HOW TO HIRE · PERSONAL & LIFESTYLE · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an errand runner in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An errand runner in Ireland costs €20–€45 per hour, typically around €30. 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 errand runner in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers errand runner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — household Chores — errand runners can assist with various household chores like cleaning, laundry, or organising.
- How does complexity of the tasks change the price?Fine work is checked more often, and checking takes time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does distance traveled change the price?City rates reflect what it costs to work there. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the service change the price?The time agreed is what the quote is built on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Post Office Runs — if you need to send parcels or collect mail, errand runners can take care of these tasks — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a errand runner 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 to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
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
Whether they are a trader — a business name and an invoice, not a favour with money attached; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; For anyone in your home unaccompanied, references you actually telephone; For food, whether they hold food-safety training and where the food is prepared; Exactly what the hours cover and what counts as extra; Keys and access in writing: who holds what, and how it comes back.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too. 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.
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. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
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 →
A good answer: No register covers errand runner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — household Chores — errand runners can assist with various household chores like cleaning, laundry, or organising.
A good answer: Fine work is checked more often, and checking takes time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: City rates reflect what it costs to work there. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The time agreed is what the quote is built on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Post Office Runs — if you need to send parcels or collect mail, errand runners can take care of these tasks — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a errand runner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too — pet Care — from dog walking to taking pets to the vet, errand runners can help manage your pet's needs when you're busy.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the errand runner starts, and an itemised invoice after — pet Care Errands — this includes taking pets for walks, visiting the vet, or picking up pet supplies.
Booking 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
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the tasks — fine work is checked more often, and checking takes time
- They will not talk about it: distance traveled — city rates reflect what it costs to work there
- They will not talk about it: duration of the service — the time agreed is what the quote is built on
- A price for the errand runner 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 errand runner has begun
What an errand runner costs: €20–€45 per hour
Most errand runners quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Grocery shopping and Package delivery each carry their own band. Errand Runner 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
Errand runners 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 firstComplexity of the tasks — fine work is checked more often, and checking takes time — that is what the errand runner is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneDistance traveled — city rates reflect what it costs to work there — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of the service — the time agreed is what the quote is built on — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherTime required to complete each errand — time spent setting up and clearing away is part of the booking — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the errand runner is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, consider the reliability and reputation of the errand runner, as they will be handling personal tasks.
- Pet Care
- From dog walking to taking pets to the vet, errand runners can help manage your pet's needs when you're busy.
- Post Office Runs
- If you need to send parcels or collect mail, errand runners can take care of these tasks.
- Household Chores
- Errand runners can assist with various household chores like cleaning, laundry, or organising.
- Grocery Shopping
- This involves creating a shopping list, purchasing groceries, and delivering them to your home.
- Package Delivery
- An errand runner can pick up packages from various locations and deliver them to specified addresses.
- Waiting Services
- A professional can wait at your home for deliveries or service appointments, allowing you to carry on with your day.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an errand runner: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the complexity of the tasks, the distance traveled, and the duration of the service. Additional factors include urgency and any special requirements for the errands.
The duration of an errand run can vary widely depending on the tasks involved. Simple errands may take around 30 minutes, while more complex tasks could take several hours.
For general errands like shopping or pet care, a general errand runner is sufficient. However, for specialised tasks such as electrical or plumbing work, a qualified professional is required.
Many errand runners offer same-day service, but availability can vary. It’s best to check in advance, especially for urgent tasks or during busy periods.
Yes, you can book multiple related errands at once. This can often lead to time savings and may even result in a better rate for bulk bookings.
NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
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