How much to charge for pet sitting

Updated November 1, 2026 · QuoteCubby

Published national rates for drop-in visits, what most sitters charge extra for, and a simple way to set a price that still pays you after the drive.

Published rates (US national figures)

Source	What it measures	Rate
Pet Sitters International, 2026	Average visit, 15 min to 1 hour	$20.64–$46.26
Pet Sitters International, 2024	Basic pet-care visit (avg 31 min)	$25.49
Rover	Drop-in visit	$21.80
HomeGuide	30-minute pet sitting visit	$25
HomeGuide (Jan 2026)	Per visit	$10–$35
HomeGuide (Jan 2026)	Per day (3–4 visits)	$30–$100

Rover’s figures are platform prices; sitters on marketplaces also pay the platform a fee, so their take-home is lower.

In the 2026 Pet Sitters International survey, 30-minute visits were the most common length (63% of pet-sitting visits), and members said they set prices mainly by looking at competitors (36%), local cost of living (25%) and overhead (12%) (Pet Sitters International 2026 survey, reported by GlobalPETS (Oct 5, 2026)).

HomeGuide splits its ranges by experience: hobby sitters $10–$20 per visit, professional sitters $25–$35 (HomeGuide).

How to set your own price per visit

Pick your target hourly pay for working time (including the drive), after what you need for taxes and unpaid time.
Count all the minutes: the visit itself, plus a few minutes for texts, photos and notes, plus extra time per extra pet.
Add the trip: round-trip miles × your cost per mile.
Check the real hourly pay: price minus gas, divided by visit time plus drive time. If it’s below your minimum, raise the price, add a travel fee, or tighten your service area.
Compare with your market: the ranges above are national. Look at local sitters’ published prices.

Worked example

With the calculator’s example numbers, a 30-minute drop-in for 1 pet comes to $29. Because the round trip takes 20 minutes, that visit pays about $29.35 per hour of your time after gas, not $45. A second pet makes it $38; a 60-minute visit is $51; a 15-minute visit is $20 and pays only $26.85 per hour because the drive is the same.

Example only, using the calculator’s starter numbers: $45 per hour target, 5 admin minutes per visit, 6 round-trip miles at $0.35 per mile, 20 minutes of driving per trip, $20 minimum visit, prices rounded up to $1. These are not market rates.

Check your own numbers

The free QuoteCubby pet sitting calculator prices drop-ins, dog walks and overnights with extra pets, meds, holidays and last-minute fees, and shows what you really earn per hour after the drive.

Open the free pet sitting calculator

FAQ

How much should I charge for a 30-minute pet sitting visit?

Published national averages cluster in the low-to-mid $20s for a 30-minute visit: Pet Sitters International members averaged $25.49 for a basic visit (2024), Rover reports $21.80 for a drop-in, and HomeGuide lists $25. Your price should come from your own costs and drive time, then be checked against local competitors.

Do pet sitters charge more for more pets?

Many do. In Pet Sitters International’s 2026 survey, 52% of members charge for additional pets. HomeGuide lists $5–$7 per extra pet per visit or $10 per day.

Should I charge by the visit or by the day?

Most sitters price per visit and multiply. HomeGuide lists $30–$100 per day for 3–4 visits. Pricing per visit keeps the math honest when a client wants more or fewer visits.

How do I raise my pet sitting rates?

Give clients notice first. HomeGuide suggests about one month’s notice before a rate increase.

The QuoteCubby Pet Sitting Kit

Spreadsheets for pet sitters and dog walkers: quote bookings from your own numbers, keep every client and pet in one place, and see your real hourly pay.

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Real $/hour after the drive, with a BELOW-MINIMUM warning
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Price list for 1, 2 and 3 pets

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Know what each client really pays you.

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“Last price change” and review flags per client
Bookings log (1,000 rows) with real $/hour after driving
Flags bookings below your minimum per hour
Dashboard: income, hours and real $/hour by month

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Related guides

Sources

Price ranges are national figures published by the sources below (accessed November 1, 2026). Local prices vary a lot. QuoteCubby examples are illustrations, not market data.

QuoteCubby is a calculator and a set of templates. It is not pricing, legal, tax or business advice. Starter numbers are examples only; use your own costs and local market.