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How Much Does Dog Daycare Cost?

A full day averages about $40 nationally — $28 in Omaha, $59 in Santa Monica. Punch cards and memberships cut the effective daily rate by 20–35%.

CF
CostFlock ResearchEditorial team
Sourced & cross-checked Updated Sep 4, 2026 4 sources reviewed

CostFlock has no paid relationship with any provider named on this page. How we make money

Key takeaways

  • A full day at a standard facility costs $25–$55; the national average is about $40.
  • Luxury and boutique facilities charge $40–$85 per day — a 50–60% premium.
  • Packages save 20–35%: a 20-day punch card works out to $19–$37 a day versus $40 walk-in.
  • Most facilities require a one-time temperament evaluation, often free but sometimes $15–$35.
Full day, standard
$40
$25 – $55 range
Half day
$26
about 60–70% of a full day
Unlimited monthly
$480
$350 – $650 range

Dog daycare cost breakdown

Daycare is priced per day, with steep discounts for buying in bulk. The base rate covers supervised play and rest time; grooming, training sessions and medication are billed separately. Compare the effective daily rate across drop-in, packages and memberships before committing.

ServiceLowAverageHighRange ($0–$800)
Full day — standard facility$20$38$55
Full day — luxury / boutique$40$55$85
Half day (4–5 hours)$15$26$39
One-time temperament evaluation$0$25$35
10-day package (per package)$190$285$420
20-day package (per package)$380$500$750
Unlimited monthly membership$350$480$650
Add-ons: nail trim, bath, training$10$30$90
Compiled from Rover, Dogster, Dogdrop and VetCostGuide 2026 daycare pricing surveys. By city, full days run $59 in Santa Monica, $51 in Boston, $45–$51 in New York, $38 in Chicago, $35 in Dallas and Phoenix, and $28 in Omaha. Tipping 10–20% is common.

What changes the price

Facility tier+50% to +60%Luxury and boutique facilities with webcams, private suites and small group sizes charge $40–$85 versus $20–$55 standard.
Metro location2× spreadNew York, San Francisco and Los Angeles run $40–$90 a day; mid-size cities run $20–$40.
Packages vs. drop-in−20% to −35%Punch cards and memberships lower the effective daily rate substantially.
Dog profile+$5–$20/dayPuppies, seniors, reactive dogs and dogs over 80 lb often carry daily surcharges.

Full day, standard by state

Prices track local labor and rent costs. The figures below are modeled, not surveyed: we apply a regional cost index to the national figure above, so treat them as a guide to how far your state sits from the national average rather than as quotes from local providers.

StateFull day, standardMonthly, 3×/weekvs. national avg
New York$53$700+40%
California$51$675+35%
Washington$46$600+20%
Florida$42$550+10%
Illinois$40$525+5%
Arizona$39$510+2%
Pennsylvania$39$510+2%
Texas$38$5000%
Georgia$34$450−10%
Ohio$32$425−15%
Show all 50 states + D.C.
StateFull day, standardMonthly, 3×/weekvs. national avg
Hawaii$53$700+40%
New York$53$700+40%
Washington, D.C.$52$690+38%
California$51$675+35%
Massachusetts$50$660+32%
New Jersey$49$640+28%
Connecticut$48$625+25%
Alaska$46$610+22%
Washington$46$600+20%
Maryland$45$590+18%
Rhode Island$44$575+15%
New Hampshire$43$560+12%
Oregon$43$560+12%
Colorado$42$550+10%
Florida$42$550+10%
Vermont$41$540+8%
Virginia$41$540+8%
Delaware$40$525+5%
Illinois$40$525+5%
Maine$40$525+5%
Nevada$40$525+5%
Arizona$39$510+2%
Minnesota$39$510+2%
Pennsylvania$39$510+2%
Texas$38$5000%
Montana$37$490−2%
Utah$37$490−2%
Idaho$36$475−5%
Michigan$36$475−5%
North Carolina$36$475−5%
Wyoming$36$475−5%
Wisconsin$35$465−7%
New Mexico$35$460−8%
North Dakota$35$460−8%
South Carolina$35$460−8%
Georgia$34$450−10%
Louisiana$34$450−10%
Nebraska$34$450−10%
South Dakota$34$450−10%
Tennessee$34$450−10%
Missouri$34$445−11%
Alabama$33$440−12%
Indiana$33$440−12%
Kansas$33$440−12%
Iowa$33$435−13%
Kentucky$33$435−13%
Arkansas$33$430−14%
Oklahoma$33$430−14%
Ohio$32$425−15%
Mississippi$32$420−16%
West Virginia$32$420−16%

How to pay less

Buy the 20-day punch card ($380–$750, or $19–$37 a day) instead of paying drop-in — that saves roughly $10–$18 per visit against a $40 walk-in rate.

Switch to an unlimited monthly membership ($350–$650) if your dog attends four or more days a week; drop-in pricing at that frequency costs $800+ a month.

Use half days ($15–$39, about 60–70% of a full day). That's enough exercise for most dogs and saves $10–$20 per visit, or $200–$400 a month at three days a week.

How we calculated these numbers

Methodology. We compiled full-day, half-day, package and membership pricing from four published 2026 sources (Rover, Dogster, Dogdrop, VetCostGuide) plus city-level rate data from Rover and Camp Bow Wow regional averages. "Average" is the midpoint of the medians those sources report; "Low" and "High" bound the full range. State figures apply a regional cost index and are estimates. Last verified September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How much is dog daycare per day?

The US average is about $40 a day, ranging from roughly $25 in suburban and rural areas to $45–$65 in cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Is there a fee before my dog's first day?

Most facilities require a temperament evaluation or meet-and-greet. It's often free, but some charge a one-time $15–$35.

Do daycare packages actually save money?

Yes — punch cards and monthly memberships lower the effective daily rate by roughly 20–35% compared with drop-in pricing.

What extras get billed on top of the daily rate?

Nail trims ($10–$15), baths and grooming ($15–$90), medication administration ($3–$10 a day), and late pickup at $1–$2 per minute.

A note on these figures. Prices are national estimates compiled from the published sources listed below and will differ from what your local provider quotes. CostFlock is not a veterinary practice and nothing here is medical advice — always discuss treatment options and costs with a licensed veterinarian.

CF
CostFlock ResearchCostFlock Research compiles consumer price data for pet care, auto repair and home services. Every figure on this page is drawn from the published sources listed below, cross-checked across at least three of them, and reviewed before publication. Editorial policy
Sources
  1. Rover — How much does doggy daycare cost in your area? (2026)
  2. Dogster — Doggy daycare price guide (2026)
  3. Dogdrop — How much does dog daycare cost (2026)
  4. VetCostGuide — Dog daycare cost per day, week and month (2026)