STR turnover cleaning pricing for cleaners: how to price your service

TL;DR: Price STR turnover cleans by scope and time pressure, not square footage. A turnover clean includes linens, restocks, photo-perfect staging, and multi-platform readiness in a fixed window between checkout and check-in. The three pricing models cleaning companies use: per-turnover flat rate (most common), hourly-with-cap (for custom add-ons), and monthly retainer plus variable (for high-volume hosts). Market-rate reference ranges: under $200 for budget properties, $200-$350 for standard 2-3 bedroom turnovers, $350-$550 for premium or larger properties. Document the scope of work in writing. Disclose your late-cancellation policy before the first job. If you run scheduling in Jobber, you can automate the booking flow with iCal feeds from Airbnb and Vrbo.

Why STR turnover pricing differs from residential cleaning

Residential cleaning customers buy recurring maintenance: dust, vacuum, bathrooms, kitchen, same rooms every week or every two weeks. STR turnover customers buy a different service. The property must be guest-ready by a fixed time, and the work scope includes tasks most residential cleaners don't touch.

Turnover scope includes:

• Linens: strip, wash, dry, fold, and restock all beds and bathrooms. Some hosts provide linens; some expect you to bring and launder them offsite.
• Restocks: toilet paper, paper towels, coffee, shampoo, dish soap, trash bags. The inventory list varies by property and platform standards.
• Trash and recycling: bag, haul to the curb or dumpster, replace liners.
• Photo-perfect staging: pillows fluffed, throws arranged, dining chairs aligned, remotes on the coffee table. Guests book on photos; the property must match.
• Multi-platform readiness: Airbnb and Vrbo each have cleanliness ratings. A single review mentioning dirty grout or pet hair costs the host bookings.

Time pressure is the other differentiator. Checkout is 10 AM or 11 AM. Check-in is 3 PM or 4 PM. The turnover window is fixed. If the previous guest leaves a disaster and you need two hours longer, you can't reschedule. You absorb the time or send a second cleaner. Residential cleaning has flexible scheduling; STR turnover does not.

Price by scope and time pressure, not square footage. A 1200 sq ft property with 4 bedrooms, linens, and same-day turnovers costs you more labor and risk than a 1800 sq ft loft with 1 bed and a 24-hour buffer between checkout and check-in.

The three pricing models for STR turnover services

Per-turnover flat rate

Most cleaning companies charge a flat rate per turnover. The rate covers the standard scope of work (linens, restocks, trash, staging) for a defined property size and configuration. The host knows the cost per turnover before the guest books. The cleaner knows the expected labor hours and can schedule efficiently.

Example structure:

• 1-bedroom or studio: $120-$200 per turnover
• 2-bedroom: $180-$280 per turnover
• 3-bedroom: $240-$350 per turnover
• 4+ bedrooms or premium properties: $350-$550 per turnover

The flat rate assumes normal wear (one family, check-out on time, no pets unless disclosed). Add surcharges for same-day turnovers (20-30% premium), pet stays (fixed add-on or per-pet), or excessive cleaning (defined in the scope-of-work doc as more than 1 load of dishes left unwashed, trash overflowing, or visible spills requiring spot treatment).

Flat rates work because the host budgets per booking and you budget per job. The scheduling is predictable. The risk is properties that consistently run over scope. Document the baseline and renegotiate if the host's guests routinely leave disasters.

Hourly rate with a cap

Some cleaning companies charge hourly with a cap. Example: $50/hour per cleaner, capped at $300 for a standard 3-bedroom turnover. If the job finishes in 4 hours (2 cleaners, 2 hours each), the host pays $200. If it runs 6 hours, the host pays the $300 cap.

This model works if the property owner wants custom add-ons (oven deep-clean, fridge wipe-down, baseboards) or if the property is unfamiliar and you're quoting before you've walked it. The cap protects the host from runaway bills; the hourly rate protects you from underpricing complex properties.

Hourly-with-cap is less common for high-volume STR cleaners because it requires detailed time tracking and creates invoice variability. Hosts prefer knowing the cost per turnover when they set their cleaning fee.

Monthly retainer plus variable

High-volume hosts (10+ properties, multiple turnovers per week) sometimes prefer a monthly retainer. Example: $2,000/month base retainer covers up to 40 turnovers across the host's portfolio, plus $60 per additional turnover above 40. The retainer guarantees your availability and smooths cash flow. The variable component covers surge months (summer, holidays).

This model requires trust and volume. The host must book enough turnovers monthly to justify the retainer. You must have capacity to handle the surge without rescheduling other clients. Most cleaning companies start with per-turnover flat rates and move to retainers after 6-12 months of consistent volume.

What to document in your scope-of-work agreement

Write down what's included before the first job. Verbal agreements fail when the host expects oven cleaning and you priced for surface-only kitchen work. A one-page scope-of-work doc prevents pricing disputes and scope creep.

Include these sections:

Linens and laundry: who provides linens (host or cleaner), where you launder them (onsite or offsite), and what counts as a linen set (sheets, pillowcases, bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, kitchen towels). If the host provides linens, specify where you pick them up and where you return them after laundering.

Restocks: list every item you restock (toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, dish soap, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, coffee, filters) and the par levels (one roll of toilet paper per bathroom, two rolls of paper towels in the kitchen). Clarify who buys the supplies (host or cleaner) and how you get reimbursed if you're fronting the cost.

Trash and recycling: where you haul bags (curb, dumpster, onsite bins) and whether you're responsible for taking bins to the street on collection day.

Inspection checklist: the room-by-room tasks (dust horizontal surfaces, vacuum/mop floors, wipe mirrors and glass, scrub toilets and showers, check for burnt-out bulbs, straighten furniture and decor). Attach photos of the staging standard (throw pillows arranged on the couch, remotes on the coffee table, dining chairs pushed in).

Deep-clean cadence: how often you perform deep-clean tasks (oven, fridge, baseboards, ceiling fans, windows) and whether those are included in the turnover rate or billed separately.

Mid-stay cleans: if the property books multi-night stays, whether you offer mid-stay service (trash and towel refresh, no full turnover) and the pricing (typically 30-50% of the turnover rate).

Damage and lost items: you're not responsible for guest damage (broken glassware, stained linens, missing remotes). The host files claims with Airbnb or Vrbo. You report damage in your post-clean checklist but you don't pay for replacements.

Send the scope-of-work doc as a PDF. The host signs or replies with written acceptance. Update the doc when the property changes (new furniture, new restock list, new linen provider).

How to disclose your late-cancellation policy

Hosts cancel turnovers when guests cancel bookings. Airbnb and Vrbo allow cancellations up to 24-48 hours before check-in depending on the host's cancellation policy. The guest gets a refund; the host cancels the turnover clean. You blocked the time slot and turned down other jobs.

Charge a cancellation fee if the host cancels inside your notice window. Typical policy: 50% of the turnover rate if cancelled 12-24 hours before the scheduled time, 100% if cancelled inside 12 hours. Waive the fee if the host reschedules to another date within the same week and you can fill the original slot.

Disclose the policy in writing before the first job. Include it in the scope-of-work doc or send it as a separate "booking terms" email. Don't surprise the host with a cancellation invoice. They need to know the policy exists so they can factor it into their own cancellation-policy decision on Airbnb and Vrbo.

Most hosts accept cancellation fees once you explain the mechanics: you scheduled a cleaner, turned down other jobs, and can't fill the slot on two hours' notice. The fee is your compensation for lost opportunity, not a penalty. Frame it as a business cost both of you manage.

If you run scheduling in Jobber and sync iCal feeds from Airbnb and Vrbo, cancellations flow through automatically. The job closes, the visit drops off the cleaner's schedule, and you see the cancelled booking in the job notes. You can configure whether to send an invoice for the cancellation fee or just flag the job for manual review. Either way, the host sees the cancelled booking in their Airbnb or Vrbo calendar at the same time you do.

Market-rate reference ranges for STR turnover cleaning

Rates vary by region, property size, and service scope. These ranges reflect 2026 market data from cleaning companies pricing STR turnover services with linens, restocks, trash, and photo-perfect staging included.

Under $200: budget-tier properties (studios, 1-bedroom condos in secondary markets, basic scope with host-provided linens and minimal restocks). Typical range $120-$180 per turnover. Common in college towns, ski resorts in off-season, or rural STRs with flexible scheduling.

$200-$350: standard 2-3 bedroom properties in primary and secondary markets. Linens included, standard restock list (TP, paper towels, soap, coffee), trash haul, photo-ready staging. Most cleaning companies price the majority of their STR portfolio in this range. A 3-bedroom turnover in Nashville, Austin, or Bozeman runs $240-$320 depending on the property configuration and same-day vs next-day scheduling.

$350-$550: premium properties (4+ bedrooms, luxury finishes, high restock standards, same-day turnovers, or properties with complex staging requirements). Example: a 5-bedroom mountain cabin with multiple bathrooms, high-end linens, extensive kitchen restocks, and a 4-hour turnover window between checkout and check-in. One Flathead Valley cleaning company quoted turnovers in this range for properties with 6+ beds and owner-specified staging protocols (specific pillow arrangements, wine glasses staged on the bar, fireplace logs stacked).

Add surcharges for same-day turnovers (20-30% premium), pet stays ($25-$50 per stay), or excessive cleaning (additional hour billed at $50-$75/hour if the property requires more than 1.5x the standard time). Disclose surcharges in the scope-of-work doc so the host knows the triggers.

Regional variation exists. Coastal metros (San Diego, Charleston, Cape Cod) run 10-20% above these ranges. Rural or secondary markets run 10-20% below. Walk the property, document the scope, and quote based on your actual labor cost plus margin.

Price by scope and time pressure, not square footage

STR turnover cleaning is a different service than residential recurring cleaning. The scope includes linens, restocks, trash, and photo-perfect staging. The time pressure is fixed by the checkout-checkin window. Price by the scope of work and the scheduling risk, not the square footage.

Use per-turnover flat rates unless the host wants custom add-ons (hourly-with-cap) or books high volume (monthly retainer). Document the scope in writing. Disclose your late-cancellation policy before the first job. Quote based on market rates for your region and the property configuration.

If you run scheduling and invoicing through Jobber, you can automate the booking flow with CleanSync. The integration turns Airbnb and Vrbo iCal feeds into scheduled Jobber jobs automatically. Cancellations sync, reschedules update the cleaner's calendar, and the turnover scope populates from your Jobber service templates. Visit cleansync.io to install the free integration or read the quick-start guide for setup instructions.