Photo by Mia X on Pexels
By Michael Gonzales · Updated October 26, 2026
iPetzo may earn a commission from some links on this site, at no cost to you. Listings never change the prices on this page. Disclosure
Dog boarding costs about $25 to $60 a night at a traditional kennel: Rover and HomeGuide put kennels at $25 to $55, and Care.com's 2026 guide says $40 to $60. A sitter who boards dogs at home charges about $25 to $45, and overnight daycare costs $55 or more. A week in a kennel runs about $140 to $420.
Ready to book? Browse pet boarding and kennels on iPetzo and call two or three for a quote. Each facility sets its own price, and holiday dates fill early.
How much does dog boarding cost per night?
Most kennels charge $25 to $60 a night. Here's what the big guides report:
| Source | Typical nightly cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| HomeGuide (Jun 2025) | $40 average; $30 – $50 typical | Boarding kennels, $25 – $85 full range |
| Rover (Sep 2024) | $40 – $50 average | All boarding types |
| Care.com (Aug 2026) | $40 – $60 | Traditional kennels |
Sources: HomeGuide, dog boarding cost (June 25, 2025), Rover, how much does it cost to board your dog? (updated September 3, 2024) and Care.com, average dog boarding cost (updated August 10, 2026).
Treat any national number as a starting point. Creatures, in a guide by veterinarian Elliott Garber (updated October 2, 2026), says no reliable national survey of boarding rates exists, and that the spread you get from calling three to five nearby facilities is your real market.
How much does each type of boarding cost?
The type of boarding matters more than anything except where you live. Here's the nightly cost by type:
| Boarding type | What you get | Rover | Care.com | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional kennel | Own run or crate, meals, walks or outdoor breaks | $25 – $55 | $40 – $60 | $25 – $55 |
| Sitter's home | Your dog stays with a sitter, often with a few other dogs | $25 – $45 | – | $15 – $50 |
| Sitter in your home | Your dog keeps its routine at home | $45 – $75 | – | About $70 |
| Veterinary boarding | Kennel at an animal hospital or clinic | $30 – $60 | $60 – $75 | $35 – $55 |
| Overnight daycare or luxury hotel | Group play, private rooms, webcams, add-ons | $55 – $80 | $55 – $160 | $75 – $95 |
Care.com says traditional kennels usually cost the least because there's little group play or exercise. Its expert, Karoline Brewer of AirPets International, puts the staff-to-dog ratio at 1:25 to 1:35 in a traditional kennel and closer to 1:10 in a daycare-style facility.
Vet boarding suits dogs with medical needs. HomeGuide suggests asking whether staff stay on site overnight, because some vet offices don't keep staff there 24/7.
How much does it cost to board a dog for a week or a month?
Plan on about $140 to $420 for a week in a kennel, and several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars for a month:
| Boarding type | Per week | Per 2 weeks | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennel (Rover) | $140 – $175 | $280 – $350 | $750 – $1,650 |
| Kennel (HomeGuide) | $140 – $175 | – | $460 – $720 |
| Kennel (Care.com) | $280 – $420 | – | – |
| Sitter's home (Rover) | $150 – $270 | $300 – $540 | $750 – $1,350 |
| Vet boarding (Rover) | $160 – $320 | $320 – $640 | $900 – $1,800 |
| Overnight daycare (Rover) | $330 – $480 | $660 – $960 | $1,650 – $2,400 |
| Luxury hotel (HomeGuide) | $525 – $675 | – | $950 – $2,600 |
Weekly and monthly prices come straight from each source. Their monthly kennel numbers differ a lot, which is one more reason to get a written quote for your exact dates.
Long stays often get a better rate. HomeGuide says many kennels sell 5-day packages for $100 to $200, 10-day packages for $175 to $250 and 25-day packages for $375 to $650.
What does dog boarding cost in my city?
Big, expensive cities cost the most. Rover's per-night averages:
| City | Rover average per night |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $74 |
| New York, NY | $65 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $62 |
| Miami, FL | $57 |
| Washington, DC | $53 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $44 |
| Sacramento, CA | $40 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $39 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $37 |
| San Antonio, TX | $34 |
Source: Rover's city table (article updated September 3, 2024). Linked cities go to iPetzo's local pet care guides. You can also browse boarding by state: California, Florida, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Indiana.
Rover says boarding costs $60 to $75 in major cities, $45 to $60 in mid-size cities and $30 to $45 in smaller cities and rural areas.
What extra fees come with dog boarding?
The nightly rate is rarely the whole bill. Ask for the full fee schedule in writing, as Creatures suggests, and watch for these:
- Medication: $10 to $30 extra, depending on the method, according to a veterinarian quoted by Care.com. Rover says vet boarding adds $5 to $15 a night for extra medical care.
- Holiday and last-minute stays: Rover and Creatures both say rates go up at peak times, and Creatures says some places set a minimum stay over major holidays.
- Late pickup: HomeGuide says most kennels want pickup by 6 p.m. or they charge extra, and some bill another night. Rover says after-hours care can add 50% at the start or end of a stay.
- Puppies, anxious or reactive dogs: Rover says sitters charge $5 to $10 more a night for puppies, and special care for anxious or reactive dogs costs about $10 more a night. A vet quoted by Care.com says an aggressive or difficult dog might cost an extra $50 a day.
- Extras: Rover says added activities like swimming or agility cost about $10 each. Care.com lists extra playtime at $8 and a bath at $20 to $40. See our dog grooming cost guide if you want a full groom before pickup.
- Pickup and drop-off: $10 to $20 per trip, per Rover.
- Tips: optional. Rover suggests 10% to 20% for exceptional care.
How can you save on dog boarding?
You can trim the bill without cutting care:
- Book holidays early. Peak dates fill and often carry surcharges, Creatures says.
- Ask about multi-dog rates. HomeGuide says many kennels take 10% to 50% off for each additional dog. Care.com says a second dog sharing a room might get $4 to $10 off at a kennel, or 50% off at a daycare.
- Ask about packages. Longer stays usually cost less per night (see the package prices above).
- Match the tier to your dog. Creatures says a confident, social dog may be happy in a standard kennel, while a small, senior or anxious dog may do better, and sometimes cheaper, in a quiet in-home setting.
- Stay with one good place. UC Davis veterinary students advise going back to a facility you like, because your dog gets used to the staff.
Is dog boarding cheaper than a pet sitter?
Usually, yes, at the kennel level. A sitter who stays in your home costs about $45 to $75 a night on Rover, or about $70 per HomeGuide, which is similar to overnight daycare. Dog trainer Harrison Forbes told Care.com that if you're paying about $75 a night for boarding, you can likely get someone to care for your dog in your own home for the same price.
Care.com's experts suggest a sitter for anxious, reactive, elderly or poorly socialized dogs, and daycare-style boarding for high-energy dogs. Compare local pet sitters and dog walkers, or dog daycare centers if your dog loves a crowd.
What vaccines does a dog need for boarding?
Each facility sets its own rules, but UC Davis veterinary students say a dog should be current on rabies, distemper, parvovirus and especially Bordetella (kennel cough) at the time of boarding. They suggest choosing a kennel with a strict vaccine policy.
Timing matters. HomeGuide says shots should be given at least seven days before boarding, and a dog's first Bordetella vaccine two weeks before. Rover says most kennels and many daycares require dogs to be at least four months old with all their adult shots. Ask your vet and the facility early so a late shot doesn't cost you the booking.
How do you choose a good boarding kennel?
Visit before you book. UC Davis veterinary students suggest checking these things on the tour:
- Does it look and smell clean, with good ventilation?
- Does it have a strict vaccine policy?
- What veterinary support is available if something goes wrong?
- Are the staff courteous and respectful to the dogs?
- For a dog on medication: can you bring it in the original bottles with written dosing directions?
For in-home boarding, Creatures suggests asking about the sitter's local license or permit, insurance, emergency and backup plan, and how many dogs they take at once. For a first stay, UC Davis suggests a short trial visit, a brief goodbye, and packing your dog's own food and a familiar toy or blanket.
Ready to compare? Browse pet boarding and kennels near you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to leave a dog in a kennel? About $25 to $60 a night. Rover and HomeGuide put traditional kennels at $25 to $55, and Care.com says $40 to $60. Big cities cost more.
How much does home boarding for dogs cost? Rover says boarding at a sitter's home costs about $25 to $45 a night, and a sitter in your home costs $45 to $75. HomeGuide puts in-home boarding at $15 to $50 a day or night.
How much does it cost to board a dog for a week? About $140 to $175 at a kennel, per Rover and HomeGuide, or $280 to $420 per Care.com. Overnight daycare runs $330 to $480 a week on Rover's numbers.
Is it better to leave a dog at home or board? It depends on the dog. Care.com's experts suggest a sitter at home for anxious, reactive or elderly dogs and daycare-style boarding for social, high-energy dogs.
Will my dog be OK in a kennel for two weeks? Many dogs are, but UC Davis veterinary students call stress the number one behavioral change in boarding. A short trial stay, familiar food and toys, and returning to the same kennel can help. They suggest calling your vet if your dog isn't back to normal within a couple of days of coming home.
Is $50 a night reasonable for dog boarding? Yes. It's inside Care.com's $40 to $60 kennel range and Rover's $40 to $50 average. In San Francisco or New York, expect more.
Sources
HomeGuide: Dog boarding cost (Jun 25, 2025) · Rover: How much does it cost to board your dog? (updated Sep 3, 2024) · Care.com: What's the average dog boarding cost? (updated Aug 10, 2026) · Creatures: How much does dog boarding cost? (Elliott Garber, DVM, updated Oct 2, 2026) · UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: Choosing a boarding facility (PDF). Checked October 22, 2026.