How Much Does Dog Boarding Cost in the UK?
Dog boarding in the UK costs between £20 and £60 per night for most operators, with significant variation by region, service type, and season. Our data covers thousands of council-licensed boarding kennels and home boarders across England, Scotland, and Wales. This guide breaks down what you can expect to pay.
Typical price ranges
Boarding kennels: the median nightly rate in our dataset is in the £25–£35 range for a single small-to-medium dog. London and the South East tend to be 20–40% higher than the national median.
Home boarding: typically £5–£15 per night more than comparable kennel accommodation in the same area, reflecting the capacity constraint and more personalised care.
Dog day care: typically £15–£30 per day, with multi-day packages available from many operators.
Factors that affect the price
Dog size: most operators charge more for larger dogs. Extra-dog fees: a second dog in the same party is often discounted but still adds to the total. Peak season: Christmas, school half-terms, and bank holidays attract surcharges of 10–30% at many operators.
Service add-ons: medication administration, collections, grooming, and training sessions are charged separately by most providers.
How to compare prices fairly
When comparing prices, confirm whether the headline rate includes all dogs in your party, whether it applies over a bank holiday, and whether collection or drop-off is included. Use our operator search to see published rates for licensed operators near you.
Marketplace vs direct booking
Some operators are listed on booking platforms (such as Rover or Pawshake) as well as taking direct bookings. Our True Price Index measures the observed price difference between direct and marketplace bookings for matched operators. See /data/true-price-index for current data.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does dog boarding cost in the UK?
- The UK median for kennel boarding is £25–£35 per night for a single small-to-medium dog. Home boarding typically costs £5–£15 per night more than comparable kennel accommodation. Dog day care is typically £15–£30 per day. London and the South East tend to be 20–40% above the national median.
- Why is dog boarding more expensive at Christmas?
- Demand far exceeds supply at Christmas and operators apply peak-period surcharges to manage demand and reflect additional staffing costs. Surcharges range from 10% to 50% above standard nightly rates, with the highest premiums typically applying 23 December–2 January.
- Is home boarding more expensive than kennels?
- Typically yes, by £5–£15 per night in our UK dataset. Home boarders have capacity limited by law to three dogs from three households at any time, which keeps prices higher than larger kennels with more capacity.
- What extras should I expect on top of the headline rate?
- Multi-dog fees (often 50–75% of the first dog’s rate for a second dog), medication administration, collection and drop-off, peak-period surcharges (Christmas, school holidays, bank holidays), and individual enrichment or training sessions. Always confirm the total with the operator before booking.