Ottawa Pricing Guide
What a Handyman Actually Costs in Ottawa
Most contractor sites will not put a number on anything. This page does — by job, with the things that move the price named honestly. Prices are current for 2026 and cover Ottawa and the surrounding area.
$100–$145 / hour — two-hour minimum — $200 minimum per visit, quoted flat wherever the job allows
Minimum visit is $200 (two hours).
The prices below are what each job costs once we're on site. Any single job that comes in under $200 on its own is billed at the minimum — so one small fix costs the same as two or three. If you have a list, that's where the value is. The $200 covers travel anywhere from Orléans to Almonte, so there are no trip fees, zones or surcharges on top.
How we price
Two models, and which one you get depends on the job. Flat price for anything with a predictable scope — a tap swap, a door adjustment, a closet track, a TV mount. You know the number before we start and it does not move unless the scope does. Hourly at $100–$145 / hour for open-ended work like trim repair across a whole floor, where the honest answer is that it takes as long as it takes.
The two-hour minimum exists because the drive and the setup cost the same regardless of the job. That is also the single biggest lever you have on price: four small jobs in one visit costs a fraction of four separate visits. If you have a list building up, send the whole list.
Drywall, plaster & ceilings
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small patch — doorknob hole, anchor holes backed patch, three coats, primed — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $180–$265 |
| Settling crack, per run up to 8 ft old tape cut out and re-taped | $215–$335 |
| Nail pops, per room driven, screwed beside, filled in three passes — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $145–$215 |
| Water-damaged section replaced board cut out; cause must be fixed first | $420–$840 |
| Ceiling crack or patch overhead work takes longer than the same wall repair | $215–$540 |
| Stipple / popcorn removal incl. skim and prime; asbestos test extra | $3.5–$7 / sq ft |
| Asbestos sample (lab) billed at cost, no markup | under $120 / sample |
| Texture matching on a repair test-and-match before committing to the surface | +$70–$145 |
Doors, locks & hardware
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Interior door adjustment hinges, strike plate, latch alignment — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $115–$220 |
| Exterior door — weatherstrip & sweep parts included | $215–$330 |
| Closet door opening (sliding or bifold) standard roller and pivot hardware included — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $115–$200 |
| Full closet track replacement parts, where the track is deformed | +$50–$110 |
| Deadbolt or handleset installed hardware supplied by you — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $130–$200 |
| Smart lock installed & aligned includes squaring the door first — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $180–$265 |
| Cabinet doors adjusted, per kitchen usually 1–2 hours for a full kitchen — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $110–$215 |
| Additional doors, same visit after the first — most of the cost is the callout | $85–$110 each |
Fixtures & small plumbing
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Tap / faucet swap on working shut-offs; new supply lines included — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $115 flat |
| Toilet installed new wax ring and bolts included | $215–$335 |
| Seized shut-off valve replaced flagged in the quote, not discovered mid-job | +$70–$130 |
| Running toilet — flapper or fill valve parts included — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $115–$170 |
| Tub or shower re-caulk old bead fully stripped, not covered over — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $145–$250 |
| Tile & grout repair depends on area and colour match — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $190–$455 |
| Grab bar installed into structure load-tested in front of you — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $130–$230 |
| TV wall mount higher end for brick, block or concrete — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $145–$265 |
| Flat-pack furniture, per item tall units anchored to the wall, included — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $100–$215 |
Carpentry, trim & outdoor
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Trim & baseboard repair plus materials; most visits are a 2–4 hour block — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $100–$145 / hr |
| Laminate / vinyl plank repair matching planks is the main variable | $215–$505 |
| Casement window operator hardware is make-specific — billed at the $200 minimum on its own | $170–$310 |
| Gate re-hang & post re-set post re-set below frost line | $215–$385 |
| Fence section rebuilt new posts, rails and boards | $420–$720 |
| Interior painting, per room incl. full prep and two coats | $420–$900 |
Service area — and no trip fees
No trip fees, no zone pricing, no fuel surcharge. The $200 visit minimum covers travel anywhere from Orléans to Almonte — an hour apart, priced identically.
What we will tell you not to pay us for
Some jobs legally belong to a licensed trade, and some are cheaper to do yourself. New electrical circuits, panel work and anything requiring an ESA permit go to a licensed electrical contractor — we will tell you what to ask for. Main-line plumbing and anything altering the supply system goes to a licensed plumber. Asbestos abatement goes to a certified contractor under Ontario Regulation 278/05.
We would rather lose the job than take one we should not have. It costs us an hour and saves you a great deal more than that.
Common pricing questions
How much does a handyman charge per hour in Ottawa?
Our rate is $100–$145 per hour with a two-hour minimum, but most jobs on this page are quoted flat instead. Hourly billing suits open-ended work; for a tap swap or a door adjustment a flat price is fairer to both sides because you are not paying for our learning curve.
Why do most Ottawa handymen have a two-hour minimum?
Because the drive, the setup and the pack-down are the same whether the job takes twenty minutes or two hours. The minimum is really a callout charge with labour folded in. It is also why bundling three or four small jobs into one visit costs far less than three or four separate visits.
Is a quote the same as an estimate?
No, and the difference matters. A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope. An estimate is a considered guess that can move. Everything on this page is quoted once we know the scope; where something genuinely cannot be priced until a wall is opened, we say so upfront rather than after.
Do you charge for the quote?
No. Quote requests are answered by phone, usually the same business day. If a job needs eyes on it before a number can be given honestly, the visit is free within the core service area.
What makes a job cost more than the range shown?
Three things, mostly. Access — anything overhead, on stairs, or needing staging. Discovery — a seized valve, rot behind tile, or water damage nobody knew about. And matching — texture, grout colour and discontinued materials all take time to get right. All three get flagged before work starts, never after.
Do you take on very small jobs?
Yes, and they are worth grouping. One visit covering four small fixes is dramatically cheaper per job than four callouts. If you have a list, send the whole list.
Get a real number for your job
Four quick questions, then we call — usually the same business day.
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