📋 Your trip details

Number of nights Number of dogs boarding together Dog size Boarding type Area cost level

Add-ons & situations

Daily medication administration

Common flat fee per dose, most facilities

Extra play sessions

One-on-one playtime or walks beyond standard care

Exit bath before pickup

Common add-on, especially for stays over a few days

Stay includes a holiday period

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's — surcharges are common

Estimated total cost

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Avg. per night

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Add-ons total

BudgetStandardPremiumLuxury

Based on 2026 U.S. national average boarding rates from published industry cost guides. Actual prices vary significantly by facility and region — always get a written quote confirming exactly what's included before booking.

📊 Same trip, compared across boarding types

🏆 Why this calculator is different

🧾Calculates a true total, not just a nightly rate — holiday surcharges, medication fees, extra playtime, and exit baths are built into the math, since these commonly add 20–40% to a real bill that a headline rate hides.
📊Compares all 4 boarding types side by side — budget kennel, standard kennel, luxury pet hotel, and in-home sitting — for your exact trip, instead of giving one number for one option.
🐕‍🦺Multi-dog discount factored in — boarding two dogs together is rarely double the price; most calculators don't adjust for this at all.
📍Location and size adjusted — major-city boarding runs meaningfully higher than rural rates, and large dogs typically cost more per night than small ones.
🎄Holiday surcharge built in — a $50/night kennel can jump to $75–$100/night over Thanksgiving or Christmas; this is factored in automatically when you flag a holiday stay.
🔒No sign-up, no data stored — everything runs in your browser only.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to board a dog?

Standard kennel boarding in the U.S. typically runs $35 to $65 per night, budget kennels start around $25, and luxury pet hotels can charge $75 to $125 or more per night. In-home sitting through apps like Rover or Wag usually falls around $30 to $60 per night.

What hidden fees should I watch for when boarding my dog?

Common add-ons include medication administration fees, extra one-on-one play sessions, exit baths before pickup, and holiday surcharges — together these can add 20–40% to the quoted nightly rate over a week-long stay.

Is it cheaper to board two dogs together?

Often, yes — many facilities offer a discount for a second dog from the same household sharing a suite or kennel run, though the exact discount varies by facility, so always confirm before booking.

Does boarding cost more during holidays?

Yes — many facilities charge holiday surcharges during peak travel periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, sometimes 50% or more above the standard nightly rate, due to high demand.

🏨 Dog Boarding Cost Calculator