If you’re wondering what it costs to hand your to-do list to someone else, here’s the short answer: errand service cost runs about $20–$36 per hour in the US in 2026, with the national average at $28/hour, and starts at $35/hour (CAD) in major Canadian cities. A part-time personal assistant hired directly averages around $23/hour in both countries, an experienced executive-level assistant runs $35–$75/hour, and most pros bill a minimum block of one to four hours, plus mileage when the driving adds up.
The number that surprises people: a trained personal assistant often costs the same per hour as a grocery run. What changes the bill is the minimum, the mileage, and whether an agency or app sits in between.
Key takeaways
- US errand runners average $28/hour (Taskrabbit, September 2026); direct hires on Care.com start closer to $21/hour.
- Canadian errand runners start at $35/hour CAD in Toronto and Calgary.
- A part-time personal assistant averages about $23/hour in both the US and Canada, with executive-level PAs at $35–$75/hour.
- Minimums matter more than the rate: a 2–4 hour minimum turns a 20-minute pharmacy pickup into a $55–$110 visit.
- Agencies add 35–41% to the worker’s wage; apps take a 15% cut instead.
Errand Service Cost by Type of Help
The category covers everything from a one-off Costco run to a part-time assistant who manages your household. Rates below are per hour and include the platform or agency fee where one applies.
| Service | US (USD/hr) | Canada (CAD/hr) |
|---|---|---|
| Errand runner, direct hire (Care.com-style) | $19–$30 | $20–$35 |
| Errand runner via Taskrabbit | $25–$36 (avg $28) | from $35 |
| Part-time personal assistant, direct hire | $20–$35 (avg $23) | $18–$35 (avg $23) |
| Executive or experienced personal assistant | $35–$75 | $26–$49 |
| Agency-placed assistant | worker’s wage + 35–41% | same model |
| Virtual assistant (US-based, remote) | $22–$65 | — |
| Senior errand help via a home-care agency | ~$35, 2–4 hr minimum | similar |
Errand runners
Taskrabbit’s cost guide puts US errand running at $28 per hour on average, with most states between $25.00 and $35.50. Hiring directly through a caregiver marketplace is cheaper: Care.com’s national starting rate for errand runners is $20.93/hour, topping out near $26. In Canada, Taskrabbit lists errands in Toronto and Calgary from $35/hour CAD.
Personal assistants
A part-time personal assistant (20–30 hours a week of calendar, appointments, shopping, returns and vendor calls) averages $23.17/hour in the US per ZipRecruiter, with most direct hires between $20 and $35. Indeed’s Canadian data shows an average of $23.33/hour, an $18–$35 spread, and Montréal above average at about $27. Executive assistants are a different tier: $35–$75/hour in big US cities, and $26–$49/hour in Canada according to Job Bank.
Errand help for seniors
When errands are part of a care plan (pharmacy runs, driving to appointments, waiting during them), the work is billed as non-medical home care: about $35/hour nationally, with two- to four-hour minimums. Our in-home senior care cost guide covers the full picture.
What Changes the Price
- Minimums. The biggest line on most invoices. Independents usually bill one hour; agencies and senior-care providers often require two to four. Batch errands into one block.
- Mileage. Some operators absorb short drives and charge mileage beyond about 10 minutes. Ask before you book a cross-town route.
- Where you live. Care.com’s starting rate in Austin is $23.22/hour, 24% above the Texas average of $18.77 and 11% above the US average.
- Who’s in the middle. Taskrabbit takes a 15% service fee from what the Tasker earns; a staffing agency marks up 35–41%, so a $25/hour assistant costs you $34–$36. On Masters’ Guild, you post the job with your budget and pros make offers, with no lead fees baked in.
- Skill mix and notice. Someone who also manages your inbox and books contractors is priced as an assistant, not a runner. Same-day app requests carry premium rates; a standing weekly slot is the cheapest way to buy the same hours.
Errand Runner or Personal Assistant?
Think in hours per week. Under about three hours of scattered tasks, an errand runner booked in one weekly block is cheapest. Past five hours, or once the tasks need judgment, a part-time assistant at $20–$35/hour beats stringing together app bookings with a minimum and fee on each. Remote-only work (scheduling, research, bookings) suits a US-based virtual assistant at $22–$65/hour, with no mileage at all.
Some errands belong to a specialist: house cleaning is its own trade, and heavy hauling is a junk removal job. An assistant is for the glue work in between.
DIY vs Hiring Help
A parent doing three separate 45-minute runs a week spends nearly ten hours a month on errands a runner would clear in one three-hour block for about $85 in the US or $105 CAD. Weighing the app route? Our Taskrabbit alternatives guide compares what each platform charges and how it vets people.
How to Vet an Errand Runner or Personal Assistant
- Check identity, not just reviews. This person will hold your keys, your card or your parent’s prescriptions. Pros on Masters’ Guild are identity-verified with government ID and a live selfie check.
- Agree the money rules up front. Who fronts purchases, how receipts are shared, and no markup on items bought for you.
- Get the minimum and mileage policy in writing before the first booking.
- Start with one weekly three-hour block and a written task list.
- Use held payment. On Masters’ Guild, payment is released only when the job is done; find a personal assistant near you or post the errand list for pros in Toronto and 160+ other cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire someone to run errands?
About $28/hour on average in the US in 2026, with direct hires starting near $21/hour and app bookings at $25–$36. In Canada, errand runners start at about $35/hour CAD in major cities. Expect a one- to four-hour minimum.
How much does a part-time personal assistant cost?
Around $23/hour on average in both the US and Canada for a direct hire, with most arrangements between $20 and $35/hour. Executive-level assistants charge $35–$75/hour in the US and $26–$49/hour in Canada.
Do errand services charge for mileage?
Often, yes. Many absorb short drives and bill mileage beyond about 10 minutes of driving, and purchases made for you are reimbursed at cost. Confirm both before booking.
Is an agency or an app cheaper for errand help?
Apps usually cost less: Taskrabbit keeps a 15% service fee, while staffing agencies mark up wages by 35–41%. A marketplace where you set the budget and pros make offers, like Masters’ Guild, avoids both.
Ready to hand off the list? Post your errands or assistant hours as a quest with your budget and get offers from verified local pros. Get quotes on MastersGuild.
