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What should a tradesperson cost in South Africa?

Pick a service and your province for an indicative price band. Wide ranges — every job's different, but these are the brackets quotes usually fall into. Real quotes from local pros are always free on Handi.

Province affects pricing — Cape Town and Joburg run 5-10% above the national baseline; rural areas can be 10-15% below.

Indicative price in South Africa

Carpentry

R800 – R5,000 for a typical job

small-to-medium scope

Small carpentry jobs — door hangs, skirting repairs, basic shelving — at the lower end. Custom built-in cupboards quoted separately and start ≈R8 000/linear metre.

Get a real quote from local pros → More about carpentry

Guide only — actual quotes vary based on job complexity, access, materials, and urgency. Always get 2-3 quotes from verified local pros before committing.

Typical carpentry jobs & what they cost

Concrete examples at the national baseline. Bands reflect normal variation — the same job can sit at the low or high end depending on access, materials, and urgency.

Hang a new internal door
R600 – R1,200

Includes hinges, handle, and trimming to fit. Pre-hung doors cut labour by ≈40%.

Build a 2 m bookshelf in pine
R2,500 – R4,800

Free-standing or wall-mounted. Hardwood adds 60-100% to the cost.

Custom built-in cupboard (per linear metre)
R8,000 – R14,000

Melamine carcass with vinyl-wrapped or sprayed doors. Solid-timber bespoke pieces R18 000+/m.

Skirting board through a 40 m room
R2,800 – R5,200

MDF skirting fitted and primed. Add R600-R1 200 for paint finishing.

Replace rotten door frame
R1,200 – R2,500

Common in bathrooms and exterior doors. Includes new frame + re-hang of existing door.

A note on these numbers

Bands come from rates published in our pricing guides, mixed with what we see Handi-za providers actually quoting across the country. They're starting points — not a fixed price list. Job-specific factors (access, height, asbestos, after-hours, time pressure) all move the needle. Treat this as the first 30 seconds of research before you start collecting real quotes.