How much should a handyman charge per hour?
What UK handymen actually charge in 2026 by hour and by day, and how to structure rates so short jobs don't cost you money.
Quick answer
UK handymen average around £30 an hour nationally, with a typical self-employed range of £20–£70 depending on area and work type. London runs £45–£65 an hour. Day rates average about £188 nationally; in London a half-day is £280–£380 and a full day £500–£650. Set a minimum charge — usually one or two hours — or short jobs will cost you more in travel than they earn.
UK handyman rates, 2026
| Basis | National | London |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | ~£30 (range £20–£70) | £45–£65 |
| Half day | Varies by area | £280–£380 |
| Full day | ~£188 average | £500–£650 |
Step-by-step
- 1
Set your hourly rate against your area, not the national figure
The national average is around £30 an hour, but the honest range for self-employed handymen is £20–£70 and location drives most of it. London sits at £45–£65. Check what three local competitors publish before setting yours — regional variation here is larger than skill variation.
- 2
Charge a minimum, always
This is the single biggest mistake in the trade. A twenty-minute job forty minutes away loses you money at any hourly rate. Set a minimum call-out of one or two hours and state it upfront. Customers accept it readily when it's published; they resent it when it appears on the invoice.
- 3
Offer a day rate for bigger jobs
When a customer has several tasks adding up to a full day, a day rate is better value for them and better for you — no travel between jobs and no gaps. The national average day rate is about £188; London runs £500–£650. Price it slightly below your hourly-times-eight to make the choice easy for them.
- 4
Vary the rate by the work, not just the clock
Different tasks carry different rates in practice — plumbing repairs typically £40–£60 an hour, general painting from around £15, garden maintenance around £25. Charging one flat rate for everything means you're either overpriced for simple work or underpriced for skilled work.
- 5
Publish a price list
A published rate card with your hourly, half-day, day rate and minimum charge stops you quoting the same numbers by text several times a day, and it filters out the people who were only ever going to haggle. It also makes raising prices a page edit rather than twelve awkward conversations.
Tips & best practices
- ▸A minimum charge protects you more than a higher hourly rate does.
- ▸Travel time is unpaid — cluster jobs geographically or your effective rate collapses.
- ▸Materials should be charged separately and clearly, with any markup stated upfront.
- ▸Review rates annually; handymen routinely hold prices flat for years while van and fuel costs rise.
Common questions
How much do handymen charge per hour in the UK?
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Around £30 an hour on average nationally, with a self-employed range of roughly £20–£70 depending on location and the type of work. London handymen typically charge £45–£65 an hour.
What's a typical handyman day rate?
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About £188 a day as a national average. In London a half-day runs £280–£380 and a full day £500–£650. Day rates suit customers with several jobs and are usually better value for both sides than paying hourly across a full day.
Should I charge a minimum call-out fee?
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Yes. Without one, short jobs cost you more in travel than they earn. A one or two hour minimum, stated clearly upfront, is standard and customers accept it — provided they hear about it before the invoice.
Should I charge different rates for different jobs?
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In practice most handymen do. Plumbing repairs typically command £40–£60 an hour, painting can start around £15, and garden maintenance sits around £25. A single flat rate means you're underpriced on skilled work and overpriced on simple work.