How much does a magician cost in 2024?

Magicians perform a series of magic tricks and illusions as part of a routine. It can take years of practice for magicians to be able to master these tricks, which often involve a multitude of props. The idea is that the audience will be left in amazement, wondering how they managed to complete the trick. Of course, the enigma of magic is that such secrets are never revealed! Hence, magicians make for incredibly popular forms of entertainment across all ages and event types. 

There is also a real theatre to magic, in that it’s not about the trick itself but how it’s performed - in fact, many magicians are part of Equity, the UK's actors' union. The magician may use drama, suspense or humour to connect with their audience. The performance may be carried out on a stage, or in small groups by working their way around the room at an event. This makes magic an interactive experience that is set to truly wow your guests. After all, it is magic!

A quick note; these prices are based on our data, which comes from all over the UK, so they're a great way to help set your budget. But if you have specific needs or questions, the best way to find the cost of your magic show is to request free quotes from local professional magicians.

How much does a magician cost? 

There are plenty of reasons to hire a magician, but the first one is entertainment. They're popular at weddings, corporate events, and children's parties, but thanks to the different skills needed for each event, the cost of hiring a magician can vary widely.

If you’re looking to conjure up a magician for your event, the average cost is £400. Though the true figure ranges between £150 and £1,000 depending on how notable the act is, and the type of event you hire them for. 

Typically, magicians work on a fixed fee basis rather than hourly. Though the benefit of this pricing system is it will help you budget better for your event. Magicians may work one event per day or evening, so their fee will cover all of their expenses as unlike other industries, they won’t be seeing several clients a day. 

During peak season (i.e wedding season or Christmas party season) magicians may command a higher rate due to demand. So it’s worth enquiring whether there will be any price fluctuations before you book. 

What changes the price of magicians? 

The cost of hiring a magician varies depending on several factors, including: 

• Type of magician

• Event type

• Event size

• The time of year

• Duration

• Experience

• Location

Type of magician 

Part of the magic of magicians is that no two shows are the same. As seasoned performers, magicians are very good at adapting their routine to suit different audiences. 

Typically, children’s magicians charge the least, starting at just £150 a show. Performances for children will typically focus more on comedy and basic magic tricks (with plenty of cool effects, of course!). Therefore, such magicians tend to be cheaper to hire across the board.

As you move into the more complex magicians who perform pickpocket tricks, mentalist routines and death-defying stunts, expect prices to ramp up. Such magicians will be hired for weddings and corporate events, where even the most sceptical audience members will be wowed. 

Prices for most magicians range between £280 and £600, heading more towards £1,000 and above for the most in-demand magicians.

If you find a magician who's well known - for example, if they've been on TV - you can obviously expect to pay more.

Event type

Each event type requires different skills from the magician. Some events are more high pressure which will cost more than simplistic magic routines for small functions. Will they be performing on stage to a whole crowd at once, or will they go from table to table performing close-up tricks? Perhaps it's a bit of both? Let them know what type of event they're catering for, and your magician will price accordingly.

Depending on your event, you may be booking more entertainment, and it's possible that you could find your magician as part of a package, especially if booked with a local entertainment company.

Event size

There’s a huge difference between a small birthday party for a child and a large event with 900+ people. Magicians are used to working in a variety of event sizes, though you should expect the price to increase the more people they have to entertain. Working the room, for example, will be very different if you have thirty tables as opposed to ten, as it involves a lot more work.

The time of year

Performers will have times when they are extremely busy, and other times when they are not. Therefore, they may charge more or less depending on their availability. Except to pay more at peak times like Christmas and New Year, or during summer, also known as wedding season.

Duration

How long do you want the magician to perform for? They may give you time block options such as 30, 60 or 90 minutes of performance. Or, they may be available to hire for an entire day or evening. If you're booking a long session the value might be better hour-by-hour, but you'll still pay more than you would for a quick hour's show.

Experience

There’s a huge difference between someone who thinks they know a bit of magic, versus someone who has been mastering their craft for decades. Experienced, professional magicians can’t be snapped up for bottom dollar rates, so as the saying goes ‘you get what you pay for’. This is certainly true with magic, which isn’t anywhere near as easy to perfect as a good magician makes it look! Looks for magicians who are part of well known societies such as The Magic Circle for evidence of quality.

Location

The location of your event and whether it’s relative to where your magician lives will affect the price. The average cost ranges between £300 and £500 depending on where you are in the UK. Though, the type of magician you wish to hire in each location will affect the cost too. 

Some magicians are willing to travel long distances and even to other countries, though this will significantly bump up the cost. 

You should also factor in potential travel costs; if your magician is travelling a long way, do they need to charge for travel or is it included in the cost? If it's for a wedding and your magician is coming from a long distance, might you need to help cover accommodation to get the person you want? Chat with them before booking to see what's included in their quote.

The cost of a virtual magician

Virtual magic shows (which take place on Zoom or other meeting software) are increasingly popular, having experienced a boom during the pandemic. They can be a great way to kick off a long-distance virtual conference for work colleagues, or provide entertainment when it isn't feasible to get someone in person, especially if there's a large screen you can display the show on. Virtual magicians utilise the usual roster of magic tricks (like mind reading, prediction, and sleight of hand) as well as incorporating things like green screen and audience participation.

Thanks to the skills involved, and the fact that audiences for these shows tend to be quite large, you can expect to pay £500 or more for a virtual magician. Online shows can rise a long way above this, too - for a long, multi-stage event, including hosting, you could pay up to £5,000, especially for a corporate event.

Is it worth getting a magician for my event?

There’s a reason magicians have always remained popular, and that’s because they bring something exciting yet unexpected to an event. Magic can also be interactive, which you won’t always find with other forms of entertainment. It also appeals to all ages and can be family-friendly or suited more to an adult audience, therefore is something that can be continued to be enjoyed. 

Ultimately, if you want your guests to have a great time and be left in amazement, then a magician is certainly worth the price.