HOW TO HIRE · HEALTH & WELLBEING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a massage therapist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A massage therapist in Ireland costs €50–€100 per session, typically around €70. 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 massage therapist in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers massage therapist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — additional Services — some therapists provide add-ons like aromatherapy or hot stone treatments to enhance relaxation.
- How does therapist's experience change the price?The rate follows the depth of experience behind it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does type of massage offered change the price?The choice of style changes the skill the job needs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the session change the price?A longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Therapeutic Benefits — massage therapy can alleviate stress, improve circulation, and enhance flexibility — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a massage therapist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No statutory register applies
No statutory register applies to this treatment in Ireland. The Department of Health's own position is that people who provide complementary therapies are not subject to professional statutory regulation, though consumer, competition, contract and criminal law still apply to them. CORU registers health and social care professions by protected title — dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, podiatrists, speech and language therapists and the rest — and this is not one of them, so nobody practising it can be 'CORU registered' and a claim to be is describing something that does not exist. There are voluntary registers run by professional bodies, and they are worth something: a body that can strike somebody off is a body with a complaints procedure. None of them is the 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
Professional indemnity insurance, the insurer's name and the limit — for a hands-on treatment this is the only recourse that exists; The qualification and who awarded it, by name — then look the awarding body up yourself rather than taking the certificate on the wall as the check; Membership of a professional body, and whether that body has a complaints procedure you could actually use; How many hours of training the qualification took, because in an unregistered field a weekend course and a three-year diploma carry the same word on the certificate; What the session includes, how long it is and what a cancellation costs, in writing before the first one; Garda vetting where the treatment is for a child or a vulnerable adult, which is a legal requirement for that work under the National Vetting Bureau Acts.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect professional indemnity insurance as well as public liability — ask for the insurer and the limit. 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 massage therapist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — additional Services — some therapists provide add-ons like aromatherapy or hot stone treatments to enhance relaxation.
A good answer: The rate follows the depth of experience behind it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The choice of style changes the skill the job needs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Therapeutic Benefits — massage therapy can alleviate stress, improve circulation, and enhance flexibility — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a massage therapist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance as well as public liability — ask for the insurer and the limit — types of Massage — massage therapists offer various modalities such as Swedish, deep tissue, and sports massage.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the massage therapist starts, and an itemised invoice after — reflexology — A technique that involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet or hands, believed to correspond to different organs and systems.
Getting the quote right
- Therapist's experience — the rate follows the depth of experience behind it.
- Type of massage offered — the choice of style changes the skill the job needs.
- Duration of the session — a longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down.
- Complexity of the techniques used — intricate work needs a steadier hand and more time.
- 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: therapist's experience — the rate follows the depth of experience behind it
- They will not talk about it: type of massage offered — the choice of style changes the skill the job needs
- They will not talk about it: duration of the session — a longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down
- A price for the massage therapist 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 massage therapist has begun
What a massage therapist costs: €50–€100 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Swedish massage and Deep tissue massage each carry their own band. Massage Therapist 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
Massage therapists 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 firstTherapist's experience — the rate follows the depth of experience behind it — that is what the massage therapist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneType of massage offered — the choice of style changes the skill the job needs — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of the session — a longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the techniques used — intricate work needs a steadier hand and more time — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the massage therapist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, any specialised equipment required — a fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one.
- Types of Massage
- Massage therapists offer various modalities such as Swedish, deep tissue, and sports massage.
- Therapeutic Benefits
- Massage therapy can alleviate stress, improve circulation, and enhance flexibility.
- Additional Services
- Some therapists provide add-ons like aromatherapy or hot stone treatments to enhance relaxation.
- Swedish Massage
- A gentle form of full-body massage that uses long strokes, kneading, and circular movements to promote relaxation.
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Targets deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, often used to relieve chronic pain and tension.
- Sports Massage
- Designed for athletes, this massage focuses on preventing and treating injuries, enhancing performance, and aiding recovery.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a massage therapist: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the therapist's experience, location, and the type of massage offered. specialised techniques or longer sessions may also increase the price.
Most massage therapy sessions last between 60 to 90 minutes. Some therapists also offer shorter sessions, but longer appointments are recommended for comprehensive treatment.
For general relaxation, any qualified massage therapist will suffice. However, if you have specific health issues, seeking a specialist with additional training in therapeutic techniques may be beneficial.
While some therapists may offer same-day appointments, availability can be limited. It's best to book in advance, especially for popular times or weekends.
Yes, many therapists offer packages that include multiple treatments or related services like acupuncture or physiotherapy. It's advisable to discuss your needs when booking.
Massage therapy does not include medical treatments or diagnoses. If you have serious health conditions, it's important to consult a healthcare professional before starting massage therapy.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in health & wellbeing
Massage therapists near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Department of Health — complementary therapies (updated 26 October 2020)
- CORU — public protection FAQs: which registers are open
- Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 1 — exempt activities
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — VAT rates
- Revenue — MASSAGE SERVICES ( Supply of ) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only