School Cleaning Rates in Ontario (2026)
School cleaning cost in Ontario typically runs $0.05–$0.17 per square foot per cleaning — lower per foot than most commercial cleaning because schools have so much large, open floor area. The monthly total is still substantial, because schools are big and need nightly service across many classrooms and washrooms. Most contracts are quoted as a flat monthly rate built up from enrolment, square footage, and frequency.
| School Size | Enrolment | Typical Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small school Daycare, small private, single-building | Up to 300 students | From approx. $2,499/mo |
| Medium school Typical elementary / middle | 300 – 800 students | ~$6,999/mo |
| Large campus High school / multi-building | 800+ students | From approx. $14,999/mo |
| Per square foot How the monthly is built | Any | $0.05 – $0.17 / sq ft |
The thing that surprises most administrators: schools are one of the cheapest categories per square foot to clean, yet carry one of the highest monthly totals. Both are true at once — the open gyms, hallways, and big classrooms clean fast per foot, but there's a lot of square footage and it all needs nightly attention.
Why Schools Are Priced the Way They Are
A school isn't just a big office. Several things shape the price in ways that don't apply to ordinary commercial space:
Nightly service across many washrooms
Washrooms are the most labour-intensive part of any school clean, and schools have a lot of them, used hard all day. Daily cleaning, disinfection, and restocking of multiple washroom blocks is a big share of the nightly hours.
High-touch surface disinfection
Desks, door handles, light switches, water fountains, handrails, and shared devices need daily disinfection to control the spread of illness through a building full of children. That sanitation layer adds time and product cost beyond basic tidying.
Specialized spaces
Gymnasiums, cafeterias and kitchens, science labs, and libraries each need different products and methods. Cafeteria floors and gym floors in particular need their own care cycles on top of nightly cleaning.
Sample Monthly Budgets
Realistic 2026 GTA ballparks for nightly school-year cleaning. Your number depends on square footage, washroom count, and how many specialized spaces are in scope.
| Facility | Scope | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Small private / daycare Up to 300 students | Classrooms, washrooms, common areas, nightly | $2,499 – $4,500 |
| Elementary school 300–800 students | + gym, cafeteria, library, day porter option | $5,000 – $9,000 |
| High school / campus 800+ students | + labs, multiple gyms/washroom blocks, multi-building | $12,000 – $20,000+ |
What Pushes the Price Up or Down
↑ Increases Cost
- Many washroom blocks used heavily
- Elementary age (more spills, more sanitization)
- Day porter for mid-day coverage
- Science labs, kitchens, specialty spaces
- Carpeted classrooms vs hard floor
- Older building, more corners and fixtures
↓ Reduces Cost
- Large open floor plate (fast per foot)
- Modern hard floors (quick to maintain)
- Fewer service days (e.g., summer reduced)
- Deep cleans batched over breaks
- Single building vs multi-building campus
- Recurring annual contract
What's Included — and What's Extra
A standard nightly school cleaning contract includes classrooms, hallways, gyms, cafeterias, libraries, offices, and washrooms; daily high-touch disinfection; labour, supplies and equipment; washroom restocking; waste removal; WSIB coverage; and liability insurance. Quoted separately are the periodic deep services that keep a building in shape over the year:
- Gym floor refinishing — screen-and-recoat or full sand-and-refinish, usually over summer.
- Hard floor strip & wax — hallways and classrooms, typically over winter break and summer.
- Carpet extraction — classrooms and libraries, scheduled in breaks.
- Summer deep clean — top-to-bottom reset while the building is empty.
- Day porter — mid-day washroom checks, spill and incident response.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
School quotes need a walkthrough — the washroom count and specialty spaces matter more than the headline square footage. Have ready:
- Square footage and building count — single building or campus.
- Enrolment and grade level — elementary vs secondary.
- Washroom blocks — how many, and usage intensity.
- Specialty spaces — gyms, cafeteria/kitchen, labs, library.
- Frequency — nightly during the year, reduced summer, day porter.
- Deep-clean needs — gym floors, strip & wax, carpet over breaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does school cleaning cost in Ontario?
School cleaning in Ontario typically runs $0.05–$0.17 per square foot per cleaning, which is lower per foot than most commercial cleaning because of the large open floor area. As a monthly budget, a small school (up to 300 students) starts around $2,499/month, a medium school (300–800 students) averages about $6,999/month, and a large campus (800+ students) starts around $14,999/month for nightly service. Final pricing depends on enrolment, square footage, and cleaning frequency.
Why is school cleaning priced lower per square foot than offices?
Schools have large open areas — gyms, hallways, cafeterias, big classrooms — that clean quickly per square foot, which pulls the per-foot rate down. But the total bill is large because schools are big and need nightly service across many washrooms and high-touch surfaces. So the per-foot rate is low while the monthly total is high.
What does a school cleaning contract include?
A standard school cleaning contract covers classrooms, hallways, gymnasiums, cafeterias and kitchens, libraries, offices, and washrooms, with daily disinfection of high-touch surfaces (desks, door handles, light switches, water fountains, handrails). It includes labour, supplies and equipment, washroom restocking, waste removal, WSIB coverage, and liability insurance. Periodic services like gym floor refinishing, carpet extraction, and summer deep cleans are usually quoted separately.
How often should a school be cleaned?
Schools are cleaned nightly during the school year — classrooms, washrooms, and high-touch surfaces every day, with cafeterias and gyms serviced around their use. Deep cleans (gym floor refinishing, carpet extraction, stripping and waxing hard floors, full disinfection) are typically scheduled over winter break and summer when the building is empty. Many Ontario schools also add a day porter for mid-day washroom checks and spill response.
Does cleaning cost more for an elementary school than a high school?
Per square foot, elementary schools often cost a little more. Younger students mean more frequent restroom use, more cafeteria and classroom spills, and a higher need for surface sanitization, all of which add cleaning time. High schools and campuses are larger overall so the monthly total is higher, but the per-foot rate can be slightly lower than a busy elementary school.
Get a School Cleaning Quote in the GTA
Zusashi Maintenance cleans schools, daycares, and campuses across the GTA — nightly service, deep cleans over breaks. Free walkthrough and written quote. WSIB compliant, $5M insured, since 2007.