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The Cadi Ceiling · Free tool

What does a cleaner really cost you?

Change the numbers and the answer updates below. Nothing is stored, and you don’t need to give an email to see it.

Travel, training and gaps aren’t billable. 80% is a sensible start.

Add it to see if the hire pays for itself.

An estimate for planning, not tax or legal advice. Rates checked 4 November 2026 for the 2026/27 tax year. From April 2027 the National Living Wage rises to £13.21; other thresholds for 2027/28 aren’t published yet, so this uses this year’s.

What next

How the cost is worked out

Pay is hours × 52 × hourly rate. On top of that, employers pay National Insurance at 15% on earnings above £5,000 a year per employee, and a minimum 3% pension contribution on earnings between £6,240 and £50,270 (automatic enrolment). The Employment Allowance can take up to £10,500 off the NI bill if you’re eligible.

Employees get 5.6 weeks of paid holiday, so you pay for 52 weeks but get about 46.4 weeks of work. That is why one worked hour costs more than the headline rate. The break-even price divides that cost by the share of hours you can bill, then adds products and fuel.

Sources

    This follows the same method as Can you afford your first hire?, which also covers the Real Living Wage.