HOW TO HIRE · PERSONAL & LIFESTYLE · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a tailor / seamstress in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A tailor / seamstress in Ireland costs €30–€100 per hour, typically around €50. 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 tailor / seamstress in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers tailor / seamstress work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — fabric and Material Selection — tailors and seamstresses assist clients in choosing the right fabrics and materials for their projects.
- How does complexity of the job change the price?It decides whether a specialist is needed at all. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does type of garment change the price?A premium option takes longer to get right. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does materials used change the price?What goes into the job is priced separately from the time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?While tailors focus on garment alterations and custom creations, they usually do not provide dry cleaning or extensive fabric care services — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a tailor / seamstress 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 tailor / seamstress work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — fabric and Material Selection — tailors and seamstresses assist clients in choosing the right fabrics and materials for their projects.
A good answer: It decides whether a specialist is needed at all. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A premium option takes longer to get right. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: What goes into the job is priced separately from the time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: While tailors focus on garment alterations and custom creations, they usually do not provide dry cleaning or extensive fabric care services — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a tailor / seamstress 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 — repair and Restoration Services — seamstresses can also provide repair services for damaged clothing, such as fixing tears, replacing zippers, or re-stitching seams.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the tailor / seamstress starts, and an itemised invoice after — custom Clothing Alterations — tailors and seamstresses offer a range of clothing alterations, including shortening hems, adjusting waistlines, and modifying sleeves.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the job — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all.
- Type of garment — a premium option takes longer to get right.
- Materials used — what goes into the job is priced separately from the time.
- Time involved — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate.
- 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 the job — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all
- They will not talk about it: type of garment — a premium option takes longer to get right
- They will not talk about it: materials used — what goes into the job is priced separately from the time
- A price for the tailor / seamstress 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 tailor / seamstress has begun
What a tailor / seamstress costs: €30–€100 per hour
Most tailor / seamstresss quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Alterations and Custom clothing each carry their own band. Tailor / Seamstress 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
Tailor / seamstress 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 the job — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all — that is what the tailor / seamstress is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneType of garment — a premium option takes longer to get right — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfMaterials used — what goes into the job is priced separately from the time — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherTime involved — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the tailor / seamstress is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, safety standards should be adhered to, especially when working with sewing machines and tools.
- Custom Clothing Alterations
- Tailors and seamstresses offer a range of clothing alterations, including shortening hems, adjusting waistlines, and modifying sleeves.
- Repair and Restoration Services
- Seamstresses can also provide repair services for damaged clothing, such as fixing tears, replacing zippers, or re-stitching seams.
- Fabric and Material Selection
- Tailors and seamstresses assist clients in choosing the right fabrics and materials for their projects.
- Alterations
- This involves adjusting the fit of existing garments, such as shortening sleeves or taking in sides.
- Repairs
- Fixing damaged clothing items, such as mending tears or replacing zippers.
- Hemming
- Shortening or finishing the edges of garments, like trousers or skirts, to prevent fraying.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a tailor / seamstress: questions people ask
The cost of tailoring services can vary based on the complexity of the job, the type of garment, and the materials used. For instance, a simple hem alteration will typically cost less than creating a bespoke suit.
The duration of a tailoring job can range from a few hours for simple alterations to several weeks for bespoke garments. Factors such as the tailor's workload and the complexity of the alterations will impact the timeline.
For intricate designs or specialised garments, it is advisable to seek a qualified tailor with experience in that specific area. General tailors may handle basic alterations, but specialists can provide the expertise needed for complex projects.
Some tailors offer emergency or same-day alteration services, but this is typically subject to availability and may incur additional fees. It’s best to contact the tailor directly to discuss urgent requests.
Yes, many tailors accommodate clients looking to have multiple items altered or created. Booking multiple jobs can sometimes lead to discounts or a more streamlined process, so it's worth discussing with the tailor.
While tailors focus on garment alterations and custom creations, they usually do not provide dry cleaning or extensive fabric care services. It's important to clarify the scope of work before starting a project.
MORE GUIDES