HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a face painter in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A face painter in Ireland costs €60–€180 per hour, typically around €100. 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 a face painter in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers face painter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — duration of Service — the duration of face painting can vary based on the number of guests and complexity of designs.
- How does complexity of designs requested change the price?An intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does number of attendees change the price?Doing them together saves the cost of a second visit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the event change the price?An extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Materials Used — professional face painters use skin-safe, non-toxic paints that are easy to remove — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a face painter 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 face painter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — duration of Service — the duration of face painting can vary based on the number of guests and complexity of designs.
A good answer: An intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Doing them together saves the cost of a second visit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: An extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Materials Used — professional face painters use skin-safe, non-toxic paints that are easy to remove — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a face painter 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 — event Types — face painting services are popular at various events, including birthday parties, festivals, and corporate gatherings.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the face painter starts, and an itemised invoice after — party Themes — face painters can create designs that match specific party themes, such as superheroes, princesses, or animals.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of designs requested — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct.
- Number of attendees — doing them together saves the cost of a second visit.
- Duration of the event — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate.
- Party Themes — consumables add up quietly across a long job.
- 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: complexity of designs requested — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct
- They will not talk about it: number of attendees — doing them together saves the cost of a second visit
- They will not talk about it: duration of the event — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate
- A price for the face painter 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 face painter has begun
What a face painter costs: €60–€180 per hour
Most face painters quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Children's birthday party face painting and Festival and event face painting each carry their own band. Face Painter 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
Face painters 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 designs requested — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct — that is what the face painter is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneNumber of attendees — doing them together saves the cost of a second visit — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of the event — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherParty Themes — consumables add up quietly across a long job — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the face painter is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, materials Used — the spec sheet is where most of the cost difference sits.
- Party Themes
- Face painters can create designs that match specific party themes, such as superheroes, princesses, or animals.
- Event Types
- Face painting services are popular at various events, including birthday parties, festivals, and corporate gatherings.
- Materials Used
- Professional face painters use skin-safe, non-toxic paints that are easy to remove.
- Duration of Service
- The duration of face painting can vary based on the number of guests and complexity of designs.
- Special Effects Face Painting
- Advanced techniques to create dramatic looks for events like Halloween or theatrical performances, using professional-grade materials.
- Themed Party Face Painting
- Custom designs that match specific party themes, ideal for events like costume parties or themed celebrations.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a face painter: questions people ask
The cost of a face painter can vary based on experience, location, and the complexity of designs requested. Additional factors include travel expenses and whether the service is for a private party or a larger event.
A typical face painting session can last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the number of guests and the intricacy of the designs. It's advisable to discuss the expected duration with the face painter beforehand.
Same-day bookings may be possible, but they depend on the availability of face painters in your area. It's recommended to contact local professionals as early as possible to secure your booking.
Yes, many face painters also offer additional entertainment services, such as balloon twisting or glitter tattoos. Booking multiple services can sometimes result in a package discount, so it's worth inquiring.
Face painting services usually do not include body painting or designs that cover large areas of the body. Additionally, face painters typically do not provide other entertainment services unless specified in advance.
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
Face painters near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — BUILDING and CONSTRUCTION SERVICES (Private dwellings and 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