How much does it cost to board a dog?
Dog boarding typically costs about $50/night: $25-$85 at a standard kennel, $45-$85 with an in-home sitter, $100+ at luxury resorts.
Key takeaways
- A standard kennel runs roughly $25-$85 a night, landing around $50 for most owners; big cities and coastal metros run 30-60% higher.
- In-home boarding with a private sitter generally costs $45-$85 a night, with Dogster citing a wider $40-$125 per day depending on location.
- Luxury or resort-style suites with spa services and webcams commonly start at $100 and reach $150+ a night.
- Using mid-range rates, Petful estimates a typical week of boarding lands around $280-$420, with premium weeks topping $600.
- Add-ons for medication, extra playtime, or special monitoring typically add about $5-$20 a night.
Boarding a dog typically costs about $50 a night. A standard kennel runs roughly $25-$85 per night, an in-home private sitter about $45-$85, and a luxury resort suite $100-$150+. Your actual price depends on the type of care, your dog, your location, and any add-ons.
What dog boarding costs per night
There are three main ways to board a dog, and each carries a different price. A traditional kennel or boarding facility gives your dog a clean run or suite with scheduled feeding and play. An in-home sitter keeps your dog in their own home (or, in some arrangements, stays at yours). Luxury pet hotels add spa services, larger suites, pools, and webcams. The table below shows current per-night ranges from the sources we checked.
| Boarding type | Typical per-night range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard kennel / facility | $25-$85 ($35-$85 in Dogster’s data) | Petful, Dogster |
| Overnight doggy daycare | $40-$75 | Petful |
| In-home private sitter | $45-$85 per night ($40-$125 per day per Dogster) | Petful, Dogster |
| Luxury / resort suite | $100-$150+ ($75-$150 per Dogster) | Petful, Dogster |
Petful summarizes the overall standard-facility range as “about $25 to $85 a night,” which is why we use roughly $50 as a typical midpoint for most owners.
What moves the price
- Type of care: A basic kennel run is the cheapest option; in-home sitters cost more for the one-on-one attention, and luxury suites cost the most.
- Location: Petful notes big cities and coastal metros run 30-60% higher than rural areas.
- Dog size and needs: Dogster lists type of dog, breed-specific charges, and special-needs care (senior dogs, medication) as cost drivers.
- Length of stay: Longer bookings can qualify for weekly rates or discounts; Petful pegs a typical week at $280-$420 and ten days at roughly $400-$600 (standard) or $650-$850 (in-home or premium).
- Add-ons: Grooming, extra walks, extra playtime, and webcam monitoring raise the bill; medication or special monitoring adds about $5-$20 a night per Petful.
- Multi-dog discounts: Dogster notes some facilities discount the second dog.
How to keep boarding costs down
Book early around holidays, when demand and prices peak. Ask whether weekly or extended-stay rates apply, and confirm exactly which services are included versus billed as add-ons. If your dog is social and healthy, a standard kennel usually delivers the lowest per-night cost, while a private in-home sitter can be worth the premium for anxious, senior, or medication-dependent dogs. Always confirm the current quote with the specific provider, since the ranges here are national estimates that shift with location and time.
How to save on dog boarding
- Book standard kennel accommodation instead of a luxury suite or private room, which carry a premium per night.
- Skip optional add-ons like extra playtime, grooming, and photo updates unless your dog genuinely needs them.
- Ask about multi-night or weekly rates, which often lower the effective cost per night versus the nightly rate.
- Use in-home pet sitting through a neighbor or a sitter platform, which can undercut commercial kennels.
- Set up a reciprocal swap with a trusted dog-owning friend so you each board the other’s pet for free.
- Keep vaccinations current yourself so you avoid last-minute vet fees required before a facility will accept your dog.
- Book early for holidays and peak travel weeks, when prices rise and cheaper spots fill first.
Cost scenarios
Budget (around $25 per night): A basic kennel run or an in-home sitter, providing food, water, and standard walks without extras.
Typical (around $50 per night): A well-regarded facility with a comfortable enclosure, group play, and regular staff attention.
Premium (around $150 per night): A luxury suite with private space, extended one-on-one play, webcam access, and add-on services included.
Cost by state
Prices vary by where you live. These estimates scale the national typical ($50) by each state's overall price level, so treat them as a regional guide rather than a quote for how much does it cost to board a dog?.
See all 50 states + DC
| State | Estimated typical | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $44 | -11% |
| Alaska | $51 | +2% |
| Arizona | $50 | +1% |
| Arkansas | $43 | -13% |
| California | $55 | +11% |
| Colorado | $52 | +3% |
| Connecticut | $52 | +4% |
| Delaware | $50 | 0% |
| District of Columbia | $55 | +10% |
| Florida | $52 | +3% |
| Georgia | $48 | -4% |
| Hawaii | $55 | +10% |
| Idaho | $48 | -5% |
| Illinois | $50 | 0% |
| Indiana | $47 | -7% |
| Iowa | $44 | -12% |
| Kansas | $45 | -10% |
| Kentucky | $45 | -10% |
| Louisiana | $44 | -12% |
| Maine | $49 | -3% |
| Maryland | $52 | +5% |
| Massachusetts | $53 | +6% |
| Michigan | $48 | -4% |
| Minnesota | $49 | -1% |
| Mississippi | $43 | -13% |
| Missouri | $45 | -9% |
| Montana | $47 | -5% |
| Nebraska | $45 | -10% |
| Nevada | $50 | 0% |
| New Hampshire | $52 | +4% |
| New Jersey | $54 | +9% |
| New Mexico | $46 | -8% |
| New York | $54 | +8% |
| North Carolina | $47 | -6% |
| North Dakota | $44 | -11% |
| Ohio | $46 | -7% |
| Oklahoma | $44 | -12% |
| Oregon | $52 | +3% |
| Pennsylvania | $49 | -2% |
| Rhode Island | $51 | +2% |
| South Carolina | $47 | -6% |
| South Dakota | $44 | -11% |
| Tennessee | $46 | -8% |
| Texas | $49 | -3% |
| Utah | $49 | -1% |
| Vermont | $49 | -2% |
| Virginia | $51 | +1% |
| Washington | $54 | +7% |
| West Virginia | $45 | -11% |
| Wisconsin | $47 | -6% |
| Wyoming | $46 | -7% |
Regional estimates scale our national typical by BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), an index of overall state price levels — actual variation for this specific service differs. Source: BEA.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to board a dog per night?
Most owners pay about $50 a night. Standard kennels run roughly $25-$85, in-home sitters about $45-$85, and luxury resort suites $100-$150+, according to Petful and Dogster.
Is a kennel or an in-home sitter cheaper?
A standard kennel is usually the cheaper option at $25-$85 a night. An in-home private sitter typically runs $45-$85 a night for more one-on-one attention, per Petful.
How much does a week of dog boarding cost?
Petful estimates a typical week lands around $280-$420 at mid-range rates, with budget weeks as low as $175 and premium weeks topping $600.
Why is dog boarding more expensive in big cities?
Petful notes big cities and coastal metros run 30-60% higher than rural areas because of higher operating costs and demand.
What extra fees should I expect when boarding a dog?
Common add-ons include grooming, extra walks, extra playtime, and webcam monitoring. Petful says medication or special monitoring typically adds about $5-$20 a night.
How much does luxury dog boarding cost?
Luxury or resort-style suites with spa services, pools, and webcams commonly start at $100 and reach $150+ a night, per Petful and Dogster.
Sources
How we estimate this
Every figure on this page is compiled from the public sources cited above and given as a low–typical–high range rather than a single false-precise number. Where costs vary by location we scale the national typical using published state price levels. We recheck figures on a set schedule and stamp each report with the date last verified. We are independent and are never paid to change a number — see how we price things.
