How much does a handyman cost in San Francisco?
By Our research team · Last verified · Methodology
Most handymen in San Francisco charge $60–$130/hr with $90/hr typical. Expect a $165 minimum on most visits and $90–$210/hr for rush or weekend work.
How we get this data- Typical
- $90/hr
- Low end
- $50/hr
- High end
- $255/hr
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Get my fair quote →The typical San Francisco price is $90/hr, 29% above the US typical of $70/hr.
San Francisco's price band
San Francisco is pricier than 98% of the 195 US metros we price for handyman work.
A handyman in San Francisco charges $60–$130 an hour, and $90/hr is typical. Most set a minimum of $95–$230, 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: $125–$340 to mount a TV and $65–$230 to put together a piece of boxed furniture.
In San Francisco, labor sets the price. Federal wage data put the median pay for general maintenance and repair workers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro at $63,630 a year, about 28% above the US median; the typical handyman rate here is $90/hr, against $70 nationally.
California lets a handyman take jobs under $1,000 (labor and materials together) without a contractor license, but only if the job needs no permit and the handyman works alone. The limit rose from $500 on January 1, 2025; above it, hire a contractor licensed by the CSLB. 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.
$60–$130/hr for a handyman in San Francisco — typically $90/hr. Most charge a $95–$230 minimum, and a half day of small jobs runs $240–$520. Verified November 2026. Get free San Francisco quotes →
- Handyman: $60–$130/hr ($90/hr typical)
- Minimum charge: $95–$230; rush or weekend: $90–$210/hr
- Half day $240–$520; full day $480–$1,050
- TV mounting $125–$340; furniture assembly $65–$230 a piece
- Small drywall patch $75–$280; sticking door $95–$255
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 43+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Handyman labor with basic hardware included unless the row says otherwise. San Francisco metro, re-verified November 2026. Fixtures, furniture and paint are extra.
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handyman hourly rateper hour | $60per hour | $90 | $130 |
| Minimum charge (usually the first 1–2 hours)per visit | $95per visit | $165 | $230 |
| Trip or materials-run fee (where charged)per trip | $35per trip | $70 | $90 |
| Half day (4 × the hourly rate)per half day | $240per half day | $360 | $520 |
| Full day (8 × the hourly rate)per day | $480per day | $720 | $1,050 |
| TV wall mounting (drywall, up to about 65", your mount)per job | $125per job | $225 | $340 |
| TV mounting with wires hidden in the wallper job | $185per job | $380 | $565 |
| TV over a fireplace or on brick or stoneper job | $250per job | $440 | $790 |
| Furniture assembly (average piece)per piece | $65per piece | $140 | $230 |
| Hang pictures, mirrors or a shelf (a few items)per job | $75per job | $190 | $340 |
| Put up a curtain rod or blindsper window | $50per window | $100 | $170 |
| Drywall patch, small holeper job | $75per job | $175 | $280 |
| Drywall repair, larger patch (up to about 4 × 4 ft)per job | $250per job | $560 | $955 |
| Re-caulk a tub or showerper job | $125per job | $220 | $340 |
| Fix a sticking or sagging doorper job | $95per job | $190 | $255 |
| Hang a pre-hung interior door (door not included)per job | $190per job | $375 | $675 |
| Replace a faucet (you supply the faucet)per job | $100per job | $220 | $340 |
| Replace a toilet, like for like (you supply it)per job | $125per job | $250 | $395 |
| Swap a light fixture on existing wiringper job | $80per job | $165 | $280 |
| Replace a ceiling fan on a fan-rated boxper job | $125per job | $250 | $340 |
| Replace a door lock or fit a smart lockper job | $95per job | $175 | $225 |
| Install a grab bar (into studs or blocking)per job | $125per job | $250 | $395 |
| Paint one room, about 12 × 12 ft (labor only)per job | $440per job | $755 | $1,150 |
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Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 43+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Figures cover the San Francisco metro area. Older buildings and tight access in SoMa & the Mission push jobs toward the top of each range.
Handyman rates across San Francisco
Same trade, four price bands. Rates run highest in SoMa & the Mission, older housing in Oakland & the East Bay brings longer jobs, and Daly City & the Peninsula is usually the cheapest place to book.
SoMa & the Mission
- Hourly
- $75–$120/hr
- Half day
- $330–$485 / half day
Dense blocks, older buildings and paid parking. Building managers and HOA boards often want insurance papers and set work hours, and carrying tools up stairs adds time to every job.
Oakland & the East Bay
- Hourly
- $70–$115/hr
- Half day
- $310–$460 / 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.
Daly City & the Peninsula
- Hourly
- $65–$110/hr
- Half day
- $295–$430 / 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.
Richmond, Vallejo & North Bay
- Hourly
- $60–$100/hr
- Half day
- $275–$405 / half day
The cheapest hourly rates in the metro, with travel sometimes billed. Rural and edge-of-town homes may wait longer for a free slot.
Real-world handyman costs in San Francisco
Here's what common handyman jobs cost in San Francisco 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 San Francisco handymen charge a minimum of $95–$230. Priced as a flat job it's $95–$255. 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 $125–$340 in San Francisco; hiding the wires inside the wall with a power kit adds $60–$225, for $185–$565 in all. If there's no outlet near the spot, a licensed electrician adds one for $240–$455.
Move-in list: 3 pieces of furniture, a few pictures, blinds on 4 windows
Priced job by job — 3 pieces at $140 each, $190 to hang pictures and 4 windows of blinds at $100 each — the list comes to about $1,010. If it all fits in one full day ($480–$1,050), that costs less.
Getting ready to sell — a half day of small fixes
A typical pre-listing list: patch 3 small holes ($175 each as single jobs), fix 2 sticking doors ($190 each) and re-caulk the tub ($220). Priced one at a time, that list is about $1,125. A half day by the hour is $240–$520; 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 ($220), swapping a faucet you bought ($220) and adding a grab bar ($250) comes to about $690 in San Francisco. 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 San Francisco?
$60–$130/hr, and $90/hr is the number most San Francisco homeowners see on the invoice. On small jobs the hourly rate matters less than the minimum: a $165 minimum decides the bill for a 20-minute fix.
For single jobs, ask for a flat price. San Francisco handymen charge $125–$340 to mount a TV, $65–$230 per piece of furniture and $250–$955 for a larger drywall repair, based on 43 sources checked in November 2026.
Handyman rates and fees in San Francisco (2026)
Standard rates run $60–$130/hr, rush or weekend work $90–$210/hr, and the minimum charge $95–$230.
| Line on the quote | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard hourly rate | $60 | $90 | $130 |
| Independent handyman, hourly | $65 | $85 | $90 |
| Franchise handyman, hourly | $95 | $130 | $145 |
| Rush, evening or weekend rate | $90 | $135 | $210 |
| Minimum charge (usually the first 1–2 hours) | $95 | $165 | $230 |
| Trip or materials-run fee | $35 | $70 | $90 |
| Half day (4 × the hourly rate) | $240 | $360 | $520 |
| Full day (8 × the hourly rate) | $480 | $720 | $1,050 |
One visit vs one half day in San Francisco: a single quick fix costs the $95–$230 minimum, while $240–$520 buys four hours. If your list is long, price the half day.
What moves a handyman's quote in San Francisco:
- The minimum — most handymen charge $95–$230 for any visit, so tiny jobs cost far more per minute than big ones.
- Who you hire — independents bill $65–$90/hr; franchises with insured staff bill $95–$145/hr.
- Materials — if the handyman buys them, expect the receipt plus a 10–30% markup and maybe a $35–$90 trip fee.
- Timing — rush, evening or weekend work runs about $135/hr against $90/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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco by job size
One small fix is $95–$230 (the minimum charge), a half day of small jobs $240–$520, and a full day $480–$1,050, plus materials.
Worked example: setting up a new bedroom in San Francisco. Mounting a TV at $225, assembling 2 pieces of furniture at $140 each and putting up blinds on 3 windows at $100 each comes to about $805 priced job by job.
A bigger repair: a larger drywall patch at $560 and painting the room at $755 is about $1,315 before paint and supplies.
Ways to hire a handyman in San Francisco and what each costs
| Way to hire | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Independent handyman | $65–$90/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) | $95–$145/hr | Insured, background-checked staff, a written workmanship promise and set half-day or full-day packages |
| Minimum-charge visit | $95–$230 per visit | One quick fix — the minimum usually covers the first hour or two |
| Rush, evening or weekend booking | $90–$210/hr | A leak or urgent fix that can't wait for a weekday slot |
| Half-day booking (4 hours) | $240–$520 | A list of small jobs done in one trip |
| Full-day booking (8 hours) | $480–$1,050 | Move-in lists, rental turnovers and getting a house ready to sell |
| Flat price per job | $125–$340 to mount a TV; $95–$255 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 San Francisco handyman bill
A $90/hr rate rarely shows up as $90 on the invoice. Most San Francisco handymen charge a $95–$230 minimum, so fixing one sticking door costs $95–$255 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: $125–$340 to mount a TV, $50–$170 a window for blinds, $95–$225 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 San Francisco (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 — $35–$90 where charged
- Rush, evening or weekend time — $90–$210/hr
- Licensed work — new wiring, a new outlet ($240–$455 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro at $63,630 a year, about 28% above the US median of $49,590. Labor is most of a handyman bill, so local pay moves San Francisco prices more than parts do.
Minimums and travel
Most handymen charge a $95–$230 minimum, and some add a $35–$90 trip fee for far-off addresses or runs to the hardware store.
Who does the work
Independent handymen bill $65–$90/hr. Franchises bill $95–$145/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. California lets a handyman take jobs under $1,000 (labor and materials together) without a contractor license, but only if the job needs no permit and the handyman works alone. The limit rose from $500 on January 1, 2025; above it, hire a contractor licensed by the CSLB.
When you need it
Rush, evening and weekend work costs about $135/hr in San Francisco, against $90/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 $75–$280; a larger one $250–$955.
- Batch small jobs into one visit.One $165 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 San Francisco is $240–$520. 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 San Francisco runs about $135/hr against $90/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 California, check the state board before a bigger job.
San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
$60–$130/hr, and $90/hr is typical. Independents bill $65–$90/hr, franchises $95–$145/hr, and most charge a $95–$230 minimum.
What is a handyman's minimum charge in San Francisco?
Usually $95–$230, and it covers the first hour or two. Some handymen add a $35–$90 trip fee instead or on top.
How much is a half day or full day with a handyman in San Francisco?
About $240–$520 for 4 hours and $480–$1,050 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 San Francisco?
$125–$340 on drywall for a TV up to about 65", with your mount. Hiding the wires in the wall brings it to $185–$565, and a fireplace, brick or stone wall runs $250–$790.
How much does furniture assembly cost in San Francisco?
About $65–$230 per piece. A bed frame is $90–$185; a wardrobe or armoire $195–$515.
How much does it cost to patch drywall in San Francisco?
$75–$280 for a small hole and $250–$955 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 California?
California lets a handyman take jobs under $1,000 (labor and materials together) without a contractor license, but only if the job needs no permit and the handyman works alone. The limit rose from $500 on January 1, 2025; above it, hire a contractor licensed by the CSLB.
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 ($240–$520) costs less than paying $95–$230 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 San Francisco metro area, November 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
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