Contract cleaning market forecast to grow by £200m in 2026

A new report from MTW Research forecasts the contract cleaning market will grow by £200 million in 2026, as artificial intelligence and tech innovation underpin revenue and capex growth.

The 80 page report forecasts a £1 billion boost for the UK contract cleaning market to 2030, with AI and automation investment rapidly ramping as adoption of new technology boosts cleaning productivity. The report points to enhanced differentiation opportunities for cleaning contractors, cleaning equipment suppliers and automation specialists.

Based on £6 billion of sales data, the report highlights a structural shift in the contract cleaning market in 2026. MTW found that the industry is evolving toward a ‘people-led’, rather than ‘people-centric’ market, with expert human oversight growing whilst AI, robotics and automation reduce demand for routine or lower-skilled cleaning labour.

MTW’s Director Mark Waddy commented: “We’re seeing a fundamental trend shift in the contract cleaning market. Robotics and AI are driving productivity and hygiene gains, freeing cleaning contractors to focus on supervision, client communication and accountability – all underpinned by tech upskilling, resulting in a stronger, smarter contract cleaning market.”

Cleaning equipment and material suppliers continue to drive innovation and support the industry in 2026, with the report identifying a range of differentiators offered by manufacturers which underpin growth opportunities in the contract cleaning market. MTW forecast a 17 per cent rise in specialist cleaning activities alongside enhanced innovation and differentiation support from the cleaning equipment market, underpinning an optimistic outlook for the UK contract cleaning market.

The report found that sales per employee metrics continue to grow, rising by 10 per cent in recent years. Even so, National Living Wage increases of 40 per cent over the same period have sustained margin pressure on the contract cleaning market though profitability is forecast to increase by 15 per cent between 2026 and 2030.

Other market trends identified by MTW include the recent one-year anniversary of the Government Procurement Act which had a generally positive effect on contract cleaning procurement, albeit with some negative consequences also identified. The ramifications of strategic partnerships between manufacturers, cleaning contractors and clients are also discussed in the report alongside the threat of insourcing and a review of recent mergers and acquisitions by contract cleaning providers.

The report segments the contract cleaning market by end use sector, finding growth within the commercial cleaning market outpacing public sector cleaning, with office and retail sectors’ spend on cleaning rising by over 40 per cent since 2020 lows. Recent Hantavirus and Ebola outbreak concerns in UK & Europe continue to highlight the need for enhanced hygiene control, though at present MTW suggest a low risk and marginal impact to UK contract cleaning demand in 2026.

The contract cleaning market continues to face intense pricing pressure, with industry debt levels exceeding £5 billion in 2026 according to MTW. In response, established cleaning suppliers are strategically repositioning toward higher value or growth segments to protect profitability and build resilience against margin erosion. This ‘upward migration’ trend, supported by a range of tactical measures aimed at differentiation and enhancing value for the client is set to underpin a £200m uplift in contract cleaning sales.

The report is priced at £595 and available at marketresearchreports.co.uk.