Handyman
Small home jobs add up. Whether you need shelves fitted, furniture assembled or general maintenance completed, a clear description of the job makes it easier to find the right person.
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Handyman guides
Costs, emergencies, how to choose a trade, seasonal timing and what landlords and tenants are each responsible for.
Handyman · Richmond
How much does a handyman charge per hour in Richmond?
Hourly, half-day and per-job pricing for handyman work in Richmond, the factors that push a quote up in period and riverside homes, and how…
Handyman · Surrey
Surrey handyman for urgent jobs: what to do in the first hour
A fallen fence, a door that will not shut or a cupboard off the wall is urgent but rarely dangerous. Here is how to…
Handyman · Kent
How to choose a handyman in Kent: vetting, insurance, red flags
Handymen are unlicensed, so the vetting is on you. A plain guide to checking insurance, experience and references before hiring a handyman in Kent,…
Handyman · Berkshire
Before you call a handyman in Reading, Berkshire: what to check
Ten minutes of checking before you search for a handyman in Reading or elsewhere in Berkshire can halve the visit, or remove the need…
Handyman · Buckinghamshire
Local handyman jobs in Buckinghamshire by season: autumn to summer
The handyman year in Buckinghamshire runs from autumn draught-proofing through winter storm repairs to spring garden fixes. Booking the right job in the right…
Handyman · Guildford
Handyman in Guildford: why doors stick and how they are fixed
A sticking door is the most common reason to book a handyman in Guildford. This explainer covers the five usual causes, the fix for…
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Handyman explained
A handyman covers the small fixings, repairs and assembly jobs that sit below the threshold of a specialist trade. Typical work includes putting up shelves and wall fixings, assembling flat pack furniture, and easing doors and windows that stick or catch. It also covers small carpentry, resealing baths and showers, replacing cracked tiles, and the general odd jobs that accumulate around a house.
Judge the job by the cost of getting it wrong. A shelf on a stud wall or a flat pack wardrobe is within reach of most people with a drill and patience. Hiring makes sense when you lack the tools, the work is awkward overhead, or a mistake means a damaged wall. Anything touching gas, fixed electrics or a load bearing wall is not handyman work at all.
Wall construction drives much of this work. Solid brick takes a masonry bit and plug, while plasterboard stud walls need the fixing to land on a timber stud or a proper hollow wall anchor. Dot and dab plasterboard over blockwork needs longer screws reaching the masonry behind. Victorian and Edwardian lath and plaster crumbles easily. Flats often restrict drilling hours under the lease, and textured coatings in homes built before 2000 may contain asbestos.
What moves the price
- Hourly rate against half day booking
- Expect roughly £30 to £55 an hour across most of the UK, or £130 to £220 for a half day of about four hours.
- Where in the UK you are
- London and the South East run higher, often £45 to £75 an hour, with parking or congestion costs adding £20 to £40 a visit.
- How many jobs per visit
- Batching six small jobs into one half day visit almost always costs less than booking six separate call outs.
- Wall type and fixings required
- Masonry, dot and dab, or old lath and plaster each add time and specialist fixings, typically £5 to £30 on materials.
- Materials, waste removal and access
- Materials are usually charged on top at cost, and waste removal or tower hire for high work adds roughly £40 to £90.
Figures are indicative typical ranges for the UK, not quotes. Always get written quotes before work starts.
Before you enquire
- List every small job in one go, so the visit can be costed and booked as a batch.
- Check whether each wall is solid masonry, timber stud, or dot and dab plasterboard.
- Buy or agree the brackets, fittings and fixings in advance to avoid paid trips to the merchant.
- Ask for proof of public liability insurance and confirm the minimum charge before booking.
Common questions
How much does a handyman charge per hour in the UK?
Indicative 2026 rates run around £30 to £55 an hour across most of the UK, with London and the South East often £45 to £75. Many charge a one or two hour minimum, so one tiny job can cost the same as two. A half day of roughly four hours typically lands at £130 to £220, and a full day at £240 to £400. These are typical ranges rather than quotes, so get the rate confirmed in writing.
What can a handyman legally do and not do?
A handyman can carry out wall fixings, flat pack assembly, small carpentry, sealant work, tiling repairs and minor decorating. They cannot work on gas appliances or pipework, which is restricted to engineers on the Gas Safe Register. Notifiable electrical work in England and Wales falls under Part P of the Building Regulations and needs a registered electrician. Removing or altering a load bearing wall needs building control approval and usually a structural engineer.
Is there a minimum charge for small handyman jobs?
Most charge a minimum of one or two hours, commonly £40 to £90 for the first visit. That means a single shelf can cost much the same as three shelves. The usual way to avoid paying twice is to save jobs up and book a half day. Ask what the minimum actually covers, because travel time is sometimes counted inside it.
Does a handyman need to be qualified or insured?
There is no legal qualification or licence for general handyman work in the UK, so anyone can use the title. Public liability insurance is not required by law either, though most established tradespeople carry cover of £1 million to £5 million. Ask to see the certificate, and check for a TrustMark registration or trade body membership. Some councils and charities also run subsidised handyman schemes for older or disabled residents.
Local handyman guides
The same service, written for where you live: typical local prices, the housing stock and the trades that cover it.