HOW TO HIRE · PERSONAL & LIFESTYLE · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a shoe repairer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A shoe repair in Ireland costs €15–€80 per pair, typically around €35. 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 shoe repairer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers shoe repairer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — cleaning and Polishing — shoe cleaning and polishing services restore the shine and remove dirt and stains.
- How does type of repair needed change the price?The state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does materials used change the price?The grade you choose changes the bill more than the labour does. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does brand of the shoe change the price?It is checked on the visit because it changes the method. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Custom Modifications — custom modifications can include adding insoles for comfort or adjusting the fit of the shoe — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a shoe repairer 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. 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 shoe repairer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — cleaning and Polishing — shoe cleaning and polishing services restore the shine and remove dirt and stains.
A good answer: The state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The grade you choose changes the bill more than the labour does. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is checked on the visit because it changes the method. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Custom Modifications — custom modifications can include adding insoles for comfort or adjusting the fit of the shoe — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a shoe repairer 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 — leather Conditioning — leather conditioning helps maintain the suppleness and appearance of leather shoes.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the shoe repairer starts, and an itemised invoice after — basic Repairs — basic shoe repairs often include resoling, heel replacements, and stitching.
Getting the quote right
- Type of repair needed — the state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed.
- Materials used — the grade you choose changes the bill more than the labour does.
- Brand of the shoe — it is checked on the visit because it changes the method.
- Complexity of the work involved — it is worth being specific about when you ask for a price.
- 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: type of repair needed — the state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed
- They will not talk about it: materials used — the grade you choose changes the bill more than the labour does
- They will not talk about it: brand of the shoe — it is checked on the visit because it changes the method
- A price for the shoe repairer 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 shoe repairer has begun
What a shoe repairer costs: €15–€80 per pair
The figures are for the job, per pair, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Resoling and Stitching each carry their own band. Shoe Repair 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
Shoe repairers 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 firstType of repair needed — the state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed — that is what the shoe repairer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneMaterials used — the grade you choose changes the bill more than the labour does — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfBrand of the shoe — it is checked on the visit because it changes the method — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the work involved — it is worth being specific about when you ask for a price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the shoe repairer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, look for cobblers with relevant qualifications or certifications in shoe repair.
- Basic Repairs
- Basic shoe repairs often include resoling, heel replacements, and stitching.
- Leather Conditioning
- Leather conditioning helps maintain the suppleness and appearance of leather shoes.
- Custom Modifications
- Custom modifications can include adding insoles for comfort or adjusting the fit of the shoe.
- Cleaning and Polishing
- Shoe cleaning and polishing services restore the shine and remove dirt and stains.
- Resoling
- This involves replacing the worn-out sole of a shoe, restoring its grip and comfort.
- Stitching
- Repairing seams or stitching that has come undone, which can help prolong the life of the shoe.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a shoe repairer: questions people ask
The cost of shoe repairs can vary based on the type of repair needed, the materials used, and the brand of the shoe. More complex repairs or high-end brands may incur higher costs.
The duration of a shoe repair can range from a few hours to several days, depending on the complexity of the job. Basic repairs are often quicker, while custom modifications may take longer.
Most shoe repairs can be handled by general cobblers, but specific high-end or designer repairs may require a specialist. It's advisable to check the cobbler's experience with your shoe type.
Many shoe repair shops offer same-day services for simple repairs, but this depends on the shop's workload. It's best to call ahead to confirm availability for urgent requests.
Yes, many cobblers allow you to book multiple shoe repairs in one visit. This can save time and may even qualify you for a discount on bulk services.
Repairs that involve extensive structural damage, such as broken frames or severe mold, are often out of scope. In such cases, it may be more cost-effective to replace the shoes.
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