How Much to Charge for Pet Sitting Per Night
Professional overnight pet sitting runs $75–$125 per night in most markets and up to $150 for insured, bonded sitters in metros — hobby sitters cluster at $40–$75. Additional pets add $5–$15 per night, medication administration $5–$20, and holiday weeks carry a 1.5x rate or flat surcharge. The gap between $50 and $100 a night is mostly whether you present as a business.
Rates by service type
| Service | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Drop-in visit (30 min) | $20–$35 |
| Overnight — hobby sitter | $40–$75 |
| Overnight — professional, insured | $75–$125 |
| Overnight — metro, established | $125–$150 |
Add-ons
- Additional pet — $5–$15 per night.
- Medication administration — $5–$20, more for injections.
- Holiday rate — 1.5x or a flat surcharge.
- Extended-stay discount — a modest reduction past 10–14 nights.
The professional premium is real
The difference between $50 and $100 a night is insurance, bonding, a written agreement, and reliability. Clients who leave a pet for two weeks are buying peace of mind, and they’ll pay for it — but only if you look like a business.
Holidays carry the year
The four or five peak weeks are where the margin lives. Price them accordingly and take deposits, because a December cancellation is the most expensive thing that can happen to your calendar.
Related: pet sitting invoice template and pet sitting invoicing software.
Frequently asked questions
Why do professional sitters charge twice what hobby sitters do?
Insurance, bonding, consistent availability, a contract, and a real business behind the service. Clients leaving a pet for ten days are buying reliability, and the ones who care about that are the ones worth having.
Should holidays cost more?
Yes — 1.5x or a firm surcharge. Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks are dates you could book several times over, and they're the weeks you're giving up your own holiday. That's what premium pricing is for.
How do I price drop-in visits versus overnights?
Drop-ins run $20–$35 per visit and overnights $75–$125. An overnight means you're sleeping there and giving up your own evening, so it should be priced as several visits, not as one long one.