How the handyman rate calculator is calculated
Worked example: a three-hour repair with materials
These are the example defaults loaded above: 3 hours at $65, a $25 trip charge, $80 of materials with a 15% markup and a $100 minimum.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labor, 3 hours at $65 | $195.00 |
| Trip charge | $25.00 |
| Materials at cost | $80.00 |
| Markup at 15% | $12.00 |
| Before minimum | $312.00 |
| Minimum charge | $100.00 |
| Job price, the larger of the two | $312.00 |
Every default in the calculator is an example so you can see a result straight away. None is a market average. Replace each with your own costs and rates.
Why a minimum charge matters
A 20-minute fix still costs you the drive, the setup and the time before and after. A minimum charge makes sure those jobs pay. In the calculator the price is whichever is larger, the job total or your minimum, and it tells you which applied.
Trip charge or higher rate?
Either can recover your travel time. A flat trip charge is clearest on short jobs; a higher hourly rate hides it in the labor. Pick one and use it consistently so customers see the same structure each time.
Materials and the trip to buy them
A part from the hardware store means a stop you are not paid for. A markup on materials covers that stop. Set 0 if the customer supplies the parts.
Turn this into an estimate or invoice
The button under the result carries these lines into the document generator, ready to edit. To price the whole job section by section with waste and a deposit, open the cost estimator set up for handyman. For handyman designs and presets, see the handyman invoice page.
Related calculators
- Hourly invoice calculatorHours and a rate, into a total
- Contractor invoice calculatorLabor, materials and job costs into an invoice
Questions people ask
How do I price a handyman job?
Multiply hours by your hourly rate, add any trip charge and the materials with your markup. If the total is under your minimum, quote the minimum.
What is a minimum charge?
The least you will accept for any job, so very short jobs still cover travel and setup.
Should I charge a trip fee?
It is your choice. A trip fee makes short jobs pay without raising the hourly rate. Set it to 0 if you build travel into your rate.
What is the effective hourly rate?
The job price divided by the hours worked. It shows what you earn per hour once the trip charge and materials markup are counted.
Are the default numbers typical handyman rates?
No. They are examples so the calculator shows a working result. Replace each one with your own.
How do I turn this into an invoice?
Use the button under the result to carry the labor, trip and materials lines into an invoice, quote or estimate.