UK dog boarding pricing

What does dog boarding cost in the UK?
You pay the sitter's nightly rate. Nothing on top.

Home dog boarding in the UK runs about £25 to £55 a night, with London and other big cities at the higher end. On Petme that nightly rate is the whole price: no owner fee at checkout, automatic cashback on every booking, and £20,000 vet protection included.

Find dog boardingNo owner fee. Cashback included. £20,000 vet protection.
Up to 90%
of every booking kept by the sitter
£20,000
vet expenses covered per booking
200k+
pet parents on the platform
4.9 / 5
average sitter rating

Typical UK rates

How much does dog boarding cost in the UK?

Home dog boarding, where your dog stays overnight in a vetted sitter's house, typically costs £25 to £55 per night across the UK. Independent UK pricing guides put the national average near £40 a night. Rates climb in London and the South East, where £40 to £70 a night is common, and sit lower in smaller towns and much of the North and Scotland.

Two things separate home boarding from a traditional kennel on price. Your dog stays in a real home with one host rather than a run, and one booking can usually cover a second dog from the same household at a smaller add-on rather than a second full fee. For multi-dog homes that often makes a sitter better value than a kennel charging per dog.

On Petme the nightly rate on a sitter's profile is the total you pay. There is no owner service fee added at checkout, so the price you compare between sitters is the price you are billed, and every completed booking credits cashback back to your account.

What moves the price

What changes the cost of dog boarding

The sitter sets the rate, so two bookings are rarely identical. These are the things that move the nightly price before any platform fee, of which Petme adds none.

Home boarding vs kennels

Home boarding keeps your dog in a vetted sitter's house with one host, not a run. It usually matches kennel prices for one dog and beats them for two or more.

Your dog's size and needs

Larger dogs, puppies, and dogs that need medication or extra walks can sit at the higher end of a sitter's range, since they take more time and care.

Length of the stay

A week costs more than a single night, but many sitters offer a reduced nightly rate for longer stays, so a long booking is rarely a straight multiple.

Holidays and peak dates

Christmas, Easter, and summer book out early and many sitters raise rates for those weeks. That is the sitter's own pricing, never a platform fee on Petme.

Your city

London and the South East run higher than the national average, while smaller towns, much of the North, and Scotland tend to sit lower.

Number of dogs

A second dog from the same home is usually a smaller add-on rather than a second full fee, which is what makes home boarding strong value for multi-dog households.

Boarding or kennels

Home boarding or kennels: which is cheaper?

Independent UK pricing guides put licensed kennels at roughly £20 to £40 per dog per day, close to a sitter's nightly boarding rate. For a single dog the totals are similar, so the decision often comes down to comfort: home boarding keeps your dog in a household routine with one host, while a kennel houses dogs in separate runs.

For two or more dogs, or for a dog that finds kennels stressful, home boarding usually wins on both value and welfare, because one Petme booking can cover the household and your dogs stay together in a home. If you are weighing the two, the dog boarding hub lists verified UK sitters, and the pet sitter versus dog boarding guide breaks down when each option fits.

Find verified dog boardingPet sitter vs dog boarding

Common questions

Dog boarding cost questions, answered

How much does dog boarding cost per night in the UK?
Home dog boarding in the UK typically costs £25 to £55 per night, with independent UK pricing guides putting the average near £40 a night. The figure depends on your city, your dog, and the dates. On Petme that nightly rate is the total you pay, because no owner service fee is added at checkout.
How much is dog boarding in London?
Dog boarding in London usually sits at the upper end of UK rates, around £40 to £70 per night, because demand and living costs are higher than the national average. Each Petme sitter sets and shows their own nightly rate on their profile, so you see the exact price before you book.
Is home dog boarding cheaper than kennels?
For one dog the totals are similar, since independent UK pricing guides put licensed kennels at roughly £20 to £40 per dog per day, close to a sitter's nightly boarding rate. For two or more dogs home boarding is often better value, because one booking can cover the household, and your dog stays in a real home rather than a run.
How much does dog boarding cost for a week?
A week of home boarding works out at roughly seven nights times the sitter's nightly rate, so about £175 to £385 at typical UK rates and more in London. Many sitters offer a lower nightly rate for longer stays, so it is worth checking the profile, and on Petme the price shown is the price you pay with no booking fee on top.
Why does dog boarding cost more at Christmas?
Christmas, Easter, and the summer holidays are the busiest weeks of the year, and many sitters raise their rates for those dates because demand is high and slots fill early. That is the sitter's own pricing, not a platform charge. Booking well ahead is the best way to lock in a sitter and a rate over peak periods.
Does Petme add a fee on top of the dog boarding rate?
No. On Petme the nightly rate on a sitter's profile is the total you pay. There is no owner service fee, booking fee, or processing fee added at checkout, so the rate you compare across sitters is the rate you are billed, with cashback credited back after the stay completes.
Is vet protection included with dog boarding on Petme?
Yes, at no extra cost. Every confirmed booking on Petme includes vet protection up to £20,000 for accidents or illness during the stay. It is built into the booking rather than sold as an optional add-on, so dog boarding through Petme carries vet cover at no additional charge to the owner.
How much does dog boarding cost for two dogs?
Most sitters charge a smaller add-on for a second dog from the same household rather than a second full nightly fee, so two dogs usually cost less than two separate bookings. The exact second-dog rate is shown on each sitter's Petme profile, and there is still no owner service fee added at checkout.

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Find verified dog boarding across the UK

Real nightly rates, no owner fee, cashback on every booking, and £20,000 vet protection included. Browse boarding hosts by city or compare the wider cost of pet care.

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