HOW TO HIRE · GARDEN & OUTDOOR · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a hedge cutter in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A hedge trimming in Ireland costs €30–€70 per hour, typically around €45. 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 hedge cutter in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers hedge cutter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — specialised Techniques — some hedge trimming jobs may require specialised techniques, such as topiary or the shaping of decorative hedges.
- How does type of hedge change the price?The look you want decides the method, and the method sets the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the job change the price?Complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does time required to complete the work 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?Services such as tree removal, landscaping alterations, or the maintenance of other garden features are generally not included in hedge trimming — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a hedge cutter 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 GARDENERS. Anyone may trade as one. Two specific rules do bite, though, and neither is obvious: professional PESTICIDE and weedkiller use requires certification, and taking your green waste away makes them a waste carrier, which IS registered. A gardener who bags your clippings and drives off without a waste permit is the commonest unlicensed act in this whole family.
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 take the green waste away — and if so, their waste permit or carrier registration, because the liability for fly-tipped waste follows YOU; Certification for any lawn treatment, moss killer or weedkiller applied professionally; Public liability — a mower throws stones and a hedge cutter reaches a window; Whether the price is per visit or per hour, and what a visit includes; Who disposes of the arisings on a one-off clearance, priced as a line item; For a regular contract, what happens in winter when there is less to do.
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; ask the limit, because a stone through a window is the routine claim. 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 hedge cutter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — specialised Techniques — some hedge trimming jobs may require specialised techniques, such as topiary or the shaping of decorative hedges.
A good answer: The look you want decides the method, and the method sets the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected. — 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: Services such as tree removal, landscaping alterations, or the maintenance of other garden features are generally not included in hedge trimming — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a hedge cutter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; ask the limit, because a stone through a window is the routine claim — seasonal Maintenance — many hedge trimming services offer seasonal maintenance plans, where regular trimming is scheduled throughout the year.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the hedge cutter starts, and an itemised invoice after — debris Removal — after trimming, professionals often provide debris removal services, clearing away cut branches and leaves from the property.
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: type of hedge — the look you want decides the method, and the method sets the price
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the job — complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected
- They will not talk about it: time required to complete the work — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate
- A price for the hedge cutter 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 hedge cutter has begun
What a hedge cutter costs: €30–€70 per hour
Most hedge cutters quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Regular hedge trimming and Overgrown hedge reduction each carry their own band. Hedge Trimming 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
Hedge cutters 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 firstType of hedge — the look you want decides the method, and the method sets the price — that is what the hedge cutter is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the job — complicated work is priced with room for the unexpected — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfTime required to complete the work — 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 togetherCondition of the hedges — the state it is in decides how much has to come off first — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the hedge cutter is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, materials required — consumables add up quietly across a long job.
- Basic Hedge Shaping
- Hedge trimming services typically include the shaping of hedges to enhance their appearance and promote healthy growth.
- Debris Removal
- After trimming, professionals often provide debris removal services, clearing away cut branches and leaves from the property.
- Seasonal Maintenance
- Many hedge trimming services offer seasonal maintenance plans, where regular trimming is scheduled throughout the year.
- Specialised Techniques
- Some hedge trimming jobs may require specialised techniques, such as topiary or the shaping of decorative hedges.
- Regular Hedge Trimming
- Routine maintenance to keep hedges healthy and well-shaped.
- Overgrown Hedge Reduction
- Significantly reducing the height and width of overgrown hedges.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a hedge cutter: questions people ask
The cost of hedge trimming can be influenced by several factors, including the size and type of hedge, the complexity of the job, and the time required to complete the work. Additional services, such as debris removal or specialised shaping, may also add to the overall price.
The duration of a hedge trimming job can vary based on the size and condition of the hedge. Generally, a standard job may take anywhere from one to three hours, but larger or more complex hedges can require additional time.
For most hedge trimming tasks, a general landscaping professional is sufficient. However, if your hedge requires specialised techniques or you have a particularly large or complex hedge, it may be beneficial to hire a specialist.
Same-day service availability for hedge trimming can depend on the provider and their current schedule. It's best to contact local professionals directly to inquire about their availability for urgent jobs.
Yes, many gardening professionals offer package deals or discounts for booking multiple services together, such as hedge trimming and lawn care. This can be a cost-effective way to maintain your garden.
Services such as tree removal, landscaping alterations, or the maintenance of other garden features are generally not included in hedge trimming. Always clarify with your service provider what is covered in your specific job.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in garden & outdoor
Hedge cutters near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- National Waste Collection Permit Office — facility register
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — GARDENING (CUTTING HEDGES) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only