HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a translator in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A translation service in Ireland costs €100–€200 per 1000 words, typically around €140. 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 translator in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers translator work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — specialised Fields — certain translation services focus on specialised sectors such as medical, technical, or financial translations.
- How does document complexity change the price?Providers quote this separately because it varies so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does turnaround time change the price?Work that spans two visits costs more than one long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does length change the price?The hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Interpretation Services — in-person or remote interpretation services are offered for meetings, conferences, and events — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a translator 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 23%, the standard 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 translator work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — specialised Fields — certain translation services focus on specialised sectors such as medical, technical, or financial translations.
A good answer: Providers quote this separately because it varies so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Work that spans two visits costs more than one long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Interpretation Services — in-person or remote interpretation services are offered for meetings, conferences, and events — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a translator 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 — website Localization — translation services can also extend to localizing websites for different markets.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the translator starts, and an itemised invoice after — document Translation — this includes translating written documents such as contracts, reports, and manuals.
Getting the quote right
- Document complexity — providers quote this separately because it varies so much.
- Turnaround time — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one.
- Length — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job.
- Complexity of the text — it has to be seen before a firm price can be given.
- 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: document complexity — providers quote this separately because it varies so much
- They will not talk about it: turnaround time — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one
- They will not talk about it: length — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job
- A price for the translator 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 translator has begun
What a translator costs: €100–€200 per 1000 words
The figures are for the job, per 1000 words, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Document translation and Website localization each carry their own band. Translation Service 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
Translators 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 firstDocument complexity — providers quote this separately because it varies so much — that is what the translator is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneTurnaround time — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLength — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the text — it has to be seen before a firm price can be given — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the translator is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, specific languages involved — what is included in the package changes the total.
- Document Translation
- This includes translating written documents such as contracts, reports, and manuals.
- Website Localization
- Translation services can also extend to localizing websites for different markets.
- Interpretation Services
- In-person or remote interpretation services are offered for meetings, conferences, and events.
- specialised Fields
- Certain translation services focus on specialised sectors such as medical, technical, or financial translations.
- Technical Translation
- Specialised translation of technical documents, such as user manuals or product specifications, requiring industry-specific knowledge.
- Literary Translation
- Translating literary works like novels or poetry, focusing on preserving the author's voice and artistic style.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a translator: questions people ask
The cost of translation services can be influenced by factors such as language pair, document complexity, and turnaround time. For example, translating a technical manual may cost more than a simple letter due to the specialised knowledge required.
The duration of a translation job can vary based on the document length and complexity. Generally, a professional translator can translate about 2,000-3,000 words per day, but urgent requests may be accommodated for an additional fee.
Many translation services offer emergency or same-day options, but these typically come at a premium cost. Availability may depend on the translator's workload and the complexity of the document.
Yes, many translation service providers offer discounts for bulk jobs or multiple related translations. It's beneficial to inquire about package deals when you have several documents to translate.
Translation services typically do not cover content that is highly technical without the necessary subject matter expertise. Additionally, informal or colloquial content may not be accurately represented in a professional translation.
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.
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