Guides · Pricing guide · Facts checked 2026-09-05
How much to charge for handyman work
Hourly rates, minimum charges, flat-rate menus for the common jobs, and how to mark up materials without an argument.
Handyman work is the trade where 'how much do you charge?' has the least useful answer, because the jobs range from hanging a picture to rebuilding a deck stair. The operators who make it work use a minimum charge, an hourly rate after that, and a short menu of flat prices for the jobs they do every week. Ranges below are starting points, drawn from the handyman invoice template line bank — your market and overhead set the actual number.
The three-part structure
| Part | Common range | Why it exists |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum service charge — first hour | $75–$150 | The drive, the tools and the first hour happen on every job, however small |
| Labor after the first hour | $60–$110 per hour | Billed in half-hour blocks so a 70-minute job is not a two-hour bill |
| Materials | Cost plus 10–20% | The pickup, the return trip for the wrong part, and the money fronted |
Ranges are rough starting points, not quotes and not a survey of rates.
Flat rates for the jobs you do every week
| Job | Common range |
|---|---|
| TV mounting on drywall with stud backing | $100–$300 |
| Drywall patch and texture, per patch | $90–$250 |
| Interior door slab install on existing jamb | $125–$300 |
| Grab bar / safety rail install | $60–$150 |
| Dump run and disposal | $50–$150 |
Flat rates assume normal conditions; say on the estimate what changes them (plaster walls, no stud where the TV wants to go, a jamb that is out of square).
What moves the price
- The house. 1920s plaster and lath is not 2005 drywall. Say your flat rates assume drywall.
- Access. A third-floor walk-up, a ladder job, a crawlspace.
- Unknowns. Anything behind a wall or under a floor is a range until it is open.
- The list. A customer with a list of eight small things is your best job — price it as a half-day or a day, not eight minimums.
- Materials trips. One trip to the store is in the price; the return for the part they changed their mind about is not.
Marking up materials without an argument
Show materials at cost plus a stated percentage, as their own line. A customer who sees 'Materials — $62.50 (cost + 15%)' understands it. A customer who sees a $45 door lever billed at $90 with no explanation does not. If they want to supply their own materials, let them, and put 'customer-supplied' on the line so the warranty on the part is theirs.
Writing the estimate
For a list job, list each item with a price or 'included in day rate'. For a single job, one line for the labor, one for materials, one for disposal if any. Say what happens if you open something up and find more ('additional work quoted before starting'). The handyman estimate template carries these lines; when the customer accepts, it becomes the invoice.
Common questions
Should I charge hourly or flat?
Both. Flat for the jobs you can see and do weekly; hourly with a minimum for everything else. Tell the customer which one a job is before you start, on the estimate.
What if a job takes longer than I quoted?
If it is because of something you could have seen, that is your cost. If it is because of something behind the wall, stop, show them, and quote the extra before continuing. The estimate should already say you will do this.
Do I need a license to do handyman work?
It depends on the state and the job. Many states cap what an unlicensed handyman may do by dollar value or by trade (electrical and plumbing are usually excluded). Check your state's contractor board; put your license number on the invoice if you have one.