A carpenter costs $40 to $200 per hour depending on specialty and experience; Angi reports a $50 hourly average, HomeAdvisor $100, and Fixr $90 for a journeyman on general work.1,2,3 Angi (2026 data) puts the national average at $50 per hour, with most homeowners paying $40 – $100. HomeAdvisor (2025 data) reports a $100 hourly average within a $75 – $125 normal range and a $40 – $200 overall span. The two are corporate siblings publishing different figures – the difference is not explained.1,2 Fixr (updated January 2025) reports a $90 hourly average scoped to a journeyman carpenter doing general carpentry work, an average range of $75 – $125 – separately published figures, and the pages state no shared sourcing – a $40 low end (an apprentice doing rough work), and a $200 high end (a master carpenter doing finish work).3 Prices below are national averages*.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the carpenter’s specialty and experience, project complexity, materials, and local labor rates.
$50
average hourly rate (Angi, 2026)
$100
average hourly rate (HomeAdvisor, 2025)
$90
average – journeyman, general work (Fixr, 2025)
$40–$200
full hourly span (HomeAdvisor/Fixr)
What the sources say
| Source | Headline figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angi (2026 data, updated Sep 2026) | $50 hourly average; most homeowners $40 – $100 per hour | Corporate sibling of HomeAdvisor; siblings publish different averages here |
| HomeAdvisor (2025 data, updated Jun 2026) | $100 hourly average; normal range $75 – $125; overall $40 – $200 | Sibling difference not explained |
| Fixr (updated Jan 2025) | $90 hourly average scoped to a journeyman on general work; range $75 – $125; low $40; high $200 | Average carries a defined job scope |
HomeAdvisor and Fixr publish a matching $75 – $125 hourly range – separately published figures, and the pages state no shared sourcing. All three averages ($50, $90, $100) are shown as published; the differences are not explained by the sources.
Hourly rates by specialty and experience
Each publisher rates carpenter specialties differently. Where two sources share a figure, it is marked; matching figures between HomeAdvisor and Fixr are separately published, and the pages state no shared sourcing. Differences are not explained by the sources.1,2,3
| Specialty / level | Angi (2026) | HomeAdvisor (2025) | Fixr (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | $35 – $50 | – | $40 – $50 |
| Journeyman | $50 – $80 | – | $50 – $125 |
| Master | $80 – $120 | $75 – $200 | $75 – $200 |
| Finish | $60 – $110 | $80 – $200 | $80 – $200 |
| Rough | $40 – $90 | $40 – $60 | $40 – $60 |
| Cabinetmaker (Angi label) | $70 – $120 | – | – |
| Cabinetry | – | $75 – $200 | $75 – $125 |
| Trim | – | $40 – $75 | $40 – $75 |
| Framing | – | $40 – $60 | $40 – $60 |
| General | – | $75 – $125 | $75 – $200 |
| Roofing / roofer | – | $40 – $60 | $40 – $60 |
| Joister | – | – | $40 – $60 |
Rates are per carpenter: Fixr notes that two carpenters on a job double the hourly total.3
Billing methods: hourly vs. per square foot
Most carpenters bill by the hour, but rough work such as framing, joists, and some roofing is often priced per square foot at $4 – $10, according to Fixr (2025).3
Angi (2026) estimates total labor by project scope:1
| Project scope | Estimated hours | Total labor (Angi, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Small repair (e.g., trim) | 1–3 | $40 – $360 |
| Medium (e.g., door install) | 3–6 | $120 – $720 |
| Large (e.g., framing a room) | 10–40 | $400 – $4,800 |
| Custom built-ins | 15–50 | $600 – $6,000 |
Material costs
Angi (2026) prices common carpentry materials per board foot:1
| Material type | Cost per board ft. (Angi, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Softwood | $3 – $8 |
| Hardwood | $8 – $20 |
| Composite | $5 – $12 |
| Specialty wood | $20 – $50 |
Cost by project
HomeAdvisor (2025) and Fixr (2025) publish identical figures for five shared project rows – separately published figures, and the pages state no shared sourcing. Fixr’s figures include labor and materials.2,3
| Project | HomeAdvisor (2025) | Fixr (2025, labor + materials) |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | $50 – $200 per window | $50 – $200 per unit |
| Custom furniture | $200 – $12,000 per item | $200 – $12,000 per unit |
| Custom shelving | $250 – $450 per shelf | $250 – $450 per unit |
| Doors | $300 – $2,000 per door | $300 – $2,000 per unit |
| Home addition | $6,000 – $8,000 | $6,000 – $8,000 |
| Frame a wall | $1,000 – $5,000 | – |
| Build a deck | $4,000 – $10,000 | – |
| Build a closet | $1,500 – $5,000 | – |
| Custom closet | – | $2,500 – $5,000 per unit |
| Trim work | – | $1.30 – $4.50 per linear ft. |
| Custom cabinets | – | $550 – $570 per linear ft. |
| Wood repair | – | $70 – $150 per small repair |
| Wooden ceiling | – | $6 – $12 per sq. ft. |
| Wooden floor | – | $6 – $12 per sq. ft. |
| Pergola | – | $1,900 – $6,500 |
| Patio roof | – | $4,000 – $12,000 |
| Gazebo | – | $7,500 – $10,000 |
Angi (2026) prices common add-on projects by hourly rate and total:1
| Add-on project | Hourly rate (Angi) | Total cost (Angi) |
|---|---|---|
| Custom shelving | $45 – $110 | $150 – $1,200 |
| Built-in cabinets | $60 – $120 | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Decorative trim and crown molding | $50 – $110 | $300 – $1,500 |
| Wainscoting | $55 – $115 | $700 – $2,500 |
| Custom doors | $60 – $120 | $500 – $2,000 |
| Window seats and built-in desks | $65 – $120 | $800 – $3,000 |
| Closet organizers | $50 – $110 | $500 – $2,500 |
Other rates and fees
Angi (2026) prices carpentry repairs – squeaky floors, damaged cabinets, trim replacement – at $40 – $120 per hour depending on urgency and skill required. It also reports permit fees of $50 – $500 for major structural changes.1
Fixr (2025) reports commercial carpenter rates of $50 – $75 per hour per person and union carpenter rates of $40 – $90 per hour. A service call, when one is needed, typically costs one to one and a half hours at the carpenter’s going rate.3
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter cost per hour?
Angi reports a $50 hourly average with most homeowners paying $40 – $100; HomeAdvisor reports a $100 average within a $75 – $125 normal range; Fixr reports a $90 average for a journeyman on general work. The differences are not explained by the sources.1,2,3
What does a master carpenter charge?
Angi prices master carpenters at $80 – $120 per hour; HomeAdvisor and Fixr both report $75 – $200 – separately published figures, and the pages state no shared sourcing.1,2,3
When do carpenters charge by the square foot?
Fixr reports that rough carpentry – framing, joists, and some roofing – is commonly priced at $4 – $10 per sq. ft. rather than hourly, particularly on larger jobs.3
Related guides
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Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost
Deck Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. Angi — How Much Do Carpenters Charge Per Hour? (2026 data)
2. HomeAdvisor — How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Carpenter by the Hour? (2025 data)
3. Fixr — Carpenter Cost per Hour (updated Jan 2025)