What do published sources say private investigators charge?
Four published sources, each read on October 5, 2026, give these hourly rates and retainers.
| Source | Covers | Hourly rate | Retainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revelations Private Investigations, an Oklahoma investigation firm | Oklahoma | $75 to $150 | $500 to $3,000 or more |
| Michael & Associates, a law firm that surveyed investigators | 10 large U.S. metro areas | $25 to $250, average $132 | About $1,500 or more |
| Thumbtack, a marketplace for local services | The United States | $70 to $210 | $1,500 minimum for some investigators |
| eInvestigator.com, an investigation industry website | The United States | $40 to $200 | No figure given |
In the law firm's survey, Dallas, the nearest of its ten metro areas to Oklahoma, averaged $95 an hour.
- Revelations Private Investigations, "How Much Does a Private Investigator Cost in Oklahoma?", read October 5, 2026. A guide by an Oklahoma firm to what investigators in the state typically charge.
- Michael & Associates, "How Much Does a Private Investigator Cost in 2026?", published May 5, 2026. The firm tried to contact 32 private investigators in April 2026, and 26 quoted an hourly rate.
- Thumbtack, private investigators in Oklahoma City, read October 5, 2026. The range it gives is a national average.
- eInvestigator.com, "Cost to Hire a Private Investigator", updated February 23, 2026
The ranges differ because each source counts different firms, places and kinds of work. Treat any of them as a starting point for questions, not as a quote.
What sets the price of an investigation?
Mostly time. For an investigator who bills by the hour, the biggest variable is how many hours the question needs.
- Hours
- Fieldwork, records research, interviews and writing the report. An unpredictable schedule or several locations add hours. Clear starting information and one defined question reduce them.
- Mileage
- Driving to and from the work. Fuller Investigations is based in Oklahoma City and works anywhere in Oklahoma, so distance counts for fieldwork. Records research needs no travel.
- Records and database fees
- Paid searches and copies of records. They grow with the number of names, counties and years.
- A retainer
- Money paid in advance and billed against as the work happens. It is not an extra cost.
- A written agreement
- The document that sets the scope, the rate and the terms before any work begins.
Fuller Investigations bills on hourly time, mileage, database or records fees and a retainer, set out in a written agreement. Work begins after the agreement is signed and the retainer is paid, as how it works explains.
What drives the cost of each kind of work?
| Kind of work | What mostly drives the cost |
|---|---|
| Surveillance, as in an infidelity investigation | Hours on site, travel, how predictable the schedule is, the report and the video |
| Locates and skip tracing | Records and database searches, and field visits to confirm an address |
| Background investigations | How many names, counties and years are covered, and database fees |
| Witness location and interviews | The number of witnesses, travel and preparing statements |
Process serving is priced differently. In Oklahoma, a private process server's fees are agreed between the server and the client (12 O.S. § 158.2). For process serving, call for a quote.
What should you ask any investigator before hiring?
Ask what the quote includes, not only the hourly rate. One rate may include mileage and report writing. Another may bill them separately or set minimum hours.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Are you and your agency licensed by CLEET, the Oklahoma agency that licenses private investigators? | Oklahoma requires private investigators and investigative agencies to be licensed by CLEET before they operate (59 O.S. § 1750.4(A)). |
| Is mileage included in the rate? | It is often the largest addition for work far from the investigator's base. |
| Are database or records fees extra? | They vary with the scope. |
| Is report writing billed? | A report takes real time. |
| Is there a minimum number of hours? | It changes the cost of a short job. |
| How is the retainer handled, and is an unused balance returned? | It sets what you pay if the work ends early. |
| What does testimony cost? | Court time can be significant. |
| Will you put the scope and the costs in writing before work starts? | It protects both sides. |
| Who will do the work? | At Fuller Investigations, Daniel Fuller is the only investigator. |
A marketplace price that begins with "from" is a starting rate. Ask the same questions.
Can an investigator promise results for the fee?
No honest investigator can. The fee pays for lawful work and a truthful report of what was found, whatever that turns out to be.
Every matter is different, and no investigator can promise what the facts will show. Daniel commits to lawful work and an accurate written report of what was done and found.
No fee changes what is lawful. The guide to what a private investigator can do in Oklahoma sets out the limits.
What does the first consultation cost?
Nothing. The first consultation with Fuller Investigations is free. Fuller Investigations does not publish rates, so cost is a question to ask in that conversation. What is agreed is set out in the written agreement before any work begins.
Clear starting information keeps the hours down. It helps to have:
- the one question the work should answer;
- the names, photographs, vehicles, schedules and addresses you already know;
- for an attorney, the case number and the deadlines.
To ask what your matter would cost, call (572) 246-7839 or send a text.