Cost by job
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small repair visit Typically a 1–2 hour minimum | $150–$400 |
| Half-day of work | $300–$600 |
| Full day of work | $550–$1,100 |
| Drywall patch and paint, one room | $900–$1,400 |
| Interior door package, 3–5 doors | $1,200–$2,000 |
| Deck repair | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Fence repair | $800–$1,800 |
| Rental turnover | $800–$1,800 |
Why the per-job number differs from the hourly rate
An hourly rate makes a four-hour job look simple to price. In practice it rarely is. There is usually a minimum, often a trip charge, and materials carry a markup. Then there is the part nobody quotes: the second trip when the right part was not on the van. More on hourly rates.
Per-job pricing folds all of that into one number before work starts. It costs slightly more on the jobs that go smoothly and considerably less on the ones that do not — and you know which one you are getting in advance, which is the actual value.
What drives the price
- Access. Second floor, tight crawlspace or a high ceiling adds labor without adding scope.
- Matching. Matching existing texture, trim profile or paint costs more than new work in a blank room.
- Unknowns. Anything hidden behind a surface gets priced with a margin for what might be there — or gets inspected first.
- Grouping. Several jobs in one visit cost far less than the same jobs across three visits.
Our pricing
Fixed per job, quoted from photos, $450 minimum. See all package pricing.
Common questions
Why do some companies have a minimum?
Because the drive, the setup and the paperwork cost the same whether the job takes twenty minutes or four hours. A minimum is how that overhead gets covered honestly. The alternative — padding an hourly bill — is worse.
Should I buy materials myself?
Usually not. Contractors mark materials up, but they also know exactly which trim profile matches yours and will not make two trips getting it wrong. For expensive fixtures where you have a specific preference, buying your own makes sense — just have it on site before the crew arrives.
How do I avoid being overcharged?
Get the scope in writing before work starts, with a number attached. If the quote is hourly, ask for the estimated hours and what happens if it runs over. Any contractor unwilling to put an estimate in writing is telling you something.
What does a handyman cost per hour?
$50–$150 depending on whether you are hiring a self-employed individual or an insured company, plus minimums, trip charges and materials markup.