6-Hour vs 8-Hour vs 10-Hour Domestic Help: Choosing the Right Schedule
How many hours of help your home needs, and when live-in is better.
Quick answer: List every task with a realistic time, add breaks, and pick the schedule that covers it without rushing. A 6-hour day often suits cleaning and one meal; 8 to 10 hours suits a full day of housework with cooking or childcare. If you need someone present early morning and late evening, consider 24-hour live-in help instead.
Maidvy arranges daytime help on 6, 8, 9 or 10-hour schedules, and 24-hour live-in help. Choosing the right one avoids overloading the helper or paying for time you do not need.
Step 1: time your tasks
Write down each task and how long it really takes in your home: cleaning, utensils, laundry, cooking each meal, childcare blocks, elder support. Add a lunch break and short rest breaks. The total is your minimum.
What typically fits
| Schedule | Often suits (examples only) |
|---|---|
| 6 hours | Daily cleaning, utensils, laundry, and perhaps one meal in a smaller home |
| 8 hours | Full housework, or childcare while parents are at work |
| 9 hours | Full housework with cooking, or childcare covering a longer commute |
| 10 hours | Larger homes, or combined cleaning, cooking and care across a long working day |
| 24-hour live-in | Needs spread from early morning to evening; helper lives in, with agreed hours and rest |
Every household differs; use your own task list rather than the table alone.
Match hours to your family's day
Think about when help is needed, not only how much. If parents leave at 8:00 and return at 19:00, an 8-hour day will not cover it; a 10-hour schedule or a live-in arrangement might. Start and end times should be agreed and written down.
Roles and typical schedules
- House maid: often 6 or 8 hours.
- Full-time maid: 8, 9 or 10 hours.
- Cook: depends on meals; longer if cleaning is added.
- Baby caretaker and nanny: usually match parents' working hours.
- Elder care attendant: daytime or live-in, depending on support needed.
Avoid these mistakes
- Choosing fewer hours than the tasks need, then asking the helper to stay late.
- Forgetting breaks.
- Choosing live-in help but expecting work across all waking hours.
Costs
All daytime schedules fall under Maidvy's Daytime Plan: ₹15,000 + 18% GST = ₹17,700, with up to 2 replacements during the active plan. Live-in help uses the 24×7 Live-In Plan: ₹25,000 + 18% GST = ₹29,500, with up to 3 replacements. The helper's salary is separate; hours are one of the main factors in it. See pricing and daytime vs live-in.
A sample time plan
| Task (example home) | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Sweeping and mopping a 3-bedroom flat | 1.5 hours |
| Utensils and kitchen cleaning, twice a day | 1.5 hours |
| Laundry and folding | 1 hour |
| Cooking lunch and dinner for four | 2.5 hours |
| Breaks | 1 hour |
| Total | About 7.5 hours, so an 8-hour schedule |
These are illustrative estimates only. Time your own home's tasks.
Weekends and holidays
Agree the weekly off and whether weekends differ. If you need help on weekends when the helper is off, plan it in advance rather than asking at the last minute.
Maidvy arranges domestic help in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata. These are operating service areas; Maidvy's registered office is in Bengaluru.
Signs you have chosen too few hours
- Tasks are regularly left unfinished.
- The helper often stays late or skips breaks.
- Quality drops towards the end of the day.
If you see these, review the duty sheet together. Either reduce tasks or move to a longer schedule, and revisit the salary accordingly.
Signs live-in help may suit you better
- You need help before 7:00 and after 19:00 most days.
- Daily travel is hard for helpers in your area.
- You have a private space for a helper.
Read what 24-hour live-in means before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
What working hours does Maidvy offer?
Daytime help on 6, 8, 9 or 10-hour schedules, and 24-hour live-in help.
Is the Maidvy fee different for 6 and 10 hours?
No. All daytime schedules use the Daytime Plan at ₹15,000 + 18% GST = ₹17,700. The helper's salary, agreed separately, reflects the hours.
Can I change hours after the helper joins?
Discuss it with the helper and Maidvy first. Changed hours usually mean revisiting the salary.
Does a 10-hour schedule include breaks?
Agree this in writing. Breaks for meals and rest should be part of any schedule, and the start and end times should be clear.
Can a 6-hour maid also cook?
Possibly, if the home is small and the tasks fit. Time the tasks first; cooking adds significant time.
Guides written by Maidvy, a brand of Logibyte Technologies, based on our domestic staffing process and published policies. They are general information, not legal or medical advice.
Related guides.
What Responsibilities Should Be Discussed Before Deployment?
Tasks, hours, breaks, leave and house rules to agree before day one, with a duty-sheet template.
Agency Fee vs Worker Salary: How Domestic Help Costs Work
The agency fee and the helper's monthly salary are two different payments. Here is what each covers.
Tips for Maintaining a Respectful Employer-Worker Relationship
Practical habits that help domestic helpers stay longer.
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