A handyman in Stockholm costs roughly 600 to 900 SEK per hour before the ROT deduction (2026 estimates), so about 420 to 630 SEK after. ROT gives 30 percent off the labour, but only for qualifying work in a home you own. Materials and the call-out fee sit outside it.
What a handyman costs
2026 estimates:
| Before ROT | After ROT | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate, carpenter or painter | 600–900 SEK/h | 420–630 SEK/h |
| Call-out fee (no deduction) | 300–800 SEK | 300–800 SEK |
| Minimum charge | often 1–2 hours |
Guide prices for common jobs, labour before ROT and excluding materials:
| Job | Approximate labour cost |
|---|---|
| Mounting a TV on the wall | 800–1,600 SEK |
| Putting up shelves or curtain rails | 600–1,200 SEK |
| Painting a room, approx. 15 sqm | 6,000–12,000 SEK |
| Replacing an internal door | 1,500–3,000 SEK |
| Replacing skirting in one room | 1,500–3,500 SEK |
| Laying flooring, per sqm | 200–450 SEK/sqm |
These are estimates, not quotes. Preparation often matters more than the job itself: a wall needing filling and sanding before painting can double the time.
Fixed price or hourly?
Fixed price suits clearly defined jobs like painting a room or replacing skirting. It shifts the risk to the company if the work overruns, and makes quotes easy to compare.
Hourly suits small or hard-to-judge jobs, and fault-finding. The downside is that you do not know the final figure in advance.
Ask for a written quote either way, with labour and materials on separate lines. Without that the ROT deduction cannot be verified.
Minimum charges
Most companies apply a minimum charge, commonly one to two hours, plus a call-out fee. A ten-minute job therefore costs the same as an hour-long one.
This is why it pays to bundle several small jobs into one visit. Write a list beforehand: pictures to hang, a sticking door, a loose skirting board, a shelf to mount. Same call-out, far better use of the time.
How much ROT saves you
ROT is 30 percent of the labour cost in 2026, up to 50,000 SEK per person per year (Skatteverket), and applies only to qualifying work in a home you own.
Worked example, painting a room:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labour, 12 h × 750 SEK | 9,000 SEK |
| ROT deduction, 30% of labour | −2,700 SEK |
| Materials, paint and filler | 2,500 SEK |
| Call-out fee (no deduction) | 500 SEK |
| Total to pay | 9,300 SEK |
Note that not every handyman job qualifies. Assembling free-standing furniture is not normally construction work, while the same assembly during a move earns RUT instead. See what a handyman does for where that line falls.
If you rent, you get no ROT at all.
What is included, and what is added
Usually included:
- Labour
- Basic consumables such as screws, filler and tape
- Basic tidying afterwards
Added, with no deduction:
- Larger materials: paint, timber, flooring, doors, fittings
- Call-out and any return journey
- Removal of waste and packaging
- Parking, where needed
Ask explicitly what "cleaning up afterwards" covers. Rough tidying and a proper clean are very different things after a renovation.
Who buys the materials?
The company buys: they usually add a margin, but take responsibility for the right type and quantity. If it is wrong, that is their problem.
You buy: can be cheaper, especially in sales, but the responsibility shifts to you. Buy too little, or the wrong shade, and you pay the handyman's time while they wait.
Materials earn no ROT deduction either way. If in doubt, let the company buy and ask for receipts.
Keeping the cost down
- Bundle several small jobs into one visit so you pay the call-out once
- Ask for a fixed price on anything that can be clearly defined
- Do the prep: move furniture, cover floors, clear the room
- Describe the job with photos and measurements when requesting a quote
- Get three quotes on the same brief
- Check the labour cost is itemised separately on the invoice
Two ways to lose the deduction
Paying cash. Since 2020, ROT and RUT require electronic payment: card, Swish, BankID or a bank transfer. Cash means the deduction is lost entirely, however properly the work was done.
Hiring a relative. The person doing the work must not be related to you. That covers a spouse, cohabiting partner, parents, children, siblings and their families. More in the ROT deduction.
Common questions
What does a handyman cost per hour in Stockholm?
Roughly 600 to 900 SEK per hour before ROT as a 2026 estimate, about 420 to 630 SEK after.
How much does ROT lower the price?
30 percent of the labour, up to 50,000 SEK per person per year (Skatteverket). Only in a home you own.
What is included in the price?
Labour and basic consumables. Larger materials, call-out and waste removal are added without deduction.
Fixed price or hourly?
Fixed price for defined jobs, hourly for small or uncertain ones.
Is there a minimum charge?
Usually one to two hours plus call-out, so bundle small jobs into one visit.
Who buys the materials?
The company with a margin but with responsibility, or you more cheaply but with the risk. Either way, no deduction on materials.
Related guides: what a handyman does, the ROT deduction and kitchen renovation. Back to handyman in Stockholm.