When a trip comes up, the question is not only who will look after the pet but what it will cost, and the answer arrives as three different kinds of price. A kennel quotes a rate per night. A drop-in sitter quotes a rate per visit. An overnight sitter quotes a rate per night or per day. They cannot be compared until each is turned into a total for the same trip. This guide does that sum, shows how the answer changes with the length of the trip, lists the extras that make a quote bigger than its headline and says what the price comparison cannot tell you. The rates are examples. The Pet Boarding Cost Calculator handles the kennel sum, and our guide to pet boarding costs lists the lines.
The three formulas
boarding = nightly rate × nights + extras drop-in sitter = price per visit × visits per day × days + extras overnight sitter = nightly rate × nights + extras
Use the same number of days for each. If you are away from Saturday to Monday of the next week, count the nights, not the days, for the first and third and the days for the second.
A 10-night trip
Example rates: kennel 35 per night; drop-in visits 18 each, two a day; overnight sitter 60 per night.
| Option | Working | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Kennel | 35 × 10 | 350 |
| Drop-in visits, twice a day | 18 × 2 × 10 | 360 |
| Overnight sitter | 60 × 10 | 600 |
The kennel and the drop-in visits are within 3% of each other. The overnight sitter costs 71% more than the kennel. The nightly equivalent is 35, 36 and 60.
By length of trip
| Nights | Kennel (35) | Drop-in, twice a day (36 a day) | Overnight sitter (60) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 105 | 108 | 180 |
| 7 | 245 | 252 | 420 |
| 10 | 350 | 360 | 600 |
| 14 | 490 | 504 | 840 |
The ranking does not change with length at these rates, because each is a straight multiple of the nights. What changes is the total and therefore the size of any one-off extra: a 20 transport cost is 19% of a 3-night kennel stay and 4% of a 14-night stay.
Where the rates cross
Two options cost the same when their daily rates are equal. For a drop-in sitter at v per visit with n visits a day, and a kennel at b per night:
break-even visit price = b ÷ n
With b = 35 and n = 2, the break-even visit price is 17.50. At 18 per visit, the sitter is slightly dearer; at 15 it would be cheaper. If you need only one visit a day, the break-even rises to 35. The number of visits is a care decision for the sitter and your vet to discuss, not something to cut to hit a price.
| Visits a day | Break-even price per visit (kennel 35) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 35.00 |
| 2 | 17.50 |
| 3 | 11.67 |
Extras that change the total
Quotes can omit lines that matter.
| Extra | Kennel | Drop-in sitter | Overnight sitter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | Often yours | None | None |
| Food | Yours or theirs | Yours | Yours |
| Medication handling | May be a fee | May be a fee | May be a fee |
| Peak-season surcharge | Common | Possible | Possible |
| Second pet | Per-pet rate | Per-pet or per-visit | Per-pet |
| Deposit | Common | Possible | Possible |
| Cancellation terms | Check | Check | Check |
An example with extras for the 10-night kennel stay: transport 2 × 8 = 16, medication fee 10 × 1.50 = 15, and a peak surcharge of 5 per night = 50. The total becomes 350 + 16 + 15 + 50 = 431, which is 23% above the headline.
More than one pet
With two pets the options change. A kennel usually charges a lower rate for the second pet sharing a run; a sitter may charge per pet or a flat extra.
| Option (10 nights) | First pet | Second pet | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennel, second pet at 25 | 350 | 250 | 600 |
| Drop-in, twice a day, +5 per visit for a second pet | 360 | 100 | 460 |
| Overnight sitter, +15 per night | 600 | 150 | 750 |
At these example rates, the drop-in option is the cheapest for two pets, while it was nearly tied with the kennel for one. Always ask for the multi-pet rate.
What the numbers do not cover
The total is only one part of the decision. A kennel offers staff supervision and a fixed place, but a new environment. A drop-in sitter keeps the pet at home but leaves long stretches alone. An overnight sitter gives company at home at the highest price. Some pets have health needs, age or temperament that make one option unsuitable. Ask your vet what suits your pet, and check the provider’s experience, insurance and licensing, which differ by country. Do not let the price be the only guide.
Planning ahead
Holiday dates fill early, so check availability before you book flights. Keep your pet’s vaccination records up to date, since many providers ask for proof; see how to calculate a vaccination due date. Pack food for the stay; see how much pet food to pack for a trip. Add the cost to the yearly budget with the Monthly Pet Budget Calculator; a trip costing 431 once a year is 35.92 a month.
A worked example
Lila has a dog and a cat and is away for 7 nights. She collects three quotes.
| Quote | Terms | Working | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennel and cattery | Dog 35, cat 22 a night, deposit 30 | (35 + 22) × 7 | 399 |
| Drop-in sitter | 2 visits a day at 18, second pet +4 per visit | (18 + 4) × 2 × 7 | 308 |
| Overnight sitter | 60 a night, +12 for a second pet | (60 + 12) × 7 | 504 |
Extras: transport to the kennel and back, 16; a peak surcharge at the sitter, none. Lila adds the 16 to the kennel quote and gets 415. The drop-in sitter is cheapest at 308, but Lila’s dog has not been left alone for long before. She asks her vet’s advice, calls the references of the sitter and chooses the overnight option for the first half of the trip and drop-ins for the rest, a plan the sitter agrees to at (60 + 12) × 3 + 22 × 2 × 4 = 392. The sums gave her a basis for a conversation.
Questions to ask before you book
A quote is only comparable if it covers the same things. Ask each provider:
- What is included in the price: food, walks, play, medication handling, updates?
- What is the cancellation rule, and is the deposit refundable?
- What happens if my pet is unwell: who calls the vet, and who pays?
- How many animals are looked after at once, and by how many people?
- What do you need from me: vaccination records, a trial visit, a written feeding plan?
- Is there a peak-season price, and which dates does it cover?
- What insurance and licensing do you hold, and can I see them?
Write the answers next to the price. A cheaper quote with half the inclusions is often the dearer one in practice.
Spreading the cost across the year
Trips are a yearly cost. If you board twice a year for 7 nights at 245 each with 40 of extras per trip, that is 570 a year, or 47.50 a month. Put that amount in the pet budget, ideally into a separate account, and you will not meet the bill as a surprise. The Monthly Pet Budget Calculator has a line for it.
Common mistakes
- Comparing a nightly rate with a per-visit rate.
- Forgetting extras and surcharges.
- Not asking for multi-pet rates.
- Booking late in a peak season.
- Choosing on price alone.
- Not checking cancellation terms.
- Forgetting to add the trip to the yearly budget.
Quick summary
- Total = rate × quantity + extras; price each option on the same trip.
- Ten nights at example rates: kennel 350, drop-in (two a day) 360, overnight sitter 600.
- Break-even visit price = kennel rate ÷ visits per day (17.50 for two visits).
- Extras can add 20% or more to a quote.
- Price alone does not decide; ask your vet about your pet’s needs.
- Use the Pet Boarding Cost Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, boarding or a pet sitter?
It depends on the rates, the number of nights and visits, and the number of pets. Price each on the same basis and compare totals.
What extras should I add?
Transport to the kennel, food, medication handling fees, a peak-season surcharge, an extra pet fee and any deposit or cancellation terms.
Is the cheapest option the best?
Not necessarily. The right choice depends on your pet's health, age and temperament, and your vet can advise on special needs.
How do I compare drop-in visits?
Multiply the price per visit by the visits per day and the days.
Should I check insurance and licensing?
Ask what the provider holds and what happens if your pet needs a vet. Requirements differ by country.
How early should I book?
Early for holiday dates. Ask for the cancellation terms before paying a deposit.
Sources
- Pure arithmetic on your own quotes: total = nightly or per-visit rate × quantity + extras
- Provider quotes and terms (the source for rates, inclusions, deposits and cancellation)
Related calculators
- Pet Boarding Cost CalculatorAdd up the cost of boarding or pet sitting for a trip from nights, nightly rate and number of pets.
- Monthly Pet Budget CalculatorAdd up your monthly pet costs to see the monthly and yearly total.
- Pet Travel Food CalculatorWork out how much pet food to pack for a trip, with spare days.
Keep reading
- How Much Does Pet Boarding Cost? A Trip BudgetHow to calculate pet boarding or sitter cost from nights, nightly rate, number of pets and fixed fees, with a price grid, a sitter comparison and a checklist.
- How Much Does Dog Walking Cost? Weekly to YearlyHow to work out dog walking costs from walks per week and price per walk: weekly, monthly and yearly totals, a price grid and how to compare walkers.
- How Much Pet Food to Pack for a TripHow much pet food to pack: (trip days + spare days) × daily grams × pets, with tables for a dog and a cat, spare-day rules, wet and dry food and a packing checklist.
- Build a Pet Emergency Fund in 12 MonthsSave a pet emergency fund: monthly deposit = target ÷ months, 125 a month for 1,500 in 12 months, 100 with 300 saved, and the small effect of interest.