How much does a handyman cost in Des Moines?
By Our research team · Last verified · Methodology
Most handymen in Des Moines charge $45–$100/hr and $70/hr is what most homeowners pay. Mounting a TV costs $100–$300; a small drywall patch $60–$250.
How we get this data- Typical
- $70/hr
- Low end
- $40/hr
- High end
- $200/hr
Want an exact price for your job?
Tell us the job. Casey checks it by text, then up to 2 local handymen send you a real quote. Free, no obligation.
Get my fair quote →The typical Des Moines price is $70/hr, in line with the US typical of $70/hr.
Des Moines's price band
Des Moines is pricier than 38% of the 195 US metros we price for handyman work.
A handyman in Des Moines charges $45–$100 an hour, and $70/hr is typical. Most set a minimum of $75–$200, which usually covers the first hour or two, so one quick fix costs about the same as an hour or two of work. Common jobs are priced by the piece: $100–$300 to mount a TV and $50–$200 to put together a piece of boxed furniture.
Des Moines is a smaller market. Pay for general maintenance and repair workers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro runs close to the US median, and labor is most of a handyman bill, since screws, anchors and caulk cost about the same everywhere. So rates here land close to the US typical of $70/hr.
Iowa requires contractor registration for anyone earning $2,000 or more a year from construction work, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC work need state trade licenses. This is general information, not legal advice — check the state or city licensing board.
Comparing cities, or after the US-wide picture? See the national guide: Handyman cost in the USA.
$45–$100/hr for a handyman in Des Moines — typically $70/hr. Most charge a $75–$200 minimum, and a half day of small jobs runs $180–$400. Verified November 2026. Get free Des Moines quotes →
- Handyman: $45–$100/hr ($70/hr typical)
- Minimum charge: $75–$200; rush or weekend: $70–$160/hr
- Half day $180–$400; full day $360–$800
- TV mounting $100–$300; furniture assembly $50–$200 a piece
- Small drywall patch $60–$250; sticking door $75–$225
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 43+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Handyman labor with basic hardware included unless the row says otherwise. Des Moines metro, re-verified November 2026. Fixtures, furniture and paint are extra.
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handyman hourly rateper hour | $45per hour | $70 | $100 |
| Minimum charge (usually the first 1–2 hours)per visit | $75per visit | $130 | $200 |
| Trip or materials-run fee (where charged)per trip | $30per trip | $55 | $80 |
| Half day (4 × the hourly rate)per half day | $180per half day | $280 | $400 |
| Full day (8 × the hourly rate)per day | $360per day | $560 | $800 |
| TV wall mounting (drywall, up to about 65", your mount)per job | $100per job | $180 | $300 |
| TV mounting with wires hidden in the wallper job | $150per job | $305 | $500 |
| TV over a fireplace or on brick or stoneper job | $200per job | $350 | $700 |
| Furniture assembly (average piece)per piece | $50per piece | $110 | $200 |
| Hang pictures, mirrors or a shelf (a few items)per job | $60per job | $150 | $300 |
| Put up a curtain rod or blindsper window | $40per window | $80 | $150 |
| Drywall patch, small holeper job | $60per job | $140 | $250 |
| Drywall repair, larger patch (up to about 4 × 4 ft)per job | $200per job | $450 | $850 |
| Re-caulk a tub or showerper job | $100per job | $175 | $300 |
| Fix a sticking or sagging doorper job | $75per job | $150 | $225 |
| Hang a pre-hung interior door (door not included)per job | $150per job | $300 | $600 |
| Replace a faucet (you supply the faucet)per job | $80per job | $175 | $300 |
| Replace a toilet, like for like (you supply it)per job | $100per job | $200 | $350 |
| Swap a light fixture on existing wiringper job | $65per job | $130 | $250 |
| Replace a ceiling fan on a fan-rated boxper job | $100per job | $200 | $300 |
| Replace a door lock or fit a smart lockper job | $75per job | $140 | $200 |
| Install a grab bar (into studs or blocking)per job | $100per job | $200 | $350 |
| Paint one room, about 12 × 12 ft (labor only)per job | $350per job | $600 | $1,000 |
Got it as a PDF or photo? Upload up to 3 quotes and compare →
Get free quotes from up to 2 local handymen in Des Moines
Free · No obligation · About a minute
- 1The job
- 2Budget
- 3Your details
What do you need a handyman for?
Tap one to start.
What's your rough budget?
A ballpark is fine. It helps the handymen who reply.
Where should they text you?
- Max 2 handymen. No call floods.
- 100% free. No obligation.
- 🔒 Only your matched handymen see your number.
By continuing, you agree to our Terms and to up to 2 handymen contacting you by phone or text.
Check your phone
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 43+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Prices cover the Des Moines metro — the city and its close suburbs. Far-out towns can add a trip fee; Downtown, East Village & Sherman Hill jobs often run a little higher for parking and access.
Handyman rates across Des Moines
Same trade, four price bands. Rates run highest in Downtown, East Village & Sherman Hill, older housing in North & East Des Moines brings longer jobs, and West Des Moines, Ankeny & Urbandale is usually the cheapest place to book.
Downtown, East Village & Sherman Hill
- Hourly
- $55–$95/hr
- Half day
- $255–$375 / half day
Apartments and condos where access is the cost: elevators to book, street parking and shared walls. Simple jobs price normally; anything noisy may need set hours.
North & East Des Moines
- Hourly
- $55–$90/hr
- Half day
- $240–$355 / half day
A remodel-heavy area with older houses. Out-of-square doors, old plaster and surprise rot are common, so ask how surprises are priced before work starts.
South Side & Southeast
- Hourly
- $50–$85/hr
- Half day
- $230–$340 / half day
Settled neighborhoods with easy parking. Expect average rates and plenty of everyday jobs: doors, drywall, fixtures and caulking.
West Des Moines, Ankeny & Urbandale
- Hourly
- $50–$85/hr
- Half day
- $225–$335 / half day
Plenty of newer houses with drywall and standard hardware, which keeps jobs quick. Expect average rates plus travel time for farther-out addresses.
Real-world handyman costs in Des Moines
Here's what common handyman jobs cost in Des Moines in 2026, labor and basic hardware included.
One quick fix — a sticking door
Planing a sticking door usually takes no more than an hour, but most Des Moines handymen charge a minimum of $75–$200. Priced as a flat job it's $75–$225. Add a second small job to the same visit and the minimum stops hurting.
Mount a TV on drywall and hide the wires in the wall
Mounting alone runs $100–$300 in Des Moines; hiding the wires inside the wall with a power kit adds $50–$200, for $150–$500 in all. If there's no outlet near the spot, a licensed electrician adds one for $145–$315.
Move-in list: 3 pieces of furniture, a few pictures, blinds on 4 windows
Priced job by job — 3 pieces at $110 each, $150 to hang pictures and 4 windows of blinds at $80 each — the list comes to about $800. If it all fits in one full day ($360–$800), that costs less.
Getting ready to sell — a half day of small fixes
A typical pre-listing list: patch 3 small holes ($140 each as single jobs), fix 2 sticking doors ($150 each) and re-caulk the tub ($175). Priced one at a time, that list is about $895. A half day by the hour is $180–$400; ask how much of the list fits in four hours, since drywall mud needs time to dry. Paint is extra.
Bathroom refresh: re-caulk, new faucet, grab bar
Re-caulking the tub ($175), swapping a faucet you bought ($175) and adding a grab bar ($200) comes to about $550 in Des Moines. If the faucet needs new supply lines or a shutoff valve, ask whether your state lets a handyman do it or calls for a plumber.
How much does a handyman cost in Des Moines?
A handyman in Des Moines bills $45–$100 an hour, about $70 typical. Older homes take longer — plaster walls, out-of-square doors, old hardware — so the same job can cost more in North & East Des Moines than in a newer suburb.
For single jobs, ask for a flat price. Des Moines handymen charge $100–$300 to mount a TV, $50–$200 per piece of furniture and $200–$850 for a larger drywall repair, based on 43 sources checked in November 2026.
Handyman rates and fees in Des Moines (2026)
Standard rates run $45–$100/hr, rush or weekend work $70–$160/hr, and the minimum charge $75–$200.
| Line on the quote | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard hourly rate | $45 | $70 | $100 |
| Independent handyman, hourly | $50 | $65 | $80 |
| Franchise handyman, hourly | $75 | $100 | $125 |
| Rush, evening or weekend rate | $70 | $105 | $160 |
| Minimum charge (usually the first 1–2 hours) | $75 | $130 | $200 |
| Trip or materials-run fee | $30 | $55 | $80 |
| Half day (4 × the hourly rate) | $180 | $280 | $400 |
| Full day (8 × the hourly rate) | $360 | $560 | $800 |
Rush work in Des Moines costs about $105/hr against $70/hr on a weekday. Unless water is coming through the ceiling, wait for a regular slot.
What moves a handyman's quote in Des Moines:
- The minimum — most handymen charge $75–$200 for any visit, so tiny jobs cost far more per minute than big ones.
- Who you hire — independents bill $50–$80/hr; franchises with insured staff bill $75–$125/hr.
- Materials — if the handyman buys them, expect the receipt plus a 10–30% markup and maybe a $30–$80 trip fee.
- Timing — rush, evening or weekend work runs about $105/hr against $70/hr standard.
- The license line — once a job passes your state's small-job limit, or needs a permit, it moves to a licensed contractor at a higher price.
Ask every Des Moines handyman the same four things: the hourly rate (or a flat price), the minimum charge, how materials are billed, and whether they carry liability insurance. Get a quote for your handyman job →
Handyman cost in Des Moines by job size
One small fix is $75–$200 (the minimum charge), a half day of small jobs $180–$400, and a full day $360–$800, plus materials.
Worked example: setting up a new bedroom in Des Moines. Mounting a TV at $180, assembling 2 pieces of furniture at $110 each and putting up blinds on 3 windows at $80 each comes to about $640 priced job by job.
A bigger repair: a larger drywall patch at $450 and painting the room at $600 is about $1,050 before paint and supplies.
Ways to hire a handyman in Des Moines and what each costs
| Way to hire | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Independent handyman | $50–$80/hr | Short repair lists and small jobs at the lowest hourly rate — ask for proof of insurance |
| Handyman franchise (Mr. Handyman, Ace Handyman Services and others) | $75–$125/hr | Insured, background-checked staff, a written workmanship promise and set half-day or full-day packages |
| Minimum-charge visit | $75–$200 per visit | One quick fix — the minimum usually covers the first hour or two |
| Rush, evening or weekend booking | $70–$160/hr | A leak or urgent fix that can't wait for a weekday slot |
| Half-day booking (4 hours) | $180–$400 | A list of small jobs done in one trip |
| Full-day booking (8 hours) | $360–$800 | Move-in lists, rental turnovers and getting a house ready to sell |
| Flat price per job | $100–$300 to mount a TV; $75–$225 to fix a door | One clear job with a known scope, so the price can't creep |
Hourly rate vs what you actually pay — the Des Moines handyman bill
A $70/hr rate rarely shows up as $70 on the invoice. Most Des Moines handymen charge a $75–$200 minimum, so fixing one sticking door costs $75–$225 as a flat job, not just the labor time. Booking several small jobs in one visit spreads that minimum.
Many handymen also quote flat prices for common jobs: $100–$300 to mount a TV, $40–$150 a window for blinds, $75–$200 for a new lock. Compare the total and what's included — wall anchors, cleanup, hauling away boxes — not the hourly headline.
What's included in a handyman's quote in Des Moines (and what costs extra)
A standard handyman quote covers labor, basic hardware like screws and wall anchors, and cleanup of the work area. Often left out:
- Materials you choose — fixtures, faucets, blinds and furniture, plus a 10–30% markup if the handyman buys them
- Trip or store runs — $30–$80 where charged
- Rush, evening or weekend time — $70–$160/hr
- Licensed work — new wiring, a new outlet ($145–$315 from an electrician), plumbing moves and anything that needs a permit
Ask for the price in writing before work starts, and for proof of liability insurance.
Local wages
Federal data put the median pay for general maintenance and repair workers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro at $50,780 a year, close to the US median of $49,590. Labor is most of a handyman bill, so local pay moves Des Moines prices more than parts do.
Minimums and travel
Most handymen charge a $75–$200 minimum, and some add a $30–$80 trip fee for far-off addresses or runs to the hardware store.
Who does the work
Independent handymen bill $50–$80/hr. Franchises bill $75–$125/hr but carry insurance, background checks and a workmanship promise.
Materials and markup
If the handyman buys parts, expect the receipt plus a 10–30% markup. Buying the faucet, fixture or furniture yourself is often cheaper.
The license line
Each state sets its own limit on what an unlicensed handyman may do. Iowa requires contractor registration for anyone earning $2,000 or more a year from construction work, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC work need state trade licenses.
When you need it
Rush, evening and weekend work costs about $105/hr in Des Moines, against $70/hr on a weekday.
Walls and the age of the house
Plaster, brick and tile take longer to drill and patch than drywall, so TVs, shelves and grab bars cost more in older homes. A small drywall patch is $60–$250; a larger one $200–$850.
- Batch small jobs into one visit.One $130 minimum can cover two or three small fixes. Write a list — doors, patches, fixtures — before the handyman arrives.
- Book a half day for long lists.A half day in Des Moines is $180–$400. A long list of small jobs often costs less this way than a flat price for each.
- Buy the parts yourself.Pick up the faucet, light, blinds or anchors before the visit and skip the 10–30% markup and the hardware-store run.
- Book weekday hours.Rush or weekend work in Des Moines runs about $105/hr against $70/hr standard.
- Send photos first.A photo of the wall, door or fixture lets the handyman quote a flat price and bring the right parts, so the job takes one trip, not two.
- Know your state's license line.Don't pay a handyman for work that needs a licensed trade or a permit — it can void insurance and fail a home inspection. In Iowa, check the state board before a bigger job.
Des Moines handymen quote by the hour, by the job or both. Before you pay a deposit, get these in writing:
- The handyman's name, business name and proof of liability insurance
- A flat price, or the hourly rate plus the minimum charge
- Every job on the list, one line each
- How materials are billed — at cost, or with a markup
- Any trip fee or charge for hardware-store runs
- Whether any job needs a license or permit, and who handles it
- Cleanup and hauling away boxes or old parts — included or not
- A workmanship guarantee, and the rate if the job runs long
How much does a handyman cost per hour in Des Moines?
$45–$100/hr, and $70/hr is typical. Independents bill $50–$80/hr, franchises $75–$125/hr, and most charge a $75–$200 minimum.
What is a handyman's minimum charge in Des Moines?
Usually $75–$200, and it covers the first hour or two. Some handymen add a $30–$80 trip fee instead or on top.
How much is a half day or full day with a handyman in Des Moines?
About $180–$400 for 4 hours and $360–$800 for 8 hours, before materials. It's the cheapest way to clear a long list.
How much does it cost to mount a TV in Des Moines?
$100–$300 on drywall for a TV up to about 65", with your mount. Hiding the wires in the wall brings it to $150–$500, and a fireplace, brick or stone wall runs $200–$700.
How much does furniture assembly cost in Des Moines?
About $50–$200 per piece. A bed frame is $70–$160; a wardrobe or armoire $150–$450.
How much does it cost to patch drywall in Des Moines?
$60–$250 for a small hole and $200–$850 for a larger patch up to about 4 × 4 ft. Painting the whole wall to match is extra.
What can a handyman do without a license in Iowa?
Iowa requires contractor registration for anyone earning $2,000 or more a year from construction work, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC work need state trade licenses.
Can a handyman do electrical or plumbing work?
Usually only simple like-for-like swaps, and only where the state allows. New circuits, new outlets, moving pipes and anything that needs a permit should go to a licensed electrician or plumber. In some states, Florida among them, even connecting two wires needs a licensed electrician.
Is it cheaper to pay a handyman by the hour or by the job?
For one clear job, a flat price is usually cheaper and safer. For a long list, a half day ($180–$400) costs less than paying $75–$200 minimums one visit at a time.
Do handymen supply materials?
Most will, at cost plus a 10–30% markup, and some charge for the trip to the store. You'll usually pay less buying the fixture, faucet or furniture yourself.
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 43+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Prices for the Des Moines metro area, November 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Get a fair handyman quote in Des Moines
Local handymen · Free quotes · No obligation, no spam.