HOW TO HIRE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH

How to hire an animator in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

An animator in Ireland costs €500–€5,000 per project, typically around €1,500. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.

  • Search and compare — no account needed
  • Nearest to you first
  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring an animator in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers animator work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — motion Graphics — motion graphics combine graphic design with animation to create engaging visuals for videos, presentations, and advertisements.
  2. How does animator's experience level change the price?An established name can charge more because the diary is full. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does duration of the animation change the price?The time agreed is what the quote is built on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does project complexity change the price?Harder work needs better tools and more setting up. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?3D Animation — 3D animation brings characters and objects to life in a three-dimensional space, often used in films, video games, and virtual reality — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a animator job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

NO REGISTER APPLIES. Anyone may trade as a designer, developer or marketer, and no qualification is required. Everything that protects you is in the contract, and the clause people forget is OWNERSHIP: without an assignment in writing the creator is the first owner of copyright in what they make, so you may be paying for a licence to use your own logo or website rather than for the thing itself.

Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.

What to check instead

Who owns the work on delivery, in writing — assignment, not just 'full rights'; What happens to the source files, the domain and the hosting account, named; The deliverables listed with a number — how many concepts, how many revisions; The milestones and what each payment is for; For ads, whether the spend is separate from the fee, and who holds the ad account; Two references from clients whose work you can actually see.

Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.

Insurance

Expect professional indemnity — for tech work, ask specifically about cyber cover. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.

Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.

Trader or private seller

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.

Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.

VAT

VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.

Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →

“Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?”

A good answer: No register covers animator work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — motion Graphics — motion graphics combine graphic design with animation to create engaging visuals for videos, presentations, and advertisements.

“How does animator's experience level change the price?”

A good answer: An established name can charge more because the diary is full. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does duration of the animation change the price?”

A good answer: The time agreed is what the quote is built on. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does project complexity change the price?”

A good answer: Harder work needs better tools and more setting up. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: 3D Animation — 3D animation brings characters and objects to life in a three-dimensional space, often used in films, video games, and virtual reality — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a animator job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”

A good answer: Expect professional indemnity — for tech work, ask specifically about cyber cover — 2D Animation — 2D animation includes creating flat, two-dimensional images that can be animated for various uses, such as explainer videos and social media content.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the animator starts, and an itemised invoice after — character Animation — character animation involves creating animated characters for various media, such as films, video games, and advertisements.

Getting the quote right

  • Animator's experience level — an established name can charge more because the diary is full.
  • Duration of the animation — the time agreed is what the quote is built on.
  • Project complexity — harder work needs better tools and more setting up.
  • Level of detail required — anything bespoke takes longer to plan before it is made.
  • In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
  • What is NOT included, named
  • Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
  • The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register

Walk away if

  • They will not talk about it: animator's experience level — an established name can charge more because the diary is full
  • They will not talk about it: duration of the animation — the time agreed is what the quote is built on
  • They will not talk about it: project complexity — harder work needs better tools and more setting up
  • A price for the animator before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
  • Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
  • No written quote, or one that moves once the animator has begun
LOW
€500
TYPICAL
€1,500
HIGH
€5,000

What an animator costs: €500–€5,000 per project

The figures are for the job, per project, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. 2d animator and 3d animator each carry their own band. Animator price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Animators near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. Look firstAnimator's experience level — an established name can charge more because the diary is full — that is what the animator is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneDuration of the animation — the time agreed is what the quote is built on — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfProject complexity — harder work needs better tools and more setting up — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherLevel of detail required — anything bespoke takes longer to plan before it is made — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the animator is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, look for animators with a portfolio that matches your desired style and quality.

Character Animation
Character animation involves creating animated characters for various media, such as films, video games, and advertisements.
2D Animation
2D animation includes creating flat, two-dimensional images that can be animated for various uses, such as explainer videos and social media content.
3D Animation
3D animation brings characters and objects to life in a three-dimensional space, often used in films, video games, and virtual reality.
Motion Graphics
Motion graphics combine graphic design with animation to create engaging visuals for videos, presentations, and advertisements.
2D Animator
Creates flat, two-dimensional animations, often used for character animation in videos or games.
3D Animator
Specialises in creating three-dimensional animations, typically for films, games, or architectural visualisations.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — motion Graphics — motion graphics combine graphic design with animation to create engaging visuals for videos, presentations, and advertisements, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the animator has gone.
Test what was done3D Animation — 3D animation brings characters and objects to life in a three-dimensional space, often used in films, video games, and virtual reality — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. 2D Animation — 2D animation includes creating flat, two-dimensional images that can be animated for various uses, such as explainer videos and social media content — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a animator's card means something — character Animation — character animation involves creating animated characters for various media, such as films, video games, and advertisements.

STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itThere is no register, so the route is the consumer body and, if needed, the courts.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.

Hiring an animator: questions people ask

The cost of hiring an animator can be influenced by factors such as the complexity of the project, the animator's experience level, and the duration of the animation. Custom character designs and intricate animations typically require more time and expertise, increasing the overall cost.

The duration of an animation project can vary significantly based on its complexity and length. Simple animations may take a few days, while more complex projects could take several weeks or even months to complete.

Same-day or emergency animation services are rare due to the time-intensive nature of animation work. However, some animators may offer expedited services for an additional fee, depending on their current workload and project requirements.

Out of scope tasks for an animator may include scriptwriting, voiceover work, or sound design, which are often handled by other professionals. It's important to clarify the scope of work with your animator before starting the project to avoid misunderstandings.

NO REGISTER APPLIES. Anyone may trade as a designer, developer or marketer, and no qualification is required. Everything that protects you is in the contract, and the clause people forget is OWNERSHIP: without an assignment in writing the creator is the first owner of copyright in what they make, so you may be paying for a licence to use your own logo or website rather than for the thing itself.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and put right if it is not. Say what is wrong in writing first.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in marketing, design & tech

How to hire: Web DesignerHow to hire: Web DeveloperHow to hire: WordPress DeveloperHow to hire: E-commerce DeveloperHow to hire: Shopify ExpertHow to hire: App DeveloperHow to hire: iOS DeveloperHow to hire: Android DeveloperAll 701 hiring guides →

Animators near you

Animators in DublinAnimators in CorkAnimators in GalwayAnimators in LimerickAll animators on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000
  2. CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2022
  4. Courts Service — small claims
  5. Revenue — VIDEO - CONVERSION / TRANSFER (Photographic and related services) — Reduced rate
  6. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  7. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only