How to Choose the Right Size Janitorial Equipment for Your Facility

April 10, 2025

From spotless school hallways to shining hotel lobbies and efficient hospital corridors, cleanliness plays a critical role in your facility’s image, safety, and operations. But when it comes to janitorial equipment, size matters. Choose equipment that’s too small, and your team may struggle to keep up. Too large, and it could be difficult to maneuver or store.

So how does the facility pick the right size equipment? There is more to consider than simply using large machines in open areas. You will also need to think about the storage and cleaning requirements of your facility, machine portability and ease of use, and determine your potential return on investment (ROI) with whichever machine you choose.

This article and video will offer the insight you need to make an educated equipment decision based on the needs of your facility, its cleaning requirements, and your budget considerations.

Let’s dive right in!

Janitorial equipment comes in a variety of sizes to help cleaners complete a variety of different tasks optimally.

You can’t compare apples and oranges. It’s important to note that equipment sizes need to be compared among the same type of equipment. Different types of equipment are made for specific purposes and the typical small floor scrubber is usually bigger than a large vacuum cleaner.

That being said, here is what you can generally expect when using both small and large equipment:

Small Janitorial Equipment

Small janitorial equipment, like micro scrubbers, upright vacuums, and carpet spotters are designed for small-scale or very targeted cleaning, especially in tight areas like small offices, restrooms, and auditorium seating.

They are easy to handle and maneuver, cost-effective for smaller cleaning needs, and suitable for quick and routine tasks.

Large Janitorial Equipment

On the other hand, large janitorial equipment, like automatic floor scrubbers, floor sweepers, and carpet extractors usually have wider cleaning paths and are typically used for larger, open areas and more demanding cleaning tasks. They are especially useful in high-traffic areas like large warehouses, schools, and commercial buildings.

Large machines are efficient for large areas and heavy-duty cleaning, can save time and labor, and can handle larger amounts of debris and dirt.

Why Does the Size of Your Janitorial Equipment Matter?

The size of your janitorial equipment impacts:

Efficiency: Larger machines clean more square footage faster—but they may not fit in tight areas.
Storage: Bulky equipment requires more storage space, which may not be ideal in facilities with small janitor closets.
Ergonomics: Properly sized equipment can reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity.
Budget: Larger equipment tends to be a larger investment, and can save you money in the long run if you are cleaning large, open areas. Smaller equipment may still be the most cost-effective solution for small or tight facilities.

Choosing the right size janitorial equipment is crucial for cleaning efficiency, effectiveness, and cost. The goal is for cleaning tasks to be done as quickly and thoroughly as possible, for waste to be minimized, and for the lifespan of the equipment and floors.

FEATURE	SMALL JANITORIAL EQUIPMENT	LARGE JANITORIAL EQUIPMENT
Portability	Highly portable, easy to move between areas	Less portable, better suited for larger fixed spaces
Cleaning Capacity	Suitable for smaller areas and tasks	Designed for larger areas and more demanding cleaning tasks
Ease of Use	Often simpler to train and maintain, but requires more manual cleaning	May require more training and maintenance, but offers less manual cleaning
Cost	Less expensive to purchase, but can be less efficient to operate	More expensive to purchase, but can be more efficient to operate
Storage	Requires less storage space	Requires more storage space
Examples	Micro scrubbers, upright vacuums, carpet spotters,	Automatic floor scrubbers, floor sweepers, carpet extractors
Best Use Cases	Small offices, restrooms, tight spaces	Large warehouses, schools, commercial buildings, high-traffic areas

How to Choose the Right Size Equipment

Here are six considerations to keep in mind to choose the best piece of janitorial equipment for your facility:

Assess Your Facility’s Size and Layout
Examine Cleaning Capacity & Cleaning Path
Consider Portability
Identify Ease of Use
Review Storage Requirements
Determine ROI

1. Assess Your Facility’s Size and Layout

Before you start shopping, take a close look at your space:

Total square footage

This is the most basic but critical factor. Facilities under 10,000 sq. ft. may only need compact or medium-sized equipment, while large facilities (over 50,000 sq. ft.) can benefit from ride-on or wide-path solutions.

Layout Complexity

Narrow hallways, staircases, elevators, and crowded floor plans might require compact or lightweight machines with high maneuverability.

Different areas require different solutions:

Restrooms and tight spaces: Small auto scrubbers or compact tools work best here.
Hallways and lobbies: Mid-size walk-behind scrubbers or burnishers strike the right balance between size and power.
Large open areas (e.g., warehouses, gyms, convention centers): Ride-on floor scrubbers or wide-area vacuums maximize efficiency.

Flooring Type

Carpet, tile, vinyl, concrete—each requires different care and may influence the size and type of equipment you need.

Cleaning Frequency

High-traffic areas may need daily or even multiple cleanings per day, which requires durable and efficient equipment.

2. Examine Cleaning Capacity & Cleaning Path

Now that you’re aware of the size, layout, and complexities of your facility, it’s time to consider the ideal cleaning capacity to meet your cleaning requirements. The equipment’s size and cleaning path width are key factors that directly influence cleaning capacity. Here’s how they relate:

Cleaning Speed

Large janitorial equipment is optimized for covering vast areas in much less time than it would take with traditional manual cleaning methods. Because the machines are larger, they are capable of having a wider cleaning path than their smaller counterparts. This makes larger machines ideal for large spaces and spaces that need to be cleaned quickly.

Smaller machines cannot clean large spaces as fast as large machines can, but may clean tighter spaces more quickly because of their compact size.

Solution Tank/Recovery System Size

Large janitorial equipment is usually fitted with a larger solution tank (in the case of floor scrubbers) and recovery system (for floor scrubbers, floor sweepers, and more), which allows you to clean for longer periods of time without refilling and emptying, respectively.

Smaller machines tend to have smaller features, making them less optimal for extended cleaning, but lighter and more portable.

If you have large, open spaces and cleaning capacity is your main concern, choose a larger piece of equipment.

For large areas with many obstacles, you will likely still need a smaller piece of equipment for maneuverability.

3. Consider Portability

Next, consider portability. The size of a piece of equipment directly influences its portability:

Navigation

Their most significant advantage over larger units, smaller machines are more easily able to navigate and clean in small spaces like tight edges and corners, under furniture, through narrow doorways, and more.

Larger equipment, on the other hand, is more optimized for larger, open areas.

Faster Transitions

A smaller cleaning machine’s compact size will typically make them more portable than their larger counterparts, limiting downtime and enabling faster transitions between different areas that need to be cleaned by the same machine.

Large equipment can clean areas quickly, but may have a harder time moving between rooms or to different floors.

If portability is your main concern, a smaller piece of equipment is usually the way to go.

4. Identify Ease of Use

When considering janitorial equipment, size significantly impacts ease of use in several ways, primarily related to training, operation, and overall handling. Let’s explore how:

Easy to Train

Smaller pieces of equipment tend to have fewer features and complexities, making it much easier to teach your staff how to use them. Since training is faster, your staff will be ready to clean faster as well!

Larger machines tend to be more complicated, but once learned, can be easier to operate. We’ll get into that next.

Easy to Operate

Although they take longer to train your staff on, larger equipment can be much easier to operate. This is because larger equipment is often rideable or autonomous, many cleaning tasks can be streamlined, significantly minimizing the time and effort required for cleaning tasks and making your cleaning staff more efficient and productive. This also reduces user strain, leading to improved job satisfaction and retention.

Despite being easier to train on, smaller equipment usually needs to be manually pushed to operate, making the cleaning process longer and more strenuous.

If you want a machine that is easy to train on, choose a smaller piece of equipment. If you want a machine that is easy to operate, choose a larger piece of equipment.

5. Review Storage Requirements

Equipment size directly and significantly impacts storage requirements. Here’s a breakdown of how:

Minimal Storage

If your facility does not have much storage available in it, you may not be able to store large pieces of equipment like floor sweepers or automatic floor scrubbers as they will take up too much space.

Plentiful Storage

On the other hand, if you have plenty of storage in your facility, it may make more sense to purchase larger equipment so that you can save time and money in your cleaning processes.

If you do not have much available storage in your facility, choose small equipment. Otherwise, large equipment may be worth investing in.

6. Determine ROI

Last, and definitely not least, the size of janitorial equipment can directly influence its ROI, or return on investment, in both the short term and long term.

How to Calculate ROI

Calculating the ROI of an equipment purchase involves comparing your current operational costs with the projected savings after the new equipment is in use.

Follow these steps or check out our full guide to calculate ROI:

Step 1: Identify Total Square Footage and Frequency of Cleaning
Step 2: Identify the Loaded Cost of Labor for an Employee
Step 3: Identify the Yearly Labor Costs of Your Current Cleaning Method versus the Costs of Running a New Machine
Step 4: Calculate Approximate Chemical & Water Savings (if possible)
Step 5: Calculate The Payback Period
Step 6: Calculate the Savings Over the Lifespan of Your Equipment
Step 7: Determine ROI

By calculating the difference in annual operating costs between your current method and the new equipment, you can determine your annual savings. Then, by dividing the equipment cost by monthly savings, you find the payback period— or how long it takes for the equipment to pay for itself.

Once the payback period is calculated, you can estimate the total savings over the equipment’s lifespan and subtract the purchase cost to determine the final ROI.

Acquisition Cost

Since smaller janitorial equipment usually has fewer features and complexities, it is usually more budget friendly when purchasing. This makes smaller machines ideal for limited budgets.

Larger machines are a larger investment, and can save you time and money in the long haul if you are cleaning large, open spaces.

Operation Cost

While the initial investment for large equipment can be higher, the long-term savings from reduced labor costs, improved efficiency, and reduced cleaning time will often outweigh this initial investment.

Small equipment usually costs less at the point of purchase, but can cost more to operate over time due to their limited efficiency and labor requirements if you are cleaning large, open spaces.

For smaller facilities or complex cleaning needs, smaller equipment may still have a greater return on investment because they can offer greater flexibility than large equipment.

If you’re looking for a greater return on investment over the life of your machine, choose the machine size that is most optimal for your facility’s layout and cleaning needs.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the appropriate size janitorial equipment is essential for optimizing cleaning efficiency, effectiveness, and cost.

Choosing equipment that is either too small or too large can lead to significant drawbacks, so understanding the specific needs of your facility, including its size, layout, and cleaning demands, is crucial in making an informed equipment decision.

Smaller machines, while highly portable and easy to store, may struggle with larger cleaning tasks, leading to longer cleaning times and reduced efficiency.

On the other hand, larger machines, even though they are capable of covering vast areas quickly, can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces and require additional storage.

Portability is vital for navigating various spaces, while cleaning capacity determines how quickly and effectively large areas can be cleaned.

Ease of use impacts training time and operational efficiency, and cost involves both the initial purchase price and long-term operational expenses.

Storage considerations ensure that the chosen equipment can be accommodated within the available space.

By carefully evaluating these factors, facility managers can select janitorial equipment that maximizes cleaning performance and minimizes operational challenges.

If you’re interested in seeing what size equipment you need for your facility, reach out to an Imperial Dade facility near you for a free equipment demo. One of our janitorial equipment experts is available to live demo the equipment at your facility.

We hope this guide has been helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to an Imperial Dade facility near you to speak directly with a member of our janitorial equipment staff.