About DIY vs Pros

DIY vs Pros answers one question for each home service: should you do this yourself, or hire someone? Most cost guides only tell you what a pro charges. We also price the DIY side — the tools you'd buy or rent, materials, disposal, permits, and the hours it takes — so the comparison is honest.

Who writes this

The site is researched and written by the DIY vs Pros Editorial Team. We're not contractors selling a service and we don't take referral fees from pros, so we have no stake in which way you decide. The site is supported by display advertising.

Where the numbers come from

Pro prices are built from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for each trade, contractor rate surveys, and quotes published by service marketplaces. DIY prices come from current listings at national home-improvement retailers and tool-rental counters. Every figure on the site links to its source with the month it was observed, and every page shows when it was last reviewed. Full details are on the methodology page.

Contact

Found a number that's out of date, or a cost we missed? Tell us.