At Stirling Investigations in Sydney, surveillance starts at $880 for a four-hour deployment, then $132 for each extra hour. An address search is a fixed $660, individual background searches start at $220 and a social media report is $495. Bug sweeps start at $880 for a vehicle and $1,100 for an apartment. All prices include GST.
I've worked as a private investigator for 15 years, and Stirling Investigations has been running for 11 of them. The question I hear most often is simple: what will this cost? So here is every price we charge, in one place, with GST already included. No ranges plus GST, and no surprises when the invoice arrives.
Private investigator prices in Sydney at a glance
Every price below includes GST. Each service links to its own page with the full detail.
| Service | What's included | Price (including GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Covert surveillance, initial package | Four hours, including 1.5 hours of travel, $30 of miscellaneous costs such as tolls and parking, within a 100 km radius | $880 |
| Extra surveillance time | Each additional hour of surveillance or travel | $132 an hour |
| Written evidence report | PDF report with a photo timeline of events | $132 |
| Video footage | Secure download link for the footage captured | $132 |
| Infidelity investigations | Surveillance scoped to your situation | From $880, then $132 an hour |
| Family law surveillance | Same initial package as surveillance | $880 for four hours, then $132 an hour |
| Workers compensation investigations | Same initial package as surveillance | $880 for four hours, then $132 an hour |
| Locate a person, address search | Current address from a full name, in a written report, paid upfront | $660 fixed fee |
| Phone number search | Search for the name or address behind a phone number | $275 to start, plus a $275 success fee if the search succeeds |
| Background checks, individual searches | Rental history, bankruptcy, PPSR and court history ($220 each), property ownership and directorship ($330 each) | From $220 per search |
| Background checks, full package | Every search in our background package | $1,650 |
| Social media investigation report | Publicly available information compiled in one report, paid upfront | $495 |
| Vehicle bug sweep | Inspection of a car, SUV or ute, paid in full upfront | $880 |
| Residential bug sweep | One or two bedroom apartment, 50% deposit. Larger homes are quoted | From $1,100 |
| Commercial bug sweep | Offices and boardrooms, priced on size and scope | From $3,300 |
| Forensic audio enhancement | Assessment of your file, then a quote for the work | $109 for the assessment |
| Liquidation investigations | Investigation scoped to the matter | From $880 |
| Process serving | Identification, delivery and a signed affidavit of service | Gavin quotes that individually |
| First consultation | 15 minutes, confidential, no obligation | Free |
How much does a private investigator charge per hour in Sydney?
Our hourly rate is $132 including GST, and it applies after an initial four-hour surveillance package of $880. We start with a package rather than a bare hourly rate because surveillance needs time to set up, travel to the location and wait for the right moment. Four hours gives most people a useful first result without committing to a full day.
The package includes 1.5 hours of travel, $30 of miscellaneous costs such as tolls and parking, and a 100 km radius. If the job runs longer, each extra hour of surveillance or travel is $132. A written report and a video download are optional extras at $132 each. The minimum deposit is $880 per day booked. For more on how surveillance packages work, read how much surveillance costs in Sydney.
How much does a private investigator cost per day?
A day of surveillance is built from the same pieces: the four-hour package at $880, then $132 for each extra hour, plus the report and video if you want them. That is why we don't quote a flat day rate. A six-hour day and a ten-hour day cost very different amounts, and you only pay for the hours the job needs.
In your free consultation, I'll tell you how many hours I expect your job to take, and you'll get a clear quote before any work starts.
What changes the price of a private investigation?
The biggest factors are how many hours or days the job needs, where it happens and how hard the person is to find or follow. A single afternoon of surveillance in one suburb costs far less than several days across different locations.
Other things that affect the final figure include:
- How much you already know, such as the person's usual routine, car or workplace.
- Travel beyond the 100 km radius included in the package.
- Whether you need a written report, video footage or both.
- Whether the job needs more than one kind of work, such as finding someone before serving them.
We explain all of this in your free consultation, so the quote reflects your actual situation.
How much does it cost to find out if someone is cheating?
An infidelity investigation starts from $880 including GST for the first four hours of surveillance, then $132 an hour. The final price depends on how many days you need, where they take place and how complex the situation is.
If you know when your partner says they're working late or away, that tells us where to focus, and it keeps the hours down. Before you decide anything, you can talk to us confidentially about an infidelity investigation, with no obligation to go ahead. If you're thinking about what the evidence could mean for a separation or settlement, speak to your lawyer. For practical first steps, read What to Do If You Suspect He's Cheating, or see our infidelity investigations page.
How much does a private investigator charge to find someone?
An address search costs a fixed $660 including GST, paid upfront. We start from the person's full name and return their current address, plus any contact details we can find, in a written report. A standard search usually takes 1 to 5 business days.
A full name and approximate age is the minimum we need. A last known suburb, date of birth or old phone number helps us work faster and more accurately. People who have deliberately hidden where they live can take longer, so we can't guarantee a result. You can order an address search online, or read more on our Locate a person page.
If all you have is a phone number, a phone number search is $275 including GST to start, plus a $275 success fee, including GST, if the search succeeds. For the bigger picture, see how to find someone in Australia.
How much does a background check cost?
Individual background searches start from $220 including GST, and the full package is $1,650. Rental history, bankruptcy, PPSR and court history searches are $220 each. Property ownership and directorship searches are $330 each. An address search is $660.
A social media investigation report is $495 including GST, paid upfront. It compiles the publicly available information about a person into one report. You can pick the searches you need or order everything together. See our background checks page for what each search covers, and what investigators in Australia can't access.
How much does a process server cost in Sydney?
For process serving, Gavin quotes that individually, because the price depends on the location, the type of document and how many attempts it takes. Our standard service in the Sydney metro area is completed within 1 to 3 business days, and same-day or urgent service is available.
Every job includes positive identification of the person, professional delivery and a signed affidavit of service that you or your lawyer can file. If the person has moved, we can find their current address first and quote one combined fee, so there is no delay between two separate jobs. Ask for an itemised quote on our process serving page.
How much does surveillance cost for workers compensation and family law matters?
Workers compensation and family law surveillance use the same rates: $880 including GST for four hours, then $132 an hour. What differs is the evidence you need at the end.
Employers, insurers and their lawyers usually want a written report and video showing what the claimant was doing on specific days. Solicitors and parents in family law matters usually want a careful, factual record of what happened during handovers or care time. In both cases we add the $132 written report and the $132 video download so the findings are properly documented. Whether and how that evidence can be used is a question for your lawyer. See our workers compensation investigations and family law surveillance pages, or read how much surveillance costs in Sydney.
How much does a bug sweep cost?
A vehicle bug sweep is $880 including GST, a home bug sweep starts from $1,100 for a one or two bedroom apartment, and a commercial bug sweep starts from $3,300. Larger homes are quoted individually, and commercial prices depend on the size of the premises, the number of rooms and the scope.
Every sweep includes a clearance certificate and security recommendations. If you need a full written report, for example for court or police, it is $330 including GST. Vehicle sweeps are paid in full upfront. Residential sweeps need a 50% deposit.
What do audio enhancement and liquidation investigations cost?
Forensic audio enhancement starts with a $109 assessment, including GST, and then we quote the work. The assessment tells us whether your file can be improved and what it will take, so you know the cost before committing.
Liquidation investigations start from $880 including GST. The final figure depends on the scope of the matter, which we confirm with you before any work starts.
Is it worth paying more for a licensed private investigator?
Yes. A cheaper quote is only good value if the investigator is licensed and the evidence holds up. In NSW, anyone working as a private investigator must hold a licence. Using someone unlicensed, or someone who gathers evidence unlawfully, can put your matter at risk.
So how much should a private investigator cost? Enough to cover licensed, lawful work, with every charge spelled out. Before you hire anyone, check their licence on the NSW Government Verify licence service. Stirling Investigations holds NSW Master Licence 000108692. It's also worth asking what a quote includes. A low hourly rate can end up costing more if travel, reports and footage are all charged on top without warning. To understand the limits that apply to every investigator, read what a licensed PI can and can't do.
How do I get an accurate quote?
The quickest way is a free, confidential 15-minute consultation. Call 1800 403 143, book a free 15-minute consult or send a confidential enquiry. Tell us what you want to find out, where the person lives or works, any dates that matter and what you'll do with the result. The more we know, the tighter the plan and the fewer hours you pay for.
You'll get a clear quote before any work starts, and there's no obligation to go ahead after the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Do your prices include GST? Yes, all prices include GST. For example, the four-hour surveillance package is $880 including GST.
How much does a private investigator charge per hour in Sydney? At Stirling Investigations, surveillance starts with a four-hour package at $880, then each extra hour is $132. All prices include GST.
How much does it cost to find someone's address? An address search is a fixed $660 including GST, paid upfront, and usually takes 1 to 5 business days.
Do I have to pay upfront? Address searches, social media reports and vehicle bug sweeps are paid upfront. Surveillance bookings need a minimum deposit of $880 per day booked, and residential bug sweeps need a 50% deposit.
Is the first consultation free? Yes. Your first 15-minute consultation is free and confidential, and there is no obligation to go ahead.
Is hiring a private investigator legal? Yes, when the investigator is licensed and works within the law. In NSW, private investigators must hold a licence. This is general information, not legal advice, so speak to your lawyer about your matter.
Can you guarantee a result? No. We can't guarantee what we will find, but we can promise a lawful, well-planned investigation and a clear account of what we found.
Do you work outside Sydney? Yes. We work across Sydney and NSW, and our address searches cover people anywhere in Australia. Travel beyond the 100 km radius in the surveillance package is billed at $132 an hour.
How do I check that a private investigator is licensed in NSW? Search their name or licence number on the NSW Government Verify licence service. Stirling Investigations holds NSW Master Licence 000108692.
Talk to a licensed investigator
If you'd like a price for your situation, call 1800 403 143, book a free 15-minute consult or send a confidential enquiry. You'll speak with a licensed investigator, get a clear quote before any work starts, and decide in your own time.
