How much to charge for a massage in Lagos depends on your real costs: add transport both ways, power and supplies, and the value of your time, then divide by 0.8 if you take bookings on Velvet and want to keep that amount after Velvet's share. This guide gives you that method, a published example for context, and the Lagos realities, from go-slow to generators, that change what a fair price is.
How you get paid on Velvet: the client pays Velvet before you meet, so the money is already there. You get half as soon as the booking is made, and the rest after the meetup: the price you set, minus Velvet's fee. No more being paid less than agreed, or not paid at all.
Key takeaways
- Build your price from your costs. A booking on the Island from a base on the Mainland can cost more in time and transport than the session itself.
- Published examples are context, not a rate card. One leading Abuja spa lists deep tissue massage at NGN 16,000 to 28,500. A spa and a home visit are different businesses.
- You set your price on your profile; Velvet does not set it for you.
- Creators keep 80% of what clients pay for paid items; see the join page for current terms.
- The client pays Velvet before you travel, so you are not discounting just to be sure of being paid.
How much should you charge for a massage in Lagos?
There is no single rate in Lagos. A spa on Victoria Island, a therapist in a Lekki apartment and a home-service visit to Ikeja each have different costs. The published figure below is here to show the scale only. Typical ranges reported by creators and clients, not a quote. Each creator sets their own price on their profile.
- One leading Abuja spa lists deep tissue massage at NGN 16,000 to 28,500, according to a listing on a booking marketplace. It is a fixed-location spa with a room and staff, so a mobile therapist's costs and price will not match it.
For another view of how a Nigerian city's prices are laid out, see massage prices in Abuja.
How do you price a home-service massage?
Use a four-line worksheet, and write your own numbers.
- Transport (A). The full cost of the round trip. Include the ride-hail price at peak times and the fuel if you drive. Count the return even if the client offers to cover one way.
- Power and supplies (B). Oil or lotion, clean towels and linen washed between clients, disposables, and the cost of keeping your phone and lights charged when the electricity fails.
- Your time (C). The hours you really spend, including the journey, set-up and clean-up, multiplied by the hourly amount you need.
- Buffer (D). A small amount for data, airtime and cancelled bookings.
Your floor is (A + B + C + D) divided by 0.8. In other words, the price on your profile needs to be 25% higher than the amount you want to take home, because Velvet's share comes out of the paid amount. If clients in your area will not pay that, you can raise your prices, shorten your trips by limiting your zones, or add a minimum session length for far locations.
Why do Lagos traffic and power change the numbers?
Lagos is a city where the route matters as much as the distance. The Third Mainland Bridge, the Lekki-Epe Expressway and the roads around Ikeja, including Allen Avenue, can be fast at midday and slow in the evening. A booking in Lekki Phase 1 from Yaba at 6 pm can take much of the evening. Many therapists therefore price by zone, or add a travel fee beyond a certain area, and say so on their profile.
Power is the other cost. Some therapists work in estates with steady power; others need a generator, an inverter or a power bank. A client who wants a late session in a building with no power is asking you to take on cost. Decide your rule in advance, for example no bookings that need you to travel late at night without a confirmed place to meet.
What do clients in Lagos expect for the price?
Clients compare more than the number. They look at the time you promise, whether you bring a table or a mat, how clean your linen is, whether you arrive when you said, and whether the profile looks real. A price that is a little higher but comes with a verified badge, a clear description and reviews from verified bookings will often win over a cheaper listing with none of those. Keep your session lengths simple, such as 60 and 90 minutes, so clients can compare you easily, and avoid a menu so long that nobody knows what to pick.
Island, Mainland and zones
Many creators use two or three zones. For example, one price for Lekki Phase 1, Oniru and Victoria Island, a second for Ikoyi and Ikeja, and a travel fee beyond that. Whatever you choose, write it down. A visible price protects you from haggling at the door, and it protects the client from surprises.
Should you take a deposit?
If the client books on Velvet, the money is paid to Velvet before you travel and released after the session is confirmed, so no deposit is needed. Some Lagos therapists outside Velvet ask for a deposit before travelling. That can be reasonable, but a transfer to a personal account is not covered by payment protection or dispute protection, and fake transfer alerts exist. Check your account balance before you leave, never trust a screenshot.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Matching the cheapest listing. Their costs and their area are not yours.
- Ignoring the return trip. It is a cost whichever way the client pays.
- Forgetting your power and data costs.
- Never raising a price. After your first reviews, test a higher price.
For ideas on getting those first reviews, read how to get massage clients in Lagos.
Related guides
- Starting a mobile massage business in Nigeria: kit, registration and costs
- Earning as a creator in Nigeria: all the ways to earn on Velvet
- Massage therapist jobs in Lagos: compare with a salaried role
- Lagos on Velvet: what clients see when they browse
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for a massage in Lagos?
Start with your costs: transport both ways, power and supplies, your time and a small buffer. Divide by 0.8 if you want to keep that amount after Velvet's share. Published prices are context, not a rate.
How do I price a home-service massage?
Add a travel element to the session price, or use zones. State it on your profile so clients know before they book.
Do I charge more for a longer massage?
Yes, but not simply in proportion. Travel and set-up are the same either way, so a longer session usually has a lower cost per minute.
Should I ask for a deposit?
On Velvet, payment protection holds the payment before you travel. Outside Velvet, a deposit to a personal account is not protected.
Who sets my price on Velvet?
You do. Each creator publishes their own price on their profile.
Ready to publish your price? Join Velvet as a creator and set it on your profile.