Quick answer: Across LA, a standard apartment clean usually runs $150 to $300, and a deep clean is commonly $250 to $500. TurnOver LA charges a flat Make Ready rate that includes a deep clean plus a 12-point photo report: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425, with a 48-hour turnaround.
Hiring someone to clean an apartment in LA typically costs $150 to $300 for a standard visit, and $250 to $500 for a deeper move-out level clean. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is a flat, unit-based price that sits in the deep-clean tier, but it includes documentation and a 48-hour turnaround. Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425.
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What does it cost to hire someone to clean an apartment in LA?
In Los Angeles, hourly cleaners often quote $40 to $65 per hour, with typical flat quotes landing around $150 to $300 for a standard surface clean and $250 to $500 for deep cleaning. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is a fixed-price, deep-clean bundle that includes a 12-point photo report and floor detailing: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425. There is a flat 48-hour turnaround on every job, no rush fee. If you operate in Koreatown or West Hollywood, this timeline keeps vacancy loss in check, which often runs $80 to $200 per day depending on submarket. If you need painting or minor repairs with the clean, you can add our line items at the same booking so you are not juggling multiple vendors.
What will a cleaner do in 3 hours?
Three hours of hourly cleaning usually covers a light pass, not a full turnover. Most cleaners can dust, wipe kitchen counters, clean the sink, spot clean appliances, vacuum and mop hard floors, and do a quick bathroom scrub. Heavy stove degreasing, shower descaling, baseboard detailing, inside-cabinet wipe downs, blinds, and window tracks typically do not fit inside three hours. For turnover standards, you need deep-clean scope, not just a tidy. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is designed for move-out to move-in condition. It includes kitchen and bath deep cleaning, appliance exteriors plus interior oven or fridge on condition, baseboards, switch plates, door faces and handles, detailed floor care, and a 12-point photo report to document condition at handoff. If the unit needs more than a deep clean, you can stack painting or a handyman punch list on the same work order.
Here is what a typical 3-hour hourly clean covers:
- Surface dusting of reachable areas
- Countertops and sink wipe-down
- Exterior appliance wipe, quick microwave clean
- Toilet and sink scrub, quick shower wipe
- Vacuum and mop hard floors
- Light trash removal
A full turnover deep clean goes further with baseboards, door faces, heavy degreasing, fixture detailing, and photo documentation.
How much does a cleaning lady cost in Los Angeles?
Most independent cleaners and small teams in LA quote $40 to $65 per hour, sometimes with a 2 to 3 hour minimum. For a 1BR, you will often hear $160 to $260 for a standard clean, and $220 to $400 for a deep clean. That range flexes up in high-demand areas like Santa Monica and Downtown LA. TurnOver LA sets fixed deep-clean pricing by unit, which de-risks the scope creep you get with hourly quotes. The Make Ready rate is Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425. It is not an hourly maid service, it is a turnover-grade clean with a 12-point photo report and a 48-hour turnaround. If you also need paint touch-up or drywall patching, you can bolt those on without starting a second bid cycle.
Hourly maid vs turnover Make Ready
| Option | Typical LA price | What you get | TurnOver LA price | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly cleaner | $40-$65 per hour, 2-3 hour min | Surface clean, light kitchen and bath | N/A | Varies by vendor |
| Flat standard clean | $150-$300 total | Light to moderate clean, limited deep work | N/A | 1-3 days |
| Deep move-out clean | $250-$500 total | Heavier degreasing and detailing | N/A | 1-3 days |
| Make Ready deep clean + photos | Market varies | Turnover-grade deep clean plus 12-point photo report | Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425 | 48 hours |
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Is it legal for a landlord to charge a cleaning fee in California?
California bans nonrefundable fees tied to security deposits. You can deduct for cleaning to return the unit to the level of cleanliness at move-in, beyond normal wear and tear, but deductions must be itemized and documented. See California Civil Code §1950.5 for the rules on allowable deductions and accounting, and the 21-day deposit return timeline is covered in our guide. AB 12 (2023) also caps most residential deposits at one month of rent, which increases the need to document cleaning work accurately. For LA rent controlled units, the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance does not set cleaning rules, but you still must follow §1950.5 on deductions and accounting.
References: California Civil Code §1950.5, California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide, AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap, LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. For process details, see our guides on california-21-day-deposit-return and normal-wear-and-tear-california.
What does TurnOver LA’s Make Ready include and why does it matter?
Make Ready is a turnover-focused deep clean designed to hand a unit to the next resident without backtracking. Scope includes kitchen and bath deep cleaning, stove degreasing, fixture and switch plate wipes, cabinet faces and pulls, baseboards, interior doors and handles, detailed floor care, and condition-based interior oven and fridge cleaning. Floor detailing is included inside Make Ready, so you do not need a separate flooring service line. You also get a 12-point photo report that timestamps the condition of critical areas. That report supports deposit accounting under §1950.5 and protects you if there is a dispute. The standard turnaround is 48 hours, which helps control vacancy loss in busier submarkets like koreatown, Hollywood, and Westwood. If you need it paired with paint or a handyman punch, you can add those line items in the same booking.
If you are new to turnover standards, see what-is-make-ready and our field-tested apartment-turnover-checklist.
Need the unit turned before the next tenant?
We do the move-out clean and send you a photo report you can attach to the deposit itemization.
Get an instant quoteHow long does it take to get an apartment ready for move-in?
A straightforward Make Ready for a studio or 1BR usually completes inside one working day; we book it on a 48-hour standard so you have buffer for keys, elevator time, and inspection. Heavier 2BR or 3BR jobs can use the full 48-hour window, especially after long tenancies. Add paint touch-up or a handyman punch list and you can still usually stay inside 48 hours if we stack crews properly. This matters because vacancy loss in LA commonly runs $80 to $200 per day depending on the neighborhood and rent level. Lock the scope on day zero, and you often save a full day of rent compared to shopping multiple vendors. If your unit needs junk removal or a lock change, we can sequence those same-day so cleaning does not start over.
For a deeper dive on timing and costs, see property-managers-vacancy-loss-los-angeles and apartment-turnover-cost-los-angeles.
How do painting and small repairs change the cleaning budget?
Cleaning exposes paint scuffs, nail holes, and minor damage that keep a unit from showing well. Across LA, painting ranges widely, but many managers see $300 to $700 per room for repainting and $150 to $250 for a small drywall patch in the general market. TurnOver LA publishes fixed rates so you can add work without a second bid: Paint touch-up only $200, Repainting per room $395 per room, Ceilings and baseboard or trim $125, Sand and repaint cabinets or shelving $135, Small drywall patch and texture $150 per patch, Medium drywall repair $240 per patch. If you need a short punch list, use Half-day handyman punch list $230 or Full-day handyman punch list $425. We schedule these alongside cleaning so one crew does not undo the other. For a unit with leftover items or bulky trash, Unit cleanout or junk haul is $500, and each additional junk load is $500 per load.
If you want to review service scopes, see our painting and drywall page and our handyman and general maintenance page.
What does make-ready priority mean in practice?
Make-ready priority is the sequencing that gets you rent-ready fastest. We start with safety and access, then clean, then touch paint and repairs, then locks, then media. A typical order: general maintenance or safety visit if needed ($125), unit cleanout if the unit is not broom clean ($500), Make Ready deep clean (Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425), paint touch-up ($200) or repaint by room ($395 per room), small drywall patch as needed ($150 to $240 per patch). If you plan to rekey, Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks is $150, or Rekey first lock $100 and Additional lock rekey $50 per lock. For marketing, the TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399. This order keeps dust from landing on fresh paint and keeps cleaners from doubling back.
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What if I only need locks or marketing with my clean?
You can add Locks and Security or media at booking without changing your cleaning date. If the outgoing tenant copied keys, choose Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks for $150, or Rekey first lock $100 with $50 per additional lock. If you want a modern entry option, Smart lock install is $210, and Door knob or handle replacement is $100 per knob. To speed lease-up after cleaning, our TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399. It is a single package that covers listing photos and essentials. We retired à-la-carte media, so there is no confusion on scope. Pairing marketing assets with a clean helps cut days vacant in higher rent pockets like west-hollywood and downtown-la.
How do I book and what happens next?
Use the booking funnel to select your unit size, add optional line items, and pick a start window. You will see an instant quote before you confirm. We show up with keys or lockbox instructions, complete the clean, drop the 12-point photo report, and close out inside 48 hours. If you added painting or a punch list, we schedule those inside the same window when possible. For deposit accounting, keep our report with your move-in checklist and your receipts. If you are a landlord or manager, this aligns with California Tenants Guide expectations and California Civil Code §1950.5 documentation requirements.
For related topics, see move-out-cleaning-los-angeles and apartment-turnover-fee. If you are deciding scope, our what-is-make-ready article explains how a turnover clean differs from routine maid service.