HOW TO HIRE · LESSONS & TUTORING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an english tutor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An english tutor in Ireland costs €30–€60 per hour, typically around €40. 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
TWO WAYS TO BUY THIS
Which do you need?
An individual, by the hour
You book a person for a set number of hours and they do what you ask. There is no scope and no quote: you are buying time. Best where the work is routine, you can say what you want done, and you would rather pay for two hours than for a job.
A company, for the job
You describe the job and they price it. There is a scope, a written quote, a team and somebody supervising it. Best where the work is one big push, where it needs equipment, or where you want one party answerable for the result.
What changes between them
The rate per hour against a price for the job; one person against a team; your own instructions against a written scope; and VAT, which an individual under the registration threshold does not charge at all.
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an english tutor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers english tutor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — homework Assistance — support with English homework assignments, helping students understand concepts and improve their writing skills.
- How does tutor's qualifications change the price?Accreditation narrows the field and lifts the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the subject matter change the price?Harder work needs better tools and more setting up. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Group Lessons — small group sessions that encourage interaction and collaborative learning — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a english tutor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
- Who insures you, and what is the policy number?Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy — literature Tutor — guides students through English literature, enhancing comprehension and analytical skills.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
By the hour
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
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
Garda vetting, shown to you, with its date; A subject qualification, and how much of their work is this subject at this level; Whether lessons are one-to-one or shared, and where they happen; For online lessons, whether sessions are recorded and who holds the recording; Cancellation and payment terms in writing — block-paid lessons are the commonest dispute; Two references from current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
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
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. 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 →
Insurance
Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
A company
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
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
Garda vetting, shown to you, with its date; A subject qualification, and how much of their work is this subject at this level; Whether lessons are one-to-one or shared, and where they happen; For online lessons, whether sessions are recorded and who holds the recording; Cancellation and payment terms in writing — block-paid lessons are the commonest dispute; Two references from current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
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
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. 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 →
Insurance
Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy. 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.
A good answer: No register covers english tutor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — homework Assistance — support with English homework assignments, helping students understand concepts and improve their writing skills.
A good answer: Accreditation narrows the field and lifts the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Harder work needs better tools and more setting up. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Group Lessons — small group sessions that encourage interaction and collaborative learning — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a english tutor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy — literature Tutor — guides students through English literature, enhancing comprehension and analytical skills.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the english tutor starts, and an itemised invoice after — exam Preparation Tutor — prepares students for English proficiency exams such as IELTS or TOEFL with targeted strategies and practice tests.
A good answer: No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately — exam Preparation Tutor — prepares students for English proficiency exams such as IELTS or TOEFL with targeted strategies and practice tests.
Getting the quote right, or booking by the hour
By the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
- Tutor's qualifications — accreditation narrows the field and lifts the price.
- Complexity of the subject matter — harder work needs better tools and more setting up.
- Complexity of the material — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
A company
- Tutor's qualifications — accreditation narrows the field and lifts the price.
- Complexity of the subject matter — harder work needs better tools and more setting up.
- Complexity of the material — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest.
- Frequency of sessions — most of this work is priced by the hour.
- 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: tutor's qualifications — accreditation narrows the field and lifts the price
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the subject matter — harder work needs better tools and more setting up
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the material — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest
- A price for the english tutor 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 english tutor has begun
What an english tutor costs: €30–€60 per hour
Most english tutors quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Academic english tutor and Business english tutor each carry their own band. English Tutor 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
English tutors 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, or book by the hour.
- Look firstTutor's qualifications — accreditation narrows the field and lifts the price — that is what the english tutor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the subject matter — harder work needs better tools and more setting up — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the material — the trickiest part of the job often takes the longest — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherFrequency of sessions — most of this work is priced by the hour — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the english tutor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, location — a mobile visit costs more than going to them.
- Group Lessons
- Small group sessions that encourage interaction and collaborative learning.
- Homework Assistance
- Support with English homework assignments, helping students understand concepts and improve their writing skills.
- Academic English Tutor
- Focuses on helping students improve their English skills for school assessments and coursework.
- Business English Tutor
- Teaches professionals how to communicate effectively in a business context, including writing emails and participating in meetings.
- Conversational English Tutor
- Aims to boost fluency and confidence in speaking English through informal conversation practice.
- ESL (English as a Second Language) Tutor
- Specialises in teaching English to non-native speakers, focusing on foundational language skills.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an english tutor: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the tutor's qualifications, experience, and the complexity of the subject matter. Tutors with specialised skills or extensive experience may charge higher rates.
Most tutoring sessions last between one to two hours. The duration may depend on the student's needs and the specific goals of the tutoring.
For advanced topics, such as academic writing or exam preparation, it is beneficial to choose a tutor with relevant qualifications or experience. However, many general tutors can provide valuable assistance as well.
Same-day availability varies by tutor. Some may offer last-minute sessions, especially if they have flexible schedules, while others may require advance booking.
Yes, many tutors offer packages for multiple sessions, which can often result in a lower overall cost. This arrangement can also help maintain continuity in learning.
Tutors generally focus on language skills, reading comprehension, and writing assistance. They typically do not provide services like editing for publication or in-depth literary analysis unless specified.
MORE GUIDES