Private investigators in Australia charge between $100 and $120 per hour (excluding GST) for most services, but location makes a huge difference. Based on Bark's analysis of quotes across Australia, Victoria averages $85 per hour while New South Wales reaches $165 per hour. Most investigations cost between $650 and $6,000+ depending on service type and duration.

Get quotes from licensed private investigators on Bark who match your case type, location and budget.

Understanding what's included in that hourly rate (travel time, reporting, expenses, equipment) is what separates a $600 investigation from a $2,000 bill.

Here's what should be included in a professional quote, which costs are standard versus add-ons and how to get transparent pricing to avoid surprise bills.

Note: All prices in this guide exclude GST unless stated otherwise.

How much does a private investigator cost per hour in Australia?

Most private investigators in Australia charge around $110 per hour for standard surveillance and investigation work. Entry-level investigators charge $90 per hour. Highly experienced PIs with specialised skills charge $160 per hour.

Your location dramatically affects what you'll pay. Metropolitan investigators typically charge 30% to 50% more than their regional counterparts for the same work. The gap comes down to operating costs. City-based PIs pay more for office space, parking, fuel and vehicle expenses, and they factor that into their rates.

Private investigator hourly rates by state (Excluding GST)

Hourly rates typically included investigation time, standard reporting, basic photography and initial consultation. You'll pay extra for specialist equipment (hidden cameras, GPS trackers), rush reports delivered within 24 hours and travel beyond 50km from the investigator's base.

Some investigators advertise rock-bottom rates like $65 per hour, then add charges for travel time, report writing, equipment hire and 'administration fees.' Always ask what's included before you commit.

See what local PIs quote in your area. Get free quotes on Bark.

How much is a PI for a day?

A full day of private investigation work costs around $1,300, depending on the service type and investigator experience.

Standard single-investigator surveillance runs $1,000 for an 8-hour day. Basic background checks or skip tracing cost $700 per day. Complex corporate investigations with specialist skills reach $1,750 daily.

Daily rates exist because most PIs require minimum engagement periods of 4-8 hours. Hiring an investigator for 'just one hour' isn't practical. They need time to set up surveillance, travel to locations and compile evidence.

Here's what an 8-hour surveillance day looks like in different cities:

Daily PI rates by service type (Excluding GST)

Daily rates make sense when you need extended surveillance. If you're tracking someone's movements for infidelity evidence, you'll need 10 to 20 hours minimum. Booking by the day is cheaper than paying hourly with constant clock-watching.

Travel time is usually included within a 50km radius. Beyond that, expect $1.75 per kilometre.

How much does surveillance cost?

Surveillance is the most common PI service and typically costs around $135 per hour, or $1,100 for a full day.

A single investigator conducting vehicle surveillance charges $110 per hour in regional areas and $145 per hour in major cities. Two-investigator teams double that cost, essential for complex cases where the subject might spot a single tail.

Surveillance costs by duration (Excluding GST)

Why the wide ranges? Vehicle surveillance costs less than foot surveillance in crowded areas. Weekday surveillance is cheaper than weekend or night work. Rush jobs cost 20% to 30% more.

Most infidelity cases need 10 to 20 hours of surveillance to gather court-admissible evidence. Private investigators across Australia consistently report that anything less than 10 hours risks missing critical evidence. You're gambling your money on catching something in a narrow window.

Workers’ compensation fraud cases need around 30 to 40 hours because you're documenting patterns of behaviour, not single incidents. One day of surveillance proves nothing. You need multiple days across different times to establish a pattern that holds up under legal scrutiny.

Foot surveillance through busy CBD areas requires two investigators (one to follow on foot and one in a vehicle). That's $275 per hour combined. Vehicle-only surveillance in suburban areas needs just one PI.

How much does a background check cost?

A standard background check costs $750 and takes around 3 to 5 business days to complete.

Criminal history checks run $650. Employment verification (confirming work history, qualifications, references) costs $450. Financial background checks (credit history, bankruptcies, directorships) cost $1,400 depending on depth.

Thorough pre-employment due diligence includes criminal checks, employment verification, education verification and reference checks. This typically costs $2,250.

Background check costs by type (Excluding GST)

Rush services cost 30% to 50% more. Need results in 24 to 48 hours? Expect to pay $1,000, for what would normally be a $500 check.

Several factors affect the background check price. These include the number of jurisdictions needing searching, as interstate checks add $200 each. The timeframe also matters, as checking 20 years costs more than checking 10 years. International record searches can increase the price further.

Pre-employment checks are flat-rate. Litigation support background checks (digging into opposing parties or witnesses) are usually hourly because the scope isn't fixed. You're looking for anything relevant, not ticking boxes.

How much does it cost to find a missing person?

Locating a missing person costs $1,875 on average for straightforward skip tracing, or $6,000+ for complex missing person investigations.

Simple skip tracing (finding someone's current address when you know their last known city) costs $650. The PI searches databases, contacts old neighbours, and checks property and vehicle registrations. This usually takes 2 to 5 days.

Complex locations cost more. If you haven't heard from someone in 5+ years and they've moved interstate, expect around $2,100. The investigator needs to interview old contacts, chase multiple leads and conduct fieldwork.

Missing person investigation costs (Excluding GST)

Several factors affect the cost. These include how long they have been missing and how much information you can provide. The price may also increase if they are actively hiding or if the search is urgent.

Bring everything you have. This includes old addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social media profiles, vehicle details and known associates. Every piece of information you provide saves billable hours. Licensed investigators report that cases with detailed background information take 30% to 40% less time to complete.

Some PIs charge flat rates for skip tracing ($1,125 on average, success-based). Others charge hourly ($125 per hour) with no guarantee of finding the person. Ask upfront which model they use.

What's included in a private investigator quote?

A proper PI quote should itemise investigation time, reporting, travel within a set radius and consultation. Everything else is an add-on.

Standard inclusions you should expect include the investigator’s time, charged at an hourly or daily rate. You should also receive a written report with findings, basic photography or video evidence, and an initial consultation to discuss your case. Travel within 50km of the investigator's base is also usually included.

Common add-ons can increase your bill. These include specialist equipment hire, which typically costs $125 per day for GPS trackers, hidden cameras, or listening devices. Rush reporting delivered within 24 hours may cost around $225. Travel beyond 50 km is usually charged at $1.75 per km. Court testimony preparation and attendance costs $200 per hour.

Some things should never be treated as add-ons. These include licence verification, which should be provided upfront. The initial consultation should also be included, as ethical PIs do not charge to assess whether they can help you. Basic report photos should be included too, since surveillance without photos is useless.

Quote comparison checklist

Compare these line items across quotes:

• Hourly or daily rate (including GST)
• Minimum engagement period (4 hours? 8 hours? full day?)
• What's included in the base rate vs add-ons
• Travel charges and radius
• Report format and delivery time
• Equipment costs (if specialist gear needed)
• Retainer amount and refund policy

There are several red flags to watch for. These include vague 'administrative fees' with no breakdown and percentage-based pricing (like '10% of settlement value'). You should also be cautious of quotes that do not specify whether prices include GST, and PIs who will not provide a written quote.

One investigator quotes $95 per hour, another quotes $150 per hour. Which is cheaper? Depends what's included. If the $95 option charges separately for travel time, reporting and equipment, you might pay $1,800 total. The $150 option with everything included might cost $1,500.

Always ask 'What will this cost me, all-in, if the investigation takes X hours?'

Get quotes from licensed investigators who specialize in your case type on Bark.

Is it worth it to hire a private investigator?

Yes, if you need legally admissible evidence or you're dealing with high-stakes situations like custody battles, fraud claims or business due diligence. No, if you're trying to find publicly available information you could access yourself.

The cost of NOT hiring a PI often outweighs the investigation fee. A $2,500 infidelity investigation that secures court-admissible evidence can protect a $400,000 property settlement in divorce proceedings. A $1,200 pre-employment background check that uncovers a candidate's undisclosed criminal history saves you from a negligent hiring lawsuit that could cost well over $50,000.

DIY investigations fail in three critical ways. First, evidence you collect yourself often isn't admissible in court because you don't know chain-of-custody requirements or privacy laws. Second, you waste weeks chasing dead ends that a professional would eliminate in hours. Third, if the subject realizes they're being watched by an amateur, they'll change their behaviour and you've lost your chance at catching them.

Licensed investigators across Australia report that clients who attempt DIY first, then hire a professional, end up paying 40-60% more total. The subject is now alert, the element of surprise is gone and the investigation takes twice as long.

When it's NOT worth hiring a PI:

• You need someone's current employer (check LinkedIn)
• You want to know if someone has a criminal record (apply for a police check)

When it’s worth hiring a PI:

• You need evidence for family court proceedings
• You're investigating workers compensation fraud
• You're conducting pre-acquisition due diligence on a business
• You need to locate someone who's actively hiding
• You're dealing with suspected corporate espionage
• You need to verify a business partner's background before committing capital

The average surveillance case costs $2,200. That's less than two days of a lawyer's time, and it delivers evidence a lawyer can't obtain.

Is it legal to hire a private investigator in Australia?

Yes, it's completely legal to hire a private investigator in Australia. However, the investigator must hold a valid licence in the state or territory where they're operating, and they must follow strict privacy and surveillance laws.

Every state and territory requires PIs to be licensed. In New South Wales, investigators need a Class 2 licence issued by the NSW Police Force. Victoria requires registration with Consumer Affairs Victoria. Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and other jurisdictions have similar licensing bodies. An unlicensed investigator is breaking the law, and any evidence they gather won't hold up in court.

What PIs can legally do:

• Conduct surveillance in public places
• Take photos and videos in public areas
• Access publicly available databases and records
• Interview witnesses (with their consent)
• Serve legal documents
• Track vehicles using GPS (with legal limitations)
• Conduct background checks with proper authorization

What PIs cannot legally do:

• Trespass on private property
• Hack into email accounts, phones, or social media
• Place listening devices without consent (this is illegal under surveillance device laws)
• Impersonate police officers or government officials
• Access private medical or financial records without authorization
• Harass or stalk subjects

Hiring an unlicensed investigator puts you at legal risk. If they break privacy laws or trespass while gathering evidence, you could face civil liability. Professional indemnity insurance only covers licensed investigators operating within the law.

How to verify a PI's licence:

Ask for their licence number upfront (legitimate PIs provide this immediately)

Check the licence on your state's regulatory body website (NSW: Service NSW, VIC: Consumer Affairs Victoria, etc.)

Confirm they carry professional indemnity insurance (minimum $1 million coverage)

Check online reviews and industry association memberships (Australian Institute of Professional Investigators)

Licensed investigators know exactly where the legal line is. They understand the Surveillance Devices Act, Privacy Act, and Crimes Act provisions that govern their work. They know how to gather evidence that will be admissible in court.

If an investigator tells you they can 'hack into someone's phone' or 'plant a bug in their car’, walk away. That's illegal, and you could be charged as an accessory.

What should I expect to pay for a private investigator?

Private investigators in Australia charge around $120 per hour, for most services. Total investigation costs range from $650 for a simple background check to over $6,000 for complex surveillance or missing person cases. What you'll actually pay comes down to how many hours your case needs and whether travel, reporting and equipment are included or billed separately.

If you need court-admissible evidence or you're dealing with time-sensitive matters like custody disputes or workers’ compensation fraud, invest in a licensed professional now. Cheaper unlicensed options often deliver results that won't stand up in legal proceedings, costing you far more in the long run.

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