Handyman Services & Pricing Guide  

Handyman Cost Factors

How much you pay your handyman will depend on several factors:

Size of a Handyman Job

  The larger the job, the more time it will take to complete and the more it will generally cost. More experienced handymen can estimate how long a job will take before they start. Some handymen have certain jobs they charge a flat fee for as well. Discuss your project in detail with your handyman ahead of time to establish the price. Small jobs This includes relatively simple things such as replacing light switches and outlets. Replacing a broken garbage disposal is also considered a small job, as is repairing a leaky faucet, replacing a thermostat, or even hanging a picture. As a rule of thumb, if it requires simple hand tools and takes no more than 1 to 2 hours, it’s a small job. Example: Fixing a water spout in the bathroom. The parts are there; they just need to be installed. Medium jobs These are a little more involved. Medium jobs can take more time and require a little extra expertise. For example, repairing drywall involves spackle, a putty knife and attaching support material if the damage is large enough. Hanging shelves can also be a medium job as shelves must be properly anchored into studs. These jobs can take between 2 and 4 hours to finish. Example: Replacement installation for a mailbox               Large jobs These are the most involved of handyman jobs and include wiring for a home theater, installing heating and cooling registers, wall repair or installing a kitchen sink with all of the elements. Generally, if you’re wondering if you need a handyman or a contractor for a particular job, it’s probably considered a large job. These jobs can take from 4 hours to a couple of days to finish depending on the complexity. Example: Add locks to certain interior doors, install gate on stairway for kids and pets, and turn a cubby into a linen closet all in one visit.

• Small Jobs
  • 1-2 hours, $77-$154 average
• Medium Jobs
  • 2-4 hours, $154-$308 average
• Large Jobs
  • 4+ hours, $308 on up.

Keep in mind, that if the job is big, requiring $500 a day or more, or includes the use of heavy machinery (bobcats, front-end loaders, etc.) you may want to hire a contractor instead.

Hourly Rates for a Handyman

The average hourly rate of a handyman is in the $60 to $65 price range. However, there are professional handyman services that may charge higher, sometimes up to $125 an hour. The benefit of these services, while more expensive, is a degree of assurance that the handyman is a competent professional and will provide a certain quality of work. The national average is about $77 an hour.

Handyman’s Experience

Experience can be a valuable commodity. The rate will be based on their level of expertise. Experienced handymen may charge a higher rate, but take half the time to do a job than a less experienced pro. You might think that an experienced handyman could do a job faster than an inexperienced one. However, consider that some jobs don’t take that long and most don’t involve serious complications. The $60 an hour handyman who just opened his business will probably take about the same time as the $125 an hour handyman who has 30 years in the business, and both will probably have no trouble on a small job like changing cabinetry hardware. However, a more complex job — hanging entirely new cabinets or replacing kitchen countertops — may benefit from an experienced handyman.    

Complexity of the Job

  The more complicated the job, the longer it will probably take and the more you’ll pay for labor. A good handyman will be able to tell you from the start if there are aspects of the job they can’t handle well. In those cases, you’ll need a contractor or licensed specialist. Simple jobs are often small jobs, but even some larger jobs can be fairly simple. Changing an interior door knob is easy and a “small” job while sanding and re-hanging an interior door is a “medium” job, yet neither is particularly complex. Removing and replacing an old toilet, on the other hand, involves heavy lifting, plumbing knowledge and cleanup. If you aren’t sure about the complexity of the job, ask the handyman you are interviewing about what’s involved.

 

How Does A Handyman Charge?

  Handymen normally charge by the hour, but can also charge a flat rate by the job. Some may charge for travel time, and some may charge a markup on parts they buy for your job. When gathering estimates, this is something you want to know early on.  

By the Hour

  A handyman who works independently will usually charge around $60 to $65 an hour on average. Depending on where you live the actual price range can run from $55 to $75 for an independent operator. A handyman who is part of a larger business can charge up to $125 an hour or more. The advantage to this is that he is expected to have a lot more expertise and meet a certain standard.

By the Job

  Whether an independent handyman or part of a business, some jobs are best charged at a flat rate. These are usually larger jobs such as hanging chandeliers, mounting wall TVs, installing a toilet or a ceiling fan, or other such involved work.        

Cost Differences

The more complex a job is, the more likely it is to have complications. Also, some jobs can take a couple of days if preparation hasn’t been done. If you break it down, billing by the job can sometimes mean you are paying higher per hour if a handyman works quickly. However, some jobs take longer and you wind up paying less by the hour. So for example:

• If a flat rate job is $150 and the handyman gets the job done in an hour, you’ve paid him $150 an hour.
• However, if the flat rate job is $150 and complications cause the job to take four hours, you’re paying $37.50 an hour.

In general, an experienced handyman knows how long a job should take and may give you a flat rate based on that. If he knows a particular job will take about an hour, he may present his hourly rate as a flat rate. If he knows it will take two hours, he may give you the rate for two hours as a flat rate. Naturally, this is incentive for the handyman to work quickly, and keeping a happy customer is an incentive to do the job well.  

Common Handyman Job Lengths & Prices

Here are examples of some of the more common services and how long they take:

• Replace thermostat, hang heavy picture, repair leaking pipe, replace a torn screen – 1-2 hours
• Drywall repair (smaller sections, not an entire room), mount shelves – 2-3 hours
• Replace window, hang a new door (includes shims, sanding, framework adjustments), woodwork repair – 3-4 hours
• Repair a wall, install heating and air registers, install carpet (small room) – 4+ hours

Some services are quite involved and charging by the hour would make the cost prohibitive. Therefore, many handymen charge more complex jobs by the job. Here are some examples of services and prices that are often billed by the job:

• Hall light installation: $65
• Change toilet valve: $75
• Bathroom faucet installation: $90
• Hang ceiling fan (normal height): $100
• Hang ceiling fan (second story height): $250
• Install garbage disposal: $150
• Install toilet bowl: $150
• Install kitchen sink: $250-$300