“How much will it cost?” is the first question every committee asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on your building. But that’s not much help when you’re preparing a budget for the AGM. This guide explains what drives the cost of strata cleaning in Brisbane, gives realistic starting points, and shows you how to read a quote so you can compare providers fairly.
The short answer
At Strata Cleaning Co., small low-rise blocks start from $145 + GST per visit ($159.50 inc GST), larger low-rise blocks from $160 and mid-rise apartments from $168, and bin management starts from $55 per service. Larger buildings are priced on their scope and tasks. Use our price calculator for an instant indication, then book a free site visit for a written quotation tailored to your building.
What actually drives the price?
Cleaning is labour. Nearly everything in a quote comes back to how many hours it takes to do the scope properly, and how often. Those hours are shaped by:
1. Size and layout
The number of lots is a rough proxy, but layout matters more. A 30-lot block with three open stairwells is quicker than a 30-lot building with long internal corridors, two lifts and a gym. Number of levels, corridor length, stairwells and entrances all add time.
2. Surfaces and finishes
Carpet needs vacuuming; polished stone needs the right products and more care; glass entries and stainless lift interiors show every fingerprint. Premium finishes take longer to keep looking premium.
3. Facilities
Gyms, BBQ areas, rooftop terraces, function rooms, shared toilets and end-of-trip facilities each add regular tasks. Our calculator adds time for each.
4. Bin rooms and waste
Bin rooms need regular sanitising and can need bins taken out and back. These are often the areas that generate the most complaints, so they deserve proper allowance in the scope.
5. Frequency
More frequent visits cost more per month, but each visit is usually shorter because the building never gets badly dirty. Fortnightly cleaning of a busy building is often false economy: the cleaner spends the whole visit catching up.
6. Periodic work
Soft washing, carpet steam cleaning, external glass and deep cleans are usually priced separately, either as one-off jobs or a scheduled program.
Typical starting points by building type
These are indicative only and assume a standard scope:
| Building | Typical frequency | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Small low-rise block (about 4–8 lots) | Weekly or fortnightly | From $145 + GST per visit |
| Larger low-rise block (about 9–20 lots) | Weekly or fortnightly | From $160 + GST per visit |
| Mid-rise apartments | Weekly or more | From $168 + GST per visit |
| Mid-rise apartments with lift | 1–3 visits a week | Priced on scope |
| High-rise tower | Daily or near-daily | Priced on scope |
| Mixed-use development | Daily, zone by zone | Custom package |
| Commercial offices | Weekly to daily | Priced on scope |
Our pricing guide shows the building illustrations and current starting prices for each type.
Per visit, per hour or per month?
Quotes come in different shapes:
- Per visit pricing is easiest for committees to understand and budget.
- Per hour pricing can make it hard to know what you’ll actually pay — and what you’ll actually get.
- Monthly pricing smooths the budget but can hide how many visits you’re getting.
Whatever the format, ask the provider to list the areas and tasks included on every visit, and the standard they’ll be held to. That’s the way to compare like for like: you’re buying a clean building, not minutes on a clock. Our guide to comparing strata cleaning quotes has a checklist.
Why the cheapest quote can cost more
Cleaning is a labour-intensive industry, and the Cleaning Services Award sets minimum pay rates, penalty rates and entitlements. If a quote looks far below the market, ask how it’s possible. The usual answers are cutting tasks the scope needs, underpaid or sham-contracted workers, or no insurance — all of which can come back to the body corporate as complaints, re-tendering costs, or reputational and legal risk.
A fair quote covers the full scope, pays cleaners properly, includes supervision and quality checks, and covers insurance, equipment, chemicals and reporting.
What’s included in our pricing
Every Strata Cleaning Co. quotation includes:
- a free site visit and written scope for your building
- inducted, insured cleaners paid at least the Award
- photo-verified, signed-off visit reports
- access to our client portal for the committee and manager
- issue and damage reporting from every visit
GST and your budget
Prices on our website are shown excluding GST with the GST-inclusive figure alongside, because most body corporates budget in GST-inclusive terms. If your scheme is registered for GST, your manager will advise how it’s treated.
Getting an accurate figure
The fastest way to an accurate price is a 20–30 minute walk-through. We look at every area, ask about problem spots and resident feedback, and send a written quotation, usually within two business days. Book your free site visit or request a quote online.
By Strata Cleaning Co. · 11 August 2026