How Much Does Dog Sitting Cost?

Verified by Pawel Kaczmarek
Updated:

Dog sitting costs $25–$45 per day nationally for standard daytime care, $35–$55 for overnight stays, and $20–$30 for drop-in visits. Major metro areas charge 20–40% more, with rates ranging from $40–$75 per day.

Find a Chicago House Sitter

Dog sitting costs vary widely based on location, service type, and duration. The national average is $25–$45 per day for standard daytime care, though metro areas like Chicago, New York, and San Francisco charge significantly more.

National Dog Sitting Rate Ranges

  • Drop-in visits (30 minutes): $15–$25 nationally, $20–$35 in cities
  • Daytime sitting (8 hours): $25–$45 nationally, $35–$60 in cities
  • Overnight care: $35–$55 nationally, $45–$75 in cities
  • 24-hour care: $60–$90 nationally, $75–$125 in cities
  • Weekly rates: Often 10–15% discount for 7+ consecutive days

Platform Comparison: Service Fees Matter

While base rates seem similar, platform fees significantly impact total cost. On a $75 booking, Rover charges the pet parent an 11% fee ($83.25 total) and keeps 20% from the provider ($60 earned). Wag takes ~40% from the provider ($45 earned). Tails charges just 5% to the parent ($78.75 total) and 10% to the provider ($67.50 earned)—so parents pay less and providers keep more. See the comparison below:

Platform Comparison: Rover vs Wag vs Tails

Feature Rover Wag Tails
Per Night Rate $25-45 $25-40 $50-100
Provider Fee 20% ~40% 10%
Pet Parent Fee 11% Included 5%
Provider Keeps (of client total) 69% ~60% 85%
Total Platform Fees 31% (20% + 11%) ~40% 15% (10% + 5%)
Overnight Sitting $35-60 $35-55 $50-100
Holiday Surcharge $5-10 $5-10 Varies by provider
Effective Cost on $75 Booking $83.25 (parent pays 11% fee) $75 (fees taken from provider) $78.75 (parent pays 5% fee)
Provider Earns on $75 Booking $51.75 (keeps 69% of client total) $45 (keeps ~60%) $63.75 (keeps 85% of client total)

Prices reflect Chicago market rates as of January 28, 2026. Actual prices vary by provider.

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