What is the rate to pay a handyman in the UK? + examples

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You've been putting off fixing that loose door handle for weeks, haven’t you? And let’s not forget the leaking sink and the bedroom door that keeps creaking!

It's too late now, you know it, the sentence is final:

You’re going to spend the weekend doing DIY!!!

Or, you could call a handyman (also known as a “Jack of all trades”) and relax with a nice drink while they take care of all those little jobs for you. You already know that, but what you don’t know is:

How much should you pay a handyman?

Well, you're in luck! Thanks to Yoojo, over 500 small jobs have been completed by hundreds of handymen on our platform …

…want to know the average rates for a handyman so you can avoid being overcharged?

You're in the right place, we’ve crunched the numbers and we’re sharing it all in this practical guide!

No more overpaying for your small repairs!

Summary

What's the average hourly rate for handymen in the UK right now?
Examples of flat rates for different services
3 Tips to lower your bill

What's the average hourly rate for handymen in the UK right now?

a handyman doing some work on a door

Let’s start with what you care about the most: the statistics on the average hourly rate*

Multiservice company:

£43 / hour

Handyman (via Yoojo):

£21 / hour

* How are these hourly rates calculated:

For multiservice companies: we averaged all the prices we found online.
For service providers on Yoojo: we averaged the rates of small home improvement jobs completed via Yoojo

Keep in mind that the typical handyman's rate falls between:

£15 to £50

Of course, it depends on the type of service you need. We'll break it down for you below!

Why do we offer two different types of hourly rates?

Because there are two main types of service providers you can hire, and their pricing models are very different:

Multiservice company:

A woman grimacing at a bill

Their rates are higher because they pay more in taxes and overhead, but they can work for both individuals and businesses.

Service providers via Yoojo:

A handyman smiling and taking a selfie

This status was created to help neighbours find local help easily. Their rates are lower because they pay fewer taxes, but they cannot issue invoices and thus cannot work for businesses.

Which handyman type should you choose?

Each status has its pros and cons. Ultimately, it depends on your needs:

Choose a multiservice company if:

You’re a business
You need an invoice
You have major, complicated work (like a project site)

Choose a handyman via Yoojo if:

You’re a private individual
The tasks are easy to complete
You don’t need an invoice

Find the top-rated handymen near you

Examples of flat rates for different services

a handyman is installing a lamp chandelier

Like multiservice companies, handymen often take on several small repair jobs in one visit.

Most of the time, they’ll give you a flat rate for the service, which covers everything... much easier for everyone!

So, let’s look at the average price paid for different services. You can use these as a benchmark for your estimated costs:

List of jobs a handyman can do	Average multiservice rate	Average Yoojo handyman rate	Get a custom quote
Shelf installation service	£45	£31	Get your custom quote
Picture hanging service	£36	£26	Get your custom quote
Mirror installation service	£39	£29	Get your custom quote
Shower rail installation	£38	£31	Get your custom quote
Furniture repair service	£59	£37	Get your custom quote
Furniture disassembly service	£59	£33	Get your custom quote
Lightbulb replacement service	£27	£22	Get your custom quote
Wallpaper removal service	£89	£64	Get your custom quote
General small repair services	£45	£36	Get your custom quote

I can't find the price I'm looking for

Didn't find what you're interested in? It might be because the answer is in another Yoojo practical guide:

Hiring a handyman under the table: Is it really cheaper?

It's a valid question because the rate for your handyman might indeed drop significantly (by about 30% to 40%).

But beware of the £45,000 fine and up to 3 years in prison you could face!

Moreover, if anything goes wrong with your handyman, you won’t have any recourse or insurance coverage.

So, it's really not a good idea!

3 Tips to lower your bill

Before we go, here are a few tips to help you cut costs on your small repairs, whether you choose a local handyman or a multiservice company.

1 Buy the replacement parts yourself

Yes, I know, spending 2 hours at B&Q looking for all the parts you need isn't the most fun, but it will save you a lot on the bill.

Every time your handyman has to go out and buy materials, they charge you for it.

If you know what you need, buy it yourself. Plus, you'll be sure to get exactly what you want (especially for things like paint).

We recommend leaving it to your handyman to choose only if you have no idea what materials are necessary… it will also save you from buying the wrong thing!

2 Hire a handyman who lives nearby

Ideally, you have several quality handymen in your area. If the profiles are similar, choose the one who lives closest!

Why?

Because travel costs can sometimes make up 50% of the final price… that’s a lot!

This is especially true for small jobs like fixing squeaky doors or installing shelves.

These services may cost you around £20 in labour and £30 in travel fees. This is why many professionals won’t travel for these small tasks – they just don’t make enough money from them!

💶 Why is Yoojo cheaper?

Everything is digitised
Book someone for a 1 hour job
No monthly subscription, you pay per service
We'll connect you only with local handyman, you save on travel costs

Discover our small repair services