San Francisco rates
Every sitter sets their own rate, so these are bands, not a fixed price list. The exact figure sits on every sitter's profile, ahead of booking.
| Service | San Francisco rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Boarding (dog stays at the sitter's home) | $70 - $120 | per night |
| Dog walking | $28 - $45 | per hour |
| Owner booking fee on Petme | $0 | per booking |
Even the bottom of the San Francisco boarding band is close to the top of the national one, which the national dog sitting cost guide puts at $25 to $75 a night. House sitting and drop-in visits are priced by each sitter as well, so compare profiles for those. The full city ledger is on the true cost of pet sitting in San Francisco page.
The north side: Pacific Heights, Marina, Russian Hill
The most expensive part of the city for boarding. Pacific Heights sitters list at $85 to $120 a night, mostly in condos and often with a lean toward small breeds. Marina District sitters run $80 to $115, and the draw is walks out to Crissy Field. Russian Hill sits at $75 to $105, and the hills mean stair climbs are part of every walk, which suits a fit dog and not an elderly one.
The middle: Mission, Castro, Noe Valley, Hayes Valley
The busiest market. The Mission has the most sitters in the city, at $75 to $105 a night, and books fastest. Castro, Noe Valley and Hayes Valley all run $75 to $100. The Castro is walking distance to Mission Dolores Park, Noe Valley has more single-family homes and suits families, and Hayes Valley is a condo and townhouse mix. If you want the widest choice, start here, and start early.
The better-value side: Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill, Inner Sunset, Cole Valley, Glen Park
Bernal Heights and Potrero Hill run $70 to $95 a night. Bernal's off-leash hilltop park makes it popular for active dogs, and yards are more common on Potrero Hill. The Inner Sunset is the best value in the city at $70 to $95, with Golden Gate Park close by. Cole Valley sits at the same $70 to $95 in a smaller market, and Glen Park is the cheapest at $70 to $90.
For a large or high-energy dog, a sitter on this side of the city often gives you more room and a park for less. For a small dog that likes a quiet condo, the north side is worth paying for.
Seven nights over the holidays, priced out
Many San Francisco owners travel for ten days or more between Christmas and New Year. Here is a seven-night trip at three points in the band. The middle row uses $90 a night, the figure in Petme's own rate example for the Mission.
| Where the rate comes from | Sitter total (7 nights) | Typical platform fee, 11% to 15% | Total on a typical platform | Total on Petme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $70 (Glen Park, Inner Sunset) | $490 | $53.90 - $73.50 | $543.90 - $563.50 | $490 |
| $90 (Mission) | $630 | $69.30 - $94.50 | $699.30 - $724.50 | $630 |
| $120 (top of Pacific Heights) | $840 | $92.40 - $126.00 | $932.40 - $966.00 | $840 |
A percentage fee grows with the bill, and San Francisco bills are large. On Petme the owner booking fee is 0%, so the sitter's total is what you pay, and Petme credits cashback after the booking is completed.
What else to know before you book
Walkers who take groups need a city permit. When San Francisco's commercial dog-walking rules took effect in 2013, walkers with four or more dogs at a time had to hold a permit from Animal Care and Control, and no walker could have more than eight dogs on leashes at once, as NBC Bay Area reported at the time. If you book a walker who runs group walks, it is fair to ask about their permit and how many dogs they take out together. A solo walk costs more per hour and gives your dog one person's full attention.
The busy windows are specific to the city. The Christmas to New Year stretch is the tightest, and many owners are away ten days or more. February ski week sends a lot of families to Tahoe. Conference season in the fall fills mid-week boarding, and late August is busy too. Sitters book out early in all of these, and the holiday pet sitting guide covers how far ahead to plan.
Hybrid office weeks change daytime care. If you are in the office Tuesday to Thursday, midweek walking slots go first. Booking the same walker for the same days each week is the easiest way to keep a slot.
Boarding or a sitter at home
Boarding suits a social dog and gives you a clear nightly price. A sitter staying at your home keeps the routine for an anxious, older or medicated dog, and avoids a drive across the city at the start and end of the trip. Compare dog boarding in San Francisco with house sitting in San Francisco, and the in-home care versus boarding guide covers the trade-offs. For the South Bay, the San Jose dog sitter cost guide prices a short trip at lower rates.
San Francisco dog sitting FAQ
What is the cost of dog boarding in San Francisco?
Dog boarding in San Francisco costs $70 to $120 a night on Petme, with about $90 typical in the Mission. Pacific Heights and the Marina reach the top of the band, while Glen Park and the Inner Sunset start around $70. Each sitter sets their own rate and shows it on their profile.
What is the average dog sitting rate in San Francisco?
A typical night of boarding in San Francisco is about $90, inside a $70 to $120 band. An hour-long walk costs $28 to $45. That makes San Francisco one of the most expensive cities in the US for dog care.
How much is pet boarding overnight in San Francisco?
One night with a boarding sitter costs $70 to $120 in San Francisco, depending on the neighborhood. A Friday to Sunday weekend is two nights, so $140 to $240. Holiday weeks and February ski week fill first, so book early.
What are dog walker rates in San Francisco?
A dog walker in San Francisco costs $28 to $45 for an hour-long walk on Petme, so five weekday walks come to $140 to $225. Solo walks cost more than group walks. Under rules that took effect in 2013, walkers taking four or more dogs at once need a city permit.
What is a reasonable price for dog sitting in San Francisco?
A reasonable price sits inside the city band for the service: $70 to $120 a night for boarding and $28 to $45 an hour for walks. Expect the top of the band in Pacific Heights and the Marina and the bottom in Glen Park. A quote far below the band is worth a question about what it includes.
Where to go next
Booking happens in the Petme app, where you can message a sitter before you book. Each sitter on Petme has passed ID verification and a background check, and the Petme Protection Plan can contribute up to $22,000 toward eligible vet costs if something goes wrong. Start with dog sitters in San Francisco or find a pet sitter in San Francisco, and the week-long dog sitting cost guide covers discounts worth asking about on a long stay.
