A handyman in Australia starts from $220 GST inclusive for a single small job, such as hanging a picture or installing a curtain rail, completed in under an hour. More complex or time-consuming jobs, or multiple tasks in one visit, drive the price up to between $300 and $800.
How Handyman Pricing Works
Handyman pricing has at least two layers of complexity. The first is how you, the customer, perceive the cost of a service. In most people’s minds, pricing is based on time. That is not always the case for handymen. A task can be priced based on complexity, and time can be a small part of the equation. For example, changing a fuse can take less than a minute. But if that fuse is part of a circuit shared by ten power points, the pricing reflects the understanding required of how the points are wired, how the fuses work, the safety considerations involved, and knowledge of the circuit as a whole.
A handyman service through Urgent Pro is priced per job, not per hour. The minimum rate of $220 covers a small single-task booking in standard metro conditions, including up to 60 minutes of on-site time, the provider’s tools and PPE, basic consumables such as screws and anchors, and the mandatory detection checks described below. A fixed written quote is always provided before any work begins.
Most handymen cannot legally perform tasks that require a building licence. Knowing where the line is drawn can help you avoid booking a service that cannot be completed as requested.
Price Guide by Task Type
Below is Urgent Pro’s task pricing structure. All prices are in Australian Dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).
| Task | Complexity | Starting from |
|---|---|---|
| Single picture or mirror hanging | Low | $220 (minimum) |
| Single curtain track or blind installation | Low | $220 (minimum) |
| Multiple picture or mirror hangings (3 to 5 items) | Low to medium | $300 and above |
| Flat-pack furniture assembly (one piece) | Medium | Quoted per item |
| Bed frame or wardrobe assembly | Medium | Quoted |
| TV wall mounting with stud detection | Medium | Quoted |
| Shelf installation with wall anchors | Medium | Quoted, includes load assessment |
| Lock or door handle replacement | Medium | Quoted |
| Door adjustment or realignment | Medium to high | Quoted, includes frame inspection |
| Plaster patching | Medium | Quoted per area |
| Tile regrouting or silicone resealing | Medium | Quoted per wet area |
| Multi-task booking (mixed tasks, one visit) | Varies | $300 to $800 and above |
For a single small task, the minimum rate applies. Three to five moderate tasks in one visit would be considered a multi-task booking, typically quoting between $300 and $500. Larger jobs including carpentry or door installation quote in the $500 to $800 range or above.
Hourly handymen charge $60 to $90 per hour, with a one to one and a half hour call-out minimum. On those terms, the minimum charge is $90 to $135. Per-job pricing, by contrast, gives you the final price before anyone arrives.
What Changes Your Quote
Number of tasks. The quote for the first task covers the minimum call-out, and each additional task increases the cost. Booking multiple tasks in the same call is often cheaper than booking each separately, because the provider makes the same checks and setup once across the whole visit.
Materials and wall types. Different wall materials require different fasteners and drill types. If wall materials are not described when requesting a quote, the provider may need an additional trip to source the right equipment, which increases the cost. Describing the wall type upfront avoids this.
Customer-supplied vs provider-supplied materials. In general, the customer supplies the product and the provider supplies the consumables and fixings. If the provider needs to source the product as well, it increases the cost of the job.
Access and parking. Secure and convenient parking is expected in the quote. Where access is difficult or parking is restricted, a variation may apply.
Location. The base rate applies across all standard metro service areas in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast. Service areas outside the metro region, or jobs requested outside normal business hours, may increase the cost. For a reference point on how the same variables apply across different home services, see Urgent Pro’s house cleaning price guide.
Urgency. Bookings made more than 24 hours in advance are considered standard and are charged at the base rate. Same-day or emergency bookings may increase the cost where availability allows.
Handyman Pricing vs a Licensed Tradesperson
A handyman is a less expensive alternative to a licensed tradesperson. A handyman charge is generally 50 to 80 per cent of what an electrician, plumber or registered builder would charge for the same duration of work.
A handyman is not limited to a single licensed trade scope and can perform general repairs across a broader range of tasks. However, each state has its own licensing requirements for restricted trade work. The state in which the work is performed determines which rules apply, and some work simply requires a licensed trade regardless of the value of the job.
The Licensed Trade Boundary
Electrical. Replacement of power points, installation of hard-wired light fittings, movement of switch locations, wiring of hard-wired smoke alarms and any electrical work behind the meter board is restricted electrical work. Replacement of light globes and the use of plug-in appliances is permitted.
Plumbing. Each state defines restricted plumbing work differently, but for the most part any work on the water supply or sewerage pipes requires a plumbing licence. Replacement of tap fittings connected to fixed plumbing and installation of dishwashers where the connection involves fixed plumbing require a plumbing licence. Work on hot-water systems is restricted. Check with your state plumbing authority if you are uncertain.
Gas. Gas work of any kind requires a gas fitter. Gas appliances, gas lines and connections to a fixed gas supply are not within the scope of a handyman booking.
Building work above the state threshold. Building work that requires a builder’s licence varies by state. The following thresholds apply to the total value of non-structural work.
| State | Authority | Threshold requiring builder’s licence |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW Fair Trading | Above $5,000 (Home Building Act 1989) |
| Queensland | QBCC | Above $3,300 ex GST (QBCC Act 1991) |
| Victoria | VBA | Above $10,000 (Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995) |
| Western Australia | Building and Energy, LGIRS | Above $20,000 (Building Services (Registration) Act 2011) |
If a job is approaching these limits, contact the relevant state authority to verify requirements before booking.
Asbestos. If the provider suspects the presence of asbestos in a property, work is suspended and a licensed asbestos assessor must be engaged before anything proceeds. Asbestos-containing materials in buildings constructed before 1990, including fibro sheeting, certain renders and vinyl floor tiles, may contain asbestos. It is illegal for an unlicensed individual to remove asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, and doing so presents a risk to the individual and the public. Safe Work Australia provides national guidance on asbestos identification and safe management for property owners.
What Every Booking Includes
Every booking made through Urgent Pro includes the following at no additional cost to the customer.
Mandatory detection before drilling into any wall. The provider is required to locate wall studs and other wall and ceiling services before drilling into any wall. This is not an optional step. For full details on the booking and quoting process, visit the quoting and booking process explained.
Photographs before commencement. Before any work begins, the provider takes photographs to document the condition of the property. This protects both parties in any dispute about pre-existing conditions.
A load test on Tier 3 installations. Where work involves an anchored installation, the provider applies load to test the anchor hold at completion. This is provided at no cost to the customer.
Walk-through at completion. Upon completion of the work, the provider performs a walk-through with the customer to confirm the job addresses all concerns in the agreed scope.
Fixed written quote before commencement. The scope of work for which the provider is warranting is the scope confirmed in the written quote provided before any work begins. Written approval is required for any changes requested by the provider on the day of service.
The Warranty Periods
The warranty period for handyman work varies by work type. Where work of different types is done in the same booking, each work type carries its own warranty period independently.
| Tier | Work type | Examples | Warranty period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simple assembly | Assembly of furniture, BBQ or garden equipment | 7 days |
| 2 | Wet-area and door work | Regrouting of tiles, resealing of shower silicone, plaster patching | 14 days |
| 3 | Anchored installation | Shelf installation or TV mounting | 30 days |
Under the Australian Consumer Law guarantees for services, all services must be performed with due care and skill. These rights apply alongside and beyond the warranty periods above. Urgent Pro’s service warranty explains the full claims process.
For a full breakdown of pricing across all Urgent Pro services, visit the complete service pricing list.
Where a professional vacate cleaning service is also required alongside handyman work, both can be organised together. See the moving house checklist for how to sequence repairs, cleaning and removals around a move date.
FAQs
How much does a handyman cost in Australia?
Handyman rates start at $220 GST inclusive for a single small task in a metro area. More complex jobs such as TV mounting, door work and shelf installation can range from $300 to $800. To book a handyman service, Urgent Pro always provides a fixed written quote before any work is done.
Is it cheaper to hire a handyman by the hour or by the job?
Handymen generally charge between $60 and $90 per hour, with most having a minimum call-out of one to one and a half hours. That makes the typical floor $90 to $135 before any work starts. Per-job rates eliminate the uncertainty of an open-ended hourly charge and are generally more economical for multi-task visits.
Can a handyman replace a tap or move a power point?
In most Australian states, replacing a tap connected to fixed plumbing requires a licensed plumber, and moving or replacing a power point requires a licensed electrician. A handyman can assist with a wide range of other tasks including door and shelf installation, assembly, tile regrouting and plaster patching. When requesting a quote, describe the task and the provider will confirm whether it falls within the handyman scope.
How long is the warranty on handyman work?
The warranty period depends on the type of work. Simple assembly tasks such as furniture and BBQ assembly carry a 7-day warranty. Wet-area and door work, including tile regrouting, silicone resealing and plaster patching, carry 14 days. Anchored installations including TV mounts and shelving carry 30 days. Each period reflects how long it takes a workmanship defect to become visible under normal use.
Is there a call-out fee in addition to the quoted price?
There is no separate call-out fee. The price quoted by Urgent Pro is the total service fee. The minimum service fee is $220. This covers the cost of the provider travelling to the property, tools, consumables and the mandatory detection checks included in every booking.
What happens if additional work is found to be required during the service?
The provider takes photographs of the additional work and the matter is referred to Urgent Pro for approval before any further work proceeds. Variations up to $50 can be approved by Urgent Pro directly without contacting the customer. Variations between $50 and $200 require approval from the customer by phone, SMS or email. Variations above $200 require written customer approval before the provider continues.