On this page
Guess first: What does a typical full-service dog grooming cost at a salon?
The answer: $50.
Source: HomeGuide 2026 dog grooming price guide
Average dog grooming cost
A full-service groom at a typical salon costs about $50, and most dogs land between $40 and $75, according to HomeGuide. Thumbtack, which looks at prices from pros on its platform, reports a higher average of $104 a session, with a typical range of $79 to $136.
The gap comes down to the dog in front of the groomer. A short-haired 15-pound dog is a quick job. A 90-pound Doodle with a thick, curly coat can take hours. NerdWallet says a grooming appointment can run two to four hours, and labor is most of what you pay for.
| Type of service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Full service, small dog | about $40 |
| Full service, large dog | about $75 |
| Mobile groom, average-size dog | about $75 |
| Self-service dog wash | $12-$23 |
Source: HomeGuide, 2026 price guide.
Full service usually includes a bath and blow dry, brush-out, haircut, nail trim, ear and eye cleaning and teeth brushing. A basic package is usually just a bath, nail trim and ear cleaning.
Dog grooming cost by size
Bigger dogs cost more because they take longer to wash, dry and cut. HomeGuide’s averages by weight:
| Dog weight | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Up to 14 lb | $25 |
| 15-25 lb | $30 |
| 25-35 lb | $35 |
| 35-50 lb | $40 |
| 50-60 lb | $45 |
| 60-70 lb | $50 |
| 70-80 lb | $55 |
| 80-90 lb | $65 |
| 95 lb and up | $70+ |
Source: HomeGuide, 2026 price guide.
Other guides run higher. Whole Dog Journal lists basic grooming at $30 to $50 for small dogs, $50 to $80 for medium dogs, $80 to $120 for large dogs and $120 to $200 for giant dogs. Its “comprehensive” packages, which add things like teeth brushing and gland expression, run $50 to $80 for small dogs up to $150 to $250 for giant breeds.
Dog grooming prices by breed
Coat type matters as much as size. Curly, long or double coats take far more time than short, smooth ones. The chart above shows HomeGuide’s averages by breed group: about $40 for small breeds like Shih Tzus, $70 for Golden and Labrador Retrievers, and $100 or more for giant breeds like Newfoundlands.
Whole Dog Journal says Poodles, Shih Tzus, Afghan Hounds and mixes with similar coats can run $50 to $200 a session and often need monthly appointments, while short-haired dogs typically cost $40 to $50 for basic grooming. Vetster puts a breed-specific cut at $50 to $150.
Add-ons and extra fees
Many salons sell services one at a time or as extras on top of a groom.
| Add-on | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Nail trim | $10 |
| Nail trim and buffing | $15 |
| Teeth brushing | $10 |
| Ear cleaning | $10 |
| Gland expression | $10 |
| Face, feet and sanitary trim | $15 |
| Flea and tick treatment | $15 |
Source: HomeGuide, 2026 price guide.
The fees that can surprise you are for coat condition. Whole Dog Journal says de-matting can add $10 to $100, flea baths $10 to $45 and medicated baths $15 to $45. Thumbtack notes that some groomers also charge more for dogs that resist grooming, and salons may add a fee for pickup and drop-off.
Mobile grooming and tipping
Mobile groomers come to your driveway in a van, which saves you a trip but costs more. Vetster says mobile grooming runs about $60 to $100 a visit, roughly 20% to 40% more than a salon, and popular mobile groomers often book three to four weeks out.
Plan on a tip of 15% to 20%, according to NerdWallet and HomeGuide. On a $50 to $75 groom, that is $7.50 to $15. Grooming costs are a regular line item, so they belong in the yearly cost of owning a dog along with food, vet visits and boarding.
- Shih Tzu, Yorkie$40
- Schnauzer, Corgi$50
- Mini Poodle, Westie$55
- Cocker Spaniel, Border Collie$60
- Golden, Lab Retriever$70
- Standard Poodle, Husky, Doodle$80
- Saint Bernard, Newfoundland$100 or more$100
Source: HomeGuide 2026 dog grooming price guide
What people actually report
- Half do it themselves. About 51% of dog owners groom their dogs at home, according to the American Pet Products Association’s 2025 National Pet Owners Survey.
- Owners are cutting back on salons. The same APPA report found spending on salon grooming, mobile grooming and boarding declined in 2025.
- DIY supplies cost more too. Rover’s survey of 1,000 U.S. dog and cat owners found grooming supply costs rose about 20% over the prior year, as reported by Global Pet Industry in July 2025.
Example: a Golden Retriever groomed every 6 or 8 weeks
Say you have a Golden Retriever. HomeGuide puts a groom for that breed at about $70. With a 20% tip, each visit costs about $84 (our calculation).
| Schedule | Visits per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Every 6 weeks | about 8.7 | about $731 |
| Every 8 weeks | 6.5 | about $546 |
| Every 8 weeks, plus a $10 nail trim between visits | 6.5 + 6.5 trims | about $611 |
Source: HomeGuide breed and add-on prices; tip, visit counts and totals are our calculation.
- The base cost. 52 weeks divided by 6 is about 8.7 grooms a year, or about $731.
- Stretching the schedule. Moving to every 8 weeks, as Vetster suggests, cuts that to about $546, a saving of about $185 a year.
- Keeping nails short. Adding a $10 nail trim between grooms brings the total to about $611, still about $120 less than the 6-week plan.
- The catch. If the coat mats between visits, a de-matting fee of $10 to $100 (Whole Dog Journal) can erase the savings, so brushing at home matters.
How to pay less for dog grooming
- Brush at home. It keeps mats away, which avoids the biggest surprise fees.
- Space out full grooms. Vetster says moving from every six weeks to every eight or 10 can save money for many coats.
- Buy only what you need. A $10 nail trim between full grooms is cheaper than a full visit.
- Try a self-service wash. HomeGuide puts self-service at $12 to $23, less than 30% of full service.
- Ask about loyalty pricing. Thumbtack says some groomers discount regular clients, and HomeGuide notes mobile groomers may charge less for a second or third dog.
- Set money aside. A small monthly sinking fund for grooming keeps a $70 visit from feeling like a surprise.
See how we research every number on our method page, or browse more pet costs.
Before you book a dog groomer
0 of 8 doneAll done. You are ready to get quotes with confidence.
Questions people ask
How much does dog grooming cost?
About $50 for a typical full-service groom, with most dogs between $40 and $75, according to HomeGuide. Thumbtack's pros average $104 a session, with a typical range of $79 to $136. Size, coat and location explain most of the gap.
Source: HomeGuide, ThumbtackHow much does it cost to groom a small dog?
HomeGuide puts full service for a small dog at about $40, and its weight table shows $25 to $30 for dogs under 25 pounds. Whole Dog Journal lists $30 to $50 for basic grooming of a dog up to 20 pounds.
Source: HomeGuide, Whole Dog JournalHow much does it cost to groom a large dog?
About $75 for full service, per HomeGuide, which lists $50 to $70 or more for dogs over 60 pounds. Whole Dog Journal's basic grooming ranges are higher at $80 to $120 for large dogs and $120 to $200 for dogs over 80 pounds.
Source: HomeGuide, Whole Dog JournalWhat are average dog grooming prices by breed?
HomeGuide lists about $40 for small breeds like Shih Tzus and Yorkies, $70 for Golden and Labrador Retrievers, $80 for Standard Poodles, Huskies and Doodles, and $100 or more for giant breeds like Saint Bernards and Newfoundlands. Breeds with long or curly coats cost more because they take longer.
Source: HomeGuideHow much should you tip a dog groomer?
The usual tip is 15% to 20% of the bill, according to NerdWallet and HomeGuide. On a $50 to $75 groom, that is about $7.50 to $15. HomeGuide suggests tipping more if your dog was very dirty, heavily matted or hard to handle.
Source: NerdWallet, HomeGuideIs mobile dog grooming more expensive?
Yes. Vetster says mobile grooming runs about $60 to $100 a visit, roughly 20% to 40% more than a salon. HomeGuide puts a mobile groom for an average-size dog at about $75.
Source: Vetster, HomeGuideHow often should you get your dog groomed?
It depends on the coat. Long-haired and dense-coated breeds need regular visits, and Whole Dog Journal says some breeds need a groom every month. Vetster notes that owners who go every six weeks can save by stretching visits to every eight or 10 weeks.
Source: Whole Dog Journal, VetsterWhy is dog grooming so expensive?
Mostly because of time and labor. NerdWallet says a grooming appointment can take two to four hours. Thumbtack lists breed and coat type, temperament, location and pickup or drop-off as the main things that raise the price.
Source: NerdWallet, ThumbtackWhat is included in a full dog grooming?
HomeGuide says full service usually includes a bath and dry, brush-out, haircut, nail trim, ear and eye cleaning and teeth brushing. A basic package is usually just a bath, nail trim and ear cleaning.
Source: HomeGuideHow much is just a nail trim for a dog?
About $10 on its own, or $15 with buffing, according to HomeGuide. Whole Dog Journal says stand-alone nail trims average about $15 and are often available as walk-ins.
Source: HomeGuide, Whole Dog JournalHow much more does it cost to groom a matted dog?
Whole Dog Journal says de-matting can add $10 to $100, depending on how bad the coat is. Regular brushing at home between visits is the cheapest way to avoid that fee.
Source: Whole Dog JournalIs it cheaper to wash your dog yourself?
Yes. HomeGuide says self-service dog washes cost about $12 to $23, less than 30% of a full-service groom. About 51% of dog owners groom their dogs at home, according to the American Pet Products Association.
Source: HomeGuide, APPAIs there low cost dog grooming for seniors?
Some groomers offer discounts, but prices and rules vary by shop, so ask. The lowest-cost options we could source are a self-service wash at about $12 to $23 (HomeGuide) and stand-alone services like a $10 nail trim between full grooms. For senior dogs, Vetster notes visits may need to be more frequent because of coat problems, incontinence or arthritis.
Source: HomeGuide, VetsterWhat did you pay?
Real prices from people who paid for dog grooming. Share yours in 20 seconds, with no name, and help the next person know what is fair. We check every report by hand before it appears.
Middle price by state
States with 3 or more checked reports.
Paid for this recently? Share your price; we start showing reader prices here once at least 3 checked reports are in.
Share what I paid
Sources
Every number above comes from these pages. We list the date each page showed when we checked it.
- HomeGuide, Dog Grooming Prices
- Thumbtack, How much will your dog grooming cost?
- Whole Dog Journal, How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost?
- Vetster, The average cost of dog grooming
- NerdWallet, How Much to Tip a Dog Groomer
- American Pet Products Association, America's Dog Owners Are Becoming Smarter Spenders
- Global Pet Industry, Data insight, 2025 pet parenthood costs in the US (Rover survey)
Estimates are for general information only. Ask your vet for a written estimate before you decide on care.
Parastoo Parsa is a budget strategist with a background in tourism strategy and cultural heritage. At DollarMap she researches and writes our guides on family life, pets, travel and big celebrations like weddings, turning published prices into budgets you can actually plan with.
“An organized life starts with an organized budget.”
