Hiring a private investigator: 2026 cost, hourly, daily and per-case rates

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

Hiring a private investigator most often costs 175 PLN/h per hour of surveillance (typically 175 ‑ 180 PLN/h), while the cheapest and most expensive price lists range from 120 PLN/h to 250 PLN/h. A full day of surveillance costs around 1,700 PLN/day, while documenting infidelity as a complete case costs around PLN 4,250. The agency sets the final price after discussing the assignment.

Private investigators may bring to mind television dramas, but in practice this is a service like any other: there is an hourly rate, a price for a day’s work and fixed fees for common types of cases. The problem is that many agencies do not publish a price list and only quote for an assignment after a consultation. We have collected rates from public price lists of private investigation agencies, so you know what bill to expect before making the first call.

How much does it cost to hire a private investigator?

Hiring a private investigator most often costs 175 PLN/h per hour of operational work, according to 3 agency price lists collected by indekscen.pl. Half of the rates fall within the range of 175 ‑ 180 PLN/h. The cheapest agencies start at 120 PLN/h, while the highest rate in the price lists is 250 PLN/h. Details and quotations from the price lists are available at private detective services.

However, the hourly rate is only a starting point. The final cost depends on how many hours the investigator actually works, how many people and vehicles are needed for surveillance and whether the assignment requires travel outside the city.

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

How much does a private investigator charge for a day of surveillance?

A day of surveillance, meaning 8 to 10 hours of fieldwork by a private investigator, costs around 1,700 PLN/day. This is roughly the same as several hours charged separately, because agencies usually offer a lower daily rate for longer assignments. For comparison, eight hours at the median hourly rate costs around PLN 1,400.

Surveillance is the most common assignment because it answers the question, ‘What is this person doing and who are they meeting?’ The investigator follows the subject, takes photographs and recordings in public places and documents the day’s events in a report. For extended surveillance, or when the subject moves quickly around the city, the agency may assign two investigators, which increases the cost.

How much does a private investigator cost for an infidelity case?

Documenting infidelity as a complete case costs around PLN 4,250, and the work usually takes 10 to 14 days. The fixed fee includes surveillance on selected days, photographic evidence and a final report. A fixed fee is worthwhile when it is unclear how many days of surveillance will be needed, as the total amount is known in advance.

With hourly billing, the same case may cost less if the answer emerges quickly, or more if the person under surveillance changes their plans. It is worth asking the agency about both billing methods and comparing them.

Evidence of infidelity is most often useful in divorce proceedings where fault is determined. The proceedings themselves are charged separately: according to our data, a fault-based divorce costs around PLN 6,500 including a solicitor, while the court fee for filing the petition is PLN 600. We explain these costs in more detail in the article how much does a divorce cost.

What are private investigator rates: hourly, daily or fixed fee?

Private investigators use three billing methods, and the choice can affect the bill more than the choice of agency. These are the typical rates found in price lists:

Billing method	Typical price	When it is worthwhile
One hour of a private investigator’s work	175 ‑ 180 PLN/h	a short, specific task, such as checking one meeting
Day of surveillance (8 to 10 hours)	around 1,700 PLN/day	all-day surveillance, following a person on a journey
Complete infidelity case (fixed fee)	around PLN 4,250	when it is unclear how many days will be needed
Lowest and highest hourly rate	from 120 PLN/h to 250 PLN/h	full range of agency price lists

Some agencies add VAT to net (excl. VAT) rates, so always ask whether the price is net (excl. VAT) or gross (incl. VAT). Rates for night-time hours and non-working days may be higher, as shown in price lists that quote daytime surveillance hours separately.

What can a private investigator check?

A private investigator can legally gather information about people and companies using methods such as surveillance in public places, interviews and analysis of publicly available registers and sources. Common assignments include:

1. Surveillance of a partner, an employee on sick leave or someone who has contact with a child.
2. Locating a debtor, witness or family member with whom contact has been lost.
3. Tracing assets before proceedings concerning maintenance, division of property or debt recovery.
4. Checking a business partner or job candidate (verifying information and business history).
5. Detecting listening devices in an office or vehicle.

A private investigator cannot install listening devices, read someone else’s post or messages, log in to another person’s accounts or impersonate a police officer. If an agency promises such ‘services’, that is a sign to look elsewhere. Illegally obtained material may harm the client.

What determines the price of private investigation services?

The price of private investigation services primarily depends on the type of assignment and the time required. Agency price lists reveal several factors that have the greatest effect on the cost:

• Type of assignment. Surveillance, asset tracing, divorce cases and locating a person have different prices because they require different work.
• Duration. A few hours are billed at an hourly rate, while longer cases are charged at a daily rate or a fixed fee.
• Billing method. Hourly, daily or fixed fee, each can produce a different total for the same assignment.
• Region and agency. Rates are usually higher in large cities and at agencies with larger teams.
• Additional costs. Travel, accommodation when following the subject away from home and a second vehicle.

We do not yet have local private investigator prices for individual cities: agencies rarely publish price lists, and those available relate to individual firms. However, the median from these price lists provides a useful benchmark for comparing quotes.

How do you choose a private investigator and avoid overpaying?

The most important considerations when choosing a private investigator are their licence and a clear contract. A few rules can help you avoid overpaying:

• Check the licence. Private investigation services may only be provided by someone entered on the list of licensed private investigators. Ask for their registration number.
• Insist on a written contract specifying the scope of the assignment, billing method, deposit and report deadline.
• Ask for an hour limit. With hourly billing, agree on an upper limit beyond which the agency must request your approval before continuing its work.
• Beware of guaranteed results. An investigator cannot guarantee an outcome because they do not know what they will find. A reputable agency will say so directly.
• Agree what the report will include: photographs, recordings, a description of events and willingness to testify in court.

If the assignment relates to court proceedings, first ask a solicitor what evidence is needed. An initial legal consultation costs around PLN 325 and may save several days of unnecessary surveillance. We cover consultation prices in the article how much does legal advice from a solicitor cost. A private investigator is usually unnecessary in paternity cases because the matter is resolved by a test, as described in the article paternity DNA test.

How much does Rutkowski charge as a private investigator?

Rutkowski’s agency does not publish a price list and quotes for each case individually, so we do not provide its rates. As a benchmark, you can use the median from private investigation agency price lists: 175 PLN/h per hour and around 1,700 PLN/day per day of surveillance. A well-known name and high-profile cases usually mean prices above this median.

„Godzina pracy operacyjnej naszego prywatnego detektywa w większości przypadków wynosi od 120 PLN netto do 250 PLN netto.”

Agencja Detektywistyczna (agencjadetektywistyczna.com.pl), source

„Cena za godzinę obserwacji (07:00 – 22:00): 150-200 zł brutto”

detektywczeladz.pl, source

„Surveillance 150 - 200 zł PLN/h”

detektywzycha.pl, source

You can find more prices for legal and official services in the law and public authorities category.

The prices in this article come from public price lists of private investigation agencies. Each entry on the how much does a private investigator cost page includes the source, date and a verbatim quotation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private investigator charge per assignment?

Detektyw rozlicza zlecenie zwykle godzinowo, po stawce 175 ‑ 180 PLN/h, albo ryczałtem za całą sprawę. Przy sprawie o zdradę ryczałt wynosi około PLN 4,250.

Does a private investigator require a deposit?

Większość agencji pobiera zaliczkę przed rozpoczęciem pracy, bo detektyw ponosi koszty od pierwszego dnia (dojazdy, sprzęt, czas obserwacji). Wysokość zaliczki i zasady jej rozliczenia powinny być zapisane w umowie.

Can a private investigator's report be used as evidence in court?

Raport detektywa, zdjęcia i nagrania mogą zostać przedstawione w sądzie jako dowód, ale o ich ocenie decyduje sąd. Detektyw może też zeznawać jako świadek. Co przyda się w konkretnej sprawie, najlepiej ustalić z adwokatem.

Can a private investigator tap a phone?

Nie. Prywatny detektyw nie może zakładać podsłuchu, czytać cudzej korespondencji ani włamywać się na konta. Takie działania są przestępstwem, a zdobyte w ten sposób materiały nie pomogą w sprawie.

How long does surveillance take when infidelity is suspected?

Sprawa o udokumentowanie zdrady trwa zwykle od 10 do 14 dni, ale obserwacja nie odbywa się przez cały ten czas, tylko w wybrane dni i godziny. Koszt całej sprawy to około PLN 4,250.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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