How Much Does Dog Boarding Cost in Chicago?

Planning a trip and wondering how much it will cost to board your dog in Chicago? You are not alone—this is the question we hear most from Chicago pet parents. The challenge is that prices range from $35 to $150 per night, and without knowing what drives those differences, you risk either overpaying for amenities your dog does not need or underpaying for care that leaves your dog stressed.

The good news: once you understand what you are actually buying at each price point, the decision becomes straightforward. This guide breaks down exactly what you can expect to pay, what affects pricing, and how to find the best value—so you can book with confidence instead of guesswork.

Understanding Dog Boarding Prices in Chicago

Dog boarding costs in Chicago range from $35 to $150 per night—and that gap exists because you are buying fundamentally different experiences. A $35 kennel provides a clean space and scheduled care; a $90 home boarding stay provides individual attention in a quiet environment. Understanding what each tier actually delivers helps you avoid the two most common mistakes: overspending on amenities your dog ignores, or underspending on an environment that stresses them out.

Traditional Kennels charge $35 to $75 per night for individual runs in a facility setting. At the lower end, your dog gets a clean space, regular feeding, and scheduled potty breaks—but limited individual attention because staff manage 20-50 dogs per shift. Higher-priced kennels include more outdoor time, larger runs, or webcam access. The constraint to understand: kennels work well for confident, social dogs, but dogs who are noise-sensitive or anxious around unfamiliar dogs often show stress behaviors (refusing food, excessive barking, lethargy after pickup) that signal this environment does not suit them.

Veterinary Boarding runs $40 to $80 per night at clinics that offer boarding services. The specific advantage: veterinary staff can administer medications, monitor health conditions, and respond immediately if something goes wrong. This matters most for senior dogs, dogs with chronic conditions like diabetes or seizures, or dogs recovering from recent procedures. If your dog is healthy and low-maintenance, you are paying a premium for medical access you may not need.

Home Boarding through Tails costs $40 to $90 per night, and the structural difference matters: your dog stays in someone's actual home with just 2-4 dogs total, not a facility with dozens. This means more individual attention, a quieter environment, and a routine closer to what your dog experiences at home. Dogs who struggle with kennel noise, unfamiliar environments, or being crated for long periods typically do better in home boarding—you will see it in their appetite, energy level, and demeanor at pickup.

Luxury Boarding Facilities charge $75 to $150+ per night for private suites, gourmet meals, swimming pools, and daily grooming. Here is the honest constraint: dogs cannot appreciate most of these amenities the way humans can. A flat-screen TV in the suite means nothing to your dog. What dogs do notice is attention, routine, and stress levels. Some luxury facilities deliver genuine value through lower dog-to-staff ratios and more enrichment time. Others charge premium prices for amenities that impress owners but do not improve the dog's experience. Ask specifically about staff ratios and daily enrichment—those details matter more than suite decor.

What Affects Dog Boarding Prices?

Several factors influence your final boarding cost—and knowing them in advance prevents sticker shock at checkout. Each factor below can shift your total bill by 10-50%, so understanding them helps you budget accurately and avoid overpaying for things that do not matter to your dog.

Your Dog's Size directly affects pricing because larger dogs require more space, more food, and more physical effort to handle. At many facilities, boarding a Great Dane costs 20-30% more than boarding a Chihuahua. If you have a large dog, ask about size-based pricing upfront—some home boarding hosts on Tails charge flat rates regardless of size, which can save $10-20 per night compared to facilities with size tiers.

Services Included determine whether a low nightly rate is actually a good deal. A $40/night kennel that charges extra for walks ($5), playtime ($10), and medication ($5) becomes $60/night for basic care. Before comparing prices, list exactly what is included at each option. At Tails, hosts include walks, playtime, and basic care in their nightly rate—the price you see is the price you pay, which makes comparison straightforward.

Holiday and Peak Season Rates increase costs by 25-50% because demand exceeds supply—and waiting too long means paying surge prices or finding no availability at all. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer weekends are the worst: popular hosts book out 3-4 weeks in advance. The failure mode here is clear: book late for a holiday trip and you either pay a significant premium, settle for a provider you have not vetted, or scramble for last-minute alternatives. Book early to lock in both availability and pricing.

Length of Stay Discounts reward longer bookings at many facilities—but you have to ask. A 10-15% weekly discount on a $60/night stay saves $40-60 over a week. If you are boarding for 7+ nights, always ask about extended stay rates before booking. The discount is often available but not automatically applied.

Additional Services like grooming, training sessions, or special activities add to your bill—sometimes significantly. A bath before pickup costs $20-50; a full grooming session runs $50-100. These can be convenient (your dog comes home clean and trimmed), but they are optional. Decide in advance whether you want them and factor the cost into your comparison, rather than adding them impulsively at checkout.

The Chicago Factor: Seasonal Booking Strategy

Chicago's boarding market follows predictable patterns—and understanding them lets you avoid the two worst outcomes: paying surge prices or finding no availability. This is not about gaming the system; it is about planning ahead so you have options.

Holiday Blackout Dates create the highest prices and lowest availability. Thanksgiving week, Christmas through New Year's, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekends see prices surge 25-50%—and popular hosts book out completely 3-4 weeks in advance. The consequence of waiting: you either pay significantly more, book with a provider you have not met, or cannot find care at all. If you know your travel dates, book early to lock in both availability and pricing.

Summer Festival Season (June-August) creates a supply crunch from two directions: Chicago events (Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago, Air and Water Show) bring visitors needing pet care, while local families travel for summer vacations. August is the tightest month as families squeeze in last trips before school starts. If you are planning summer travel, book 2-3 weeks earlier than you think necessary.

The "Sweet Spot" Seasons are mid-January through March and mid-September through mid-November (excluding Thanksgiving). During these windows, demand drops, prices stabilize, and you have more host options. If your travel dates are flexible, shifting a trip by even a week into a shoulder season can mean $50-100 in savings on a week-long stay plus better host selection.

Winter Considerations matter because Chicago winters create real constraints for dog care. Ask specifically: Does the host have a fenced yard? How do they handle icy conditions? Do they use paw-safe de-icers? During Polar Vortex events (sustained temps below -10°F), dogs cannot be outside for extended periods without risking frostbite on paws and ears. A good winter host has indoor enrichment plans for extreme cold days and adjusts outdoor time based on conditions.

Comparing Your Options: What Do You Actually Get?

When evaluating dog boarding costs in Chicago, the nightly rate only tells part of the story. What matters more is what your dog actually experiences—and the table below shows why similar prices can mean very different care levels.

Boarding Type	Cost/Night	Environment	Dogs Per Caregiver	Best For
Traditional Kennel	$35-75	Kennel runs in facility	20-50+	Short notice; standardized care
Veterinary Boarding	$40-80	Clinic setting	Varies	Dogs with medical needs
Home Boarding (Tails)	$40-90	Private home; couch/bed	2-4	Anxious dogs; individual attention
Luxury Boarding	$75-150+	Private suites; amenities	10-20	Pampering; premium amenities

At a Traditional Kennel, your dog stays in an individual run within a larger facility with scheduled feeding, potty breaks, and some outdoor time. The trade-off is clear: your dog shares staff attention with 20-50 other dogs, and the environment is often noisy (dogs bark, and barking triggers more barking). This works fine for confident, social dogs who are not noise-sensitive. Dogs who are anxious, reactive, or easily overwhelmed often show stress signs: refusing food, excessive barking, lethargy or hyperactivity after pickup. The upside: kennels are often available on short notice and follow standardized procedures.

With Home Boarding through Tails, your dog stays in someone's actual home—sleeping on the couch or a dog bed, not in a cage. Hosts care for just 2-4 dogs at a time, which means your dog gets individual attention throughout the day rather than scheduled group care. The quieter, home-like environment significantly reduces stress for dogs who struggle with kennel noise or unfamiliar settings. You receive daily photo and video updates through the Tails app, so you can verify your dog is eating, playing, and relaxed—not just trust that things are going well.

Veterinary Boarding is specifically valuable for dogs with medical needs that require professional monitoring. Staff can administer complex medications, watch for warning signs, and respond immediately to emergencies. The constraint: the environment is similar to a traditional kennel (clinical, noisy, limited individual attention), so healthy dogs gain little from the medical proximity while still experiencing the stress of a facility setting. Reserve vet boarding for dogs who genuinely need medical oversight.

Luxury Boarding charges premium prices for amenities like private suites, gourmet meals, and spa treatments. The question to ask: does your dog actually benefit? Dogs cannot watch flat-screen TVs or appreciate aromatherapy the way humans do. What they can appreciate is individual attention, enrichment activities, and low stress. Some luxury facilities deliver on these metrics; others charge premium prices for amenities that impress owners but do not improve the dog's experience. Before paying $100+/night, ask about staff-to-dog ratios and daily enrichment schedules—those details reveal actual care quality better than suite amenities.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

This is frustrating but fixable: many boarding providers advertise low nightly rates, then add fees that inflate your final bill by 20-30%. Knowing these common add-ons in advance lets you compare true costs—not just advertised rates.

Feeding Fees add $5-15 per day if your dog eats facility-provided food instead of their own. On a 7-night stay, that is $35-105 extra. The solution: bring your dog's regular food (which is better for their digestion anyway and prevents upset stomachs from sudden diet changes).

Medication Administration typically costs $5-10 per day extra. If your dog takes daily medication, that adds $35-70 to a week-long stay. Ask about this fee upfront and factor it into your comparison—some providers (including many Tails hosts) include basic medication administration in their rate.

Late Pickup Fees can be steep—and the policy varies significantly. Some facilities charge $10-20 per hour; others charge a full additional night ($50-75) if you are even an hour late. Ask about the late policy when booking, and build buffer time into your return travel plans. Flight delays happen, and a missed pickup window should not cost you an extra $75.

Surge Pricing during holidays is not always disclosed upfront. A provider might quote you $50/night, then reveal a 30% holiday surcharge at checkout. Always ask explicitly: "Is there a holiday or event surcharge for these dates?" before confirming your booking.

Required Extras like a meet-and-greet fee, temperament testing, or mandatory vaccination updates can add $25-75 to your first booking. These are typically one-time costs, but they matter when comparing a new provider against one you have used before. Factor them into your first-booking comparison, then amortize them over future stays.

At Tails, the price you see is the price you pay—no hidden fees, no surprise charges. Hosts set their own rates and clearly list what is included (walks, playtime, medication administration), so you can compare true costs before booking rather than discovering add-ons at checkout.

Getting the Best Value for Your Money

Good news: finding affordable dog boarding in Chicago does not mean settling for subpar care. The strategies below are straightforward—they just require planning ahead rather than booking last-minute.

Book Early for holiday and peak travel times. This accomplishes two things: you get access to the full pool of available hosts (not just whoever is left), and you avoid surge pricing that kicks in as dates approach. For major holidays, 3-4 weeks advance booking is the threshold between having options and scrambling.

Consider Home Boarding as an alternative to kennels. Many pet parents assume home boarding costs more—but Tails home boarding ($40-90/night) overlaps significantly with kennel pricing ($35-75/night). For similar or slightly higher cost, you get individual attention, a home environment, and daily photo/video updates. If your dog has ever come back from a kennel stressed or off their routine, home boarding often solves that problem without a significant price increase.

Ask About Multi-Pet Discounts if you have more than one dog. Many providers offer 10-20% off for additional pets from the same family. On a week-long stay at $60/night, a 15% discount on your second dog saves $60+. This discount is often available but not automatically applied—you have to ask.

Look for Length-of-Stay Discounts for trips longer than a week. A 10-15% discount on a 10-night stay at $60/night saves $60-90. Extended stay discounts exist because hosts prefer the reliability of longer bookings—but they often are not advertised. Ask explicitly when booking stays of 7+ nights.

Use Meet-and-Greets Wisely by doing a free meet-and-greet through Tails before committing to a booking. This 15-30 minute investment lets you verify the host's home, see how they interact with your dog, and catch any red flags before money changes hands. The alternative—booking blind, discovering a mismatch, and scrambling to rebook—costs more time, money, and stress than a proactive meet-and-greet.

What Chicago Pet Parents Should Expect in 2025

Dog boarding costs in Chicago have increased modestly over the past few years—roughly 3-5% annually—driven by rising operational costs and increased demand for quality pet care. The average Chicago pet parent now spends $55-65 per night for overnight boarding, though this varies by neighborhood and service level.

The structural shift worth understanding: the home boarding market has grown as pet parents seek alternatives to traditional kennels, and platforms like Tails have made it easier to find vetted hosts across Chicago neighborhoods. This means more competition, which has kept prices reasonable while improving care quality. You now have more options than you did five years ago, at similar price points.

For budget-conscious pet parents, the practical sweet spot is home boarding in the $40-60 per night range. At this price point, you can find experienced hosts who provide excellent care, daily updates, and a comfortable home environment—without paying for luxury amenities your dog will not notice.

Find Your Perfect Boarding Match

Choosing where to board your dog involves more than comparing prices—it requires matching your dog's needs (temperament, medical requirements, stress triggers) with the right environment. The good news: once you know what to look for, finding a good fit is straightforward.

With Tails, you can browse host profiles in your Chicago neighborhood, read reviews from other pet parents, and schedule a free meet-and-greet before committing. Every host is background-checked and home-inspected, and the Tails platform handles booking, payment, and communication—so you can verify the fit before money changes hands and stay updated throughout your dog's stay.

Ready to find trusted boarding for your pup? Explore Chicago Boarding Hosts

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cancellation policy for dog boarding? Cancellation policies vary by provider, and not knowing them can cost you. Tails uses a standardized policy: cancel 7+ days before for a full refund, 3-7 days before for 75%, 1-3 days before for 50%, and less than 24 hours for 25%. Traditional kennels often require 48-72 hour notice and may charge flat cancellation fees regardless of timing. Always confirm the policy when booking—especially for holiday reservations, where some providers have stricter terms.

What should I pack for my dog's boarding stay? Bring your dog's regular food for the entire stay plus 1-2 extra days (sudden diet changes cause digestive upset), clearly labeled with feeding instructions. Include any medications with written dosing instructions—verbal instructions get forgotten. A familiar blanket or toy can reduce anxiety because it smells like home. Bring their regular leash and collar with current ID tags. Most hosts provide beds, bowls, and treats. Avoid bringing valuable items or too many toys—they can get lost or cause resource-guarding conflicts with other dogs.

How much should I budget for dog boarding in Chicago per week? For a 7-night stay, budget $245-525 for traditional kennels or $280-630 for home boarding through Tails. These ranges assume base rates without add-on services. Many providers offer 10-15% weekly discounts that are not automatically applied—ask explicitly when booking stays of 7+ nights. Also factor in any medication administration fees ($35-70/week) or feeding fees ($35-105/week) if applicable.

Are holiday boarding rates significantly higher in Chicago? Yes—expect 25-50% higher rates during Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Fourth of July. Summer weekends and Chicago festival weekends also command premium pricing. The consequence of waiting: by 2-3 weeks out, popular hosts are fully booked and remaining options charge surge rates. Book 3-4 weeks in advance for holiday travel to secure both availability and reasonable pricing.

What is included in a typical dog boarding rate? Basic rates typically include overnight accommodation, feeding (you provide the food), and scheduled potty breaks. What often costs extra: walks ($5-10/day), extended playtime ($10-15/day), and medication administration ($5-10/day). These add-ons can increase a $40/night rate to $60-70/night for actual care. With Tails home boarding, most hosts include walks, playtime, and basic medication administration in their nightly rate—the listed price is the actual price.

Is home boarding cheaper than a traditional kennel? Home boarding through Tails ($40-90/night) overlaps significantly with kennel pricing ($35-75/night). The price difference is often minimal, but the value equation favors home boarding: you get individual attention (2-4 dogs vs. 20-50), a home environment (less stressful for most dogs), and daily photo/video updates (verifiable care vs. trust-based). If your dog has come back from a kennel stressed, off their food, or exhausted, home boarding often solves that problem at a similar price point.

Do larger dogs cost more to board in Chicago? Often yes—many facilities charge 15-30% more for large and giant breeds because they require more space, more food, and more physical effort to handle. A $50/night rate for a Chihuahua might be $60-65/night for a Great Dane at the same facility. Some home boarding hosts on Tails charge flat rates regardless of size, which can save $10-20/night if you have a large dog. Compare options specifically for your dog's size to find the best value.