Most NZ tradies charge between $40 and $150 an hour, and the trade matters more than anything else. Call A Tradie NZ (2026) lists plumbers at $90 to $150 an hour and painters at $40 to $70. Call-out fees on top run from $80 to $280 depending on the trade and the source.
These are published guide figures from price websites and marketplaces, not quotes. Your job, your suburb and the tradie will change the number.
The quick answer
Hourly rates by trade, as printed by the sources. Where two sources disagree, both are shown.
| Trade | Typical NZ hourly rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | $90 to $150 plus GST (Call A Tradie); $110 to $140 typical (Find a Professional) | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026; Find a Professional, 2026 |
| Electrician | $75 to $130 (Call A Tradie); $100 to $130 typical (Find a Professional) | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026; Find a Professional, 2026 |
| Builder or carpenter | $55 to $95, specialists up to $110 (Call A Tradie); $90 to $120 typical (Find a Professional) | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026; Find a Professional, 2026 |
| Painter | $40 to $70 (Call A Tradie); $55 to $75 typical for interior (Find a Professional) | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026; Find a Professional, 2026 |
| Roofer | $60 to $90 (Call A Tradie); $100 to $130 typical (Find a Professional) | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026; Find a Professional, 2026 |
| Landscaper | $45 to $75 (Call A Tradie); $60 to $85 typical (Find a Professional) | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026; Find a Professional, 2026 |
| Tiler | $55 to $85 (Call A Tradie); $70 to $95 typical (Find a Professional) | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026; Find a Professional, 2026 |
| Gasfitter | $90 to $140 | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026 |
| Drainlayer | $80 to $120 | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026 |
| House cleaner | $35 to $50 typical (Find a Professional); $30 to $40 for one cleaner (Life Maid Easy) | Find a Professional, 2026; Life Maid Easy, 2026 |
| Handyman | $40 to $90 | Airtasker NZ, 2026 |
| Gardener (per job, not hourly) | $100 to $300, median $160 | Airtasker NZ, 2026 |
Call-out fees:
| Fee | Typical NZ price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Most tradies | $100 to $280, covers travel and the first 30 to 60 minutes | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026 |
| Plumbers and electricians | $150 to $280 | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026 |
| Most tradies (second source) | $80 to $150, covers travel and the first part of the visit | Find a Professional, 2026 |
Call A Tradie NZ says all its rates exclude GST and materials. Find a Professional does not say whether its figures include GST. Airtasker and Life Maid Easy do not mention GST.
Some jobs are not charged by the hour at all. Call A Tradie NZ (2026) gives painters $25 to $50 per m2 for larger jobs and tilers $80 to $150 per m2 installed. Airtasker NZ (2026) gives painting at $15 to $30 per m2. These per-metre figures differ, which is normal for guide prices.
What changes the price
- The trade. Plumbers, electricians and gasfitters sit at the top of the table. Painters, handymen and cleaners sit at the bottom.
- Experience. Find a Professional (2026) splits each trade into entry-level, typical and premium or complex bands. A plumber runs $90 to $110, $110 to $140 or $140 to $180 an hour across those three bands.
- Specialists. Call A Tradie NZ (2026) puts builders at $55 to $95 an hour, with specialists and project managers up to $110.
- Call-out and travel. A minimum fee can cover the first 30 to 60 minutes, so a 20 minute job can cost the same as a 50 minute one.
- Materials. Call A Tradie NZ says its rates exclude materials. Parts, paint, pipe and cable are extra.
- Job type. Call A Tradie NZ notes that most roof work is quoted per job rather than by the hour.
- Timing and access. The sources do not give a fixed surcharge for after-hours work, so ask before you book.
GST: is the quote including or excluding?
GST is 15%. Inland Revenue says “GST is charged at a rate of 15%” on its GST page. It is added to the price of most goods and services.
The sticking point is how the price is shown. Some tradies quote ex GST, some include it, and many price guides do not say. The gap is real money:
- $100 before GST is $115 with GST.
- $2,000 before GST is $2,300 with GST.
Ask every tradie: “Is that price including GST?” and get the answer in writing on the quote. When you compare a quote with a guide figure, check which one you are looking at. Call A Tradie NZ (2026) says its rates exclude GST, so add 15% to them before comparing with a quote that includes it.
Quotes versus estimates
Consumer Protection (MBIE) draws the line clearly on its quotes and estimates page:
- An estimate is the provider’s best guess based on their skill and experience. It is not a fixed price. The final cost should generally be within 10 to 15% of it.
- A quote is an offer to do the job for a specified price, and is generally a confirmed maximum. The provider cannot charge more unless you agree to extra work or the scope of the job changes.
- The page advises getting a written quote once you choose a supplier, especially for expensive jobs.
- A business must tell you beforehand if it charges for preparing a quote.
- There is no legal requirement to pay a deposit. If one is asked for, the page advises paying no more than 10% of the total.
The page does not mention GST, so the GST question above still has to be asked separately.
A worked example
Using the figures above, say you need an electrician for a three hour job.
- Hourly rate: $75 to $130 (Call A Tradie NZ, 2026, ex GST).
- Three hours of labour: 3 x $75 = $225 to 3 x $130 = $390.
- If a call-out fee is charged on top, at $150 to $280 for electricians: $225 + $150 = $375 to $390 + $280 = $670.
- Add 15% GST: $375 x 1.15 = $431.25 to $670 x 1.15 = $770.50.
So the range is roughly $430 to $770 including GST, before materials. Many tradies fold the call-out into the first hour, which would bring the total down. The point is to see the arithmetic, not to treat this as a price for your job.
Rules, licences and consents
Rates mean little if the person is not allowed to do the work. Licensing depends on the trade:
- Plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers are registered with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (pgdb.co.nz).
- Electricians are registered with the Electrical Workers Registration Board (ewrb.govt.nz).
- Some building work, such as structural and weathertightness work, must be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (lbp.govt.nz).
- Trades such as cleaning, gardening and handyman work have no equivalent register that GoodTradie checks, so we look at insurance instead.
Consents depend on the job. A small repair rarely needs one, but structural, plumbing and drainage work can. Check building.govt.nz for your job.
Questions to ask before you say yes
- Is that price including or excluding GST?
- Is that a quote or an estimate?
- What is your call-out fee, and does it cover the first hour?
- Are materials included, or charged on top?
- Will you tell me before doing any extra work that changes the price?
- Do you hold a licence for this work, and what insurance do you carry?
- What deposit do you want, if any?
How GoodTradie helps
GoodTradie is a free service for NZ homeowners. You type the job, we call you, find one local tradie, check them (against the LBP, EWRB or PGDB register where the trade needs a licence, and insurance for other trades), and book them in. We do not send your job to several tradies. We also check the quote against published NZ cost figures like the ones on this page. That check is a guide, not a guarantee. We are paid by the pros we match you with, not by you. This works for any trade. Type your job in the box at the top of the page to start.
Sources
- Call A Tradie NZ, how much do tradies charge in NZ (2026 rates)
- Find a Professional, how much do tradies charge in NZ (dated 13 January 2026)
- Airtasker NZ, handyman (updated 7 November 2026)
- Airtasker NZ, gardening (updated 7 November 2026)
- Airtasker NZ, painting (2026)
- Life Maid Easy, house cleaning cost calculator (reviewed 22 October 2026)
- Inland Revenue, GST
- Consumer Protection, quotes and estimates