Local contractor rankings
Skill Mammoth Top Rated
Lists of the best local contractors, built from Google reviews and state license records. No applications, no fees and no paid spots. The method is below, in full.
See the Twin Cities plumber lists
Lists you can read now
Plumbers in the Twin Cities
81 licensed companies across 20 cities, from 526 listings checked on Nov 10, 2026.
Apple Valley, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Lakeville, Maple Grove, Maplewood, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Roseville, Shakopee, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, Woodbury
More trades and cities
Plumbers in the Twin Cities are the first set. Other trades follow the same method, each checked against its own state license file.
How the ranking works
A company has to clear four checks before it is scored. Then one formula sets the order.
The four checks
- Google lists it in the trade. We pull the listings Google Maps shows around each city center, up to 100 per city, and keep the ones in the trade's category.
- 4.5 stars or better, 30 reviews or more. Below that there is too little to judge.
- An active state license. For plumbers, that is a Minnesota plumbing contractor license in the Department of Labor and Industry's nightly file, matched by phone number or business name. You can confirm any license on the state lookup.
- Close to the city. Based in the city, or within 8 miles of its center.
The score
- Start with the Google rating, adjusted for review count. A 5.0 from 35 reviews is less certain than a 4.9 from 3,000. So each rating is blended with the metro average (4.88 for plumbers) as if the company had 150 extra average reviews.
- Subtract a little for distance. 0.015 stars for each mile between the company and the city center.
- Sort. The 10 highest scores make the list. One entry per licensed company, even if it has several Google listings.
Example: a company with 5.0 stars and 100 reviews, 4 miles out, scores (100 x 5.0 + 150 x 4.88) / 250 = 4.93, minus 0.06 for distance, which is 4.87.
What the lists do not measure
- Price. We do not collect quotes.
- Work quality beyond what customers wrote on Google.
- Companies whose Google listing uses a different name and phone than their license. Those get fixed when the owner emails us.
Frequently asked questions
What is Skill Mammoth Top Rated?
A set of local contractor rankings built from public data. A company has to hold 4.5 stars or better on Google across at least 30 reviews, match an active state license and work near the city. The ten best scores in each city make the list and earn a badge for the year.
How do I get my company on a list?
You do not apply. If your Google listing and your state license meet the criteria, the formula picks you up on the next pass. If you think you qualify and are missing, email alex@skillmammoth.com with your license number.
Does it cost anything?
No. Being listed is free, the badge is free, and there is no paid tier or sponsored position.
Who is behind it?
Skill Mammoth, a marketing company for home service contractors founded in 2023. We publish the method in full so anyone can check a ranking. A client that makes a list is ranked by the same formula and labeled as a client on the page.
How often are the lists updated?
Each list shows the date its data was pulled. The current 2026 lists were built on Nov 10, 2026. Ratings and review counts move every week, so treat the figures as a snapshot of that date.
I am on a list. Can I use the badge?
Yes. Each city page has a light and a dark badge with code you can paste into your website. The badge links back to the list so customers can see how you earned it. Use it on your site, your email signature or your printed material for the year shown.
Corrections: email alex@skillmammoth.com with the list, the company and what is wrong.