Handyman Cost Guide In Singapore [Updated 2023]

In Singapore, research has shown that homeowners tend to engage a handyman at least once a year for maintenance work in their house. A handyman/woman is known as a skilled generalist, it means having the knowledge and skills to perform repairs and maintenance tasks on both residential and commercial sites.

Hire a Handyman

 

---

Handyman Prices and Cost Factors in Singapore

In Singapore, prices are typically charged based on the job. We will be showing you the usual task that involves a handyman along with the cost. Feel free to get a bit of reference from it! Just a side note to remember, there are different factors contributing to the price of a job.

Handyman Cost & Estimation Calculator (in Singapore, 2024)

(This calculator is in beta-phase and is only an estimate)

Here are some examples of handyman services and prices that are often billed by the job:

General Home Services

Be sure to know that many companies incur charges for transportation too! It can range between $20 to $40, which may be deductible from the final fees.

 

Find an Electrician

 

---

Pipes, Toilets and Taps

 

Hire a Plumber 

 

---

Painting

 

Hire a Painter

 

Typical Cost for Handyman Projects:

• Minor Works:1 to 2 hours, $50-$150 on average
• Medium Works:2 to 4 hours, $15-$500 on average
• Major Works:4 or more hours, $500 and above

Other handyman jobs:

• Installation of Shelves/Blinds/Mirrors: $50 – $70
• Installation of TV brackets: $50 – $90
• Installation of wall-mounted fan: $60 – $120
• Installation of a ceiling fan: $80 – $150
• Installation of chandelier: $90 – $120
• Installation of mirrors: $50 – $70
• Installation of frames and pictures: $50 – $70
• Assembling of furniture: $80 – $120
• Assembling of chairs and tables: $50 – $70
• Replacement of the Door Knob: $60 – $150
• Replacement of the Bedroom Door: $100 – $380
• Replacement of leaking pipes: $50 – $100
• Replacement or installation of a toilet bowl: $160 – $200
• Replacement or installation of water taps: $40 – $60
• Replacement or installation of shower sets: $60 – $80
• Clearing of the basin, kitchen and toilet bowl: $100 – $200

Do take note that if the work requires or involves the use of dangerous machinery, you should consider hiring a certified contractor instead. You can also look for electricians, plumbers and painters specifically to get the job done.

The rates and services of a handyman may differ a lot depending on factors such as their availability, skills, and the urgency of the projects. For a more accurate estimate of your home handyman project cost, and the factors affecting handyman hiring costs, check out our guide on handyman prices in Singapore.

---

Handyman Cost Factors

Now for the rest of us who would like to dive deeper into handyman prices in Singapore, we will explore it in detail below. The rates and services of a handyman may differ a lot, depending on factors such as their availability, skills, and the urgency of the projects. Below are several factors which affect your project costs:

The scale of repair work

This goes without saying—the bigger the project, the more time and effort spent, and the higher the cost. How big a project is can be determined by several factors, such as the time and effort required to obtain the materials, a specific brand of products, specialised tools, equipment, or knowledge needed for the project.

Depending on your handymen, they may charge a basic fee for a project or decide on a number of hours for the job before charging you. Do share the project details with the handyman before the price is set!

• Small project prices: $50-$150 on average (1-2 hours)

  • Small projects may involve simple tasks like replacing a switch or fixing a leaky pipe. Usually, they require standard hand tools and take 1 or 2 hours at most.

• Medium project prices: $150-$400 on average (2-4 hours)

  • Medium projects take more time and resources, including services such as furniture assembly and rewiring the whole house’s electrical points. Medium projects typically take between 2 and 4 hours to finish.

• Large project prices: $500+ (4+ hours)

  • Larger projects require the most time, from half a day to even a few days to complete. These are the most involved handyman jobs and may include building a partition wall with other installations, such as hanging frames or installing a kitchen sink with all the elements.

As a rule of thumb, if you are stuck between hiring a contractor or a handyman for a particular project, it is probably considered a massive job.

Experience

Experience is very valuable for a handyman, and their rates can be based on their level of expertise. An experienced handyman may charge a higher rate but take half the time to do a job than a less experienced pro. In effect, you are probably going to save more by hiring a costlier but more experienced handyman for middle to large-sized projects.

Job Complexity

Typically, more complex tasks take longer and, most often, cost more. Luckily, a professional handyman should promptly notify you if there are any aspects of the job they cannot do.

In those cases, you’ll need a contractor or licensed specialist. Simple jobs are often small jobs, but even some larger jobs can be relatively simple. Changing an interior doorknob is easy and a “small” job while sanding and re-hanging an interior door is a “medium” job, yet neither is particularly complicated.

For example, some tasks like replacing an old toilet may require lifting a heavy object, including proper plumbing knowledge and cleanup. In this regard, it’s best to ask the specialist if they can complete the task before hiring them.

Emergency Services

Should you require emergency handyman services, you can reach out to the local handyman directory on Homees directory and instantly contact them.

How Do Handyman Charge?

Handymen in Singapore can charge by the hour or at a flat rate. Some may charge for travel time, and some may charge a markup on parts they buy for your job. When gathering estimates, this is something you want to know early on.

By the Hour

Every handyman in Singapore has a different hourly rate based on their experience and your chosen material quality. For example, an inexperienced handyman might charge less but require more time. In most cases, Singapore handyman prices vary from $50 to $100 per hour. However, this is only a ballpark figure. It all depends on the project and the agreement between both sides.

By the Job

Some handymen charge a flat rate, which is good because the price and results are already determined initially.

Handyman vs Contractor

Handyman

A handyman is a skilled generalist who can do most of the smaller tasks of a home project. They usually take care of numerous small jobs and sometimes work with contractors on large projects, especially when time is of the essence. While you can do some of the work yourself, you’d hire a handyman when it is time-consuming or when a skilled handyman can quickly do the task.

Contractor

Contractors usually work on bigger projects that require more time and effort. Typically, jobs like transforming your attic into an office or a spare bedroom or adding a larger picture window in your living room are simple. Still, they often require having a certain level of knowledge and skills.

Hiring a contractor might be better if the cost is at least $500 or the work will take more than a day or two. These projects are usually fairly big. They will also likely require permits and inspections and often require a crew of workers to accomplish them.

If your project requires any of the following, you need a contractor:

• Repairing an electrical system, wiring or re-wiring in walls or ceilings of your home
• Minor interior design work or home renovation (larger projects usually require 2 or more contractors)
• New sizeable plumbing structures, installation of new pipes
• Anything that affects the structure of your house.
• Installing new windows

The list goes on. In this regard, it’s best to check with your local regulations to see if your project requires calling a licensed contractor. In most cases, you’ll pay more, but you’ll ensure you get safe and quality work.

 

Find Renovation Contractors

 

---

Should I hire a contractor or a handyman?

Handymen typically specialise in odd, smaller jobs. These smaller jobs can range from fixing a broken tap, replacing a broken switch to clearing the pipes. A contractor is usually an expert in his field and could be an electrician or even a plumber.

People searching for these people typically call them “electrical handyman”, “handyman electrician”, or “handyman plumber”. Contractors may have a team consisting of subcontractors who handle specialized jobs within the larger project. They are expected to be knowledgeable about permits and other such technicalities.

To determine if you can use a handyman instead of a fully-licensed contractor, ask yourself the following:

• Could I do it myself if I only had the time?
• Could I do it myself if I only had the knowledge or ability?
• Should this take less than a day?
• Should this cost less than $500?
• Can this be done by only one or two people?
• Can this be done without a permit?

Answering “yes” to these usually means that your project can be done by a handyman.

For your reference, here is a downloadable Handyman Cost Guide:

 

Handyman Cost Guide

 

Common questions about handymen

Is it better for me to get a quotation?

It is a good practice to ask for quotes and make a comparison. Before choosing a handyman, compare at least three estimates for similar work. Our online review and rating system allows you to see the track record of handymen, and Homees will enable you to contact several handymen for quotations. Request an exact price to avoid being surprised by hidden fees.

Once you have multiple quotes, you can compare and hire the handyman that suits your needs best. It is critically important to view their workmanship and clients’ reviews and not just judge based on quotations alone.

Checking handyman’s credentials

Look at past reviews and projects. Also, see if there are requests and follow-up references from previous customers. Request a copy of their public liability insurance, licenses, and credentials.

How quickly can handymen come and fix it for me?

Most handymen will be able to come within a few hours (sometimes even within an hour) depending on their availability.

Do I need to be home at the time of service?

It depends on you.

If the handyman is from an established company (or the listed contractor himself) and you trust in them, you can arrange such that he can come by when you are not around.

Alternatively, you can arrange for him to come only when you are at home.

Find Top Handymen In Singapore

Homees provides a list of handyman companies for you to hire. You can compare quotations and ask for prices before engaging one to ensure you have the best value for your home improvement job.

Cost of Other Home Improvement Areas

You can check out the cost of hiring professionals for other aspects if your home improvement project. Some of the usual cost guides can be found below:

• Interior Design Cost Guide
• Bedroom Design and Cost Guide
• Kitchen Interior Design Cost Guide
• Walls and Ceiling Cost Guide
• Flooring Installation and Repair Cost Guide
• Handyman Cost in Singapore
• Painting Cost in Singapore

Related Articles