Price Guide

How Much Does a Handyman Really Cost?

Compare prices for 12 services across 342 UK locations. Data-driven pricing updated for .

12 services priced 342 cities covered Updated

National pricing

Handyman Prices

National average prices. Select a city below for local pricing.

All prices include materials and labour unless stated otherwise. Prices verified 2026

Furniture Assembly (Flat Pack)

Low

£40

Average

£80

High

£120

1-2 hours

More details

Assembly of a single flat pack furniture item such as a wardrobe, chest of drawers, bed frame or desk. Includes unpacking, assembly and positioning in the room. Disposal of packaging not included.

~96% labour, ~4% materials

What affects the price

  • Complexity and size of the item (bookcase vs full wardrobe)
  • Brand (IKEA vs premium flat pack ranges)
  • Whether wall anchoring or securing is needed
  • Number of items to assemble in one visit

Shelf and Bracket Fitting

Low

£40

Average

£60

High

£80

30-60 minutes

More details

Fitting a single shelf with brackets to a wall. Includes drilling, plugging and securing the shelf level. Price assumes a standard solid or plasterboard wall and customer-supplied shelf.

~78% labour, ~22% materials

What affects the price

  • Wall type (brick, plasterboard, stud wall)
  • Length and weight capacity of the shelf
  • Whether the shelf and brackets are supplied or need sourcing
  • Number of shelves being fitted in one visit

Picture and Mirror Hanging

Low

£30

Average

£45

High

£60

15-30 minutes

More details

Hanging a single picture, mirror or artwork on an interior wall. Includes measuring, marking, drilling and securing with appropriate fixings for the wall type and item weight.

~87% labour, ~13% materials

What affects the price

  • Weight of the item (heavy mirrors need specialist fixings)
  • Wall type (plasterboard requires cavity fixings)
  • Whether multiple items need precise alignment
  • Height and accessibility of the hanging position

Door Hanging (Internal)

Low

£60

Average

£90

High

£120

1-2 hours

More details

Hanging a single internal door into an existing frame. Includes planing or trimming to fit, chiselling hinge recesses, fitting hinges and a latch set. Does not include the cost of the door itself.

~86% labour, ~14% materials

What affects the price

  • Whether the door needs trimming to fit the frame
  • Type of door (hollow core vs solid wood)
  • Condition of the existing frame and architrave
  • Whether new hinges and handles are needed

Lock Replacement

Low

£60

Average

£95

High

£130

30-60 minutes

More details

Replacement of a single door lock on an internal or external door. Includes removing the old lock, fitting the new one and checking operation. Price includes a standard lock but not high-security or smart locks.

~60% labour, ~40% materials

What affects the price

  • Type of lock (Yale nightlatch, mortice deadlock, Euro cylinder)
  • Whether the door needs chiselling for a new lock size
  • Security grade of the replacement lock
  • Whether additional bolts or chains are fitted at the same time

Tap Replacement (Simple)

Low

£60

Average

£90

High

£120

45-90 minutes

More details

Replacement of a single basin or kitchen tap on a like-for-like basis. Includes isolating the water supply, removing the old tap, fitting the new one and checking for leaks. Does not include the tap itself unless stated.

~72% labour, ~28% materials

What affects the price

  • Accessibility under the sink or basin
  • Whether isolation valves are already fitted
  • Type of tap (monobloc mixer vs separate pillar taps)
  • Condition of the existing pipework and fittings

Toilet Seat Replacement

Low

£30

Average

£45

High

£60

15-30 minutes

More details

Removal of an old toilet seat and fitting of a new one. Includes dealing with corroded or seized bolts if necessary. Price assumes a standard seat is supplied by the customer.

~38% labour, ~62% materials

What affects the price

  • Whether the existing bolts are seized or corroded
  • Toilet shape (standard, D-shape, square)
  • Type of seat (standard, soft close, quick release)
  • Accessibility around the toilet

Curtain Rail or Blind Fitting

Low

£40

Average

£65

High

£90

30-60 minutes

More details

Fitting a single curtain pole, curtain track or roller blind above a window. Includes measuring, drilling, fixing brackets and hanging the rail or blind. Customer supplies the rail or blind.

~85% labour, ~15% materials

What affects the price

  • Window width and weight of the curtains
  • Wall or ceiling mount (ceiling is more involved)
  • Type of fitting (pole, track, Roman blind, roller blind)
  • Whether the wall is brick, plasterboard or concrete lintel

Sealant and Grouting Renewal

Low

£50

Average

£85

High

£120

1-2 hours

More details

Removal of old silicone sealant or grout around a bath, shower tray or basin and application of fresh sealant or grout. Includes cleaning and preparing the surfaces before resealing.

~85% labour, ~15% materials

What affects the price

  • Length of the area to be resealed or regrouted
  • Condition of existing sealant (mould removal may be needed)
  • Type of sealant (anti-mould, sanitary grade)
  • Whether tile grout also needs refreshing

TV Wall Mounting

Low

£50

Average

£85

High

£120

1-2 hours

More details

Wall mounting a flat screen TV on a fixed or tilting bracket. Includes drilling, securing the bracket, mounting the TV and basic cable tidying. Does not include concealing cables within the wall.

~67% labour, ~33% materials

What affects the price

  • TV size and weight (larger screens need heavier brackets)
  • Wall type (plasterboard needs specialist fixings)
  • Type of bracket (fixed, tilting, full-motion swivel)
  • Whether cables need concealing in trunking or within the wall

Gutter Clearing

Low

£50

Average

£85

High

£120

1-2 hours

More details

Clearing leaves, moss and debris from gutters and downpipes on a standard 2-3 bed house. Includes flushing downpipes to check drainage and a visual check for damage or sagging sections.

~94% labour, ~6% materials

What affects the price

  • Property size and number of storeys
  • Length of guttering and number of downpipes
  • Severity of the blockage (heavy moss vs light leaves)
  • Accessibility and whether scaffolding or a long ladder is needed

General Repairs (Per Hour)

Low

£30

Average

£40

High

£50

1 hour

More details

Hourly rate for a handyman to carry out general repairs and odd jobs around the home. Covers tasks like tightening fixtures, filling holes, fixing squeaky hinges, adjusting doors and other minor maintenance work.

~75% labour, ~25% materials

What affects the price

  • Type and complexity of repairs needed
  • Whether specialist tools or materials are required
  • Minimum call-out time (most charge at least 1 hour)
  • Location and travel distance for the handyman

Popular locations

Handyman Costs by City

London

£50–£150

Birmingham

£35–£110

Leeds

£40–£115

Glasgow

£40–£125

Sheffield

£40–£120

Manchester

£40–£115

Bradford

£35–£105

Edinburgh

£45–£135

Liverpool

£40–£120

Bristol

£45–£130

Coventry

£40–£115

Leicester

£35–£105

Local pricing

Find Handyman Costs in Your City

Browse all 342 cities for local handyman pricing.

Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley London
Brighton Milton Keynes Reading Southampton
Bournemouth Bristol Gloucester Plymouth
Colchester Luton Norwich Peterborough
Birmingham Coventry Stoke-on-Trent Wolverhampton
Derby Leicester Northampton Nottingham
Bradford Leeds Sheffield York
Bolton Liverpool Manchester Warrington
County Durham Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland
Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Cardiff Swansea
Aberdeen Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow
Belfast

Regional comparison

Furniture Assembly (Flat Pack) by City

Average cost of furniture assembly (flat pack) across key UK cities.

London
+24% £100
Manchester
-2% £80
Birmingham
-7% £75
Glasgow
+5% £85
Bristol
+7% £85
Leeds
-3% £80
Cardiff
-2% £80
Belfast
-13% £70

Overview

What Does a Handyman Do?

A handyman provides professional services covering general repairs, odd jobs, furniture assembly and property maintenance. They handle everything from routine maintenance and inspections to full installations and emergency repairs. Whether you need a small repair or a major project, hiring a qualified handyman ensures the work is done safely, to code, and to a professional standard.

You should hire a handyman whenever you need work that requires specialist skills, tools, or qualifications. Many types of handyman work are regulated and must be carried out by a certified professional. Attempting DIY on regulated work can be dangerous, void your insurance, and create costly problems down the line.

Pricing for handyman services depends on the complexity of what you need, the options chosen, and where you live in the UK. Simpler services sit at the lower end of the scale, while more involved or premium options will be significantly more expensive. The prices on this page give you a realistic range for each type of service so you know what to expect before getting quotes.

When hiring a handyman, always get at least three quotes from different tradespeople. Read recent reviews and ask for references. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews. A reputable handyman will be happy to provide a detailed breakdown of costs and explain exactly what is included in their quote.

Related services

Related Services

Services often needed alongside a handyman.

Painting & Decorating UK price guide £200–£650 Plumber UK price guide £50–£200 Electrician UK price guide £4,000–£8,000 Carpentry UK price guide £70–£200 Gutter Services UK price guide £50–£110 Window Fitting UK price guide £400–£750 Flooring UK price guide £300–£900 Cleaning UK price guide £25–£45 Aerial & Satellite Installation UK price guide £150–£300 Car Mechanic UK price guide £54.85–£54.85

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about handyman costs in the UK.

What kind of jobs does a handyman do?
A handyman handles a wide range of small to medium jobs including putting up shelves, assembling flat-pack furniture, hanging doors, fitting curtain rails, patching plaster, basic painting, and minor plumbing or electrical tasks. For specialist or notifiable work like rewiring or gas, you need a qualified tradesperson.
Is it cheaper to hire a handyman on a day rate or per job?
For a single small job, a per-job price is usually best. If you have a list of odd jobs to get through, a day rate (typically 200-350) is often better value as you can get multiple tasks done in one visit. Gather all your jobs into one session to make the most of the call-out.
Does a handyman need qualifications?
There are no formal qualifications required to work as a handyman. However, any gas work requires Gas Safe registration, notifiable electrical work requires Part P compliance, and structural work should involve a qualified builder. A good handyman will tell you when a job needs a specialist.
Should I provide the materials or does the handyman supply them?
Either way works. If you already have the materials, the handyman just charges for labour. If you want them to supply everything, they will usually add a small markup. For specific items like taps, door handles or paint colours, buying them yourself ensures you get exactly what you want.
How much does a handyman charge per hour in the UK?
Most handymen charge between £30 and £50 per hour depending on your area. London and the South East tend to be at the higher end. Many have a minimum call-out of 1-2 hours, so it is worth bundling several small jobs into one visit to get the best value.
Can a handyman do electrical or plumbing work?
A handyman can do minor tasks like changing a light fitting, replacing a tap washer, or swapping a toilet seat. However, any notifiable electrical work (new circuits, consumer unit changes) requires a Part P qualified electrician, and any gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A reputable handyman will tell you when a job needs a specialist.
Do I need a handyman or a specialist tradesperson?
If the job is small, straightforward and does not require specialist certification, a handyman is usually the most cost-effective option. For larger projects like a full bathroom refit, rewiring, or structural work, you need a qualified specialist. The crossover point is roughly any job that takes more than a day or requires formal sign-off.
Is a handyman insured?
Professional handymen should carry public liability insurance, which covers accidental damage to your property while they are working. Always ask to see proof of insurance before work starts. If a handyman cannot provide this, it is a red flag and you should look elsewhere.
What is the best way to find a reliable handyman?
Personal recommendations from neighbours or friends are the most reliable. Failing that, check Checkatrade, MyBuilder or Bark where reviews are verified. Avoid anyone who asks for full payment upfront, cannot provide references, or will only accept cash with no receipt.
How much does a handyman cost in the UK?
The most common handyman job, furniture assembly (flat pack), costs between £40 and £120 nationally, with an average of £80. Prices vary depending on the scope of work, materials used, and your location within the UK.
What affects handyman prices?
The main factors are the complexity and scope of what you need, the options and products chosen, and your location. London and the South East are typically 15-35% more expensive than northern regions. Getting multiple quotes is the best way to ensure a fair price.
How do I find a reliable handyman?
Get at least three quotes from different tradespeople, check recent reviews and references, and ask for a detailed written quote that breaks down all costs before committing. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews.
Do handyman prices vary by location?
Yes, significantly. London is the most expensive area, with prices typically 20-35% above the national average. The South East is also above average. Northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland tend to be 5-15% below the national average. Our city pages show exact local pricing for 342 UK locations.
Do the prices shown include materials?
The prices on this page include all typical costs. However, when getting real quotes, always confirm what is and isn't included. Some tradespeople break out costs separately, while others give an all-in price. Ask for a detailed breakdown before agreeing to any work.
When is the best time to hire a handyman?
Demand for handyman services tends to peak in autumn and winter, which can mean longer wait times and higher prices. If your job isn't urgent, booking during spring or summer may get you a better rate and faster availability. Emergency work will always cost more regardless of the time of year.