cleaning is worth every dollar.
When DIY makes sense
- Single-storey home with easy access
- You're comfortable on a ladder for low windows
- Small number of windows (under 10)
- Inside-only clean where safety isn't a factor
When professional is the right call
- Any second-storey window — Safe Work Australia's working-at-heights regulations exist because ladder falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury for Australian homeowners. A window cleaner with a water-fed pole system (brands like Gardiner are widely used by Australian professionals) cleans second-storey glass safely from the ground, with no ladder risk
- Streak-free results — professional purified water systems, like the reach-and-wash method using reverse-osmosis filtered water, eliminate the mineral streaks that tap water and spray-and-wipe leave behind
- Frames, tracks and screens — a full detail takes 2–3 hours on a 3-bed home and requires the right tools; it's not a quick Saturday-morning job
- High-rise or strata buildings — rope access or flying fox systems (a horizontal traversing rig used for tall building facades) require specialist contractors; this is not a DIY scope under any circumstances
The equipment investment to do a professional-quality job — a Gardiner water-fed pole, a reverse-osmosis purification unit, and proper squeegee kit from a brand like Unger — runs $800–$2,000 before you factor in your time. For most homeowners, booking a tradie is the better economic decision.
Compare your options. Use the window cleaning quote calculator to get a ballpark figure for your home, then decide if the DIY effort is worth it.
FAQs
Q: How much does window cleaning cost per window in Australia?
A: Ground-floor windows (inside + outside) cost $8–$15 per window in 2026. Outside-only runs $5–$9 per window. Second-storey windows add $3–$8 per window for the extra equipment and safety time. For a whole-house package, most tradies bundle the per-window rate into a flat fee — a 3-bed single-storey home typically runs $80–$150 all in. This is a price indication only; your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
Q: How much does it cost to clean a 3-bedroom house's windows?
A: A 3-bed single-storey home costs $80–$150 (inside + outside); double-storey runs $150–$250. These packages typically cover glass and basic frame wipe — screens and tracks are extras ($3–$6 per screen, $2–$4 per window for tracks). Sydney and Melbourne tend to sit at the top of the range. Use Leadkit's window cleaning calculator for a fast tailored estimate.
Q: Is it cheaper to clean windows inside and outside at the same time?
A: Yes — bundling inside and outside in one visit is almost always cheaper than booking separately. When a tradie is already on-site with equipment set up, the incremental cost of the inside is low. Many window cleaners don't offer inside-only bookings for residential jobs. The combined rate of $8–$15 per window is significantly better value than two separate visits.
Q: How often should you get your windows professionally cleaned?
A: For most Australian homes, twice a year keeps windows looking good year-round. Coastal homes (salt spray), bushfire-prone areas, and dusty inland regions benefit from quarterly cleans. Regular customers save 10–15% per visit vs one-off bookings. If windows haven't been done in over a year, expect a first-clean premium of 20–30% to address built-up grime and oxidation.
Q: Do window cleaners clean fly screens and window tracks?
A: Fly screen and track cleaning is available from most professional window cleaners but is usually priced as an add-on rather than included in the base package. Screens cost $3–$6 each to remove, wash, and refit. Track and sill cleaning costs $2–$4 per window. It's worth asking for these to be included when getting a quote — the detail work on screens and tracks often makes more visual difference than the glass itself, and bundling saves you a separate booking.
Q: Can I get my solar panels cleaned at the same time as my windows?
A: Yes — many window cleaning tradies offer solar panel cleaning as an add-on, which saves a separate call-out fee. Solar panel cleaning costs $4–$8 per panel, so a standard 6.6 kW system (16–20 panels) adds $80–$160 to a window cleaning job. The tradie uses purified water and soft brushes rated for solar panels, not standard window-cleaning squeegees. Most solar installers recommend cleaning panels every 6–12 months; combining it with your regular window clean is the most cost-efficient approach. Check that your tradie is trained and insured for roof-access work in line with Safe Work Australia guidelines before booking.
Get your window cleaning quote today
Window cleaning is one of the quickest ways to refresh how your home looks — and at $80–$150 for a standard 3-bedroom house, it's one of the more affordable maintenance jobs on the list. The key is knowing what's included in the base price and what to budget for as extras: screens, tracks, and solar panels are the add-ons that most commonly catch homeowners off guard.
The prices in this guide are based on estimates generated through Leadkit's window cleaning calculator using current Australian market rates. Leadkit is Leadkit's own platform, so these figures reflect real quote data rather than generic industry averages — but they are indicative ranges, not fixed quotes.
Ready to see what your home would cost? Use the free window cleaning quote calculator — takes 30 seconds, no signup needed.
Looking to bundle other exterior jobs? The gutter cleaning quote calculator and pressure washing quote calculator can help you scope the full job and compare costs side by side.
This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.