HOW TO HIRE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH

How to hire a UX / UI designer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

An ux / ui designer in Ireland costs €40–€120 per hour, 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 UX / UI designer in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers UX / UI designer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — user Testing & Iteration — after the initial design, user testing is conducted to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments.
  2. How does designer's experience change the price?Providers quote this separately because it varies so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does complexity of the project change the price?It is the detail most people forget to mention when asking. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does specific services required change the price?A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Visual Design & Branding — UX/UI designers also focus on the visual aspects of design, including colour schemes, typography, and overall branding — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a UX / UI designer 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. Anyone may trade as a designer, developer or marketer, and no qualification is required. Everything that protects you is in the contract, and the clause people forget is OWNERSHIP: without an assignment in writing the creator is the first owner of copyright in what they make, so you may be paying for a licence to use your own logo or website rather than for the thing itself.

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

Who owns the work on delivery, in writing — assignment, not just 'full rights'; What happens to the source files, the domain and the hosting account, named; The deliverables listed with a number — how many concepts, how many revisions; The milestones and what each payment is for; For ads, whether the spend is separate from the fee, and who holds the ad account; Two references from clients whose work you can actually see.

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 — for tech work, ask specifically about cyber cover. 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 →

“Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?”

A good answer: No register covers UX / UI designer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — user Testing & Iteration — after the initial design, user testing is conducted to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments.

“How does designer's experience change the price?”

A good answer: Providers quote this separately because it varies so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does complexity of the project change the price?”

A good answer: It is the detail most people forget to mention when asking. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does specific services required change the price?”

A good answer: A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Visual Design & Branding — UX/UI designers also focus on the visual aspects of design, including colour schemes, typography, and overall branding — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a UX / UI designer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”

A good answer: Expect professional indemnity — for tech work, ask specifically about cyber cover — wireframing & Prototyping — creating wireframes and prototypes is a core part of a UX/UI designer's role.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the UX / UI designer starts, and an itemised invoice after — user Research & Analysis — UX/UI designers conduct user research to understand target audiences and their needs.

Getting the quote right

  • Designer's experience — providers quote this separately because it varies so much.
  • Complexity of the project — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking.
  • Specific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs.
  • Scope of work — it is the difference between a quick visit and a long one.
  • 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: designer's experience — providers quote this separately because it varies so much
  • They will not talk about it: complexity of the project — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking
  • They will not talk about it: specific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs
  • A price for the UX / UI designer 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 UX / UI designer has begun
LOW
€40
TYPICAL
€70
HIGH
€120

What a UX / UI designer costs: €40–€120 per hour

Most UX / UI designers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Website ux design and Mobile app ui design each carry their own band. UX / UI Designer 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

UX / UI designers 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.

  1. Look firstDesigner's experience — providers quote this separately because it varies so much — that is what the UX / UI designer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneComplexity of the project — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfSpecific services required — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherScope of work — it is the difference between a quick visit and a long one — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the UX / UI designer is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, size of the website or application — the larger the job, the more hours it takes to finish.

User Research & Analysis
UX/UI designers conduct user research to understand target audiences and their needs.
Wireframing & Prototyping
Creating wireframes and prototypes is a core part of a UX/UI designer's role.
Visual Design & Branding
UX/UI designers also focus on the visual aspects of design, including colour schemes, typography, and overall branding.
User Testing & Iteration
After the initial design, user testing is conducted to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments.
Website UX Design
Focuses on enhancing user experience through layout, navigation, and interaction design for websites.
Mobile App UI Design
Involves creating visually appealing and functional interfaces specifically for mobile applications.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — user Testing & Iteration — after the initial design, user testing is conducted to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the UX / UI designer has gone.
Test what was doneVisual Design & Branding — UX/UI designers also focus on the visual aspects of design, including colour schemes, typography, and overall branding — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. wireframing & Prototyping — creating wireframes and prototypes is a core part of a UX/UI designer's role — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a UX / UI designer's card means something — user Research & Analysis — UX/UI designers conduct user research to understand target audiences and their needs.

STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itThere is no register, so the route is the consumer body and, if needed, the courts.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.

Hiring a UX / UI designer: questions people ask

The cost can vary based on the designer's experience, the complexity of the project, and the specific services required. More experienced designers or those with specialised skills may charge higher rates.

The duration of a project can vary significantly depending on its scope. A simple website redesign might take a few weeks, while a complex application could take several months.

While general designers can handle basic tasks, hiring a qualified UX/UI specialist is advisable for more complex projects that require in-depth user research and testing. A good UX/UI designer should have a portfolio showcasing their previous work and relevant experience.

Emergency services are typically not available in UX/UI design due to the detailed and iterative nature of the work. However, some designers may offer expedited services for an additional fee.

Yes, many UX/UI designers offer package deals for multiple related services, such as user research, wireframing, and testing, which can often result in cost savings. Staying updated with the latest design trends and technologies can greatly enhance the effectiveness of the design.

UX/UI designers typically do not handle back-end development, SEO, or content creation. Their focus is primarily on the user interface and experience design aspects.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in marketing, design & tech

How to hire: Web DesignerHow to hire: Web DeveloperHow to hire: WordPress DeveloperHow to hire: E-commerce DeveloperHow to hire: Shopify ExpertHow to hire: App DeveloperHow to hire: iOS DeveloperHow to hire: Android DeveloperAll 701 hiring guides →

UX / UI designers near you

UX / UI designers in DublinUX / UI designers in CorkUX / UI designers in GalwayUX / UI designers in LimerickAll ux / ui designers on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000
  2. CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2022
  4. Courts Service — small claims
  5. Revenue — GRAPHIC DESIGNERS (Supply of a Service) — Standard rate
  6. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  7. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only