HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire event lighting hire in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An event lighting hire in Ireland costs €200–€1,500 per event, typically around €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 event lighting hire in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers event lighting hire work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — special Effects Lighting — incorporate special effects like strobe lights, lasers, or fog machines to elevate your event.
- How does various factors including the type change the price?Better grades are harder to source and dearer to buy. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does amount of lighting equipment required change the price?Some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the hire change the price?Work that spans two visits costs more than one long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Themed Lighting — tailor your event's lighting to fit a specific theme, such as colour washes for a corporate event or disco balls for a party — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a event lighting hire 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 DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
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
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
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, and employer's liability if they bring crew. 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 →
A good answer: No register covers event lighting hire work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — special Effects Lighting — incorporate special effects like strobe lights, lasers, or fog machines to elevate your event.
A good answer: Better grades are harder to source and dearer to buy. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Work that spans two visits costs more than one long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Themed Lighting — tailor your event's lighting to fit a specific theme, such as colour washes for a corporate event or disco balls for a party — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a event lighting hire job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — stage Lighting — for performances and presentations, stage lighting is essential.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the event lighting hire starts, and an itemised invoice after — ambient Lighting — enhance the atmosphere of your event with ambient lighting solutions such as LED uplighters and fairy lights.
Getting the quote right
- Various factors including the type — better grades are harder to source and dearer to buy.
- Amount of lighting equipment required — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait.
- Duration of the hire — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one.
- Any additional services such as installation or technical support — the quote moves with this more than with anything else listed.
- 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: various factors including the type — better grades are harder to source and dearer to buy
- They will not talk about it: amount of lighting equipment required — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait
- They will not talk about it: duration of the hire — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one
- A price for the event lighting hire 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 event lighting hire has begun
What event lighting hire costs: €200–€1,500 per event
The figures are for the job, per event, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Wedding lighting and Corporate event lighting each carry their own band. Event Lighting Hire 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
Event lighting hires 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.
- Look firstVarious factors including the type — better grades are harder to source and dearer to buy — that is what the event lighting hire is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneAmount of lighting equipment required — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of the hire — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAny additional services such as installation or technical support — the quote moves with this more than with anything else listed — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the event lighting hire is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of the setup — an unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted.
- Ambient Lighting
- Enhance the atmosphere of your event with ambient lighting solutions such as LED uplighters and fairy lights.
- Stage Lighting
- For performances and presentations, stage lighting is essential.
- Themed Lighting
- Tailor your event's lighting to fit a specific theme, such as colour washes for a corporate event or disco balls for a party.
- Special Effects Lighting
- Incorporate special effects like strobe lights, lasers, or fog machines to elevate your event.
- Wedding Lighting
- Specialised lighting setups for weddings, including fairy lights, uplighting, and spotlights to enhance the venue's ambience.
- Party Lighting
- Dynamic lighting arrangements for parties, including disco lights, LED effects, and themed setups to energise the celebration.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring event lighting hire: questions people ask
The cost is influenced by various factors including the type and amount of lighting equipment required, the duration of the hire, and any additional services such as installation or technical support. More elaborate setups or themed lighting will typically increase the overall price.
Lighting equipment can usually be hired for a few hours to several days, depending on your event's needs. Most companies offer flexible rental periods, but it's essential to confirm availability and pricing for the desired duration.
Same-day availability may be possible, but it largely depends on the company's stock and scheduling. It's best to contact the provider directly to check for last-minute options and any potential additional fees.
Many lighting hire companies offer packages that include related services, such as sound equipment or staging. Booking multiple services can sometimes lead to discounts, so it's worth inquiring about package deals.
Out of scope services may include extensive electrical work, venue modifications, or lighting design consultation. It's important to clarify with your provider what is included in the hire and any additional services that may incur extra charges.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in events & entertainment
Event lighting hires near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — ELECTRICIAN SERVICES - WORK ON FIXTURES (Private dwellings, Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only