Dog Holiday Boarding Budget Calculator

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Dog Holiday Boarding Budget Calculator | Free UK Tool
🇬🇧 Pet Tool · UK

Dog Holiday Boarding Budget Calculator

Estimate the cost of boarding your dog while you’re away — kennels, home boarding, doggy daycare, and professional pet sitters — by dog size, duration, and UK location.

🐶 5 boarding types covered
📍 Location uplift for London & SE
🐾 All dog sizes & breeds
💷 2024/25 UK market rates
5
Boarding types
Kennels to pet sitters
£20
Average daily rate
For standard home boarding
£50+
Luxury kennels per night
5-star suites with extras
100%
Free to use
No sign-up needed
Free Tool

Calculate your dog boarding cost

Select your boarding type, enter your dog’s details and trip length, and get an instant cost estimate with a full breakdown — based on current UK rates.

Your boarding details

Fill in the fields below for an instant estimate

Dog details
dogs

Additional dogs are usually charged at 50–80% of the first dog’s rate.

nights

Enter the number of nights you need boarding.

Additional requirements

Your Cost Estimate

Based on 2024/25 UK boarding rates

🐾

Select a boarding type, fill in your dog’s details, and click Calculate to get an instant cost estimate with full breakdown.

Boarding Guide

Which boarding option is right for you?

Every dog is different. Here’s a plain-English guide to the five most common dog boarding options in the UK, and when to use each.

🏠

Boarding Kennels

Licensed facilities where dogs stay in individual runs or suites. Staff are present during the day. A reliable option with transparent pricing — look for UKAS or local council-licensed kennels.

£15 – £55/night
🛋️

Home Boarding

Your dog stays in a licensed host’s home, usually as part of the family. Ideal for social dogs who struggle in kennels. Hosts must hold a Council Animal Activity Licence (AAL).

£20 – £50/night
☀️

Doggy Daycare

Drop off in the morning, collect in the evening. Great for keeping your dog socialised and stimulated during shorter breaks or working days. Not suitable alone for multi-night holidays.

£15 – £40/day
👤

Pet Sitter (visits)

A sitter visits your home 1–4 times per day — feeding, walking, and giving company. Least disruptive for anxious dogs. Works best alongside dog walking for longer holidays.

£10 – £25/visit
🔑

House Sitter (live-in)

A sitter lives in your home while you’re away, providing round-the-clock care. The most homelike environment — ideal for multiple pets, anxious dogs, or extended holidays.

£30 – £80/night
Reference

UK dog boarding costs by type & size

Typical nightly or daily cost ranges by boarding type and dog size (2024/25). London and South East add approximately 20–35%.

Boarding type Small dog Large dog What drives the cost
Boarding kennels £15–£30/night £25–£55/night Dog size, kennel tier, location, duration
Home boarding £20–£35/night £30–£50/night Host experience, location, dog size, extras
Doggy daycare £15–£25/day £20–£40/day Duration, location, facilities offered
Pet sitter (visits) £10–£18/visit £12–£25/visit Visits per day, location, dog needs
House sitter £30–£55/night £40–£80/night Number of pets, location, stay duration
Grooming add-on £25–£35 £45–£75 Breed, coat type, salon vs mobile
Cost Factors

What affects boarding costs?

Dog boarding prices vary widely. These are the main factors that influence how much you’ll pay.

📍

Location

London and South East England typically cost 20–35% more than the national average. Rural locations are often cheaper, though choice may be more limited.

🐕

Dog size

Larger dogs require more space, food, and handling effort. Extra-large breeds can cost 40–60% more to board than a small dog at the same facility.

📅

Season & demand

School holidays and peak summer (July–August) can push boarding costs up by 15–30%. Book early in these periods — popular places fill up months in advance.

⭐

Quality tier

Budget kennels offer basic care; luxury facilities include private suites, webcams, and enrichment activities. Premium tiers often cost 2–3× more than budget options.

🕐

Duration

Many kennels and home boarders offer discounts for stays of 2 weeks or more. A 10–15% discount for longer stays is common, especially with regular clients.

💊

Special needs

Dogs needing medication, special diets, anxiety management, or extra walks will cost more to board. Always disclose any health or behaviour needs upfront.

Our Promise

Estimates based on real UK rates

Our dog boarding calculator is built on current 2024/25 market data from UK kennel directories, pet sitting platforms, and published consumer cost benchmarks — not guesswork.

We factor in dog size, boarding type, duration, location, quality tier, and add-on services to give you a realistic budget estimate before you start searching.

  • ✓Based on 2024/25 UK boarding market rates
  • ✓Location uplift applied for London & South East
  • ✓Dog size and quality tier correctly applied
  • ✓Extras: grooming, medication, insurance included
  • ✓No data stored — runs entirely in your browser
  • ✓Always verify your provider is council-licensed (AAL)
Help & Info

Dog boarding FAQs

How much does dog boarding cost in the UK?
UK dog boarding costs typically range from £15–£55 per night for kennels, £20–£50 per night for home boarding, and £10–£25 per visit for pet sitters. Luxury kennels in London can exceed £70/night for large breeds. A 7-night kennel stay for a medium-sized dog in the North of England averages £140–£210; in London it can reach £280–£385 for equivalent quality.
Yes. Since 2018, anyone providing dog boarding, home boarding, doggy daycare, or dog walking as a business in England requires an Animal Activity Licence (AAL) from their local council. Similar licensing applies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Always ask to see a provider’s licence number before booking, and check it is valid with your local authority. Unlicensed operators are operating illegally and offer no regulatory protection.
For most dogs, home boarding is less stressful than kennels because the dog lives as part of a household rather than in a kennel run. The quieter, domestic environment is particularly beneficial for anxious, elderly, or previously traumatised dogs. However, quality varies widely — always arrange a trial visit before a long stay. For highly anxious dogs, a house sitter in your own home remains the gold standard.
For peak periods (July–August, Christmas, Easter, and half-terms), the most popular kennels and home boarders can fill up 3–6 months in advance. For off-peak travel, 4–6 weeks notice is usually sufficient. Home boarders who take only 1–2 dogs at a time get particularly busy. If you have a regular provider, ask about block-booking for known holidays to secure your dates.
Most licensed boarding providers require proof of vaccination against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis (the core DHPP/L4 vaccine), plus Bordetella (kennel cough) — usually administered as a nasal spray at least 2 weeks before the stay. Some require Canine Influenza vaccination too. Check requirements with your specific provider and ensure your dog’s boosters are up to date well before your holiday.
Standard pet insurance doesn’t typically cover boarding costs. However, some policies include a “holiday cancellation” add-on that pays boarding fees if you can’t travel due to illness. Separately, some annual travel insurance policies include a “kennel fees” benefit if hospitalisation prevents you returning home. Short-term boarding insurance (covering the dog against illness or accident while boarded) is available as an add-on from some kennels or via specialist providers from around £5–£15 per week.
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