How much should I charge for a service call?

Most trade contractors charge $75–$150 for a service or diagnostic call, with $89–$125 being typical for electricians, HVAC techs, and plumbers. Set yours to cover round-trip drive time, fuel, and the first 30–60 minutes on site, and add a premium for after-hours or emergency visits.

Should a service call fee go toward the repair?

For most contractors, yes — apply the diagnostic fee toward the repair if the customer proceeds. It removes the friction of paying just for a look while still guaranteeing you are paid if they decline. State this clearly when you book the call.

Is it normal to charge a service call fee?

Yes. A trip or diagnostic charge is standard across the trades because every visit costs you drive time, fuel, and labour before any work is done. Customers who have hired contractors before expect it, and stating it up front filters out non-serious calls.

How Much to Charge for a Service Call

What a service-call fee is really for

A service call fee — sometimes called a diagnostic fee, trip charge, or call-out fee — exists to make sure you get paid for showing up. Every visit costs you money before you touch a tool: drive time, fuel, vehicle wear, and the labour hour or two you cannot sell to anyone else while you are there.

Without a fee, a "can you just come take a look?" visit is a pure loss if the customer decides not to proceed. The fee protects against that, and it also filters out tyre-kickers who would waste a free visit.

Typical fees by trade in 2026:

Electricians — $89–$150 diagnostic.
HVAC — $89–$150, often higher in peak season or after hours.
Plumbers — $75–$125, more for emergency or after-hours calls.

Premiums for evenings, weekends, and emergencies are standard and expected — urgency is part of what the client is paying for.

Should you apply the fee to the repair?

This is the most common question, and the answer for most contractors is yes — apply the diagnostic fee toward the repair if the customer goes ahead.

It removes the psychological friction of "paying just for you to look" while still guaranteeing you are paid for the visit if they decline. The customer feels the diagnostic was free because they proceeded; you are covered either way. Make this explicit when you book: "There's a $99 diagnostic fee, and I'll credit it toward the repair if you'd like me to do the work."

A few contractors keep the fee separate and non-refundable, which makes sense for high-demand emergency work where your time is the scarce resource. Either model is defensible — what matters is that you charge something and state it clearly up front so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Setting a fee that covers your real cost

To set yours, add up what a visit actually costs you: round-trip drive time at your labour rate, fuel and vehicle wear, and the first 30–60 minutes on site. If that comes to $95, do not charge $75 out of nervousness — you would be subsidising every customer who calls.

Set the diagnostic fee up as a standard line item so it goes on every quote and invoice automatically and you never forget to bill it. Fieldpaid pulls your standard items and prices straight from QuickBooks, so a service call is one tap rather than a re-typed line every time. For pricing the work that follows the diagnosis, see How to Price a Job as a Contractor.

How Much to Charge for a Service Call (Trade Contractor Pricing Guide)