How Much Is Dog Boarding?
Post Date:
December 10, 2024
(Date Last Modified: November 13, 2025)
Dog boarding is the short-term care of a dog at a facility or in a caregiver’s home while the owner is away. The cost varies by facility type, location, services, and the dog’s specific needs.
Typical boarding prices and national averages
Median per-night rates across the U.S. commonly cluster by service tier, with budget boarding near $30 per day, midrange facilities around $50 per day, and premium or resort-style boarding often averaging about $90 per day[1].
Weekend stays often add roughly 10%–20% to the nightly rate, and holiday surcharges frequently add about $15–$40 per night depending on demand and the facility’s policy[2].
Different surveys and platform reports use different samples and methods, so published averages can diverge by region and by whether add-ons are included in the reported figures[1].
| Tier | Typical median ($/night) | Typical range ($/night) | Quick note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget/basic kennel | $30 | $20–$45 | Shared runs, minimal extras |
| Midrange/inn-style | $50 | $40–$75 | More playtime, choice of food |
| Premium/resort | $90 | $70–$150+ | Private suites, enrichment, webcams |
Pricing by region and city size
Urban centers and high-cost coastal metros typically run 20%–50% higher than national medians, while rural areas often fall below the national median by a similar margin[2].
Examples: major metropolitan areas commonly show midrange nightly averages near $60–$80 in dense cities versus $35–$55 in outlying suburbs and rural towns according to platform reports and local market snapshots[1].
Facilities that must cover higher local wages, property rents, or transportation and pickup logistics often reflect those costs in higher nightly rates[2].
Types of boarding facilities and price tiers
Boarding falls into distinct categories: basic kennels with communal playtimes, inn-style or boutique boarding with more structured routines, and luxury resorts offering private suites and spa-like services; each tier commands a different price point[5].
- Kennels/basic boarding: shared runs or crates, standard supervision, cheapest per-night rates.
- Boutique/inn-style: smaller groups, multiple daily play sessions, more human interaction, midrange pricing.
- Luxury/resort: private suites, webcams, signature enrichment and training sessions, highest fees.
Home boarding (a caregiver’s home) and in-home pet-sitting differ in staffing, liability, and often cost structure; in-home overnight sits can approach midrange boarding costs but avoid facility drop-off and may better suit nervous dogs[2].
Services and add-ons that change the price
Common add-ons include individual meal service, medication administration, grooming, training sessions, private play, and live webcams, each of which can add per-day or per-service fees to the base rate[6].
Medication administration fees commonly range from about $5–$15 per day for routine oral meds, while specialized medical care or injections can cost more depending on staff training and time required[6].
Facilities sometimes bundle services into packages (for example, a “full-service” package that includes grooming or extra play), and it’s important to ask whether fees are mandatory (e.g., mandatory cleaning fee) or optional[2].
Dog-specific factors that affect cost
Size and weight often matter: large-breed or extra-large dogs frequently incur higher fees or require private suites, and facilities commonly assess a size surcharge in the range of $5–$20 per night for very large dogs[1].
Age and medical needs change costs because senior dogs or dogs with chronic conditions may require more frequent monitoring, special diets, or medication administration that raises the daily price[6].
Vaccination and intake policies are commonly strict: many facilities require up-to-date rabies and distemper/parvo vaccinations within the past 12 months and a recent negative fecal test or proof of parasite prevention in some regions[3].
For dogs with fluid or perioperative needs, a commonly used maintenance fluid estimate is about 60 mL/kg/day (clinical formula), which boarding facilities with medical capacity should be prepared to manage or refer to veterinary care[4].
Discounts, packages, and membership pricing
Multi-day discounts of about 5%–15% are commonly offered for stays longer than a week, and facilities often provide multi-dog discounts in the 10%–20% range for owners boarding two or more pets from the same household[2].
Memberships or prepaid packages can lower the per-visit cost for frequent users, and the break-even point for prepaid plans typically appears after several stays depending on the discount structure and blackout dates[1].
Seasonal promos are most likely in off-peak months; conversely, peak-season pricing and holiday surcharges usually remove or reduce promo availability[2].
Comparing boarding to alternatives (pet sitters, daycare, house-sitting)
Typical daytime doggy daycare averages often sit around $25–$40 per day, while pet-sitter drop-in visits range about $15–$35 per visit and in-home overnight sitting commonly runs $50–$100 per night depending on location and sitter qualifications[2].
Boarding generally offers continuous onsite supervision and built-in socialization, whereas a daily pet-sitter preserves home routine but can mean less intensive supervision; cost comparisons should account for transportation, scheduling, and emergency plans[1].
When a dog needs daily medication or medical monitoring, in-facility boarding with trained staff can be cheaper than hiring a medically-qualified private sitter for multiple daily visits, depending on the hourly rates in the area[6].
Estimating total trip cost and budgeting checklist
Budget components to add together include the base nightly rate, add-ons (meals/grooming/meds), taxes and service fees, transport or pickup/dropoff, tip or gratuity, and an emergency care buffer equal to about 10%–25% of the trip subtotal as a contingency[1].
Example: using a midrange base of $50 per night, a $10/day medication charge, and a $20 one-time pickup fee, a 3-night stay totals $190 before tax and tips (3 × $50 = $150; medication 3 × $10 = $30; plus $20 pickup) and should be cited to the facility quote for accuracy[1].
For a 7-night stay at the same rates the pre-tax total would be $420 (7 × $50 = $350; meds 7 × $10 = $70), and a 14-night stay would be $840 pre-tax under identical assumptions[1].
How to find and compare quotes
Ask each facility for a written rate sheet that lists base nightly rates, all mandatory fees, and the per-service charges for medication, grooming, and special care, and compare those line items directly to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison[2].
Key questions: staffing ratios during day and night, emergency veterinary procedures and who pays, vaccination and parasite-prevention requirements, and whether webcams or daily reports are included or extra; request written policies on cancellations and medical care[5].
Validate value with recent reviews, local referrals, and an in-person visit when possible to observe cleanliness, staff interactions, and the group sizes used for exercise times[1].
Booking timing, cancellation policies, and payment terms
Book early for peak travel periods; many facilities recommend reserving at least 30–60 days ahead for holiday weekends, and late-booking or same-week reservations often carry a premium or limited availability[2].
Typical cancellation policies require a deposit at booking and may enforce a forfeiture of that deposit if canceled within 7–14 days of the stay, though exact windows and refund conditions vary by facility[2].
Ask whether taxes, service fees, payment methods, and required intake paperwork (vaccination records, signed contracts, emergency contacts) are finalized at booking or on drop-off so you can avoid surprise charges at pickup[5].
Red flags and cost-related tradeoffs
Extremely low prices that appear far below local averages can indicate understaffing, poor sanitation, or inadequate emergency planning, and these options should be vetted carefully before entrusting a pet[5].
Watch for hidden mandatory fees—cleaning fees, late pickup penalties, or per-day housing surcharges—that can make an initially cheap rate more expensive than a higher-quality option with clear pricing[2].
Balance price with the dog’s particular needs: a healthy adult who socializes well may thrive in a budget facility, while a senior dog or one on multiple medications may justify a higher cost for specialized, medically-competent care[6].
