Core coverages in this program
- •General Liability with completed operations
- •Tools & Equipment (poles, water-fed systems, lifts)
- •Workers' Compensation
- •Commercial Auto & Hired/Non-Owned Auto
- •Janitorial / Service Bond
- •Commercial Umbrella
Height determines your market and your price
Most standard carriers write window cleaning up to two or three stories with ladders and water-fed poles. Above that — boom lifts, swing stages, bosun's chairs, or rope descent — you move into a specialty market with higher premiums, mandatory safety documentation, and often OSHA rope-descent compliance evidence. Answering the height question accurately protects the claim; understating it voids it.
What window cleaning insurance costs
A solo residential cleaner is one of the least expensive service risks to insure. Commercial and high-rise operations rise sharply because of workers' comp and height exposure.
| Operation | General liability $1M/$2M | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo residential, ground + ladder | $500–$1,000/yr | Add a service bond for HOA work |
| Commercial storefront route | $900–$2,000/yr | Property manager COIs required |
| Multi-story with lifts or rope descent | $3,000–$9,000/yr | Specialty market, safety program required |
Need a COI for a contract?
Send us the contract's insurance requirements and we'll tell you exactly what coverage satisfies them — existing clients get same-day certificates.
Broken glass, scratched panes, and care/custody exclusions
The most frequent claim is damage to the very thing you were cleaning — scratched tempered glass from fabricating debris, a broken pane, a damaged screen or frame. Standard general liability excludes damage to property in your care, custody, and control unless the endorsement is added. Ask specifically for damage-to-property-of-others coverage and consider a written pre-existing-scratch inspection process on commercial jobs.
Contracts, bonds, and add-on services
Property managers, HOAs, and retail chains typically require $1M/$2M liability, additional insured status, a waiver of subrogation, workers' comp, and often a $10,000–$25,000 service bond. If you also offer pressure washing, gutter cleaning, or solar panel cleaning, list every service on the application — undeclared operations are the second most common source of denied claims in this trade.
Have Insurance Requirements From a Client?
Send us the insurance requirements from your contract, lease, vendor agreement, or licensing agency. A KTL commercial insurance specialist will review the requirements and help determine the coverage, limits, and endorsements you need.
Ready for a benchmarked quote?
A KTL specialist will shop your risk across multiple A-rated markets within one business day.