How much does it cost to hire a handyman?

Do you want to take care of those annoying little odd jobs that you have been stacking up? If so, you should consider hiring a handyman!

By definition, handymen take care of small jobs that don’t require a professional contractor. The cost to hire a handyman differs depending on their qualifications and areas.

Instead of employing a painter, carpenter, gardener and bricklayer - a handyman will deliver all these services in one. A handyman, in addition to specialised services such as major electrical and plumbing work, can perform most of the tasks he has been provided with. It is a safer bet to hire a handyman to conduct repair work and not so basic home improvement tasks, instead of doing them yourself.

If you are wondering how much you should pay a handyman, the next few lines will help you. 

Basic Figures

In most cases, you should spend between $35- $60 for basic handyman services. 

A professional Australian handyman charges an average of $50 per hour for a typical housework. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the actual prices may vary depending on the type of work to be done. You can get a handyman service at a budget rate of $40 per hour if the task requires minimal effort. But if the job requires a higher skill, expect to pay a premium rate of $55 per hour.

Different Types of Jobs

The cost to hire a handyman depends on the amount of work that needs to be done. As the job becomes bigger and more time consuming, you will obviously have to pay more. Every handyman has his/her own pricing method. 

1. Small jobs that last between two to three hours will be simple. These jobs should be charged by the hour. 
2. Larger jobs that span for several days or weeks should be charged by the project. Make sure you agree on a price before the work starts.

Cost of common handyman jobs are -

• Door repair - $300
• Range hood installation - $200 
• Bed assemble - $80
• Dryer installation - $150
• Wall mounting a TV - $ 220
• Hanging a painting - $50

All prices are approximations and can vary on the complexity of the task.

Handymen work on flat rates or hourly charges. The pricing scheme you pick should fall in line with the project’s complexity level. For example, if you want to install a new door you can go for a handyman who charges per hour. On the other hand, if you want to repair a patch in your plasterboard that has been damaged by flooding you should hire a handyman with flat rates. 

Call-Out Fees

In addition to standard labour rates for handymen, it is likely that your handyman will charge a call-out fee to cover the cost and time of traveling to your home and vehicle expenses such as fuel. The call-out fee usually varies between 1-1.5 hours of their labour cost, approximately $30-$50. Ever so often, their travel time can be less than one hour, the call-out fee is often used to cover the time to come and check the job. Often the solution to a problem can be solved within minutes, so the call-out fee ensures that the handyman gets a minimum pay to come to your house.  

What jobs can a handyman do?

Handymen usually do jobs that don't require any specific licences or qualifications. 

These can include but not restricted to:

• Small Carpentry jobs
• Small Painting jobs
• Small plastering jobs
• Gardening
• Pressure cleaning
• Tile repair
• Rubbish removal 
• Flat pack furniture assembly
• Hanging of picture frames 
• Connecting electrical equipment

What jobs a handyman can’t do?

While a handyman is flexible and able to perform a variety of jobs, a properly licenced tradie needs to perform many of the essential tasks legally. So, in case your handyman does not have the proper licenses in place, it is better for you to find a professional and licenced tradie.

The most common jobs handymen will not have licences for, include:

• Building 
• Plumbing 
• Electrical 
• Gasfitting 

Handymen cost based on location

Residents of Victoria are fortunate to pay the lowest price for home wok across Australia. In Victoria, handymen charge on average $48.11 per hour. This is only marginally lower than South Australia’s $48.81 per hour.

By contrast, the most expensive handyman services can be found at $55.93 per hour in New South Wales. Meanwhile, in Western Australia a standard handyman’s work costs about $53.64 per hour.

However, in the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, prices fall in the middle of the spectrum. Homeowners can be expected to pay $51.67 per hour for a handyman service in ACT, meanwhile customers in Queensland will have to pay about $52.17 per hour.

Keep in mind the prices above are just a guide and subject to the time the article was made, if you want an accurate and up to date price, get up to 3 quotes from local handymen.