Handyman costs: What you’ll pay for everyday fixes

A handyman can help make your home look fine and dandy again especially when things get busy.  Whether you need help in assembling furniture, building work, or painting walls, hiring a handyman will get the job done. But how much are handyman prices per hour?

Handyman costs per hour in Australia starts at $40. However, this could reach up to $90 depending on the complexity of the task. Aside from the cost per hour, a handyman can also charge by project.

With the numerous things a handyman can do, it can be difficult to know exactly how much it costs to hire a handyman. With our price guide, you can find out average handyman prices and make an informed choice for your own home.

Factors that affect handyman prices

From the size and complexity of the job to the number of tasks, materials, expertise, and even your location, several key factors influence how much you’ll pay. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you understand what goes into the cost.

Size of the project

A handyman is a jack of all trades. From quick repairs to carpentry, the skill set of a handyman is countless. With this, the size of the project and the type of work are some of the main factors that influence handyman cost per day.

More complex and labour-intensive work like bathroom remodelling is more expensive while simple, straightforward tasks like assembling furniture are cheaper.

Number of tasks

The more tasks you will need help on, the longer it will take for the handyman to finish. Hence, the higher the price. In some cases, it might be helpful to ask for the handyman’s daily rate instead of the hourly rate since the handyman price list per day is usually cheaper.

Material costs

The materials needed to complete the job are also factored in the cost. A handyman usually carries several tools of equipment needed for home and appliance fixes and repairs. These include universal supplies such as nails, nuts, bolts, and screws. 

However, there are times when new parts and equipment are needed to finish the job. For example, if you want to install an exhaust fan in your bathroom but can't buy one, a handyman can source it for you and install it in your home.  

Although you can potentially save when you pick up the item yourself, a handyman would have more knowledge on quality parts that will survive years of wear and tear. Of course, make sure to align exhaust fan prices with your handyman beforehand to ensure they can fit into your budget.

Expertise

The expertise and skill level will affect how much a handyman charges. Some handymen specialise and get licencing in household work like minor maintenance and cleaning. Expect handyman specialist rates to be higher than average. The added cost will be used to cover the years of learning and mastering the skill. This can also be treated as an investment in high-quality work that will last long.

Location

The location also affects how much a handyman charges per hour in Australia. The average cost per hour in Canberra or Sydney costs can reach up to $120 while Victoria charges up to $100.

Tool-ready handyman prepared for jobs like appliance installation or repairs. (Source: iStock)

Handyman quotes from Taskers

If you’re looking for a local handyman, pricing varies across different states and cities. For example, a handyman in Sydney may charge between $46 to $110 per hour, while a handyman in Perth typically charges between $46 to $108. 

Here’s a quick price breakdown of hiring a handyman by state:

Different types of household work

When hiring a handyman, costs can increase, especially if time-consuming work needs to be done. It is important to prepare a list of tasks you need help with before starting the job. To give you an idea of the different tasks that can be done by a handyman, we’ve created a comprehensive list:

• Furniture assembly

• TV mounting

• Baby proofing

• Appliance installation

• Window and door repair and installation

• Fence repair and installation

• Leak repair

• Drywall repair

• Tap repair

• Roof repair

• Carpentry

• Minor plumbing and electrical work

• Painting walls

• Decorating

• Remodelling

• Landscaping and lawn care

• Cleaning

• Unclogging a drain

• Junk removal

• Tiling

• Gutter repair and cleaning

Other factors that affect costs

Aside from the factors mentioned above, other factors could increase low-cost handyman services such as time, travel fees, and minimum call-out fees.

Time

A handyman is often paid by the hour. The starting hour starts at $40 while the succeeding hours are usually discounted. Costs can increase if you hire a handyman during odd hours of the day, weekends, or holidays. The normal working hours of a handyman usually start at 8 am until around 6 pm, Mondays to Fridays.

Travel

Since a handyman drives to your home along with needed tools and equipment, access is also another factor that affects how much a handyman charges. Areas that are remote and challenging to reach often have higher fees.

Service fees

To cover business operation expenses, a handyman may charge a minimum fee. This will cover the admin, set-up fee, and material sourcing fee.

A handyman prepares tools for various home repair tasks. (Source: iStock)

Handyman checklist

Having a go-to handyman will help make your home life much easier. To help you through the search, we made a checklist you can refer to as you hire a handyman.

• Create a detailed list of the tasks that need to be done.

• If you have a couple of items on your list, label each task with its level of priority so your handyman knows which one to accomplish first. 

• Put a ceiling budget for each task.

• Find a handyman on reliable service sites and read up on reviews. Check feedback on timeliness, work quality, and cleanliness.

• Once you get connected to a handyperson near you, ask if they can give references or share photos of their previous work.

• Enquire about previous experiences, licenses, insurance, or bonds.

• Discuss timelines and check their estimated hours or days to finish the task.

• Ask if the handyman offers bundles and packages for combined tasks or if they offer a day rate that is cheaper than hourly costs.

• Enquire about additional fees such as travel fees, call-out fees, trip charges, or fees for additional work that might come up.

• Confirm if they will work with subcontractors or on their own.

• Enquire about their payment schedule.

• Check if the estimated prices are reasonable by getting multiple quotes from at least three handymen.

• If it’s a good match, put all the estimates and fees in writing and make sure to provide timely payments during the agreed schedule.

When hiring a handyman, costs can go up, especially when you have a couple of repairs and fixes needed. To know the exact handyman services price list, put up a task on Airtasker and get personalised quotes in minutes!