Handyman price list: what common jobs cost in 2026

By Nicholas Lipari, founder of PlainJob · Updated November 2, 2026 · 8 min read

Short answer: most handymen charge about $50 to $116 an hour, with a minimum of roughly one to two hours. Common jobs run from about $60 to $200 for furniture assembly or a faucet swap, $90 to $400 for TV mounting or a ceiling fan, and several hundred dollars for drywall sections and doors. Your price depends on your area, your speed and whether you supply materials.

Ranges come from two published cost guides (sources below) and are mostly labor; materials are usually extra. They're starting points, not rules. Check what others in your area charge before you set your prices.

Hourly rates

Where	Typical hourly rate
National range	$49–$116 (average about $81)
Northeast	$76–$159
West Coast	$71–$149
Midwest	$56–$110
South	$51–$101
Rural areas	$40–$72

Source: Homeyou, updated September 2026. Fixr puts most handymen at $50–$100 an hour, around $65 on average, with a common minimum charge of about $130. A minimum charge of one to two hours covers your drive and setup on small jobs.

Common jobs and what they cost

Job	Homeyou range	Fixr range
TV mounting	$91–$243	$300–$400
Furniture assembly	$60–$195	Not listed
Drywall repair, small hole	$92–$195	$275–$800
Drywall repair, 2–4 sq ft	$172–$347
Drywall, large section or panel	$448–$795
Faucet replacement (labor)	$92–$246	$60–$150 (bathroom)
Ceiling fan installation	$120–$347	$100–$300
Light fixture installation	$151–$796	$80–$150
Interior door, pre-hung	$172–$448	$200–$300
Exterior door	$347–$896	Not listed
Door lock or deadbolt	$85–$172	Not listed
Smart or keypad lock	$172–$347	Not listed
Rekey a lock	$31–$95 per lock	Not listed
Toilet installation, basic	$60–$195	$100–$200 (toilet extra)
Blinds, per window	Not listed	$60–$150 (blinds extra)
Painting a room	See the room painting cost guide
Window repair (glass extra)	$92–$347	Not listed
Gutter cleaning, one story	$92–$246	$100–$280 (maintenance tasks)
Fence repair, small section	$120–$448	Not listed
Deck repair (materials extra)	$570–$2,392	Not listed

Deeper guides: TV mounting, drywall repair, ceiling fan installation, painting a room, faucet replacement, garbage disposal installation, shelf installation, deck repair, toilet installation, light fixtures, door installation, gutter cleaning and pressure washing. Managing rentals? See the rate card template.

Why the two guides differ: they survey different jobs and years, and "TV mounting" can mean a 32-inch TV on drywall or a 75-inch TV on brick with hidden wires. Quote the job in front of you, not the average.

Day and half-day rates

Many handymen offer a day rate for a long list of small jobs at one house. Work it out from your hourly rate rather than guessing: at the $50–$100 an hour Fixr reports, eight hours is $400–$800 and a half day (four hours) is $200–$400, plus materials. Some pros take a little off the day rate because there's only one drive and one setup. Write down what's on the list so "a day" doesn't turn into two.

Check your state before you take trade work

Ceiling fans, light fixtures, faucets and toilets touch electrical and plumbing. Many states and cities require a licensed electrician or plumber for some of that work, even on small jobs. See handyman license rules by state.

Turn a range into your price

Start with your hourly rate. Use one that covers your costs, taxes and time off, not just what feels fair. The rate calculator works it out.
Estimate the time honestly, including setup, cleanup and a trip to the store if you'll need one.
Add materials, with a markup for picking them up and standing behind them. 10–20% is common.
Apply your minimum. A 20-minute job still costs you the drive.
Bundle small jobs. Three small fixes on one visit beat three trips, and customers like a single price.
Write it as line items so the customer sees what they're paying for. More in how to price handyman jobs.

Flat rate or hourly?

Flat prices win more small jobs because customers know the number up front, and they reward you for being fast. Hourly protects you on jobs with unknowns, like old houses and rotted wood. Many handymen quote flat for routine work and hourly, with a not-to-exceed number, for repairs where they can't see inside the wall.

More cost guides

Sources

Homeyou: Handyman cost (updated September 24, 2026)
Fixr: Handyman cost (updated January 30, 2025)
How much handymen make, with Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data

Questions

How much does a handyman charge per day?

Work it out from the hourly rate: at $50 to $100 an hour, a full day is about $400 to $800 and a half day $200 to $400, plus materials.

How much does a handyman charge per hour?

Most charge about $50 to $116 an hour, depending on the region; Homeyou puts the national average near $81. Many also have a minimum charge of one to two hours.

How much does it cost to mount a TV?

Published ranges run from about $91 to $243 (Homeyou) up to $300 to $400 (Fixr), depending on the TV size, wall type and whether wires are hidden in the wall.

How much do handymen charge for drywall repair?

A small hole is roughly $92 to $195, a 2 to 4 square foot patch about $172 to $347, and a large section $448 to $795, according to Homeyou. Fixr gives $275 to $800 overall.

Should a handyman charge by the hour or by the job?

Flat prices win more routine jobs because customers know the number up front. Hourly, often with a not-to-exceed figure, protects you on repairs with unknowns.

Do handymen charge a minimum fee?

Many do, usually equal to one to two hours of labor, so small jobs still cover the drive and setup.