How Much Does a Bodyguard Cost?

Executive protection specializts on XGuard typically charge $85 to $180 an hour. That is well above a standard guard, which is $35 to $60 unarmed or $55 to $95 armed, because the work needs specialized training: threat assessment, advance planning of routes and venues, defensive driving, emergency medical response and the judgement to stay close without being intrusive.

The rate is set by the individual professional and varies by city and by how much notice you give. You see the figure before you book.

One agent can cover a low-profile day of meetings or a single event. A detail adds more people: a lead agent, a second agent for coverage, sometimes a protective driver or an advance person who checks the venue before you arrive. Price it by multiplying. Two agents for eight hours at the same rate cost twice as much as one.

• One agent, eight hours: about $680 to $1,440.
• One agent, ten hours: about $850 to $1,800.
• Two agents, ten hours: about $1,700 to $3,600.

Nobody can protect effectively for 24 hours straight, so round-the-clock coverage means three eight-hour shifts or two twelve-hour shifts. At the hourly range above, 24 hours with one agent on duty at all times works out to roughly $2,040 to $4,320 a day. A principal who needs two agents together at all times pays about double that. This is why most clients buy protection for specific high-risk windows, such as travel, public appearances and evenings, rather than continuously.

Travel changes the bill in three ways. Agents who accompany you are paid for the time they are traveling and waiting, not only the time in front of you. Their flights, lodging and ground transport are normally agreed separately from the hourly rate. And protection abroad may require an agent who knows the local rules about carrying weapons or may need a local licensed partner. Agree in writing who pays for what before the trip.

Armed protection costs more than unarmed. Short notice raises the rate because the agent has to clear their calendar. Higher-risk situations, such as a recent threat, a contested public event or a high-profile principal, call for more experienced people and more of them. A minimum booking window usually applies, commonly a few hours per shift.

XGuard shows a platform fee as a separate line before you book; see the pricing page for how it works. Payment is held until the work is complete.

The cheapest protection is usually protection that is well timed. Instead of paying for a full day, many clients book agents for the moments that carry the most risk: arrivals and departures, public appearances, travel and evenings out. Share your calendar early so the agent can plan, because advance planning reduces the hours that need a second person.

Ask whether an unarmed agent is enough. For many assignments it is, and the difference between armed and unarmed rates is large over a long booking. Ask also whether the agent can combine roles, such as driving and protection, though a driver who is also the only protector cannot do both well in a high-risk setting.

Finally, compare more than the hourly rate. Look at the minimum booking, how travel time is billed, and what experience the person has with situations like yours. A slightly higher rate for an experienced professional can cost less overall than a cheaper agent who needs more hours or a second person to cover gaps. Agree the final figure in writing and confirm it matches what is shown before you book.

Protective work is often built around one person's routine, so the right experience for your situation may be limited. A request for tomorrow narrows the pool and may carry a premium, while booking early leaves time for a call about your schedule and concerns before you commit.