Estimate templates · Handyman
Handyman Estimate Template — Free & Fillable
Handyman work is lots of small things priced three ways: a service minimum, flat-rate tasks and hourly labor, plus materials at cost-plus. This template starts with a real pre-listing punch list so you can see how the pieces fit, then swap in your rates.
Make your handyman estimate
Prefilled with a sample pre-listing punch list — every line, the terms and the notes. Change the quantities and rates to your own, add your logo and the customer’s details, and download a clean PDF. No signup, no watermark.
What goes on a handyman estimate
Start with the service minimum (it covers the trip and the first hour), then hourly labor for the open-ended work, then flat-rate and per-piece tasks, then materials. On a long list, mirror the customer’s list room by room so they can tick it off.
| Line item | How it’s priced | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Service minimum | Flat, includes first hour | $125 |
| Additional labor | Per hour, billed in half hours | $95/hr |
| Flat-rate tasks | Per task | TV mount $189 · fan swap $165 |
| Per-piece repairs | Each | Drywall patch $85 · picture hanging $18 |
| Materials | Cost plus markup | +20% |
| Disposal | Flat | $65 |
Example prices come from the Fixwell Handyman Co. demo price book (Nashville, TN). Your market, crew and suppliers will differ — use them for structure, not as a rate card.
How to price a handyman job
A service minimum — one hour, priced a little above your hourly rate — covers the drive, the setup and the parking problem on every small ticket. After that, bill in half-hour increments so a 70-minute job isn’t charged as two hours.
Build a flat-rate menu for the tasks you do every week: TV mounts, fan swaps, smoke alarms, door adjustments. Flat prices are easy for customers to say yes to and reward you for being fast. Keep hourly for anything you can’t scope from a photo.
Mark up materials and say so. A 15–25% markup covers the store run, the returns and the part that turned out to be the wrong size. Stating it on the estimate avoids the “I saw that at the hardware store for less” conversation.
Deposits and payment schedule
Small jobs are paid on completion — send the invoice before you pack up. For bigger work (a bath refresh, a long punch list) ask for 25% to schedule once the total passes a threshold you set, such as $2,000, and consider a progress payment on multi-day jobs.
- Approval25% deposit on jobs over $2,000
- Work completeWalkthrough of the list
- Same dayBalance due
Licensing limits and guarantees
Know where handyman work ends. Many states cap what you can do without a contractor’s license — by job value, by trade (electrical, plumbing, gas), or both — and permitted work usually needs a licensed trade. Say on the estimate what you do (fixture swaps, not new circuits) and what you refer out.
Put a simple guarantee on your workmanship — a year is common — and note that customer-supplied fixtures carry only their manufacturer’s warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Should a handyman charge hourly or by the job?
Both. Use flat rates for well-defined tasks you do often, and hourly (with a minimum) for open-ended repairs. On a mixed list, combine them: flat lines for the known tasks and an hourly line for the rest.
Should a handyman mark up materials?
Yes — 15–25% is common, and stating it on the estimate keeps it transparent. The markup covers sourcing, store runs, returns and carrying the cost until you’re paid.
What is a service minimum?
A flat charge for the first hour (or visit) that covers travel and setup. It keeps tiny jobs profitable. Put it as the first line so the customer understands why a ten-minute fix isn’t ten minutes of pay.
How do I estimate a punch list for a home sale?
Walk the house with the list (or the inspection report), estimate hours room by room, add per-piece items like patches and hardware, then materials. Sellers are on a deadline — state your schedule and validity date clearly.
When the job is done
An approved estimate becomes your invoice — same lines, same numbers. Grab the handyman invoice template, or open the invoice generator and bill what you quoted. Not sure which document you need? Read estimate vs. invoice.
Other estimate templates by trade
Or see all estimate templates.