Quick answer
- US: self-employed handymen typically charge $50-$80 an hour; corporate or franchise handymen $75-$125, plus materials.3 Thumbtack puts the average at $60-$75.2
- Whole jobs average about $390-$406 on HomeAdvisor and Angi, with most between $65 and $1,200.41
- Canada: self-employed handymen charge about $50-$80 CAD an hour, most general repair work at $55-$70;7 HomeStars reports an average of $85-$110 across all handyman services.6
Handyman hourly rates
| Source | Rate |
|---|---|
| HomeGuide (US) | $50-$80/hr self-employed, $75-$125/hr corporate, plus materials3 |
| Thumbtack (US) | $60-$75/hr average; $45-$50 at the low end2 |
| HomeAdvisor (US) | $60-$125/hr4 |
| Urbantasker (Canada) | $50-$80/hr self-employed; most general repairs $55-$707 |
| HomeStars (Canada) | $85-$110/hr average, up to $180 for some services6 |
The gap between self-employed and franchise rates is mostly overhead: franchises pay for offices, dispatchers and advertising. As a solo handyman you can charge less than a franchise and still earn more per hour - but only if your rate covers your own unpaid time, insurance and vehicle.
Is $125 an hour too much for a handyman?
$125 sits at the top of the corporate range,3 and above what most self-employed handymen charge. It can be right if you hold a trade license, do specialized work, or work in an expensive city - otherwise clients comparing quotes will notice. A more common approach is a mid-range hourly rate with a minimum charge, and flat prices for the jobs you do all the time.
How much should a handyman charge per day?
A day rate is usually your hourly rate times the hours you'd work, sometimes with a small discount because you avoid driving between jobs. At $50-$80 an hour, an eight-hour day is $400-$640; at Canadian self-employed rates of $55-$70, it's $440-$560 CAD.37 Materials are extra either way.
Flat prices for the jobs you do every week
Clients like knowing the price up front, and flat prices reward you for being fast. Most handymen build a short price list for repeat jobs - assembling furniture per item, patching a drywall hole, mounting a TV, swapping a light fixture - and use hourly rates for everything else.
To set a flat price, time the job a few times, multiply by your hourly rate, and round up. Add a per-unit charge for extras on the same visit, like additional holes or additional items, so bigger jobs scale fairly.
This is also where people search for a "handyman pricing guide PDF" or a pricing spreadsheet: a one-page list of your flat prices, minimum and hourly rate does the same job, and you can put it straight onto a booking page.
Materials, minimums and travel
- Materials: published rates are quoted "plus materials".3 Some handymen pass parts through at cost, others add a markup to cover the time spent shopping and returning. Either is fine - just say which you do on your quote.
- Minimums: a minimum charge (often a first-hour minimum) makes small jobs worth the trip.
- Travel: charge for jobs outside your usual area, or build drive time into your rate.
Handyman rates in Canada
- Self-employed: $50-$80 CAD an hour, most general repairs at $55-$70.7
- Toronto: $75-$125 an hour, with most skilled handymen around $85-$95 (2025 figures).8
- Vancouver: $70-$100 an hour for general repairs, $150+ for specialized work.9
- Marketplace: Taskrabbit reports about $49 an hour on average in Canada5 - lower than most independent handymen charge.
Quote in CAD before tax, and register for GST/HST once your taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters.
Know what you can legally take on
In both countries, electrical, plumbing and gas work often requires a licensed tradesperson, and the limits on what an unlicensed handyman can do vary by state and province - sometimes by the dollar value of the job. Check your local rules before you price that kind of work, and refer it out when you need to. It protects you, and it's a fair reason to quote above unlicensed competitors when you do hold a license.
Common questions
What is a fair price to pay a handyman per hour?
In the US, self-employed handymen typically charge $50-$80 an hour and franchise handymen $75-$125, plus materials. In Canada, self-employed rates are about $50-$80 CAD.
How much should a handyman charge per day?
Your hourly rate times the hours worked - at $50-$80 an hour, an 8-hour day is $400-$640 before materials.
Is $125 an hour good for a handyman?
It's at the top of the published range and usually reserved for licensed, specialized or big-city work. Most self-employed handymen charge less and use flat prices for common jobs.
How do I quote a handyman job?
Ask for a description and photos, estimate the hours, add materials (at cost or with a markup), and apply your minimum. For jobs you do often, use a flat price instead.
What is the hourly rate for a self-employed handyman in Canada?
About $50-$80 CAD an hour in 2026, with most general repair work billed at $55-$70. Toronto and Vancouver rates run higher.
Put your price list online
On 1MinuteBooking, clients book your flat-price jobs directly - with extra items or time added per unit - and send bigger jobs as a quote request with photos. Free plan, no time limit.
See the handyman booking pageSources
- Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Handyman? [2026 Data]
- Thumbtack, 2026 Handyman Hourly Rates | Get Free Estimates on
- HomeGuide, 2026 Handyman Hourly Rates | Price List & Avg. Job Cost
- HomeAdvisor, Avg. Pricing for Handyman Services
- Taskrabbit Canada, How much do handyman services cost?
- HomeStars (Canada), Guide to Handyman Costs & Estimates in Canada
- Urbantasker (Canada), What is the hourly rate for a self employed handyman in
- Absolute Home Services (Toronto), Average Handyman Rates in Toronto, 2025 (one Toronto company's 2025 guide)
- YVR Handyman (Vancouver), Handyman Pricing in Vancouver: Your Complete Guide (one Vancouver company's guide)
Prices are what these sources published as of September-October 2026. Rates vary by city, season and the job itself - use them as a starting point, not a rule.