Handyman Pricing Guide: Average Rates and How to Price Jobs Like a Pro

If you plan on starting a handyman business, figuring out how to price jobs is one of the most important skills you need to learn. Your fees will affect your income, how people see your business, and whether your business succeeds.

Remember if you charge too little, you’ll work too hard for almost nothing, leading to frustration. Likewise, if you charge too much, customers may hire someone else. The trick is to find the right balance to make enough money, keep your clients happy, and grow your business.

This handyman pricing guide will show you how to charge the right price for your handyman services. You’ll learn easy tips, simple ways to calculate your rates, and how much other handymen charge. By the end, you’ll know how to set fair prices that match your skills and keep clients coming back.

Learn How Much to Charge for Handyman Jobs

What Do Most Handymen Charge per Hour?

Handyman charges depend on how hard the job is, the location, and how much experience you have. A handyman earns between $50 and $150 per hour.

Type of Handyman	Average Hourly Rate
Self-employed	$50 – $80
Corporate	$75 – $125
Low-end	$40
High-end	$130
Specialized	$75 – $150

The national average for handyman services typically falls between $60 to $85 per hour. Rates can vary based on location, experience, and job complexity.

Self-Employed Handyman Hourly Rate

A self-employed handyman’s hourly rate is between $50 and $80. However, the price may change depending on the location, experience, and demand. Experienced self-employed handymen charge higher hourly rates in urban than rural areas. Likewise, they charge higher for more complex tasks.

Typical Hourly Rates for Handyman

A regular handyman rate per hour is between $50 and $125. This depends on experience, scope of work, and location. For example, the rates can exceed this range in large cities, while smaller towns may see lower rates.

Specialized Handyman Rates per Hour

The average handyman’s cost per hour for specialized services like electrical and plumbing is usually higher than for general jobs. The costs range between $75 and $150 per hour. These types of jobs require high expertise and often involve licensing and certifications.

Factors to Consider When Pricing Handyman Jobs

How to price handyman jobs depends on different factors, including handyman experience and skill level, job complexity, and location. 

• Experience and Skill Level: Experience is important when it comes to technical skills. This is evident by what experienced handymen charge. A skilled handyman will complete a job faster, saving the client time and resources.
• Job Complexity: Not all jobs are the same. Some tasks require special tools or advanced problem-solving skills and are generally more expensive. Such jobs are often also more dangerous and have more risks. For example, jobs that demand complex solutions like troubleshooting HVAC issues or electrical wiring will cost more than painting a wall.
• Location: Life in big cities is generally more expensive than in small towns. So it makes sense that the average handyman’s prices are higher in cities.

What’s the Average Handyman Cost per Job?

The average cost of handyman jobs is between $150 and $600. However, how a handyman prices by the job varies widely and depends on the location, type of job, and difficulty level. 

Common Handyman Jobs and Their Rates

How much should a handyman charge? There is no fixed rate, and it depends on different factors. Here’s a general handyman pricing guide.

Category	Service	Price Range
Appliance and Fixture Repair	Appliance Hookups	$50 – $175
	Garbage Disposal Installation	$80 – $200
Electrical and Smart Home Tasks	Ceiling Fan Installation or Repair	$100 – $250
	Smart Device Setup	$100 – $300
Home Maintenance and Upkeep	Gutter Cleaning and Repair	$100 – $225 (cleaning), $150 – $500 (repair)
	Caulking and Weatherproofing	$150 – $400
Outdoor Handyman Services	Fence and Gate Repair	$200 – $800
	Pressure Washing	$150 – $350
	Deck Maintenance	$450 – $1,000 (staining), $500 – $2,600 (repair)

Learn more: Grab a copy of our handyman price list template which is designed to be easily downloadable and printable, allowing handymen to present a polished and professional price list to clients.

How to Price Handyman Jobs Like a Pro

Learning how to price jobs as a handyman is important for your business. Using the correct pricing strategy will improve job satisfaction while helping your business grow faster. First, you should consider all the factors that affect the cost of a particular job. Here’s how to do it:

• Overhead Costs: Factor in expenses like tools, vehicle rentals, or administrative costs (internet, office supplies). These costs impact your final pricing.
• Labor Costs: Decide if you’ll charge hourly or per job. Estimate how long the project will take and price accordingly to reflect your effort.
• Materials and Supplies: Include all costs for materials and the time spent purchasing them. These can significantly impact your overall pricing.
• Profit Margin: Set a profit margin of 20%-30% above your total costs to ensure your business remains sustainable and profitable.
• Job-Specific Factors: Consider complexity, risk, and unique tools required. Specialized or hazardous tasks typically justify higher rates.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to pricing your handyman services like a pro:

Step 1: Understand the Overhead Costs of Your Handyman Business

Before setting your handyman prices per hour, it’s important to understand how much money you’ll use on the project. Overhead costs relate to all expenses you incur to keep a business running and aren’t directly tied to an individual project.

Common overhead costs for a handyman include:

• Tools and Equipment: All handymen use tools in their work. Although you won’t need to buy them constantly, you’ll need to maintain and upgrade them regularly. e.g., power tools (drills and saws).
• Transportation: You may need to use a car to go to some job sites that aren’t nearby. This expense usually refers to fuel, vehicle maintenance, and insurance for the car.
• Licenses and Insurance: Most states require handymen to have a license and insurance to operate. The actual document costs depend on the state and the particular handyman’s profession, such as plumbing or electrical.
• Marketing: Even for a handyman, marketing is an important part of their business. Marketing expenses include website upkeep, advertising, and business cards.
• Living Expenses: This refers to the money you need to sustain your daily life. For example, a self-employed handyman’s living expenses include salary, rent, and utility.

Formula: (Monthly Overhead ÷ Monthly Billable Hours = Overhead Cost Per Hour)

Example: If your monthly expenses total $2,500 and you plan to work 160 hours per month, your base rate should be $2,500 ÷ 160 = $15.63/hour just to break even.

Step 2: Choose a Pricing Model

Another way to determine how much to charge for your handyman jobs is by selecting the right pricing model. There are two main handymen pricing models:

Hourly Rates

Hourly rates work best for jobs that aren’t easy to plan or take a long time, like fixing leaking pipes. These are best for unpredictable or time-intensive jobs.

Typical range: $50 to $150/hour (varies by location and expertise).

Per Project Rates

Per-project pricing works best for simple tasks that are easy to estimate, like ceiling fan installation or furniture assembly.

Setting Your Hourly Labor Rate

To calculate the correct handyman charge per hour, consider things like:

• Overhead costs for materials, special tools, and labor costs if you have employees.
• Your desired salary
• Taxes and other expenses.

The average cost per hour for a handyman is:

Hourly Rate = (Desired Annual Salary ÷ Annual Billable Hours) + Overhead.

For example, if you want to earn $120,000 per year for 2,000 hours of work plus $25 per hour in overhead costs, your average hourly rate will be:

Hourly Rate = ($120,000/2000)+ $25 =$85 per hour.

When calculating a self-employed handyman hourly rate, ensure that all business expenses like traveling or time spent on accounting, quoting, or invoicing are included in your calculations.

Adding a Competitive Profit Margin

Next, you’ll need to add a profit margin to your rates to ensure your business continues growing. This helps cover future equipment upgrades and other unexpected costs.

The formula for profit margins is the Hourly Rate × Profit Margin = Final Rate.

For example, $100/hr × 25% profit margin = $125/hr

Step 3: Factor in Job Complexity

When deciding the charges for a handyman job, consider the difficulty level. Closely consider the following:

• Difficulty level: Harder jobs like plumbing or electrical wiring generally cost more than simpler ones because they are more technical and carry more risks.
• Special skills: Not all jobs are the same, and some are more difficult than others. Jobs that require extra licenses, training, or equipment, like advanced carpentry or home automation, need to charge more. 
• Project materials: A job requiring special materials and fixtures should be more expensive. For example, making custom-made furniture has higher overhead costs, pushing project costs upwards.
• Time Estimate: Estimating how many hours a job will take is important. Add extra time for unexpected issues that may come up.

Step 4: Add Additional Charges

When calculating the average cost per hour for a handyman job, remember to include the additional fees that don’t fit into standard hourly or project rates. The common additional fees include:

• Minimum Service Charge: The minimum service charge for smaller projects, usually in the $75 to $200 range, ensures you earn fair pay for jobs that take shorter times. 
• Trip Fees: Imagine traveling 45 minutes to change a wall socket for only $40. It wouldn’t make sense to take the job without the trip fees, usually between $50 and $80, which cater to fuel, vehicle wear, and time spent traveling.
• Material Markup: Sourcing materials isn’t easy. You must buy, transport, give warranties, and incur additional handling costs. Since you’ll be using your time, you must charge an additional fee, usually between 20% and 50% of the material cost. 
• Mileage Fee: If a job is outside your normal operating area, you must charge for fuel and vehicle tear and wear, usually at $0.30 to $0.60 per mile.

Pricing Materials and Markups

When pricing your services, you must apply a markup for material sourcing. This will cover the time and effort you put into sourcing and transporting supplies. Depending on the material type, 20% to 50% is a normal markup range. To calculate the final price, use this formula:

(Material Cost × Markup %) + Material Cost = Final Price

For example, if the material cost is $1,000, then the final price will be:

($1,000× 25/100) + $1,000 = $1,250

Ensure you’re open with the client about markups to avoid any issues or loss of trust.

Step 5: Create a Detailed Estimate

You should prepare clear, detailed project estimates to earn your client’s trust and avoid misunderstandings. Such an estimate will ensure you and the client understand the project’s scope and cost.

What to Include in Your Estimate:

Here are important details to include in your estimate:

• Detailed Scope of Work: Provide a clear description of the tasks to be completed. This could range from a simple line (e.g., “Install kitchen cabinets”) to a more detailed explanation of the project phases.
• Assessment Notes: Include any observations from site visits that might affect the project (e.g., accessibility issues, potential challenges).
• Labor Costs: Are you charging a flat rate or hourly? Include this in your estimate.
• Material Costs: List all materials needed for the job and their markups.
• Extra Fees: List all additional fees like mileage or markup fees.
• Taxes and Payment Schedule: If you’re paying any taxes, state them and their payment terms (deposits, installments, etc.).
• Payment Terms: Accepted payment methods (e.g., cash, credit card), and any deposit requirements or payment schedules.
• Important Disclaimers: Include disclaimers about potential additional costs that may arise due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., hidden damage discovered during work).

Example Estimate:

• Labor: 5 hours @ $50/hour = $250
• Materials: $200 + 30% markup = $260
• Taxes: $30
• Mileage fee: $50

Total: $590

Step 6: Use Pricing Tools to Streamline the Process

For fast and error-free pricing, use modern tools and software, including:

• Handyman Software: Use handyman software from Housecall Pro to create estimates, send invoices, and schedule jobs, as they reduce errors while saving you time.
• Templates: Programs like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets work well for organizing pricing formulas and tracking costs. Use our handyman flat rate pricing template to automatically calculate labor, materials, and markup estimates.

Step 7: Communicate Pricing Transparently

Clients appreciate clear, upfront communication about costs—it builds trust and sets the stage for a positive working relationship. When discussing pricing, provide a detailed cost breakdown that includes labor, materials, supplies, and any additional expenses, such as taxes or travel fees. Highlight the value of your expertise and explain how your rates reflect the quality and reliability of your work.

Pro Tip: Use estimating and invoicing software like Housecall Pro to streamline your pricing process. These tools help you quickly generate accurate estimates, ensuring consistency and professionalism. Plus, with automated invoicing, you can provide transparent, itemized bills that leave no room for confusion—making it easier to secure repeat clients.

Step 9: Adjust Rates Over Time

Everything rises regularly, and so should your rates. Reviewing your pricing should be normal as materials become more expensive or your skills improve.

When to Raise Your Prices:

• Material Costs Go Up: If the cost of supplies increases, adjust your rates upwards.
• You’ve Gained Experience: New certifications or advanced skills justify higher rates.
• Increased Demand: If the demand for your services is high, you should raise your rates to reflect your value.

Step 10: Build Client Trust Through Providing More Value

Clients pay for your expertise and experience. To win their trust, offer more value in the following ways:

• Offer Incentives: Discounts or referrals are great for attracting new clients or encouraging repeat business. 
• Provide Add-Ons: Providing additional services like maintenance plans is an excellent way of increasing your value. Consider offering a recurring service plan to earn even more from existing customers.

Handyman Software That Does the Heavy Lifting for You

You don’t have to calculate your handyman rates manually anymore. Use handyman software to streamline pricing for handyman jobs by tracking material costs and maintaining accurate pricing. You’ll never come up short on a job again with a customized price book that automatically calculates profitable flat-rate prices for every service. This ensures you’re covering costs, earning a profit, and maintaining client consistency.

• Price Book: Create consistent, professional pricing for all your handyman services to build trust and eliminate guesswork.
• Profit Margin Tracking: Ensure every job is profitable by calculating real-time margins and staying financially secure.
• Invoicing: Quickly send professional invoices to improve payment speed and enhance client satisfaction.
• Job Costing: Track expenses for each job, helping you refine pricing and improve profitability over time.
• Service Agreements: Increase average ticket size by selling maintenance agreements directly through Housecall Pro’s mobile app.

Software That Lets You Confidently Price Your Handyman Services

Correctly pricing your handyman services is important for a profitable business. Tools like a pricing spreadsheet or specialized handyman software ensure competitive prices. Further, these tools improve customer experience while reducing administrative work. 

Thanks to Housecall Pro’s handyman business software, you can now confidently set prices and keep your business running smoothly. Sign up for a free trial today.

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