Handyman hourly rate calculator: what to charge per hour
A self-employed handyman's hourly rate is the year of pay, vehicle, tools, insurance and overhead divided by the hours you actually bill, then divided by one minus your margin. With the example inputs below, $82,500 over 1,300 billable hours is a $63.46 break-even and $74.66 an hour at a 15 percent margin. Small jobs and drive time are why the billable hours sit so low.
Worked example at the example inputs
Yearly numbers for a one-person handyman business and the margin you want. The answer is per billable hour. The boxes start with example inputs we made up to show the math. They are not market data or what handymen near you charge, so replace each one with yours.
| Input | Example value |
|---|---|
| Your pay | $60,000 |
| Billable hours | 1,300 hours |
| Overhead | $10,000 |
| Vehicle | $9,000 |
| Business insurance | $3,500 |
| Profit margin | 15% |
| Break-even rate | $63.46 an hour |
| Recommended rate at a 15% margin | $74.66 an hour |
The formula
($60,000 pay + $10,000 overhead + $9,000 vehicle + $3,500 insurance) = $82,500 a year. $82,500 / 1,300 billable hours = $63.46 break-even. $63.46 / (1 - 0.15) = $74.66 an hour, with $11.20 profit in every billed hour. The interactive calculator on this page recomputes the rate as you type your own numbers.
Turn the hourly rate into a bid
Most handyman customers want a price, not a meter. Time your common jobs once, multiply each by this rate, add parts at your markup, and quote flat. Being fast then earns you more per hour instead of less.
How to find each input
Your pay
What you want to earn in a year before income tax. If you pay a helper, add their wage and their billable hours too.
Billable hours
Hours on invoices. Four small jobs a day means four drives, four parking spots and four hardware store detours, and none of that is on the bill unless you charge for it.
Overhead
Tools and their replacements, consumables, phone, software, accounting, a website and any license or registration fees where you work.
Vehicle
Payment, fuel, maintenance and commercial auto coverage. Handyman work is drive-heavy, so this line is usually bigger than people expect.
Business insurance
General liability at minimum, plus workers comp if you have a helper. Property managers often ask for a certificate before you start, so you will need the policy anyway.
Profit margin
What the business keeps after costs. It is the difference between a job and a business that can buy its next truck.
Where the hours go
Small jobs, big gaps
A 45 minute repair with a 30 minute drive on each end bills less than half the time it takes. A minimum charge or a trip fee is how handymen get paid for that gap.
Quotes that do not close
Stopping by to look at a job you do not get costs the same hour as a job you do. Count those visits as unbilled time.
Material runs
The trip for the part you could not have known you needed is paid time. Bill it when you can, and count it as unbilled when you cannot.
Rate factors for handymen
Minimum charges
A one-hour or two-hour minimum keeps tiny jobs from losing money. Set the minimum from this rate, not from a round number that sounds friendly.
Flat prices for repeat tasks
Door hangs, fan swaps and faucet replacements happen every week. Time them, multiply by this rate, add parts at your markup, and you have a flat price list you can quote at the door.
Licensed trade work
Many places require a licensed electrician or plumber for certain work no matter how small the job. Check your state and city before you price it at a handyman rate.
Parts at your markup
Parts and materials are not in this rate. Put them on the invoice as their own lines at cost plus your markup, including the ones you picked up on the way.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a self-employed handyman charge per hour?
Enough to cover your own costs and leave a margin. Add a year of pay, vehicle, tools and overhead, and insurance, divide by billable hours, then divide by one minus your margin. This page's example inputs give $63.46 to break even and $74.66 an hour at 15 percent.
Why are a handyman's billable hours so low?
Because the work comes in small pieces. Every job brings a drive, a setup and a cleanup, and a lot of days have a supply run in them. Track your invoiced hours for a few months and use the real number.
Should I charge hourly or flat rate as a handyman?
Flat for the jobs you know, hourly for the ones you cannot see into, like a repair behind a wall. Either way the starting point is your hourly rate: a flat price is just the hours you expect times this rate, plus parts.
What minimum should I charge for a small job?
At least what the trip costs you. If a visit takes an hour door to door before any work, a one-hour minimum at your rate is the floor, and many handymen set two.
How much does Staxen cost for handymen?
Staxen is $59 per month per AI employee, or $149 per month for all three. Say the job and your price at the door and Eddie drafts the estimate, then Ivy sends the invoice with a card or ACH link when you finish.