Handyman vs Painter & Decorator: cost comparison UK 2026
How much more expensive is a handyman than a painter & decorator per hour?
A handyman (£30–£60/hr) typically costs 80% more per hour than a painter & decorator (£150–£250/day) on a like-for-like national-average basis in 2026 — a £80 difference over a typical 4-hour job (£180 vs £100). The ONS CPIH services index for maintenance and repair (CP0432) was 110.6 in January 2026 (2015=100), up 0.6% year-on-year. Actual costs vary by region, job complexity and access — always obtain an upfront quote.
Sources: ONS CPIH01 (CP0432) · January 2026 · OGL v3.0 · GeraHome Trade Cost Guides 2026. Updated annually (last refreshed 2026-06-20).
| Handyman typical rate | £30–£60/hr(hourly) |
|---|---|
| Painter & Decorator typical rate | £150–£250/day(day rate ÷ 8 hrs) |
| Hourly midpoint difference | £20/hr |
| Difference over 4 hrs | £80 |
| Difference over 8 hrs (1 day) | £160 |
| Gera Cost Comparison Delta | +80% |
| ONS CPIH CP0432 (Jan-26) | 110.6 (2015=100, up 0.6% YoY) |
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Frequently asked questions
How much more expensive is a handyman than a painter & decorator per hour?
On a national average basis, a handyman (£30–£60/hr) costs 80% more per hour than a painter & decorator (£150–£250/day). That is £20 more per hour at the midpoint. Over a typical 4-hour job: £80 extra. Source: GeraHome Trade Cost Guides 2026, ONS CPIH01 CP0432 (110.6, January 2026).
When would you use a painter & decorator instead of a handyman?
For jobs within a painter & decorator's skill set and not requiring specialist certification, a painter & decorator is the more cost-effective choice at a lower hourly rate. A handyman is needed for specialist, regulated, or certified work that a painter & decorator cannot legally carry out.
Are trade costs rising or falling in 2026?
The ONS CPIH services sub-index for maintenance and repair of the dwelling (CP0432) rose 0.6% year-on-year to January 2026 (110.6, 2015=100). The overall maintenance and repair index (CP043) rose 0.5% in the same period. Trade service cost inflation has been moderating compared to 2022–2023 peaks.
What is the Gera Cost Comparison Delta?
The Gera Cost Comparison Delta (GCCD) = ((midpointA − midpointB) / midpointB) × 100, where midpoints are national typical hourly rate midpoints from the GeraHome Trade Cost Guides 2026. It expresses the hourly cost premium of one trade over another as a percentage. The ONS CPIH CP0432 index (110.6, January 2026, OGL v3.0) is cited as inflation context. See /cost-comparison/methodology for full details.
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How the Gera Cost Comparison Delta is calculated
The Gera Cost Comparison Delta (GCCD) is a pairwise hourly-rate premium index comparing two UK home service trades. It is computed as:
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Trade rate midpoints: GeraHome UK Trade Cost Guides 2026. ONS CPIH context: ONS Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) — dataset CPIH01, published 18 February 2026, fetched 2026-06-20. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are national typical rate midpoints, not a prediction for any individual quote. Full methodology.