Specialised cleaning · updated August 2026
What Does Commercial Post-Construction Cleaning Cost?
$0.25 to $0.60+ per square foot across all three phases. A 5,000 sq ft office build-out typically runs $2,600–$5,400 all in. The widely quoted “$588 average” for post-construction cleaning in New York is a residential and small-job figure and it will make every legitimate commercial bid look extortionate.
Pricing by Phase
| Phase | When | Rate | 5,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Rough clean | During construction, post-drywall | $0.15–$0.30 / sq ft | $750 – $1,500 |
| 2. Final detail clean | After punch list | $0.30–$0.60 / sq ft | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| 3. Touch-up | After furniture install | $0.08–$0.18 / sq ft | $400 – $900 |
| All three phases | $2,650 – $5,400 | ||
Why Skipping Phase One Costs More
Rough cleaning exists so the trades that follow can work and so the dust load at final clean is manageable. Skip it and the final clean takes materially longer — usually more than the saving. Skipping phase three is the more tempting cut and the more visible mistake, because the touch-up is the condition the tenant actually walks into after furniture delivery has reintroduced dust and cardboard debris.
What Drives the Number in New York
Not square footage. Access:
- Freight elevator windows and whether an operator is required after hours
- Loading dock reservation limits — commonly capped at an hour
- Whether debris can leave the building during business hours at all
- Whether cleanup runs alongside permitted construction outside 7am–6pm, in which case a DOB After Hours Variance may apply to the construction activity
- Silica exposure control obligations under OSHA 29 CFR §1926.1153 where concrete or drywall cutting has occurred
- Finish complexity and glass quantity
A contractor who has not asked about freight and dock access has not priced your job.
Full post-construction service scope.
Last reviewed August 2026. Figures for prevailing wage and regulatory schedules change on 1 January and 1 July — we re-verify this page each cycle.
Want This Answered for Your Actual Space?
We publish the general answer because it is useful. For a number that applies to your building, send us the square footage and the nights you need.
Get a Price for Your Space
Written scope and fixed monthly price, usually within two business days.
We reply to every request. If your building needs a Certificate of Insurance or vendor registration, we handle that paperwork before the first night.
Ready for a Cleaning Contract You Can Actually Read?
Send us your square footage and how many nights you need. You get a written scope, a fixed monthly price, and the SLA in the same document — usually within two business days.