How Much Does Dog Boarding Cost?
Dog boarding costs $25 to $70 per night, averaging about $45. That covers a safe place to sleep, food, water, and a few walks a day while you are away. It is the price of peace of mind — and it is the number most owners underestimate, because a two-week holiday at $45 a night is $630 before you have paid for a single extra walk or a holiday surcharge.
The price swings on where the dog sleeps, not just where you live. A basic kennel and a luxury pet hotel are different products at different prices, and a holiday week can add 20 to 50 percent. This guide covers prices by facility type, the holiday surcharge, what the extras cost, and a week and a month worked out — plus an honest note on why no single "national average" can be trusted.
Dog Boarding Prices at a Glance
The table below shows typical prices per night in the United States, checked Nov 7, 2026 (sources: Care.com, Rover, Animals Matter, and iPetzo).
| Facility type | Typical cost per night |
|---|---|
| Kennel (standard) | $30–$50 |
| Doggy daycare (overnight) | $45–$75 |
| In-home sitter | $40–$60 |
| Vet boarding | $40–$70 |
| Luxury boarding / pet hotel | $80–$150+ |
Care.com gives $40 to $60 a night. Rover gives $40 to $50 a night. Animals Matter gives $35 to $70, with luxury at $80 to $150 or more. iPetzo gives $25 to $60, citing its own sources. The ranges overlap heavily, and the averages cluster around $40 to $50 a night — which is the number to budget for a standard kennel or sitter.
One honest warning before the tables: there is no reliable national survey of dog boarding prices. No government agency and no industry body publishes one. Every figure in this guide comes from marketplace listings and booking sites, which skew toward cities and toward the facilities that list online. Rural kennels are often cheaper, and small towns may have only one option at whatever price it charges. Treat the numbers below as a planning range, not a price list.
Cost by Facility Type
The facility decides the experience as much as the price. A kennel is a run and a bed; a luxury hotel is a suite, a webcam, and a bedtime story.
| Facility type | Cost per night | What your dog gets |
|---|---|---|
| Kennel | $30–$50 | Own run, shared playtime, 2–3 walks |
| Doggy daycare (overnight) | $45–$75 | Group play all day, overnight in a suite |
| In-home sitter | $40–$60 | A home, one-on-one attention |
| Vet boarding | $40–$70 | Medical supervision, on-site vet |
| Luxury boarding | $80–$150+ | Private suite, webcam, extras |
A kennel is the cheapest and the most common. Your dog sleeps in its own run and gets group playtime and a few walks. It suits confident, social dogs and owners who want a simple, predictable price. Doggy daycare with overnight boarding costs more because the dog plays in a group all day — great for energetic dogs, tiring for nervous ones.
An in-home sitter costs about the same as a kennel but gives one-on-one attention in a real home, which suits anxious dogs and puppies. Vet boarding costs $40 to $70 and is the right choice for a dog that needs medication, has a health condition, or is recovering from surgery — a vet is on site if anything goes wrong. Luxury boarding at $80 to $150 or more is a pet hotel: private suites, webcams so you can watch your dog, and extras like grooming and bedtime treats. It is a comfort choice, not a necessity.
The Holiday Surcharge: 20–50% More
Boarding prices jump on holidays, and the jump is bigger than most owners expect. Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July typically add 20 to 50 percent to the nightly rate, checked Nov 7, 2026 (sources: Care.com, Rover, and Animals Matter).
A $45-a-night kennel becomes $55 to $68 a night over Christmas. A $100-a-night luxury suite becomes $120 to $150. The surcharge applies because demand peaks and staff work holidays — and because facilities know you have no alternative that week.
Two more holiday traps: most facilities require a minimum stay of two or three nights over holidays, and many charge a non-refundable deposit of 50 percent or the full stay. Book early — the good kennels fill up weeks before Christmas, and the price rises as the remaining spots shrink. If your dates are flexible, travelling just outside the holiday week can save a third of the bill. If you must cancel a holiday booking, expect to lose the deposit — most facilities keep it, and a few let you move the dates once without a fee if you give two weeks' notice. Ask about the cancellation policy when you book, not when you cancel.
What the Extras Cost
The nightly rate rarely covers everything. These are the add-ons that show up on the bill, checked Nov 7, 2026 (sources: Rover and Animals Matter).
| Extra | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Extra playtime or walks | $5–$15 per session |
| Medication administration | $5–$10 per day |
| Special diet / own food prep | $5–$10 per day |
| Grooming or bath | $30–$75 |
| Webcam access | $5–$10 per day |
| Late pickup / early drop-off | $10–$25 |
| Puppy or senior care | $10–$20 per day extra |
Medication is the extra most owners forget. A dog on daily pills costs $5 to $10 a day extra, and insulin injections cost more. Puppies and seniors cost $10 to $20 a day extra because they need more trips outside and more attention. A bath before pickup — most owners want their dog home clean — costs $30 to $75.
Ask for the full price in writing before you book, including the holiday surcharge and the extras. A $45-a-night quote that becomes $70 a night after extras is not a cheap kennel.
A Worked Example: One Week and One Month
Take a healthy adult dog staying at a standard kennel at $45 a night, with one extra play session a day at $10.
One week (7 nights):
- Boarding, 7 nights at $45: $315
- Extra playtime, 7 sessions at $10: $70
- Bath before pickup: $40
Total: $425 for the week — about $60 a day once the extras are in.
One month (30 nights) at the same kennel, with a weekly discount of 10% that many facilities offer for long stays:
- Boarding, 30 nights at $45: $1,350
- 10% long-stay discount: −$135
- Extra playtime, 30 sessions at $10: $300
- Medication, 30 days at $5: $150
Total: $1,665 for the month — about $55 a day. The same month at a luxury facility at $100 a night, without discounts, passes $3,000. The facility choice does almost all of the work.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Booking on price alone. The cheapest kennel with no webcam, no report, and no vet on call is a false economy.
- Forgetting the holiday surcharge. A Christmas week at $45 a night becomes $55 to $68 — budget the surcharge, not the standard rate.
- Skipping the trial stay. A one-night trial before a long trip shows whether your dog copes — and whether the facility is as advertised.
- Not asking about extras. Medication, extra walks, and a bath can add $20 a day to a $45 quote.
- Leaving vaccination proof at home. Every reputable facility requires up-to-date vaccinations, including Bordetella — no proof, no stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does dog boarding cost?
About $25 to $70 per night, checked Nov 7, 2026, averaging about $45 — kennels cost $30 to $50, in-home sitters $40 to $60, vet boarding $40 to $70, and luxury boarding $80 to $150 or more.
How much does dog boarding cost for a week?
About $315 for boarding alone at $45 a night, or about $425 with an extra play session daily and a bath before pickup. Holiday weeks cost 20 to 50 percent more.
Why is there no official national average?
No government agency or industry body publishes a national survey of boarding prices. The figures in this guide come from marketplace listings and booking sites, which skew toward cities — use them as a planning range, not a price list.
Do kennels charge extra on holidays?
Yes. Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July typically add 20 to 50 percent to the nightly rate, and most facilities require a two- or three-night minimum stay.
Is in-home sitting cheaper than a kennel?
About the same — $40 to $60 a night versus $30 to $50 for a kennel. Sitting gives one-on-one attention in a home, which suits anxious dogs, while kennels suit confident, social dogs.
