How Much Does a Handyman Cost Per Hour?

Average Handyman Cost Per Hour: $60 to $70

Handyman hourly rates typically range from $50 to $150 per hour. The average rate is around $60 to $70 per hour. Some handymen also charge a minimum fee for small jobs, potentially around $100 or more.

How Much Does a Handyman Cost Per Hour?
09 Jul, 2025 / Specialty Services / Written by ServiceTasker Team / 21 Views / Last Updated 17 Jul, 2025




How Much Does a Handyman Cost Per Hour? Here’s What Homeowners Should Know Before Hiring


Your home maintenance checklist probably contains so many endless tasks that you have a squeaky door problem, together with flickering lights and hard-to-open drawers that you share with others who face the same situation. Homeownership demands regular maintenance work, which many people handle themselves, yet they ultimately call professionals for most tasks. A handyman is needed when such situations arise.



The anticipated cost of handyman services varies from $50 to $150 per hour. This guide provides everything you need to know about handymen's rates, job pricing details, ways to prevent overpayment, and indications that prompt you to reach out to licensed contractors.




What Exactly Does a Handyman Do?


A skilled tradesperson who functions as a handy person and home maintenance technician performs general home and business maintenance tasks at their workplace. Handymen execute non-permitted and non-deluxe licensure work in their daily tasks.



Common Services Offered by Handymen:

  • Fixing leaky faucets or toilets repair and installation


  • Professional replacements of ceiling fans and light fixtures are their usual tasks.


  • Repairing drywall or patching holes


  • Artwork, along with window shades, can also be mounted by handymen using these methods.


  • Assembling flat-pack furniture


  • Repairing gates, fences, or decks


  • Minor tile repair


  • Curtain rods, together with closet systems, represent key home improvement services for handyman contractors.


  • Pressure washing driveways or decks




Factors That Influence the Hourly Cost of a Handyman


Multiple elements determine the wide range of possible hourly fees that people must pay. Several factors affect the amount you will need to pay each hour for handyman services.



Location and Local Market Conditions

Property location determines the total cost that one should expect for handyman services. Areas that maintain elevated living expenses in major urban areas such as New York and Los Angeles, and Seattle correspond to high handyman hourly fees. The rising expenses of transportation and insurance, along with regulatory permits, push up prices because of greater demand for qualified labor in the area.



The hourly prices for handyman services in New York City span a range from $90 to $130. Handyman services within Austin and Texas provide hourly rates between $60 and $85. The hourly rates for handyman services in Orlando and Florida fall within the range of $55 to $75. Fargo, located in North Dakota, has an hourly labor rate that ranges between $35 and $55 for house builders in smaller settlements throughout the state.



Type and Complexity of the Job

The specific work requirements determine the main aspect of labor costs. The labor cost of basic undertakings using a few tools that require short times, such as wall mount tasks or drapery hanging, remains affordable. The installation of ceiling fans, along with gutter cleaning and drywall repair, demands specialized tools and an extended duration, and goes beyond basic skill levels.



The overall cost to replace a faucet ranges from $75 to $150 according to job complexity. Walling your television requires expenditures between $100 and $175. Furniture assembly services generally charge customers between $65 to $100. Making ceiling fan installations or cleaning gutters requires a budget allocation between $85 and $160, while gutter cleaning costs $60 to $120. The price to repair a fence section falls between $70 to $140, and drywall patching costs between $80 and $150.



Experience and Certifications

A handyman who recently started working will normally charge $35 to $55 per hour when providing services. Handymen who have worked three to seven years and possess multiple years of experience can expect to earn $55 to $80 per hour before expenses. Handymen who have at least ten years of experience or licensed professionals will ask for a fee between $85 and $125 per hour or more.



Handymen in select states receive authorization to conduct restricted plumbing, electrical, and structural repairs when they lack official licensing. Customers typically need to pay higher rates to handymen when contractors hold current licenses within their specific trades, such as plumbing or electrical work.



Job Duration and Task Bundling

Time efficiency directly harmonizes the total costs you will need to pay. Handymen typically impose a base fee between $100 to $150 for their work, regardless of whether the job can be finished within an hour. Short service durations require proper compensation to make it worthwhile for handymen to visit your location.



Your expenses will decrease when you request the handyman to handle multiple tasks during one visit. Multiple brief jobs, independent of each other, would normally cost $100, but combining them into a longer 3-hour visit will result in a total cost range of $180-$240.





Average Handyman Hourly Rates


Daily handyman service rates across America span between $50 and $85 per hour based on specific location characteristics and difficulty of work performed, and the professional background of the handyman.




  • Rural and Small Towns:
    The residents of rural and small town areas pay $35 to $55 for handyman service rates. Local handymen in these regions benefit from reduced operating costs because the regions have affordable living expenses. The restricted availability of handymen in certain areas explains why you need either early booking or adaptable scheduling to secure their services.


  • Suburban Areas:
    Suburban areas generally have rates that lie between $50 and $75 per hour for handyman services. The neighborhoods in these areas provide access to professional services at reasonable prices. Businesses that offer insurance and customer protection tend to have handymen who charge higher rates because of their formal operations.


  • Large Cities and Metro Areas:
    Residents of large metropolitan cities must pay higher prices for handyman assistance. The hourly rates in major cities such as New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago reach between $70 and $125, as well as higher rates. Operating expenses such as rent and insurance costs, and transportation costs, alongside rising customer demand, cause the service to have higher prices. The elevated prices in metropolitan settings pay off because you will have access to numerous handymen with quicker response times.


  • Minimum Call-Out Fees:
    A standard requirement that handymen employ is a service charge with a value that equals 1 to 2 hours of their time. Your task duration does not influence the service fees the handyman will charge, since they work based on their base rates. As a result, you may pay anywhere between $75 and $150.




Hourly vs. Flat Rate Pricing: What’s Better?


You should request the payment approach of handymen during their initial consultation. Handymen work on two different payment models, including hourly rates and set costs for particular tasks. Each pricing method works better for different situations because job type and cost management needs differ between customers.



The Case for Hourly Rates

A job with an open-ended duration or one that may change requires hourly pricing as the most suitable option. Under hourly work agreements, you can find flexibility and fairness for handling multiple independent tasks or when the handyman needs to investigate problems to solve them, along with small repairs.



The flexible approach enables you to make changes in your work scope during the project for task additions or removals, depending on project development. The method enables you to discontinue work when your budget reaches its limit, which makes it perfect for managing expenditures.



The Advantage of Flat-Rate Pricing

Clients benefit from flat-rate pricing since they obtain specific task costs before proceeding with payment. The flat-rate system allows customers to prepare budgets ahead of time without surprises arising during the project.



By using a flat rate payment, you do not need to worry about handymen extending the job to raise your expenses. The scheduling of work flows directly to the handyman rather than the customer when the job is priced at a specific cost.



Which Option Should You Choose?

Flat rates produce optimal outcomes when dealing with single, well-defined tasks. Handymen should bill per hour for jobs that have an unclear duration or require extensive work that can change throughout the day. You should always request clarification regarding their payment method from the handyman when you cannot determine which pricing model they use.





Do Handymen Provide Materials?


It depends. Parts such as brackets and screws, along with caulk and materials, are needed for some labor tasks. Handymen will usually:



  • Include materials in your invoice with an incorporation of the actual cost and typically a 10–20% addition to it.


  • The handyman requests upfront material purchases from you.


Check the suitability of materials you supply to the handyman before his arrival as a pro tip to prevent issues.





When Is It Better to Hire a Licensed Contractor?


Handymen possess many skills, but require a licensed contractor for specific projects that might need permits and inspections or follow code requirements.



Jobs for a Licensed Contractor:

  • Removing or moving walls in a building requires structural work that needs to be done by a licensed professional.


  • Electrical rewiring


  • Professional plumbing experts should handle major installation work that includes water heaters.


  • Roofing or foundation repair


  • The HVAC system works


Jobs a Handyman Can Usually Handle:

  • Replacing light fixtures or outlets


  • Installing doors and windows (non-structural)


  • Minor plumbing (fixing leaks)


  • Deck repairs or staining


  • Small tiling jobs


Review the regulations about handymen's work through your state authority. In California and other states, handymen require a license to provide necessary services $500 worth.




Real-Life Cost Scenarios From Handymen's Work


Review several actual examples of handyman work along with their associated costs in various U.S. locations:



Scenario 1: Drywall repair along with painting work in Phoenix, Arizona, costs amounting to $205.



  • Drywall hole patch + repaint (1 wall)


  • Time: 2.5 hours


  • Hourly Rate: $70


  • Materials: $30 (paint, spackle)


  • Total Cost: $205


Scenario 2: Furniture Assembly – Boston, MA



  • IKEA wardrobe + side table


  • Time: 3 hours


  • Flat rate quoted: $225


  • Includes minor adjustments and cleanup


  • Total Cost: $225


Scenario 3: Outdoor Faucet Replacement – Nashville, TN



  • The technician will remove the corroded fixtures before installing a new frost-proof faucet.


  • Time: 2 hours


  • Hourly Rate: $60


  • Materials supplied by the homeowner


  • Total Cost: $120




Red Flags to Watch Out For Handymen


A mistake in choosing a handyman will result in unnecessary expense, together with possible risks to your safety. Avoid these red flags:



  • No written estimates or contracts


  • Vague pricing or timeline


  • Critical installations require both insurance and a license, but the contractor fails to provide either.


  • No references or bad online reviews


  • Demands full payment upfront




How to Save Money When Hiring a Handyman



  • Bundle Tasks Into One Visit:
    Bring together various smaller jobs for the handyman to complete during their single service appointment. Handymen enforce a base service cost that applies even to short jobs.


  • Get Multiple Quotes:
    Obtain at least two and three price quotes from service providers before making your hiring choice. Price and skill evaluations, together with communication evaluations, become possible when you receive multiple quotes.


  • Buy Your Materials: Handymen will increase their pricing when they need to purchase supplies independently. The process of purchasing materials independently allows you to reduce project costs.


  • Prepare the Area:
    The space preparation completed in advance eliminates unnecessary wait time for the handyman. Thorough cleaning of the space, followed by furniture rearrangement, along with ready access to needed tools, will reduce your expenses.


  • Avoid Emergency Appointments:
    Customers who need to book services at the last minute during weekends will end up paying higher rates. You should book the work in advance. The process of preparing your project in advance lets you dodge urgent service costs and gain more advantageous pricing.




Conclusion


Getting a trustworthy handyman enables homeowners to save time while stopping minor issues from developing and enhancing their house's functionality without incurring specialist costs.



The average hourly rate for a handyman will range from $50 to $85, but this value may fluctuate depending on location and experience level, as well as job complexity.



Any homeowner who wants their house cleaned up for selling or wants to handle tasks while building a gallery wall should hire a handyman because the efficiency, combined with reasonable costs, makes this option the best choice.





Costs of various services and materials in this cost guide should be taken as estimates. These depend on location, preference and demands in the market.

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