Handyman services
Compare local handymen for repairs, assembly, mounting and odd jobs. 48,203 pros listed in 6,691 cities across 51 states.
Reviewed and updated by the Fixerlane editorial team · How we research
What handyman pros do
Pick the job you need rather than the trade, if you already know it.
Handyman by city
What a handyman does
A handyman takes the jobs too small for a specialist and too fiddly to do yourself: mounting a TV or shelves, assembling furniture, hanging pictures and mirrors, patching drywall, fixing doors that stick or will not latch, replacing caulk, swapping fixtures like for like, minor carpentry, and a list of small repairs done in one visit.
The value is in the list. One visit that covers six small jobs is usually better value than six visits, so write everything down before you call — with photos and measurements where it helps.
Where a handyman stops
Licensed trades are licensed for a reason. Most states require a licensed electrician for new wiring, a licensed plumber for work on supply and drain lines or gas, and an HVAC licence for refrigerant. Structural work, roofing and anything that needs a permit usually belong with a licensed contractor too.
Many states also set a dollar limit above which any contractor needs a licence. In California, for example, the limit for work without a contractor’s licence rose from $500 to $1,000 (labour and materials) on January 1, 2025 — and the exemption does not apply if the job needs a permit or the person hires workers (CSLB). Other states have their own thresholds and some have none; check yours before you hire for a larger job.
How to choose a handyman
- Send the whole list up front and ask which items they will and will not do.
- Ask how they charge: hourly with a minimum, or a price per job. For a list, ask for a total estimate.
- Ask who buys materials and how they are charged.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance — a dropped TV or a drill through a pipe is exactly what it is for.
- For anything near the dollar or permit thresholds in your state, ask for their contractor licence number and check it.
- Look at photos of similar work, and reviews that mention the kind of job you have.
What affects the cost
- How many jobs, and how long each takes — many handymen have a minimum charge.
- Whether they are bringing materials or fitting yours.
- Access and height: ladders, high ceilings, awkward spaces.
- Surprises behind the wall: rot, old wiring or a stud where you need an anchor.
- Travel and parking, in some areas.
Safety worth knowing
Mounting heavy items — TVs, cabinets, shelves loaded with books — should go into studs or rated anchors, not drywall alone. Furniture that can tip, such as dressers and bookcases, should be anchored to the wall, particularly in homes with children; ask your handyman to do it while they are there.
In homes built before 1978, sanding or cutting painted surfaces can release lead dust. Federal rules require firms that disturb more than a small area of paint in those homes to be EPA Lead-Safe Certified — see painting for details.
Common questions
- What can a handyman legally do?
- Minor repairs, assembly, mounting and like-for-like replacements in most places. Licensed trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) and jobs above your state’s dollar threshold or needing a permit usually need a licensed contractor.
- Do handymen charge by the hour or by the job?
- Both are common, often with a minimum charge. For a list of jobs, ask for an estimate for the whole visit.
- Should I buy the materials myself?
- You can, but agree it first. Some handymen prefer to supply parts so they can warranty them; others are happy to fit yours.
- Does a handyman need insurance?
- It is not always required by law, but you want it: ask for proof of liability insurance before work starts in your home.
- Can a handyman mount a TV?
- Yes — it is one of the most common handyman jobs. Ask how they will find studs or which anchors they use, and whether they hide the cables.
- Plumber or handyman for a leaking faucet?
- A handyman can often replace a faucet on existing connections. If the leak is in the supply line, a valve or inside the wall, call a plumber.
Related services
Guides
Sources
Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.
- California Contractors State License Board, License Requirement for Minor Work Increases from $500 to $1,000 (2024 industry bulletin, effective January 1, 2025)
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