If you are thinking of becoming a window cleaner or starting your own window cleaning round, the first question is usually simple: how much could I actually earn? The honest answer depends on whether you are employed or running your own business, and if you run your own business, on your prices, how busy you are and how well you control your costs.
This guide sets out the published UK salary figures, explains what self-employed owners really take home, and shows you how to work out your own likely earnings.
Employed window cleaner salary in the UK
The National Careers Service Cleaner profile lists £19,000 for a starter to £25,000 for someone experienced and includes window cleaner as an alternative title. Treat this as an employee-role reference, not a forecast for a self-employed window-cleaning round. Pay varies by region, employer, overtime and specialist skills, with London and the South East usually paying more.
Salary source: National Careers Service — Cleaner (the profile lists window cleaner as an alternative title). The figures are for employed roles; they do not predict a business owner's profit or take-home pay.
Self-employed window cleaners with their own round earn whatever their round brings in after fuel, equipment and insurance, so a tight round at good prices can pay far more than a salary.
Self-employed earnings: turnover is not take-home pay
When you run your own window cleaning round, there is no salary scale. You earn what is left after every cost has been paid. That is why two businesses with the same turnover can leave their owners with very different incomes.
The costs that usually make the difference are:
- Van, fuel and insurance
- Water-fed pole system, resin and filters
- Ladders and safety equipment
- Unpaid cleans and arrears
- Travel between scattered customers
Most owners also underestimate the time they cannot charge for: quoting, admin, travel, buying supplies and chasing payments. That time still has to be paid for out of your prices.
A worked example (illustrative figures)
Imagine a small window cleaning round turning over £4,200 a month. After the direct costs of delivering the work, such as staff, materials, products or fuel, of £1,500, it makes a gross profit of £2,700 a month.
From that gross profit the owner still has to pay overheads such as insurance, phone, software, vehicle or premises costs, marketing and accountancy, and then Income Tax and National Insurance on what remains. If overheads came to £680 a month, the owner would have around £2,020 a month before tax.
These figures are an illustration only, not a forecast. Your own numbers will depend on your prices, your costs and how busy you are. The point is the method: turnover minus direct costs minus overheads is what pays you.
How window cleaners increase their earnings
- Keeping the round tight so more time is spent cleaning
- Add-ons such as gutters, fascias, conservatory roofs and solar panels
- Card, bank transfer or direct debit payments to stop arrears
- Raising prices on new customers first
Each of these either raises the price you get per clean, increases the number of cleans you can do, or cuts a cost. Tracking your figures monthly shows you which is working.
The numbers that decide your income
Three figures do most of the work in deciding what you take home from a window cleaning round:
Average job value. Rises with add-on services. You calculate it as: revenue ÷ cleans.
Hours worked. Your capacity. You calculate it as: hours spent cleaning and travelling.
Revenue per hour. The true test of a round: streets with long travel pull it down. You calculate it as: revenue ÷ hours worked.
Track these monthly. When take-home pay falls, one of them has almost always moved first. Our guide to window cleaning business KPIs covers the full set.
How window cleaners usually charge
Most window cleaners use prices per property, with add-ons such as gutters and conservatory roofs. Whatever structure you choose, base your prices on your real costs and the income you need, not just on what competitors charge. A competitor with a paid-off van, no staff or a cheaper unit can charge less and still make money; you may not be able to.
How to work out what you would earn
1. Estimate your monthly cleans realistically, allowing for quiet periods. 2. Multiply by your average price to get monthly turnover. 3. Subtract direct costs such as materials, products, staff and fuel. 4. Subtract overheads such as insurance, rent, vehicle, software and marketing. 5. Set aside tax and National Insurance on the profit, and VAT if you are registered.
What is left is your take-home pay. If it is not enough, the answer is usually price, volume or cost, in that order.
Run the numbers on your own business
The **Window Cleaning Business Management System** tracks every clean, cost, invoice and VAT return, and works out your profit, margin and key figures automatically on a one-page dashboard. It costs £15 once, with no subscription. Before you open, work out your start-up costs with our free window cleaning start-up calculator. For the full start-up walkthrough, read our guide on how to start a window cleaning round.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a window cleaner earn a year in the UK? The National Careers Service Cleaner profile gives a £19,000–£25,000 range and lists window cleaner as an alternative title; it is a broad employee comparison, not a dedicated estimate for every window-cleaning role. Self-employed earnings depend on prices, volume and costs.
Do self-employed window cleaners earn more than employed window cleaners? They can, but not always. Self-employed owners keep the profit but also carry every cost and quiet week. Turnover figures can look high until costs are subtracted.
Is a window cleaning round worth starting? It can be, if your prices cover every cost and leave enough for you. The owners who do best usually focus on a few things: keeping the round tight so more time is spent cleaning, and add-ons such as gutters, fascias, conservatory roofs and solar panels.
What is the biggest cost for a window cleaning round? It varies, but the list above covers the usual pressure points. Tracking costs as a percentage of revenue each month shows which one is growing.
How can I check whether my prices are high enough? Work out your monthly overheads and the income you need, then check that your average price per clean covers your direct costs and leaves enough to pay both.