How Much Does a Professional Organizer Cost?

Highlights

• The typical cost to hire a professional organizer ranges from $252 to $813, with a national average cost of $507.
• There are several factors that can affect the total professional organizer cost, including the project type, size, and location in the home; the professional’s experience; and the geographic location of the project.
• Homeowners and renters may choose to hire a professional organizer if their home is excessively cluttered or if the home of a friend or family member needs organizing.
• Some residents may be able to tackle small organizational projects themselves, but hiring a professional can also provide a client with the tools to remain neat and tidy long-term.

Hiring a professional organizer to get their house, finances, or entire life in order sounds like a dream come true for many. Professional organizers have years of experience and training in setting up organizational systems to make their clients’ day-to-day lives easier. Many people assume the cost of such a life-changing service is out of reach, but it is likely more affordable than one would think.

So how much does a professional organizer cost? According to HomeAdvisor and Angi, a professional organizer costs $252 to $813, or about $507 on average. There are many different types of professional organizing services, from home organizing to financial organizing, all at different price points. The cost will also depend on the size of the project, the project location, and the addition of services like cleaning or home staging. All of these factors and more are included in detail in this cost guide along with information on ways to hire a professional organizer and tips to help clients save money during the organizing process.

Factors in Calculating Professional Organizer Cost 

The cost of house organization and other organization services depends foremost on the type of project. For example, financial organizing generally costs more than home organizing. Additional factors that affect the cost of professional organizing services include the size and scope of the project, the project location, and others described below.

Project Type

Home organizing is the most popular type of professional organizing service. For $35 to $85 per hour, a home organizer will declutter and create organizational systems in a home to make staying tidy easier. Home organizing is not the only type of project such professionals offer; other popular project types include those listed below. Each one is explained in more detail further on in this cost guide.

Project Size and Scope

Professional organizing projects vary dramatically in size and scope. Take home organizing, for example. Organizing a pantry will be a lot less difficult and time-consuming than organizing an entire house. Similarly, for financial organizing services, putting together a basic budget is much simpler than organizing the finances of an entire business. Clients will want to consider how the size and scope of their project may affect the price. More difficult organizing projects could see an extra charge of up to 20 percent to cover the additional complexity.

Project Location

When it comes to home organizing, each space in the house demands a different price point. The cost ultimately depends on the size of the space and the existence of any unique features that require extra effort from the home organizers. For example, the best garage organization services will introduce robust systems to organize tools and equipment; as a result, this is a more complex project than a pantry organization project. The total costs to organize various locations around the home, including a consultation, are as follows.

Organizer Experience Level

Like any other professional, a professional home organizer or certified organizer will usually charge more if they have experience, as their advanced skills are apt to improve the client’s overall project results. Additionally, an experienced organizer may finish the job faster than a more novice organizer; the higher hourly rate ensures they do not get paid less for working more efficiently. If a client is looking to save money on a professional organizer, hiring someone with less experience is always an option, although it’s wise to keep in mind that the results might not be as favorable.

Geographic Location

The best home organization services, like other professional services, cost more in certain geographic locations than in others. This is mostly related to the cost of living as well as the demand for professional organizers in a particular area. For example, the average cost of a professional organization service in Portland, Oregon, is $616, but it’s only $479 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Similarly, home and apartment organizers in San Francisco, California, cost $585 on average but only $310 in Tampa, Florida.

Additional Costs and Considerations

In addition to the cost factors described above, others may apply in certain situations. Below are several other services that professional organizers offer; if these options are selected, they could increase the total cost of hiring a home organization company.

Disposal Services

Homes with an excess number of items that need to be removed during the organization process will need a disposal service. Junk removal tends to cost anywhere from $130 to $360. Disposal services can be a dump truck that hauls away unwanted items or a Dumpster that is dropped off and picked up as needed. The service for multiple loads or the removal of any large items like appliances and bulky furniture will cost more. Some charities will also pick up and repurpose people’s unwanted furniture and belongings, sometimes for a small fee but often at no cost.

Interior Design Services

Some room organizers will also offer interior design services. The scope of these services varies drastically—and so does the price. Clients can expect to pay anywhere from $1,900 to $10,700 for interior designer costs. On the low end of the price range, the designer may simply suggest adding a few furniture pieces to improve the functionality of the space and make some paint and decor recommendations. On the high end of the price range, clients can expect a complete room design with all furniture and finishes picked out for them. The best interior design services aim to create a space for the client that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Feng Shui Consultation

A feng shui consultation will cost anywhere from $500 to $900. Feng shui, which is rooted in Chinese philosophy, is a design method that proposes that the placement of objects can affect one’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. In a household, this means placing furniture in certain spots that allow a good flow in and out of the space and relaxation within. Some professional organizers will offer a feng shui consultation as part of their home organizing service.

Custom Closet Installation

A professional organizer can assist with creating the perfect custom closet. The client will likely need to work with one of the best closet design companies as well as a professional organizer, who will offer expertise on all things related to closet organization. Clients can expect to pay between $1,100 and $2,700 for a custom closet installation, depending on the size of the space, labor costs, and the type of storage selected. Not surprisingly, since custom closets are designed to fit specific storage and organization needs and can vary from client to client, custom closet costs are higher than basic closet organization costs.

Home Cleaning

Hiring one of the best cleaning services in conjunction with a house organizing service is a great way for a client to give their home a new beginning. Professional cleaning services typically cost between $150 and $250 for a onetime job. The service will include a cleaning of all surfaces—floors, countertops, windows, and so on. Paired with decluttering and organizing, house cleaning is a perfect add-on.

Home Staging

If a client needs to get their house organized in order to sell it, adding a home staging service is the way to go. The best home staging companies will tap into the potential of a home by filling it with the best options for furniture and decor to make it shine for a new buyer. Home staging services can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. Larger homes cost more to stage; to cut down on costs, homeowners can always stick to staging just public spaces, like the living and dining rooms.

Professional Organizer Cost by Type of Project

Professional organizing services span far more than just home organizing. Finances, computers, businesses, and even lives in general can be organized by a professional. Each type of professional organizing service is detailed below.

General Decluttering

A general decluttering service will cost $35 to $85 per hour. Clients will want to choose this service to clear out neglected rooms used for storage, like attics or garages. General decluttering can also help if the client plans to move in the near future and wants to get rid of any unused items beforehand. While there is a specified hourly rate for the decluttering, a client may also need to factor in the cost of a Dumpster, depending on the size of the project. For example, the best garage cleaning services may bring along a Dumpster, as many people collect tools, equipment, and debris in garages that they no longer need.

Home Organizing and Cleaning

A home organizer and cleaner costs between $35 and $85 per hour. Home organizing services cover the entirety of a home. They will declutter and organize any and all rooms with a focus on those rooms that have an important function, like bathrooms and kitchens. Clients can also specify certain areas of concern and have the professional tackle just one or two rooms instead of the whole home. Organizing a specific area, like a bookcase or pantry, may be charged as a total project cost rather than the hourly going rate for house cleaning.

Office Organizing

Office organization cost ranges from $50 to $90 per hour. Organizing an office usually consists of decluttering the work space, filing any paperwork, and storing books and office supplies. Decluttering can often improve productivity, so hiring a professional for an office organization project can be well worth the expense. Office organizing is available for both commercial spaces and personal work-from-home offices.

Business Organizing

Business organizing is a service directed at small businesses. For $50 to $150 per hour, the organizer will tidy up all digital files and paperwork related to the business—areas like record management, technology services, accounting files, and so forth. Certain organizers will also lend helpful advice to improve these digital business processes through coaching and support. There are general business organizers and those who specialize in certain types of businesses.

Life Organizing

Life organizers cost $50 to $200 per hour and help clients get their life back on track. This service can get more expensive than other organizing services, as life coaches need to be properly trained to help clients develop new habits and routines. Life organizing services will teach time management and ways to balance all of the responsibilities in a client’s life, from household chores to family calendars. Clients can choose just a onetime life organizing session or obtain services on a recurring basis.

Computer Organizing

Organizing extends beyond just physical locations—the digital space in a computer can be organized as well. A professional computer organizer costs from $60 to $150 per hour. They will organize the files on the computer, delete unnecessary files to clear up storage space, and upgrade the operating system and apps. Computer organization ensures a computer is operating at the fastest speed and creates an environment to boost productivity.

Organizing for Hoarders

Organizing a house with hoarding is a massive undertaking, and clients can expect to pay $150 to $300 per hour. Professionals trained in organizing for hoarders understand that it will not only be challenging to clear out and organize all of the stuff, but it can also be an emotional experience for all involved. A professional organizer clearing out a hoarder’s home must be especially sensitive to the emotions of the client, and this skill warrants a higher cost for the service. Organizers for hoarders will address the current living situation and also provide methods for the homeowner or renter to keep the home clean in the future.

Home Financial Organizing

Clients can expect to pay $200 to $400 per hour for home financial organizing. This type of organizing is for all of the financial aspects used to run a household and plan for retirement. On the lower end of the price range, the financial organizer will help with bill paying and budgeting. On the higher end, they will offer the client financial planning services. Financial organizers can also help with plans to pay down debt.

Do I Need a Professional Organizer?

Hiring a professional organizer might not be right for everyone. Some common reasons a client will hire a pro include a cluttered home, a lack of time to address organizational issues, a move to a new home, and more, all of which are discussed below.

Excessively Cluttered Home

Some homeowners and renters may find that clutter accumulates very quickly in their home, with piles of mail, clothes, and toys taking over their living spaces. Professional organizing services are great for taming the excessive stuff in a home. A home full of excess belongings can feel overwhelming and chaotic. Working with a professional organizer to remove the clutter and implement systems to prevent it from coming back can do wonders for how a client feels in their home.

Time Restraints

Many homeowners choose to hire a professional organizer because they simply do not have the time to organize their homes themselves. When they outsource the work to an organizing company, decluttering and getting a home in order become a top priority. It is easy to push the task down a to-do list and leave organizing to the wayside—hiring a professional organizer ensures the job gets done without the client needing to allocate time for it.

Overwhelmed or Indecisive Residents

Organizing and setting up functional systems in a household are not easy projects. For this reason, many residents feel overwhelmed just thinking about taking on the task of organizing. By passing off this work to a professional, clients can get something off of their plate. Additionally, they can rely on the professional organizer to make decisions for them when indecisiveness takes over.

Moving House

Moving all of a home’s belongings from one house to another is a huge task in and of itself, and packing up the clutter that the residents don’t really use or need just adds to the chaos. If a homeowner or renter has a move in the near future, they may want to consider hiring a professional organizer beforehand. They will help a client go through all of their items and get rid of excess items, so they don’t have to waste their time packing it up and moving it.

Home Organization: DIY vs. Hiring a Professional 

DIY home organization makes sense for some households. If a resident has only one room that needs some attention or if the clutter issues are easily solved in an afternoon cleaning session, hiring a professional organizer is likely not necessary. But if the clutter seems to be taking over the entire house, then it’s definitely time for a resident to call in the experts.

A professional organizer will not only tame the current clutter and chaos, they will help clients achieve success in the future by setting up organizational systems. They will start by removing unneeded items from the home, then will create a proper storage place for all of the remaining items. Professional organizers are also trained to help clients understand the emotions that led to the clutter in the first place and teach them the skills to avoid these emotional traps in the future.

How to Save Money on Professional Organizer Cost

While the cost of a professional organizer is not substantial, there are still ways to save money on the organizing process. Consider implementing one or more of these money-saving tips while getting your home professionally straightened out.

• Sell valuable goods you no longer need. Just because you no longer use an item doesn’t mean someone else won’t. Consider selling any belongings that you no longer need and using the money to purchase more organizational tools for your home.
• Donate items to a local charity. There are many organizations that will come and pick up unwanted items, including furniture, and give them to people in need or repurpose them, often at no cost to the donor.
• Get quotes from multiple organizers. You will find that some organizers charge much more than others. Having quotes from multiple companies will help you compare the cost of services and choose the best value option.
• Purchase organizational items after decluttering, not before. Buying new boxes and dividers for organization and storage is exciting, but it is easy to get caught up in the moment and buy these items before they are needed, and then end up buying too many. Wait until you have decluttered before purchasing any new organizational items, so you can determine what you actually need.

Questions to Ask About Professional Organizers

Before homeowners or renters hire a professional organizer to whip their home or finances into shape, they will want to make sure they are choosing the right one. They can ask each company the following questions to compare the type and quality of services provided.

• What kinds of organizing do you offer?
• What services do you specialize in?
• How long have you been in business?
• What kind of training and experience do you have as a professional organizer?
• Do you offer free estimates?
• Will you provide a written quote and contract?
• What is your fee structure?
• Will I be working with you, an employee, or a subcontractor?
• Do you work alone or with a team?
• Can you provide references from similar projects?
• Can you walk me through the organizing process?
• Will you bring the organization supplies, or should I purchase them?
• How soon can you schedule the organizing service?
• How long will the organizing take?
• What is your cancellation policy?

FAQs

Homeowners or renters who want to hire a professional organizer tend to have lots of questions about the service. Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions to give residents as much information about professional organizing as possible before they start their project.

Q. How much do professional organizers charge?

Professional organizers charge between $252 and $813 or about $507 on average. The exact price depends on a number of factors, including the type of organization, size and scope of the project, project location, and more. To get more clarity on what a professional organizing service will cost, customers are advised to reach out to a few local organizers and request information on their fee structure.

Q. How long will a professional organizer work on organizing my closet?

It will generally take a professional organizer about 3 hours to organize a closet. The duration will ultimately depend on the size of the closet and the experience of the professional. Organizing a very large walk-in closet can take much longer, as there will be many more items to sort through and put away.

Q. Do professional organizers need a license?

Professional organizers do not need a license, but many seek out certifications to advance their expertise and show their qualifications to clients. Certifications are available for basic household organizing as well as niche areas of interest, like interior design and feng shui. Before hiring a professional organizer, potential clients will want to ask the organizer if they have any certifications that could speak to their experience.

Q. What supplies will a professional organizer need?

A professional organizer will need different supplies in each phase of the project. During the initial consultation, an organizer will use their phone or a notepad as well as a tape measure to measure various dimensions in the home. Next is the cleaning and decluttering phase, where general cleaning supplies like brooms, trash bags, and cleaning sprays are put to use. The final phase is the organizing, where most of the organizational supplies come into play. A professional organizer will need baskets, bins, and dividers to give each item a storage place along with tape, labels, and markers to make an organizational system.

Q. Do professional organizers charge monthly or per hour?

Professional organizers most commonly charge by the hour. This is especially true for large jobs where it is uncertain how long the project will take until the organizer gets into the thick of it. Smaller jobs may have a minimum number of hours associated with the contract. In some cases, a professional organizer may charge a flat fee. This is particularly the case when they are confident about how long the project will take and what it will entail.

Q. What are the things I should know about my professional organizer?

Most importantly, clients should know that their professional organizer is there to help them declutter their home and will not force them to throw away things that they do not want to get rid of. A professional organizer will work with their client as a team to get a home organized and functional. Professional organizers seek permission from the client before making any changes, offer accountability in the process, have empathy for the current state of the home, and set the client up for success by developing a sustainable organizing system.

Sources: Angi, HomeAdvisor, Fixr