Cleaning Lady Costs & Hourly Rates in Switzerland 2026
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When budgeting for a cleaner (Putzfrau) in Switzerland, first decide whether you want to employ someone directly or book a cleaning company. But what is a fair hourly rate? What are your legal obligations as an employer? And is a cleaning company a better alternative? This guide covers everything you need to know as an expat or international resident in Switzerland.
Hiring a cleaning company: compare the right service
A cleaner's gross wage, your total cost as an employer and a cleaning company's invoice are different amounts. For a company quote, start with the job you need:
| Your job | Price to compare | Relevant guide |
|---|---|---|
| Regular cleaning of a furnished home | Per visit, with the frequency stated | Swiss cleaning prices |
| Empty apartment before handover | Fixed total and written handover guarantee | Move-out cleaning costs |
| One-off intensive cleaning without moving | Floor area, surfaces and condition | Deep-cleaning costs |
Request free household cleaning quotes in English. Include your postcode, floor area, frequency and extras so companies can price the same work. You decide whether to accept an offer.
Current Hourly Rates for Cleaning Ladies in 2026
Hourly rates vary depending on region, experience, and type of employment:
Gross hourly wage (what the cleaning lady earns):
| Experience Level | Gross Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Entry level / no experience | CHF 25 -- 28 |
| 1--3 years of experience | CHF 28 -- 32 |
| 3+ years of experience | CHF 30 -- 35 |
| With professional training (EBA/EFZ) | CHF 32 -- 38 |
What you actually pay as an employer (including social contributions):
| Gross Wage | + Social Contributions (approx. 15%) | Your Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| CHF 25/h | + CHF 3.75 | CHF 28.75/h |
| CHF 28/h | + CHF 4.20 | CHF 32.20/h |
| CHF 30/h | + CHF 4.50 | CHF 34.50/h |
| CHF 32/h | + CHF 4.80 | CHF 36.80/h |
| CHF 35/h | + CHF 5.25 | CHF 40.25/h |
Important: The federal standard employment contract (Normalarbeitsvertrag, NAV Hauswirtschaft) sets binding minimum wages for domestic workers throughout Switzerland, except in the canton of Geneva, which has its own cantonal minimum wage. From 1 January 2026 the minimum gross hourly wage ranges from CHF 20.35 (unskilled) to CHF 24.55 (skilled with a federal diploma), plus holiday supplements (source: SECO, as of 1 January 2026). Most cleaning ladies charge well above the minimum.
Regional Differences
| Region | Typical Gross Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| City of Zurich | CHF 30 -- 38 |
| Zurich agglomeration | CHF 28 -- 35 |
| Basel-Stadt | CHF 28 -- 35 |
| City of Bern | CHF 27 -- 33 |
| Lucerne | CHF 27 -- 32 |
| Aargau | CHF 26 -- 32 |
| Eastern Switzerland | CHF 25 -- 30 |
| Central Switzerland | CHF 27 -- 33 |
Employing a Cleaner Legally: Your Obligations
When you hire a cleaning lady directly -- even for just a few hours per week -- you become an employer under Swiss law. This comes with specific legal obligations:
Mandatory social contributions (Sozialabgaben):
- AHV/IV/EO (old-age, disability, income replacement): 5.3% (employer share)
- ALV (unemployment insurance): 1.1% (employer share)
- Accident insurance (BU/Unfallversicherung): approx. 0.5--1%
- Family allowances (Familienzulagen): 1--3% depending on canton
- Total employer share: approx. 8--10%
Additional obligations:
- Issue an annual salary statement (Lohnausweis)
- Withholding tax (Quellensteuer) for foreign workers without a C permit
- Grant holiday entitlement (4 weeks = 8.33% holiday surcharge)
- Take out accident insurance
- Observe notice periods for termination
Simplified accounting procedure (Vereinfachtes Abrechnungsverfahren):
For eligible small employment arrangements, the simplified accounting procedure combines the reporting and settlement of contributions and tax. Check the current wage limits, registration requirements and insurance arrangements with your cantonal compensation office before using it; the total is not a universal flat-rate percentage.
The Risks of Undeclared Work (Schwarzarbeit)
Unfortunately, many cleaning ladies in Switzerland are employed off the books. This can become very expensive:
Risks for the employer:
- Fines of CHF 1,000 to CHF 50,000
- Retroactive payment of all social contributions
- Full liability for accidents (no insurance coverage)
- Tax consequences
Risks for the cleaner:
- No insurance coverage in case of accident
- No AHV contributions (lower pension)
- No protection against dismissal
- No holiday entitlement
Our advice: Register your cleaning lady properly. The simplified procedure makes it straightforward, and it protects both sides.
Cleaning Lady vs. Cleaning Company: The Comparison
| Criteria | Cleaning Lady (directly employed) | Cleaning Company |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly cost | CHF 28--40/h (incl. social contrib.) | CHF 35--55/h |
| Social contributions | Your responsibility | Handled by company |
| Insurance | You must arrange it | Ask for confirmation of cover |
| Substitute if sick | You arrange cover | Confirm replacement arrangements |
| Holiday cover | You arrange cover | Confirm holiday cover in the contract |
| Supplies/equipment | Agree with your cleaner | Confirm what the price includes |
| Quality control | Your responsibility | Managed by company |
| Administration | Payroll, AHV, etc. | None (just pay the invoice) |
| Flexibility | Direct arrangement | Contractual terms |
| Trust | Personal relationship | Professional |
When is a cleaning lady the better choice?
- You need regular help (weekly)
- A personal, trusted relationship matters to you
- You want additional services (ironing, laundry, errands)
- For long-term arrangements
When is a cleaning company better?
- You do not want employer obligations
- For one-off jobs (deep cleaning, move-out cleaning)
- When substitute cover for absences is important
- For offices and commercial spaces
Monthly Cost Overview: a four-week example
| Schedule | Gross Wage (CHF 30/h) | Your Total Cost (incl. social contrib.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2h/week (8h/month) | CHF 240 | approx. CHF 275 |
| 3h/week (12h/month) | CHF 360 | approx. CHF 415 |
| 4h/week (16h/month) | CHF 480 | approx. CHF 550 |
| 5h/week (20h/month) | CHF 600 | approx. CHF 690 |
| 10h/week (40h in four weeks) | CHF 1,200 | approx. CHF 1,380 |
These examples use four weeks, a gross wage of CHF 30/hour and an illustrative 15% allowance, not a complete payroll calculation. A weekly arrangement has 52 scheduled visits per year, or about 4.33 per average month. Actual contributions, paid holiday and insurance depend on the employment arrangement. For a cleaning company, compare its quoted invoice total instead.
Tax Deductions
Do not budget on the assumption that private household cleaning is tax-deductible. Ordinary household costs and qualifying disability-related assistance are treated differently. Zurich, for example, allows qualifying disability-related household help subject to its conditions: see the cantonal tax authority guidance. Check eligibility with your own cantonal tax authority before claiming a deduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fair hourly rate for a cleaning lady?
In the German-speaking part of Switzerland, a fair gross wage is CHF 28--35 per hour, depending on experience and region. Agree on the gross wage, holiday entitlement, insurance and contributions separately; the hourly amount alone does not establish whether an arrangement is registered correctly.
Do I have to pay social contributions even if my cleaner only works 3 hours per week?
Yes, social contributions are due from the first franc of wages. There is no minimum threshold. The simplified accounting procedure makes it easy.
Can I deduct my cleaning lady's wages from my taxes?
Not automatically. Check your canton and circumstances; qualifying disability-related assistance has specific conditions. Ordinary household cleaning should not be budgeted as a guaranteed tax deduction.
What happens if my cleaning lady gets sick?
With a directly employed cleaner, you have a salary continuation obligation (based on cantonal scales). With a cleaning company, replacement cover depends on your agreement.
Conclusion
A cleaning lady in Switzerland effectively costs CHF 29--40 per hour including social contributions. Register your cleaner properly -- the simplified procedure makes it easy. If you would rather avoid the administration, a professional cleaning company is the stress-free alternative.
Compare free household cleaning quotes, or check the move-out cleaning guide if you are preparing an apartment handover.
When our customers actually ask
These figures are not an estimate. They come from the desired dates of real requests submitted through SwissOfferten.
Based on 27 requests across 5 calendar months, measured June to October 2026.
Where in the month the desired date falls
| Period in the month | Requests | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 to 10 | 8 / 27 | 30% |
| Day 11 to 20 | 10 / 27 | 37% |
| Day 21 to end of month | 9 / 27 | 33% |
| of which from the 28th | 4 / 27 | 15% |
Based on 27 requests across 5 calendar months, measured June to October 2026.
Size of the property
Median: 90 m² (Middle half: 80 m² to 120 m²)
Based on 57 requests across 5 calendar months, measured June to October 2026.
Lead time by cleaning type
| Cleaning type | Median | Middle half | Requests | Months | Measured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All cleaning types | 14 days | 6 to 37 days | 162 | 11 | February to October 2026 |
| Move-out cleaning | 33 days | 16 to 53 days | 94 | 11 | February to October 2026 |
| Apartment cleaning | 7 days | 3 to 14 days | 27 | 5 | June to October 2026 |
Method: every request submitted through SwissOfferten, excluding anonymised entries and test submissions. Lead time is the number of days between the request and the desired date; shown are the median and the middle half (25th to 75th percentile), not a mean. A figure is published only from 20 requests across at least 3 calendar months onwards. The periods within the month are unequal: day 1 to 10 and day 11 to 20 cover 10 days each, day 21 to the end of the month covers 8 to 11 days depending on the month.
Cite this data
SwissOfferten. "Cleaning Lady Costs in Switzerland 2026: Hourly Rates & Tips." swissofferten.ch, 2026. https://www.swissofferten.ch/en/blog/cleaning-lady-costs-switzerland
Häufig gestellte Fragen
How much does a cleaning lady cost in Switzerland?
Do I need to register my cleaning lady?
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