Price list · 33 cities · Updated Aug 14, 2026
Handyman rates in 2026: hourly, half-day and full-day prices
In the 33 US cities we track, an independent handyman typically charges $55 – $85 / hr and an established local company $80 – $110 / hr. A full day (8 hours) runs $520 – $860. Below: each rate, the cheapest and priciest city, and every city side by side.
Typical handyman prices
| Job | Typical price | Lowest city | Highest city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent handyman (hourly)33 cities | $55 – $85 / hr | Indianapolis$42–$68 | San Francisco$80–$115 |
| Established local company (hourly)32 cities | $80 – $110 / hr | Indianapolis$68–$95 | San Francisco$115–$165 |
| Franchise brand (hourly)17 cities | $90 – $140 / hr | Indianapolis$85–$125 | Chicago$105–$155 |
| Half-day package (4 hours)24 cities | $290 – $470 | Indianapolis$220–$380 | New York$400–$650 |
| Full-day package (8 hours)33 cities | $520 – $860 | Indianapolis$400–$700 | New York$750–$1,250 |
What changes the price
- A trip or service-call minimum, so a 20-minute fix can still cost about an hour.
- Materials, which most handymen buy and mark up 10–20%.
- Licensing: many places limit what an unlicensed handyman may do, especially electrical, plumbing and larger jobs.
- Access and building rules: walk-ups, freight elevators and insurance certificates all take billable time.
- Bundling: a half or full day of small jobs usually costs less than the same jobs booked one by one.
Handyman prices by city
Each city links to its full cost guide, with local factors and sources.
| City | Independent/ hr | Local company/ hr | Franchise/ hr | Half day | Full day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $50–$78 | $78–$110 | — | $260–$440 | $490–$820 |
| Austin | $60–$88 | $88–$120 | $100–$150 | $300–$480 | $550–$900 |
| Baltimore | $55–$85 | $85–$115 | — | $280–$450 | $520–$860 |
| Boston | $72–$105 | — | — | $360–$560 | $670–$1,060 |
| Charlotte | $45–$72 | $72–$100 | $90–$135 | $240–$400 | $450–$760 |
| Chicago | $60–$90 | $90–$120 | $105–$155 | $300–$470 | $560–$900 |
| Cleveland | $45–$70 | $70–$100 | $85–$130 | $240–$400 | $440–$760 |
| Columbus | $45–$70 | $70–$95 | $85–$130 | — | $430–$720 |
| Dallas | $50–$78 | $78–$110 | $95–$145 | $270–$440 | $500–$840 |
| Denver | $60–$88 | $88–$120 | $100–$155 | $300–$490 | $560–$920 |
| Houston | $50–$75 | $75–$105 | $95–$140 | $260–$420 | $480–$800 |
| Indianapolis | $42–$68 | $68–$95 | $85–$125 | $220–$380 | $400–$700 |
| Kansas City | $45–$72 | $72–$100 | $88–$135 | — | $450–$760 |
| Las Vegas | $50–$78 | $78–$110 | $92–$140 | $260–$430 | $490–$820 |
| Los Angeles | $65–$95 | $95–$125 | — | $320–$500 | $600–$950 |
| Miami | $55–$85 | $85–$120 | — | $290–$470 | $540–$880 |
| Milwaukee | $50–$75 | $75–$105 | $90–$135 | $260–$420 | $480–$800 |
| Minneapolis | $60–$88 | $88–$120 | $100–$150 | — | $560–$920 |
| Nashville | $50–$78 | $78–$110 | $95–$140 | — | $480–$820 |
| New Orleans | $50–$78 | $78–$110 | — | $260–$430 | $490–$820 |
| New York | $75–$110 | $110–$150 | — | $400–$650 | $750–$1,250 |
| Oakland | $72–$105 | $105–$145 | — | — | $660–$1,100 |
| Philadelphia | $55–$85 | $85–$115 | — | $280–$460 | $520–$880 |
| Phoenix | $50–$75 | $75–$110 | $95–$150 | $260–$400 | $500–$800 |
| Portland | $65–$95 | $95–$130 | — | $320–$500 | $590–$960 |
| Raleigh | $45–$72 | $72–$100 | $88–$135 | — | $450–$760 |
| Sacramento | $60–$88 | $88–$120 | — | — | $540–$900 |
| San Antonio | $45–$70 | $70–$95 | $85–$130 | — | $430–$720 |
| San Diego | $65–$92 | $92–$125 | — | $310–$490 | $580–$940 |
| San Francisco | $80–$115 | $115–$165 | — | $400–$640 | $740–$1,200 |
| Seattle | $70–$105 | $105–$140 | — | $360–$580 | $680–$1,100 |
| Tampa | $50–$78 | $78–$110 | — | — | $490–$820 |
| Washington, DC | $70–$100 | $100–$140 | — | $340–$540 | $630–$1,020 |
How we got these numbers
Every city figure comes from our handyman cost guide for that city, which lists its sources at the bottom: industry price surveys and local companies’ published rates. The typical price is the middle of the cities’ low ends to the middle of their high ends, rounded. A job only counts cities that price it the same way, and a city with no figure for a job shows a dash. These are benchmarks, not quotes: what you pay depends on the job, and pros’ quotes vary.
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FAQs
How much does a handyman charge per hour?
Independent handymen typically charge $55 – $85 / hr and established local companies $80 – $110 / hr, across the 32 cities we track. Franchise brands run $90 – $140 / hr.
Do handymen offer half-day or full-day rates?
Many do. A half day (4 hours) typically costs $290 – $470 and a full day (8 hours) $520 – $860. If you have a list of small jobs, booking them together usually beats paying the hourly rate and a trip charge for each.
Is there a minimum charge?
Usually. Most handymen charge a trip or service-call minimum, either on top of the first hour or as a one-hour minimum, so ask before booking a small job on its own.
Why are handyman rates higher in some cities?
Labor costs, licensing rules and insurance requirements differ. In our data an established company's hourly rate is about 1.7 times as much in the priciest city, San Francisco ($115 – $165 / hr), as in the cheapest, Indianapolis ($68 – $95 / hr).
Should I hire a handyman or a licensed contractor?
For small repairs and installs, a handyman is usually cheaper. Electrical, plumbing, structural work and jobs above a dollar limit often require a licensed contractor where you live, and contractor rates are higher.
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