How much does a private investigator cost?

A private investigator costs $95 to $153 an hour in 2026. What changes your price is below.

A May 2026 survey of 32 private investigation firms in the 10 biggest US metros found an average of $132 an hour, with quotes from $25 to $250. City averages ranged from $95 in Dallas to $153 in Chicago. Some routine jobs have flat fees, like background checks at $250 to $800.

Find out what it will cost you

Pick the job, your state's cost level and the last detail. The estimate updates as you change them.

The job

State labor costs

Staff

National range for this job

Adjusted for your state

Adjusted for staff

Expect to pay

An estimate built from published 2026 cost guides. It is not a quote. Get a written quote before work starts.

How much does a private investigator cost per hour by city?

Average, 10 big metros	$132 an hour (May 2026 survey).
Chicago	$153.
New York	$150.
Washington, DC	$150.
Los Angeles	$128.
Miami	$117.
Dallas	$95.
Background check, flat fee	$250 to $800.
Financial asset search	About $1,300.

What pushes a quote up

Case type	Surveillance takes the most hours.
City	Chicago and New York cost the most.
Experience	Specialists charge more.
Travel and mileage	Often billed on top.
Retainer	Many firms ask for money up front.

Private investigator cost by region

Lower cost states	$75 to $120. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas.
Average cost states	$95 to $153. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities.
Higher cost states	$125 to $200. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC.

These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Rates differ by city. The survey found $95 in Dallas and $153 in Chicago.

What does surveillance cost?

Surveillance is billed by the hour, often with a minimum block, plus mileage. At the $132 average, a 10 hour day of watching costs about $1,320 before expenses. Some firms send two investigators, which doubles the hourly cost.

Flat fees are common for routine work like background checks and records searches.

Check the license

Most states license private investigators. Ask for the license number and check it with your state. Investigators must follow the law; they cannot hack accounts, trespass or record calls where that is illegal.

How to judge the quote in your hand

Ask hourly or flat fee.
Ask the retainer amount.
Ask about minimum hours.
Ask how mileage is billed.
Ask for the state license number.

Ways to pay less

Define exactly what you need.
Use flat fee services for records searches.
Give the investigator all the facts up front.
Set a cap on hours.
Compare two firms.

Before you decide

Older price surveys from Angi and Thumbtack reported lower averages, around $50 to $70 an hour, and industry experts give a range of $40 to $200. The May 2026 big city survey above is the most current figure we found.

If your case is part of a lawsuit or divorce, ask your lawyer first. Some lawyers work with investigators they trust, and hiring through the lawyer can protect the work.

Get the scope, the hourly rate, the cap on hours and the retainer terms in a written agreement before any work starts. Ask how often you will get updates and in what form, such as a written report with photos.

FeeGuides.com is not linked to any investigator or firm.

Ask whether the firm will testify or write a sworn statement if your case goes to court, and what that time costs.