Most homeowners in Austin wait until something breaks before calling a handyman. At that point, you need two key pieces of information: the cost and whether the quote is reasonable.
We searched for published handyman prices in Austin and found only two companies that listed their rates on their websites. None provided a daily rate. So, here’s ours.
Our Rates
Half day $399. Full day $599.
No trip fee. No minimum beyond the half day. Materials quoted before we buy them.
Materials are separate, and we tell you what they cost before we buy them. No trip fee.
We bill by the day because hourly billing puts us on opposite sides. You want us to hurry. We want to do it right. A flat rate takes the clock out of it.
What a Half Day Covers
These are the services we list on our handyman page:
- Doors. Installation, repair, replacement
- Drywall. Repair and replacement
- Ceiling fans. New installs or swaps, indoors and out
- Kitchen sink. Faucet or sink, install or replacement
- Appliances. Installs and replacements
- Tile and grout. Cleaning, repair, replacement
- Caulking, sealing and weatherproofing
- Decks. Repairs, staining, sealing
- Skylights. Installation, repair, replacement
- Painting. Interior or exterior, staining and sealing
How much fits depends on the job
Every item on this list varies by scope, condition, and access. A sticking door can be caused by a loose hinge or a frame that has shifted with the foundation, and those are not the same job. Drywall behind a leak is different from a doorknob dent. We conduct an on-site walk-through and confirm scope and pricing before any work starts.
Why Google Shows You $25 an Hour
Search “handyman hourly rate Austin,” and the top results show $24 to $27 an hour, from PayScale, ZipRecruiter, and SalaryExpert. Austin job postings sit in the same range.
Those are salary sites. They report what a handyman earns as an employee, not what a company charges a customer.
The price has to cover wages, payroll taxes, liability insurance, workers’ comp, the truck, fuel, tools, and the person who answers the phone. That gap is why a company charging what a worker earns would not be sustainable.
A few Austin companies that publish rates typically charge between $85 and $100 per hour, usually with a minimum of one hour or about $100 before work begins. Most local firms do not publish rates at all, and we did not find any Austin company offering a day rate.
You will also see national averages quoted for Austin, such as $359 for a typical project. Those are modeled figures with a city name attached rather than a quote from anyone here, so treat them as a rough sense of scale.
Why a Day Rate Usually Costs You Less
Say you’ve got six small jobs spread around the house.
Booked as six separate visits with a company that charges a $100 minimum, you’re at $600 before anyone does a minute of work beyond the first hour on each trip. That’s the published minimum, not the labor.
Every trip incurs drive time and setup costs for a company, which are reflected in your invoice whether itemized or not. One visit to handle six tasks is more efficient than six separate visits for individual tasks with any hired company. Keep a list on your phone and schedule all at once.
What Needs a Permit in Austin
This is the line between a handyman job and one that needs a permit. The City of Austin publishes specific thresholds.
|
Work |
Exempt when |
|---|---|
|
Drywall repair |
128 sq ft or less, not fire-rated, shear wall, or tub surround |
|
Siding, flooring, foundation or roof decking repair |
128 sq ft or less, each |
|
Fence |
7 ft or less, outside a floodplain. 6 ft along a City right-of-way |
|
Detached deck |
200 sq ft or less, 30 inches or less above grade, not attached, not egress |
|
Detached shed |
200 sq ft or less, 15 ft or less tall, no plumbing |
|
Retaining wall |
4 ft or less, no surcharge |
|
Exterior door |
Same size, same operation |
|
Roof covering |
Replacing asphalt shingles, structure unaffected |
Two things surprise people. A new tub or shower requires a permit, even though replacing a faucet, supply valve, or toilet doesn’t. Hardwired electrical work is narrower than you’d think. Austin’s residential exemption covers lamp replacement and swapping a breaker for the same capacity in the same spot. It doesn’t expressly cover replacing a hardwired fixture, switch, receptacle, or ceiling fan. Check the City of Austin’s online permit tool or call Development Services at 512-978-4000.
We have licensed electricians and plumbers on the crew, so when a job crosses that line, we don’t stop and hand you off.
Permit-exempt doesn’t mean rule-exempt. Floodplain, historic district, tree ordinance, and HOA requirements still apply.
Before You Hire Anyone
A Morning Consult survey commissioned by Leaf Home in November 2024, covering 2,074 U.S. homeowners, found that 41% said they’d been deceived by a service provider during a home project. The same survey found that homeowners trust word-of-mouth most, at 61%, and third-party lead platforms least, at 14%.
Ask for three things. An estimate with labor and materials separated. A certificate of insurance, because an uninsured worker injured at your house can end up on your homeowner’s policy. And references from the past three months.
We’re licensed and insured. Our crews are our own people, and every job carries a one-year warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a handyman charge per hour in Austin?
Published Austin rates run $85 to $100 an hour, and what that buys varies by company. We don’t bill hourly. Half day $399, full day $599.
How much does a handyman charge to paint a room?
Interior painting is one of the services covered by our half-day and full-day rates. Whether a room fits alongside your other items depends on its size, the prep it needs, and whether trim and doors are included. We confirm that at the walk-through before work starts.
What can a handyman do without a license in Texas?
Texas doesn’t license handymen at the state level, but Austin still determines which projects require a permit. Repairs under 128 square feet, fences 7 feet or shorter, and same-size door swaps are exempt. New tubs and showers aren’t, and hardwired electrical work isn’t clearly exempt either.
Can a handyman install a water heater?
A water heater is not a job you should hire a handyman for. Water heaters require gas connections or high-amperage electrical work, venting, and permits. We handle these as licensed plumbing professionals, not as handyman tasks.
What happens if a handyman gets hurt on your property?
If they’re uninsured, the cost can fall to your homeowner’s policy. Ask for a certificate of insurance before anyone starts work.
Why do so few companies publish their prices?
Since each job is unique and numbers can lead to comparison, we still publish ours to give you a starting point before a phone call. However, we won’t provide a quote without seeing your specific job first.
What does a handyman handle?
Repairs, installations, and finish work that don’t require a permit. The list above covers what we take on. Anything structural, any new electrical circuit, plumbing beyond a fixture swap, or HVAC work requires a licensed trade and usually a permit.
How do I find a good handyman in Austin?
Start with a neighbor who’s had work done. The Leaf Home survey found that word-of-mouth is the most trusted source at 61%, while third-party lead platforms are the least trusted at 14%. Then check that whoever you call is insured, provides a written estimate, and warrants the work. If a company won’t do all three, keep looking.
Do you tip a handyman?
No, it isn’t expected. If you want to support a small local company, leave a Google review.
What areas do you cover?
Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, and Cedar Park.
Got a list? Call us at (512) 761-7336 or get started online, whichever you prefer. Tell us what’s on it, and we’ll tell you whether it’s a half day at $399 or a full day at $599 before we put you on the schedule. We’re family-operated in Austin, licensed and insured, with 20 years in, our own crews and a one-year warranty on every job. We handle handyman work, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, and decks and patios across Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, and Cedar Park.
Need Something Fixed or Built?
Big project or small repair — we'll give you a straight answer on what it takes and what it costs. No minimums, no runaround.
Or call us at (512) 761-7336
