Window Cleaning Calculator
Calculate time, solution, squeegee needs, and cost for residential or commercial window cleaning jobs.
About this calculator
Window cleaning time and cost both scale with two independent factors: how many windows there are and how hard each one is to reach. Time per window climbs with floor level — 3 minutes for ground-floor windows, 5 for second floor, 8 for third floor and above, reflecting the added setup for ladders, poles, or safety gear at height — and doubles if you're cleaning inside and outside rather than just the exterior. Total glass area (windows × average size) drives the solution estimate at roughly 1 ounce of cleaning solution per 4 square feet of glass, and squeegee blade wear at one blade per about 200 square feet, both multiplied by the same inside/outside factor since cleaning both sides means covering the area twice.
Cost mirrors the time structure exactly: it charges per window per side, at the same tiered rate as the time estimate ($3 ground floor, $5 second floor, $8 third floor and up), so higher floors cost more not because the glass itself is different but because access is slower and riskier. This calculator treats every window as the same average size you enter — a house with a mix of small bathroom windows and large picture windows will get a less accurate estimate than one with fairly uniform window sizes, so consider running separate calculations for distinctly different window groups. It also doesn't account for extreme dirt, hard water staining, or window screens, all of which add real time beyond this baseline estimate.
Inputs
Results
Estimated Time
120 min
Estimated Cost
$120.00
≈ 8 movie tickets
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter number of windows and average window size in sq ft.
- Set floor level (ground floor, 2nd floor, etc.) and whether cleaning inside and outside.
- Review Total Glass Area (sq ft), estimated time, and recommended pricing for the job.
How the result changes with Number of Windows
| Number of Windows | Estimated Time | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 60 min | $60.00 |
| 15 | 90 min | $90.00 |
| 30 | 180 min | $180.00 |
| 50 | 300 min | $300.00 |
What each input means
- Number of Windows
- Total number of windows to clean.
- Avg Window Size
- Average size of each window in square feet.
- Floor Level
- Floor level of the windows being cleaned.
- Inside & Outside
- Clean both the inside and outside of each window, not just the outside.
What each result means
- Total Glass Area
- Total square footage of glass (one side).
- Estimated Time
- Total cleaning time in minutes.
- Solution Needed
- Ounces of window cleaning solution required.
- Squeegee Blades
- Number of squeegee blades needed (~200 sqft per blade).
- Estimated Cost
- Professional window cleaning cost estimate.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersNumber of Windows = 20, Avg Window Size = 12, Floor Level = 0, Inside & Outside = 1 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Estimated TimeEstimated Time120 = 120
- Calculate Estimated CostEstimated Cost120 = $120
- Calculate Total Glass AreaTotal Glass Area240 = 240
- Calculate Solution NeededSolution Needed120 = 120
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does cleaning inside and outside exactly double the time, solution, and squeegee count instead of adding a smaller amount?
The calculator applies one `sidesMult` value (1 for outside-only, 2 for both) uniformly across time, solution ounces, and squeegee count, since cleaning the inside of a window is treated as functionally the same job as the outside — same glass area, same technique — just done a second time. If your inside windows are noticeably easier (no ladder, no weather) than the outside, the real time savings on the inside pass won't show up in this estimate.
Why does cost use the same tiered rate ($3/$5/$8) as the time estimate instead of a separate pricing model?
Cost per window per side is deliberately set to mirror the time-per-window figures exactly, because the reasoning for both is the same: higher floors take longer and are riskier to access (ladders, poles, safety gear), and that added time and risk is what justifies the higher price — not that the glass itself is different at height. If your pricing needs to diverge from your time estimate (e.g., charging a safety premium beyond what the extra time alone justifies), you'd need to adjust the cost figure manually.
How accurate is this if my windows are very different sizes, like a mix of small bathroom windows and large picture windows?
The calculator multiplies window count by one average size you enter for every window, so a home with mixed sizes will get a less accurate total glass area — and therefore less accurate solution and squeegee estimates — than a home with fairly uniform windows. For a mixed property, running separate calculations for each distinct window-size group and adding the results will be more accurate than one blended average.
Does this estimate account for extreme dirt, hard water staining, or window screens?
No — the time and solution figures assume a standard cleaning pass, so extremely dirty glass, mineral/hard-water staining that needs scraping or extra chemical, and window screens that need separate rinsing all add real time beyond this baseline. Treat the output as a starting estimate for typical conditions and adjust upward for jobs you know are dirtier or more complex than average.
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