HOW TO HIRE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH

How to hire a web developer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A web developer 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.

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  • Nearest to you first
  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a web developer in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers web developer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — search Engine Optimization (SEO) — web developers also implement SEO best practices to improve site visibility on search engines.
  2. How does developer's experience change the price?A licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does project complexity change the price?It is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does specific technologies required change the price?Each level up adds both material and labour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Out-of-scope tasks may include extensive graphic design, copywriting, or ongoing marketing services — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a web developer 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 web developer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — search Engine Optimization (SEO) — web developers also implement SEO best practices to improve site visibility on search engines.

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

A good answer: A licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does project complexity change the price?”

A good answer: It is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does specific technologies required change the price?”

A good answer: Each level up adds both material and labour. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Out-of-scope tasks may include extensive graphic design, copywriting, or ongoing marketing services — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a web developer 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 — website Maintenance & Support — ongoing website maintenance is crucial for security and functionality.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the web developer starts, and an itemised invoice after — content Management Systems — they often work with content management systems (CMS) like WordPress or Joomla, enabling clients to easily update their site.

Getting the quote right

  • Developer's experience — a licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should.
  • Project complexity — it is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit.
  • Specific technologies required — each level up adds both material and labour.
  • Complexity of the site — it is the main thing that separates a simple job from a hard 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: developer's experience — a licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should
  • They will not talk about it: project complexity — it is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit
  • They will not talk about it: specific technologies required — each level up adds both material and labour
  • A price for the web developer 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 web developer has begun
LOW
€40
TYPICAL
€70
HIGH
€120

What a web developer costs: €40–€120 per hour

Most web developers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Front-end developer and Back-end developer each carry their own band. Web Developer 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

Web developers 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 firstDeveloper's experience — a licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should — that is what the web developer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneProject complexity — it is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfSpecific technologies required — each level up adds both material and labour — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherComplexity of the site — it is the main thing that separates a simple job from a hard one — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the web developer is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, features required — getting this clear up front avoids a change to the price later.

Content Management Systems
They often work with content management systems (CMS) like WordPress or Joomla, enabling clients to easily update their site.
Website Maintenance & Support
Ongoing website maintenance is crucial for security and functionality.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Web developers also implement SEO best practices to improve site visibility on search engines.
Back-End Developer
Works on the server-side of web applications, managing databases and application logic.
Full-Stack Developer
Combines both front-end and back-end skills, handling all aspects of web development.
E-commerce Developer
Specialises in creating online shopping platforms, integrating payment systems and inventory management.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — search Engine Optimization (SEO) — web developers also implement SEO best practices to improve site visibility on search engines, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the web developer has gone.
Test what was doneWebsite Maintenance & Support — ongoing website maintenance is crucial for security and functionality — 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. content Management Systems — they often work with content management systems (CMS) like WordPress or Joomla, enabling clients to easily update their site — 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 web developer's card means something — content Management System (CMS) Developer — focuses on building and customising CMS platforms like WordPress or Joomla for easier content updates.

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 web developer: questions people ask

Costs can vary based on the developer's experience, project complexity, and specific technologies required. High-demand skills or specialised knowledge may also increase rates.

The duration depends on the project's scope, ranging from a few weeks for a simple site to several months for complex applications. Clear communication and planning can help streamline the process.

While general web developers can handle many projects, a specialist may be necessary for specific needs like e-commerce or custom applications. Assessing your project's requirements will guide this decision.

Same-day service is rare and typically reserved for urgent fixes or updates. Most development projects require careful planning and execution, so it's best to schedule in advance.

Yes, many web developers offer package deals for multiple services, such as design, development, and maintenance. Discussing your needs upfront can lead to cost savings and a streamlined workflow.

Out-of-scope tasks may include extensive graphic design, copywriting, or ongoing marketing services. It's important to clarify the scope of work in your agreement to avoid misunderstandings.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in marketing, design & tech

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

Web developers near you

Web developers in DublinWeb developers in CorkWeb developers in GalwayWeb developers in LimerickAll web developers 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 — COMPUTER PROGRAMMER — Standard rate
  6. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  7. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only