Hiring a handyman: what they do and how to check them

A handyman is a generalist. They fix the small, everyday things that pile up around a house: a door that won't latch, a hole in the drywall, a loose deck board, a gate that drags. Many homeowners keep a running list and have one person handle it all in a single visit.

The trick is knowing where a handyman's work stops and a licensed trade's work begins. Get that right and you save money and time. Get it wrong and you can end up paying twice, or worse, living with unsafe wiring or plumbing.

What a handyman does, and doesn't do

Good handyman jobs are small, varied and mostly cosmetic or carpentry work. Typical examples:

Patching drywall and touching up paint (see patch a hole in drywall)
Adjusting doors that stick, squeak or won't latch (see door won't latch)
Recaulking tubs and sinks (see recaulk a bathtub)
Freeing up sticking windows and replacing screens
Tightening or replacing deck boards and fixing sagging gates (see fix a loose deck board and fix a sagging gate)
Hanging shelves, curtain rods, TVs and grab bars
Assembling furniture and swapping out cabinet hardware

What a handyman generally should not take on: new electrical circuits or panel work, gas lines, moving or adding plumbing lines, anything with refrigerant, structural changes like removing walls, and roof work beyond small, low repairs. Those belong to licensed electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and roofers.

Jobs in this category you shouldn't DIY

Most handyman tasks are fine for a careful homeowner. A few are worth handing off, even if they seem simple:

Anything high up. Work from an extension ladder, on a second story or on a roof carries a real fall risk.
Grab bars and railings. They have to hold a person's full weight. If they're anchored wrong, they fail exactly when someone needs them.
Mounting heavy items over beds, cribs or walkways. A heavy TV or mirror needs proper anchors into studs.
Anything that hides electrical or plumbing. Drilling or cutting into walls without knowing what's behind them can hit a wire or pipe.

Licensing: what the rules look like

Handyman licensing varies more than almost any other trade. Some states have no handyman license at all. Others require a license or registration once a job passes a dollar amount. Nearly all states require a licensed electrician, plumber or HVAC contractor for work in those trades, whoever is holding the tools.

Two examples show how different the rules can be:

South Carolina. The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) requires residential specialty contractors such as carpenters, drywall installers, painters, roofers and floor covering installers to register when a job is over $500, according to the LLR Residential Builders Commission. You can check a registration with LLR's online Licensee Lookup.
California. The Contractors State License Board raised its "minor work" exemption to $1,000 for labor and materials combined, starting January 1, 2025. The exemption only applies when the job needs no permit and the unlicensed person has no employees, per the CSLB's bulletin.

Rules change, and they differ by state, county and sometimes city. Our guide to checking a contractor license walks through how to find and search your own state's board.

What drives the cost

Handyman pricing depends on a handful of things:

Hourly rate or flat price. Many handymen charge by the hour, often with a minimum visit charge. Some quote a flat price per task.
How many tasks you bundle. One trip for five jobs usually costs less than five separate trips.
Materials. Whether you buy the parts or they do, and whether they mark them up.
Your location. Labor costs vary a lot between regions and between city and rural areas.
Surprises. Rotten wood behind a trim board or a stripped hinge screw hole can add time.

Questions to ask before hiring

Are you licensed or registered for this kind of work in our state? What's your number?
Do you carry general liability insurance? Can you send a certificate of insurance?
Are any items on my list things you can't legally do here?
Do you charge by the hour or by the job? Is there a minimum?
Who buys the materials, and are they marked up?
Do you guarantee your work? For how long?
Can you give me two or three recent references for similar jobs?

How to describe the job for an accurate quote

The clearer your list, the closer the quote will be to the final bill. For each item, write down:

What it is and where. "Upstairs hall bathroom door rubs at the top and won't latch."
Size. Measure holes, gaps and boards. "Drywall hole about 4 inches across."
What you've tried. "Tightened the hinge screws; no change."
Photos. One wide shot and one close-up per item.
Materials you already have. Paint color names, spare tiles, the new hardware.

Ask for the quote in writing, listing each task. If the handyman finds a problem that needs a licensed trade, a good one will tell you rather than tackle it anyway.

After the job is done

Walk through each item on your list with the handyman before they leave. Open and close the doors, look over the caulk lines, and tug gently on anything they mounted. It's much easier to fix a miss while they're still there.

Keep the invoice. If something they fixed fails within their guarantee period, call them first. A handyman who did good work is worth keeping on speed dial for the next list.

If you rent, check with your landlord before hiring anyone. Many leases limit what tenants can change, like drilling holes or swapping hardware, and some repairs are the landlord's job anyway.

Next steps

Not sure if a job needs a pro at all? Try our fix-or-call quiz. Ready to hire? Read how to hire a contractor and contractor red flags, or send a free match request and we'll connect you with local pros.

Common questions

Does a handyman need a license?

It depends on your state and the size of the job. Some states require a license or registration only above a dollar amount, and most require a licensed trade for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work no matter how small. Check your state licensing board.

Can a handyman replace a light fixture or a faucet?

In some places, yes, and in others that work must be done by a licensed electrician or plumber. Ask the handyman directly what they are allowed to do in your area, and check with your local building department if you are unsure.

Should I pay a handyman by the hour or by the job?

Either can be fair. For a list of small tasks, hourly often makes sense. For one defined job, a written flat price makes it easier to compare quotes. Either way, get it in writing before work starts.

Is a handyman cheaper than a contractor?

Often, for small jobs, because there is less overhead and no subcontractors. For bigger or licensed work, a contractor is the right call even if the price is higher.