Home Service Cost Estimates
Understanding typical costs before you contact a contractor puts you in a much stronger position. Below you'll find every service category we cover, with detailed cost ranges adjusted for each state using official government data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Select any service to see state-by-state pricing, what drives costs, what's typically included in a standard job, expert hiring tips, and common mistakes to avoid. Each estimate page also includes a detailed FAQ, a DIY vs. hire guide, and seasonal timing advice specific to your location.
How to Use Our Cost Estimates
- Choose a service category from the list below that matches your project
- Select your state on the service page to see costs adjusted for your local cost of living
- Review what's included so you can compare quotes on an apples-to-apples basis
- Use the estimate as a baseline when evaluating contractor quotes — not as a guarantee of price
All Service Categories
What Affects Home Service Pricing?
Home service costs are influenced by a complex set of factors that go well beyond the basic labor and materials. Understanding these factors helps you evaluate whether a quote is fair and why two contractors might give you very different prices for the same job.
Geographic Location
A plumber in Manhattan charges 2-3x more than one in rural Kansas — not because they're better, but because rent, insurance, labor markets, and cost of living differ dramatically. Our estimates use BEA Regional Price Parities to account for these differences at the state level.
Job Complexity
Replacing a standard water heater in an accessible basement is straightforward. Replacing one in a cramped crawl space with outdated plumbing requires more time, skill, and often code upgrades. The "same" job can cost 50-100% more depending on site conditions.
Timing and Urgency
Emergency calls on weekends or holidays can cost 50-100% more than scheduled appointments. Seasonal demand also matters — HVAC contractors are most expensive in extreme heat or cold, and roofers charge more right after major storms when demand spikes.
Contractor Overhead
A solo operator working out of a pickup truck has different overhead than a company with branded vans, a front office, and a marketing budget. Both can do quality work, but their pricing structures reflect very different business models.
Tips for Getting Accurate Contractor Quotes
Our cost estimates give you a solid starting point, but here's how to translate that into actionable quotes from local contractors:
- Get at least three quotes — one quote tells you nothing. Three quotes establish a market range and help you identify outliers (both high and low).
- Provide identical project descriptions — if each contractor is bidding on a different scope, you can't compare their prices meaningfully. Write down exactly what you need and share it with each bidder.
- Ask what's included and excluded — a cheaper quote might not include cleanup, permits, or materials. Use our "what's included" lists on each service page as a reference checklist.
- Verify licensing and insurance — the cheapest contractor might be unlicensed. Check your state's licensing board website (we link to these on our state pages).
- Be cautious of quotes far below our estimates — prices significantly below the typical range often signal cut corners, unlicensed work, or bait-and-switch tactics.
Not Sure Which Service You Need?
Browse our comprehensive hiring guides for expert advice on choosing the right professional for your project, what questions to ask, and red flags to avoid.
Read Our Hiring Guides