Are you looking for the best dog grooming price? It can be confusing for new owners because, with so many options on the market, it is hard to choose what is best. Worry not, our guide will let you know how much you will have to pay to groom your dog.
We are going to give you everything from a list of grooming dog prices by breed to how much money you will have to invest to groom your dog at home. We are going to bring you all the details about mobile grooming as well as self-service stations.
Price of At-Home Dog Grooming
If you want to save money and strengthen your relationship with your dog, then you should groom it at home. Just be aware that it is far more challenging and time-consuming, especially since you are not a professional dog groomer.
You will have to invest in the proper equipment (see grooming kits), but it is a one-off investment that will make it possible to groom your dog at home for a long time. You will also have to buy supplies such as shampoo, conditioner, and otic solution regularly. Below, find the prices for equipment and supplies, so you can get equipped and have a solid idea of how much home dog grooming will cost you.
Equipment
We are going to review each item one by one, and we are going to bring you an average price, so you can calculate how much it is going to cost you.
Grooming Table
A grooming table is necessary because it will make grooming much easier and practical. It will also prevent your dog from running off, which is common when you are getting your pet used to grooming. After exploring different products on Amazon, the average price for a decent grooming table is between $60 and $100.
Washing Station
Although you can cut corners here and simply wash your dog in the yard, a washing station will make bathing your dog a lot easier. It confines your pet to a delimited space, and therefore, it will be much easier to bathe it. The price for a washing station ranges between $100 and $150.
Electric Clipper and Blades
Clippers come at different prices, and some sell for premium prices. Nonetheless, you do not need to invest hundreds of dollars to get started. A clipper will make it easier to cut the hair of your dog, and in many cases, it is all you will need to do (no need for scissors). The price for a set of electric clippers plus blades will cost you between $25 and $40. Some of them even include combs, so you will save even more money.
Scissors and Thinning Shears
For certain breeds that need more detail in their cuts, like the Poodle, you will need a good pair of scissors and thinning shears. Furthermore, a good set that includes both items will cost you between $30 and $60.
Brush and Combs
A decent brush and comb combo will cost you between $10 and $20. It will help you to remove mats and to use it regularly, to keep the coat of your dog healthy and beautiful.
Dog Dryer
You could use your regular blow dryer, but a dog dryer will make things much easier. Buy one for approximately $70 and $100 online and in-store. You can find premium dryers (over $100), but they are not strictly necessary.
Shampoo and Conditioner
A good shampoo and conditioner with a balanced pH will cost you anywhere from $10 to $20. It is more of a personal choice, but it is a fair average.
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
You will also need a proper toothbrush and toothpaste, which you can use regularly outside of a single grooming session. This combo will usually cost you anywhere from $5 to $15.
Dog Toenail Clippers
You will also nail a good pair of dog toenail clippers. The price for these ranges between $10 and $30, being the electric toenail clippers the most expensive.
Otic Solution and Gauze
A good otic solution will cost you between $6 and $15. Regarding gauze, you can get a set of medical-grade gauze for $10-$15.
How Much Will You Have to Invest?
In summary, you will have to invest between $336 and $565. This is what you will have to invest to get started with dog grooming at home!
Time Needed
In addition to the money, you will have to invest a lot of time, especially at the beginning. As a rule, dog grooming takes between 2 and 3 hours. If it is your first time doing it, then it could take you between 4 and 5 hours.
Price of Salon Dog Grooming
If you would like to leave the grooming of your pet to the professionals then this section is for you. Here we discuss the normal price of dog grooming at the salon, and we expand on the details about which factors could drive up the price. To bring you an accurate estimate, we have explored the price ranges from multiple places:
- Home Guide: $40 to $75
- Thumbtack: $60 to $80
- Pet Smart: $40 to $96
The price will increase if your dog is older, heavier and has a lot of hair like an Afghan Hound, for which PetSmart (New York) offers a bath and full haircut for $96. Therefore, the weight, breed, and age influence the price a lot.
Additional Services
Of course, we are not factoring in additional services such as nail trimming or polishing, teeth brushing, or face trimming, which are usually included as extras. Below, find a range of prices for these upgrades in your dog’s grooming price:
- Nail trimming: $8 to $10
- Nail polishing: $5 to $8
- Face, rump, and feet trim (details): $10 to $12
- Teeth brushing: $10 to $12
These prices are usually the same regardless of the breed. However, saloons usually can offer you exclusive bundles that include all of this for a lower price. For example, we have Petco, which manages the following prices for their all-included packages (bath, haircut, nails, paws, ears, and teeth):
- Small dog: $45
- Large dog: $50
- Extra-large dog: $80
As you can see, it is possible to get a good deal. However, it also depends on the reputation of the salon/groomer. Now that you have in your hands a fair estimation of how much saloon dog grooming price usually costs, allow us to check each factor that influences the price.
Size of the Dog
The bigger your dog is, the more expensive grooming will be, especially if it is especially hairy like an Afghan Hound or Tibetan Mastiff, which also need grooming every 4-6 weeks. We have elaborated the following estimates after exploring what different marketplaces and saloons charge based on the weight:
- Less than 15 pounds: $25
- 15 to 25 pounds: $30
- 25 to 35 pounds: $35
- 35 to 50 pounds: $40
- 50 to 60 pounds: $45
- 60 to 70 pounds: $50
- 70 to 80 pounds: $55
- 80 to 90 pounds: $65
- 95 to 100 pounds: $70
As you can see, the price tends to increase by $5 per every 10 pounds, but it is just a reference because some salons will manage different prices, especially depending on the services you want to include along with the breed of your dog.
Dog Breed
Grooming a Chihuahua will be much cheaper than grooming a Miniature Poodle, for example. We have explored different salons to elaborate the following table for different price ranges.
| Breed | Price |
| Airedale Terrier | $60-$80 |
| Akita | $60-$80 |
| Alaskan Malamute | $70-$90 |
| American Eskimo | $60-$80 |
| Australian Shepherd | $50-$70 |
| Beagle | $30-$40 |
| Basset Hound | $35-$40 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | $80-$100 |
| Bichon Frise | $40-$60 |
| Border Terrier | $40-$55 |
| Border Collie | $50-$70 |
| Bouvier Des Flandres | $65-$80 |
| Boxer | $35-$40 |
| Bulldog (American) | $35-$40 |
| Bulldog (English) | $35-$40 |
| Bulldog (French) | $25-$30 |
| Brittany Spaniel | $40-$60 |
| Brussels Griffon | $40-$55 |
| Cairn Terrier | $40-$55 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | $40-$55 |
| Chihuahua, Long Hair | $40-$50 |
| Chinese Crested | $40-$50 |
| Chow Chow | $60-$85 |
| Clumber Spaniel | $50-$70 |
| Cockapoo | $40-$55 |
| Cocker Spaniel | $50-$70 |
| Collie | $70-$100 |
| Corgi | $40-$55 |
| Dachshund | $40-$55 |
| Dalmatian | $35-$40 |
| Dandie Dinmont Terrier | $45-$55 |
| Doberman | $35-$40 |
| English Setter | $50-$65 |
| Finnish Spitz | $45-$60 |
| Fox Terrier | $50-$60 |
| German Shepherd Dog | $55-$65 |
| Golden Retriever | $50-$80 |
| Gordon Setter | $50-$70 |
| Great Pyrenees | $80-$100 |
| Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen | $50-$70 |
| Havanese | $50-$60 |
| Irish Setter | $50-$70 |
| Irish Wolfhound | $50-$65 |
| Jack Russell Terrier | $40-$55 |
| Japanese Chin | $40-$55 |
| Keeshond | $60-$90 |
| Kerry Blue Terrier | $60-$85 |
| Labrador | $30-$40 |
| Labradoodle (Standard) | $60-$90 |
| Labradoodle (Miniature/Medium) | $50-$70 |
| Lhasa Apso | $45-$55 |
| Maltese | $40-$60 |
| Mastiff | $45-$50 |
| Newfoundland | $100-$150 |
| Norfolk Terrier | $40-$55 |
| Norwegian Elkhound | $50-$65 |
| Norwich Terrier | $40-$55 |
| Old English Sheepdog | $80-$95 |
| Papillon | $40-$55 |
| Pekingese | $40-$55 |
| Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen | $45-$60 |
| Pomeranian | $40-$55 |
| Poodle (Toy) | $40-$55 |
| Poodle (Miniature) | $50-$60 |
| Poodle (Standard) | $60-$90 |
| Portuguese Water Dog | $60-$80 |
| Pug | $30-$35 |
| Rottweiler | $40-$45 |
| Saint Bernard | $80-$95 |
| Samoyed | $60-$80 |
| Schnauzer (Miniature) | $40-$55 |
| Schnauzer (Giant) | $60-$85 |
| Scottish Terrier | $40-$55 |
| Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) | $55-$65 |
| Siberian Husky | $55-$70 |
| Springer Spaniel | $55-$70 |
| Shih Tzu | $40-$55 |
| Skye Terrier | $40-$55 |
| Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | $65-$75 |
| Tibetan Terrier | $50-$65 |
| Weimaraner | $35-$40 |
| Welsh Terrier | $45-$60 |
| West Highland White Terrier | $45-$55 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | $40-$60 |
Groomer Experience
The groomer’s experience also plays an important role in the pricing, because the more specialized they are with your breed, the more expensive it will be. That is why salons like Petco tend to cost less, because they have less presence and years in the market than PetsSmart.
Price of Mobile Dog Groomers
If you prefer the groomer to come to you, then you need to hire a mobile dog groomer. It is more practical as you do not have to leave your home, and due to this plus, this service is usually more expensive than salon grooming. To come up with price estimations, we explored different marketplaces and service providers:
- Thumbtack (in a special vehicle): $55 to $65
- Thumbtack (in-home): $60 to $75
- Pampered Paws Mobile Grooming (Small business from Illinois): $45-$100 (from small to extra-large dogs)
The dog grooming prices are usually higher, and of course, the aforementioned factors like weight and breed will influence the price. In the case of Pampered Paws Mobile Grooming, they manage the following prices:
- Small and medium breeds: $45 to $65
- Large breeds: $55 to $95
- Extra-large breeds: $75 to $100
After exploring several other mobile grooming providers in different parts of the USA, we found out that their pricing represents an accurate average of the cost for this type of service. However, consider that most mobile groomers will charge you a travel fee that is not included in the original price, otherwise specified.
What is a Mobile Dog Groomer?
As its name clearly suggests, it is a dog grooming service that comes to you, be it to service your dog in a custom vehicle or in your home. It provides key advantages over traditional salon grooming:
- Convenience: The groomers come to you, so you can schedule a visit even if you are pretty busy
- Exclusivity: The groomer will solely work with your dog, as there will not be other pets
- No Stress: Excellent for dogs that suffer from separation anxiety
Therefore, it is a better choice for several owners, and hence, it has been gaining more popularity and notoriety.
Distance
Consider that mobile dog groomers have a specific radio of the areas they service. Once again, let us take Pampered Paws Mobile Grooming as an example. They mainly serve the South Beloit area and its surroundings and the price includes travel charges. Nonetheless, if you live outside such a radio then you will have to pay an additional travel fee.
Therefore, you must ask the mobile groomer beforehand if they charge any travel fee, so it does not come out as a surprise if the overall dog travel price is increased.
Availability
The more popular a mobile groomer is, the less available they will be, and hence, the prices will rise as a result. Therefore, hiring a popular mobile groomer will cost you more, but if they are specialized in your breed, then you should consider it.
Price of Self-Service Dog Grooming
From all the options at your disposal for grooming your dog, self-service is by far the most economical. They are facilities especially conditioned for bathing and grooming your pet, and they bring you everything you need:
- Wash station
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Brushes
- Combs
- Blow Dryers
- Towels
- Aprons
In short, you get everything you need to groom your dog. It is convenient if you want to save money and do not cause a mess at home when bathing your pet. Furthermore, their facilities have benefits for each type of dog. For example, they can have built-in ramps for big dogs, as well as slip-free bottoms to make your pet feel comfortable and safe. As we said, it is the most economical option from the pack, and according to the following marketplaces and self-wash dog stations, these are the average prices:
- Petco: $10-$15
- Two Brothers Dog Wash: $12-$24
- Bubblypaws: $16-$29
The heavier your dog is, the more expensive their grooming will be. Even then, it is far more economical. For example, bathing a Newfoundland at a self-service dog wash facility would cost you a maximum of $29-30, which is a lot less than a regular salon grooming service, which would cost you $100 to $150 in dog grooming prices.
Dog Grooming Prices – FAQs
During our research, we found the following questions to be the most frequent. In consequence, we decided to group them and bring you a straightforward answer for each one.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Dog Groomed?
The price depends on the size and breed of your dog, as well as the type of grooming you choose. The standard prices for getting your dog groomed are:
- Salon grooming: $45 to $70
- Mobile grooming: $45 to $100 (additional travel charges)
- Self-service grooming: $10 to $30
These are average ranges of pricing, and it will vary depending on the groomer. However, as a rule, the bigger and hairier your dog is, the more expensive grooming will be.
How Often Do Dogs Need Grooming?
Grooming frequency depends on the breed of your dog. However, as a rule, you should groom your dog once a month. You should check how fast the hair of your dog grows and how often it sheds to determine when it is time for its next grooming session. Furthermore, the more time it spends outside and the dirtier it gets, the more frequently you will have to groom your pet. Below, find some examples of different breeds and their respective grooming frequency:
- American Cocker: 2-4 weeks
- Afghan Hound: 4-6 weeks
- Boxer: 8-12 weeks
- Great Dane: 12-16 weeks
The fluffier and hairier your dog and the more often it sheds, the more frequently it will need to be groomed.
Is Dog Grooming Expensive?
Dog grooming is expensive if your dog is big (over 80 pounds) and/or has lots of hair. Furthermore, the more extra services you add such as nail polishing and face trimming, the more expensive it will get. The breed, size, and hair of your dog are the most influential factors. To give you some perspective, find some comparisons below:
| Breed | Weight | Coat Description | Shedding | Price |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 70-115 lbs | Thick, long, double | Heavy | $80-$100 |
| Mastiff | 130-220 lbs | Short, dense | Moderate | $45-$50 |
| Pug | 14.18 lbs | Tight, short, single/double | Moderate to heavy | $30-$35 |
In case mobile grooming or salon grooming is too expensive for you, you can always resort to self-service grooming stations, which usually cost between $10 to $30.
Can I Groom My Dog At Home?
You can groom your dog at home, but it is more challenging and therefore it will take more time and patience to do it right. It will help you to save money and even strengthen the relationship with your dog, but you will have to invest in proper equipment and supplies such as shampoo and conditioners. You will have to buy the following items to groom your dog at home:
- Electric clippers + blades
- Scissors + thinning shears
- Brush
- Comb
- Shampoo (pH-balanced)
- Toothbrush + toothpaste
- Dog toenail clippers (nails)
- Otic solution + gauze (ears)
- Blow dryer
- Washing station
- Grooming table
However, we recommend you to outsource this to professionals, because they will do it better and you will save plenty of time and energy.
Do Mobile Dog Groomers Charge A Lot?
Mobile dog groomers tend to be more expensive than salon groomers because they come to your home, which is a premium due to convenience and exclusivity. However, the same factors such as size and breed influence the price the most. To give you an example, these are the pricing ranges for both types of grooming:
- Salon Grooming: $45 to $70
- Mobile Grooming: $45 to $100 (additional travel charges)
Salon grooming can get more expensive depending on the breed of your dog. Furthermore, remember that in many cases you will have to cover the travel fees of the mobile groomer, something that will increase the price.
Dog grooming prices can influence what method of grooming you choose. Check out all the information provided alongside your dog’s specifications to choose what is right for you.