How the handyman hourly rate calculator works
Billable hours are the hours you can charge for. Driving, quoting, buying parts and paperwork are real work, but nobody pays for them by the hour, so most handymen bill 25 to 32 hours in a full week.
Your take-home pay is grossed up for taxes, then your yearly business costs are added. That's what your billable hours have to earn.
Dividing by your billable hours gives the break-even rate: what you must charge just to pay yourself and the business.
Your profit margin is added on top, rounded up to the next whole dollar.
Tips from the trade
- Be honest about billable hours. Planning on 40 billable hours a week is the most common reason handyman rates come out too low.
- Set a minimum charge, often one to two hours. Small jobs still cost you the drive and the setup.
- Mark up parts. Your time spent buying and fetching them is part of the job.
When you need more than a free handyman hourly rate calculator
This calculator answers one quick question. Running a business means doing it on every job, with your own rates saved and a quote you can send.
Handyman hourly rate calculator questions
How much should a handyman charge per hour?
It depends on your costs and the pay you want. Many owners land between $60 and $100 an hour once insurance, the truck, taxes and unbillable time are counted. Use this calculator to see your own number.
Should a handyman charge by the hour or by the job?
Many do both: an hourly rate for open-ended work and flat prices for common tasks. Your hourly rate is the base you use to set those flat prices.
Does this include self-employment tax?
Only as the percent you set aside. Ask a tax professional what to set aside for your situation.