What should I charge for handyman work?
Handyman pricing has to cover a lot that customers never see: the truck, fuel between jobs, tools that wear out, liability insurance, and the drive time that eats your day. This calculator starts from the income you want to keep and works back to the hourly rate — and minimum job charge — you should quote.
| Gross revenue you need to bill | – |
| Business expenses | – |
| Self-employment tax (15.3%) | – |
| Federal income tax (est.) | – |
| State income tax (est.) | – |
| Retirement savings | – |
| Your take-home income | – |
For projects: estimate the hours the job will take, multiply by your hourly rate above, then add materials (with markup) and a 10–25% buffer for overruns.
Estimates use 2025 federal brackets, the standard deduction, and an approximate state rate. Local taxes, credits, and deductions beyond the standard deduction are not included. Not tax advice.
What to count as expenses
For handyman work, annual business expenses typically include truck payment and fuel, liability insurance, tool replacement, consumables (screws, caulk, blades), phone, and advertising. Add up a full year of these — using a rough annual total is far better than entering zero and pricing your overhead at nothing.
Be honest about billable hours
Drive time between jobs, quoting visits, and material runs mean a 9-hour day often contains only 5–6 billable hours. Price off billable hours, not hours away from home — and set a minimum job charge (commonly 1–2 hours) so small jobs don’t lose money.
Handyman pricing FAQs
Should a handyman charge for drive time?
Most don’t bill drive time as a line item — they build it into the hourly rate or a service-call fee. If your jobs average 45 minutes of windshield time, your billable-hour rate must absorb that, which is exactly what this calculator does when you enter realistic billable hours.
How do I price materials on handyman jobs?
Charge materials at cost plus a markup of 20–50% to cover pickup time, returns, and carrying cost. Never pass materials through at cost — the trip to the store is real labor.
Do I need insurance to work as a handyman?
General liability insurance is strongly recommended and often required for property-management work — typically $500–$1,500 a year for a solo operator. Include it in your expenses here so your rate covers it. Licensing rules vary by state and by the dollar size of the job, so check your state’s contractor board.