What commercial cleaning costs
At Island Commercial Cleaning we calculate your quote from estimated labour hours based on direct walkthrough measurements across Duncan and Courtenay. We evaluate your floor surface types, washroom fixture counts and visit schedules across 3 regional districts to deliver accurate pricing.
Updated September 2026
We estimate commercial cleaning quotes by calculating labour hours from room square footage, floor surfaces and task frequencies.
| Driver | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Floor surface mix | Carpet, vinyl and concrete require different cleaning times, affecting overall labour |
| Frequency | Nightly, three times a week, weekly or monthly — the schedule directly determines your total monthly hours |
| Scope of work | Which tasks are every visit and which are periodic |
| Washroom fixture count | Restroom work is rated per fixture, not per room |
| Occupancy and traffic | A shared entrance carries more soil than an interior corridor |
| Access window | After hours, weekends, or during business hours |
| Periodic floor maintenance | Deep carpet extraction and hard floor scrubbing are quoted outside regular janitorial rates |
What do we build your quote from?
We determine your cleaning price by measuring actual room dimensions and estimating required labour hours. Carpet, vinyl tile, concrete and quarry tile each require unique care methods, so your flooring mix shapes labour estimates. We count washroom fixtures and record desks and counters during our walkthrough to capture total maintenance requirements. We use these walkthrough measurements to calculate your building's quote.
How we work out the hours
For estimating bidding time, ISSA benchmarks set restroom cleaning at about 3 minutes per fixture, though these are guidelines rather than formal time studies of your building. ISSA benchmarks for bidding and estimating rate a 14-inch flat mop with a dual-chamber bucket at about 5,355 square feet an hour, not as a time-motion study of your building. ISSA benchmarks for bidding and estimating rate carpet vacuuming near 10,000 square feet an hour and light-duty spot cleaning near 1,000 square feet, rather than serving as formal time-motion studies of your building. We use ISSA benchmarks as bidding guidelines for labour estimation rather than conducting formal time-motion studies of your building during our walkthrough.
What moves the number more than anything else?
Your chosen schedule frequency determines how many cleaning visits occur each month, directly guiding contract costs. We establish task schedules during our walkthrough and record them in your contract to keep pricing accurate.
Where will your building land?
Floor surface mix and visit frequency separate two buildings of identical size. A nightly contract requires more monthly hours than a weekly schedule, making service frequency a primary pricing factor. Properties with numerous washroom fixtures require additional cleaning labour regardless of total overall square footage. We review all facility details during the walkthrough and present a written proposal tied directly to your itemized scope.
Why does floor care sit on its own cycle?
We quote periodic deep carpet cleaning and floor refinishing as separate project items rather than building them into routine rates. According to CleanLink industry figures, hot water extraction deep cleaning covers about 1,000 square feet an hour. CleanLink benchmarks state that low-moisture interim encapsulation covers about 5,000 square feet an hour using 8 ounces of chemical and 1 gallon of water per 1,000 square feet, compared to 6 to 8 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet for extraction. CleanLink guidelines recommend running encapsulation three to four times between extractions, while hard floor scrub cycles depend on surface wear observed during our walkthrough.
PST and GST on a cleaning contract
Cleaning services are exempt from provincial sales tax in British Columbia. The Province's Small Business Guide to PST confirms janitorial services are PST-exempt. From 1 October 2026, B.C. extends PST to strata management and professional services, but commercial cleaning remains exempt with only five per cent GST applying. GST at five per cent applies as it does to any taxable service. From 1 October 2026 your invoice may show tax on strata management but not on cleaning, because cleaning stays exempt.
Explore our specific office cleaning routines and schedule options.
We set the cleaning price during your walkthrough. Request a walkthrough and we will give you a price.