US dog boarding costs $25-$45 per night for budget kennels, $45-$85 per night for in-home boarding, $50-$110 per night for standard kennels, $75-$150 per night for vet-run boarding, and $120-$250+ per night for luxury suites. National median is $50-$70 per night for a standard overnight stay. Major-metro pricing (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, Seattle) trends 30-60% above national average. Critical hidden fees to budget for: holiday surcharges (25-75% over base), exit bath ($40-$60), medication administration ($3-$8 per dose), and late pickup ($25-$75 per day).
US dog boarding costs $50-$70 per night for a national-average standard kennel stay, with five real tiers running from $25 budget to $250+ luxury. This guide covers real rates from 17 operators across all five tiers, every hidden fee that gets buried in the booking confirmation, and the math for multi-pet households and long stays.
Real rates across 5 tiers
| Tier | Per night | Per week | Per month | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget kennel | $25–$45 | $175–$315 | $700–$1,200 | Crate or kennel, 2 outdoor breaks/day, basic food |
| In-home boarding | $45–$85 | $315–$595 | $1,000–$1,800 | Couch + yard + real attention, host home environment |
| Standard kennel | $50–$110 | $350–$770 | $1,200–$2,200 | Standard suite, 3-4 outdoor breaks, supervised play |
| Vet-run boarding | $75–$150 | $525–$1,050 | $1,800–$3,000 | On-site vet techs, medication admin, medical monitoring |
| Luxury suite | $120–$250+ | $840–$1,750+ | $2,000–$5,000+ | Climate-controlled private room, webcam, individual yard, gourmet meals |
| In-home pet sitter (alt) | $50–$80/day | $350–$560 | $1,300–$2,000 | Sitter stays at your house, pet never leaves home |
Hidden fees you’ll see at checkout
- Holiday surcharge: 25-75% over base rate around Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYE, July 4th. Some facilities require minimum 3-7 day bookings during holidays.
- Exit bath: $40-$60 — charged before pickup at most kennels, sometimes mandatory.
- Medication administration: $3-$8 per dose at kennels; usually included free with in-home hosts.
- Late pickup: $25-$75 per day past planned departure. Some facilities charge a full additional day.
- Vet visit during stay: $80-$200 for routine; $500-$2,000+ for emergency. Authorization signed at booking.
- Extra playtime: $10-$25 per individual play session beyond included group play.
- Individual walks: $15-$30 per walk for facilities that include only outdoor breaks.
- Grooming during stay: $40-$120 per bath; monthly grooming bundles for long stays.
- Multi-dog stay: $100-$210 per additional dog per week, $200-$400 per month. Some facilities require dogs from the same household to be kenneled together (saves space, fee adjusts).
In-home boarding vs standard kennel: cost comparison
In-home boarding (your dog stays in a vetted host’s home, often as the only boarder) typically runs 25-40% cheaper than a standard kennel for the same length of stay. The trade-off is staffing: kennels have 24/7 staff coverage; in-home hosts have a single host who sleeps and goes about their day. For dogs with significant medical needs or extreme separation anxiety, that staffing matters. For most healthy dogs on 7-30 day stays, in-home boarding is both cheaper and lower-stress. See our in-home vs kennel deep dive for the full decision matrix.
Major metros: regional pricing reality
- New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle: +30-60% over national average. Standard kennel $75-$150/night; luxury suite $200-$500/night.
- Chicago, DC, Miami, Austin, Denver: +15-30% over national. Standard kennel $60-$110/night.
- Most US mid-tier cities: at or near national average. Standard kennel $50-$80/night.
- Rural and small-town markets: -10-20% below national. Budget kennel $20-$35/night, standard $40-$70/night.
How to save: 6 practical tactics
- Book 60-90 days in advance for non-holiday dates. Locks in standard rates and avoids holiday surcharges.
- Avoid major holidays unless necessary. Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYE, July 4th add 25-75% over base; some facilities also require longer minimum stays.
- Compare in-home boarding against kennels — usually 25-40% cheaper for the same length stay, especially for stays of 7-30 days.
- Lock weekly rates over per-night billing for stays of 7+ days. Most facilities give 5-15% savings.
- Provide your own food — most facilities allow it. Saves $5-$15 per day plus reduces digestive upset risk.
- Evaluate in-home pet sitting at your home for multi-pet households. Often the cheapest viable option since pets stay together at one daily rate.
Frequently asked questions
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Pricing from operator rate cards across 17 US facilities (May 2026) and partner provider survey across 5 metros. Regional pricing from market sampling. We refresh quarterly.
Sources & references
- akc.org https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/boarding-your-dog/
- avma.org https://www.avma.org
- aphis.usda.gov https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare
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