Updated 10 November 2026.

Dog boarding costs depend on where your dog stays, the dates and how the provider counts the stay. In the published 2026 kennel tariffs checked for this guide, a standard place for one dog ranges from £23 to £46 per chargeable day. This is a small selection of real price lists, not a UK average. A home-boarder example charges £55 per 24 hours for an adult dog, with a substantial peak-period supplement.

The useful comparison is the total written quote for your exact drop-off and collection times. Seven nights can generate eight daily charges. A cheaper headline rate can also become the more expensive booking after collection fees, medication and holiday supplements.

Real boarding prices: examples checked in November 2026

The following prices were published by the providers themselves and checked on 10 November 2026. They illustrate different charging structures. Inclusion is not a recommendation or confirmation of availability, licence status or suitability for your dog.

These businesses provide different services and operate in different places. Do not treat the lowest and highest examples as the limits of the market. Obtain current local quotes for the same dates and care requirements.

Kennels, home boarding or a sitter: what are you paying for?

Boarding kennels accommodate your dog at a dedicated establishment. Ask about the sleeping area, exercise routine, staff cover, heating, rest and how dogs are separated. A larger suite or a television tells you little about the quality of individual care without those answers.

Home boarding means your dog stays in the boarder’s home. Ask about resident dogs, other boarders, children, sleeping arrangements and what happens when the person goes out. A home setting does not automatically mean one-to-one care, and it is not necessarily cheaper than a kennel.

House sitting or pet sitting in your home means the carer comes to your dog’s usual home. An overnight booking may still allow the sitter to leave during the day. Agree the hours of attendance, walks, any other work and cover if the sitter becomes ill. Drop-in visits are a different service from a continuous stay.

Friends or relatives may suit a dog that already knows them, but discuss handling, secure doors, other animals, medication and emergency arrangements just as carefully. Familiarity does not remove the need for a practical care plan.

How much is a week or a fortnight in kennels?

Multiply the number of chargeable units, not simply the nights away. These are worked examples using round illustrative rates; they are not provider quotes or promises of a discount.

Add the actual extras afterwards. For example, a £240 booking plus a £20 transport charge and seven medication charges of £2 is £274. Check whether VAT is included and whether a deposit forms part of that total. A £50 deposit on a £274 booking normally leaves £224 to pay; it should not be added again unless it is a separate fee.

Ask the provider to price the whole stay in writing. Avoid assuming that a long booking receives a weekly discount. Doghouse publishes a 10% discount for stays over ten days, whereas Sunrise’s listed long-stay discount starts at 35 days. Each business has its own threshold and conditions.

Extras that can change the final bill

Ask about Christmas, New Year, bank holidays and school-holiday supplements before comparing quotes. Confirm the dates on which they apply, whether they are per dog or per booking, and any minimum stay. In the JAWs example, a 50% supplement makes the £55 adult rate £82.50 per applicable 24-hour period, before other charges.

Medication can be included, charged daily or priced according to the work involved. Explain the exact prescription, administration times, storage and any injections before booking. A provider may be unable to meet a medical need even when you can pay an extra fee.

Food, collection, extra walks, grooming and trial stays can also affect cost. Ask what the standard exercise package includes before paying for additions. Keeping your dog on its familiar food may matter more than whether food is nominally included in the tariff.

For two dogs, check whether the price is a combined household rate or a per-dog sharing rate. Sharing must suit both dogs and the accommodation. Do not assume that two dogs from the same home can safely share every sleeping space or feeding arrangement.

Licence and welfare checks come before the price

In England, commercial dog boarding is subject to local-authority licensing. Kennels and home boarding have different conditions, while sitting in the dog’s normal home is outside the home-boarding licensing activity. The business test and exemptions need to be assessed by the authority; a marketplace profile or insurance policy is not proof of a boarding licence.

Check the licence against the actual address where your dog will stay. England’s council star rating concerns licensing standards and risk; it is separate from customer-review stars. Scotland and Wales have their own arrangements through councils, and Northern Ireland uses DAERA for animal-boarding establishment licensing. Our guide to checking a boarding licence explains the steps and differences.

Visit or arrange an assessment where possible. Discuss compatibility with other dogs, escape prevention, overnight supervision, vaccination requirements, infection-control arrangements and emergency veterinary care. Ask who can authorise treatment and how costs are handled if you cannot be reached.

Choosing care for an anxious, elderly or young dog

Describe your dog’s needs honestly. A dog that struggles with other dogs may need individual handling rather than a busy group setting. An older dog may need a low bed, frequent toileting and careful medication timing. A puppy needs an appropriate routine and a provider able to accommodate its age and vaccination status.

A short trial can reveal practical difficulties before a long holiday. Agree what will happen if your dog does not settle, including who can collect them. A familiar blanket can help some dogs, but do not send bedding the provider cannot safely use or clean. A premium room cannot guarantee that a dog will feel relaxed.

How to reduce the bill without compromising care

Compare several appropriate local providers using one written brief. Include dates, times, dog size, age, diet, medication, behaviour and the number of dogs. Ask about transparent off-peak or household rates, then compare the complete totals.

Booking early gives you more choice, especially for Christmas. It does not guarantee a lower tariff. Read cancellation, deposit and early-collection terms before paying, and check what happens if your trip is delayed. A cheaper provider a long drive away may cost more in travel and time.

Is home boarding cheaper than kennels?

Sometimes, but there is no reliable rule. Compare suitable providers locally. Home boarding may include different supervision and household arrangements, while kennels can offer several accommodation levels.

Does a higher star rating mean a higher price?

Not necessarily. In England, the licensing rating and the provider’s commercial tariff are separate matters. Use the rating as one part of your checks alongside the actual care arrangements.

Can a provider charge for the day I collect my dog?

Yes, where that is part of the agreed charging structure. Ask for the collection cut-off and the amount payable if you are late. Do not assume a nightly hotel-style checkout applies to every kennel.

What should I send with my dog?

Follow the provider’s instructions. Normally you will need clear feeding and medication information, veterinary and emergency contacts, the required vaccination evidence and any agreed familiar items. Label food and prescribed medication, and check quantities for possible travel delays.

Licensing sources: GOV.UK boarding licence guidance for England and home-boarding statutory guidance. Provider tariff links appear beside each price above.