Window cleaning is priced per home, not per square foot, and any company quoting you a firm number without knowing your window count is guessing. Rather than publish a price that would be wrong for most homes, here is what actually moves the number — so you can read any quote, including ours, with confidence.
What drives the price
- Number of window openings, counted as panes — a single large picture window costs less than four small casements covering the same area.
- Storeys and access. Third-storey glass, walkouts over a slope, and windows above a conservatory or sunroom all take longer and need different equipment.
- Interior, exterior, or both. Interior work adds furniture moving, drop sheets and time inside the home.
- Screens and storm windows, which have to be removed, washed and reinstalled.
- Condition. First cleanings after several years, construction dust, or hard-water mineral spotting take substantially longer than annual maintenance.
- Add-ons booked in the same visit, such as skylights, glass railings or eavestrough clearing, which are cheaper together than as separate trips.
Extras that are often quoted separately
The most common surprises on a window cleaning invoice are screen cleaning, track and sill detailing, hard-water stain removal, and high-access charges for third-storey or ladder-restricted elevations. None of these are unreasonable to charge for — the problem is only when they are not mentioned up front.
How to compare three quotes fairly
- Ask whether the number includes interior, exterior, or both.
- Ask whether frames, sills and tracks are included or extra.
- Ask how screens are handled.
- Ask whether the quote is fixed or an hourly estimate that can grow.
- Ask whether the company carries liability insurance and can confirm it.
How Northline quotes
We give a free written estimate based on your actual home — window count, storeys, access and condition — and the price we quote is the price you pay. If we find something on site that changes the scope, we tell you before doing the work, not after.
Bundling helps: combining window cleaning with eavestrough clearing or a driveway pressure wash in one visit is meaningfully cheaper than booking them as separate jobs.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't you publish a flat price list?
Because a flat rate would be wrong for most homes. A bungalow with eight windows and a three-storey home with forty are not the same job, and quoting one number would mean overcharging some homeowners and rescoping others on site.
Is a first cleaning more expensive?
It can be. Glass that has not been professionally cleaned in several years, or that has construction residue or mineral spotting, takes longer. We tell you that in the estimate rather than after the fact.
Do you charge extra for tracks and sills?
No. Frames, sills and tracks are part of a standard Northline window cleaning.
Can I get a quote without an in-person visit?
Often yes. For many homes we can quote from a description of the home, the number of storeys and a few photos. Complex access is easier to price on site.
Related services
- Window Cleaning in Toronto & the GTA
- Skylight Cleaning in Toronto & the GTA
- Pressure Washing in Toronto & the GTA
Areas mentioned
Exterior cleaning in Toronto,Exterior cleaning in Brampton,Exterior cleaning in Mississauga,Exterior cleaning in Vaughan