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What dog grooming costs, and why quotes vary

Indicative prices from US groomers’ published price lists, checked October 5, 2026. You’re budgeting for professional grooming, and you want to know what to expect and why one quote can be very different from another.

By Grooming Dogs · Updated October 5, 2026

A groomer washing a curly-coated dog in a salon bathtub.
Photo: Goochie Poochie Grooming / Pexels

Short answer (US prices, checked October 5, 2026):

  • Full groom at a salon: the salons we checked list prices from $55 for a small dog to $200 for an extra-large one, before tax [P1][P2][P3]. National chain Petco advertises a bath and haircut starting at $38. That’s a starting price, not a typical bill [P4].
  • Mobile groomers we checked list full grooms from $90 to over $300 [P5]–[P9].
  • Self-service dog washes charge $15–$20 a session [P10][P11].
  • What changes the price: your dog’s size, coat type and coat condition, and which services are included [1]. Matting, extra handling and travel can add to the bill.
  • These are examples, not averages. Prices vary a lot by area, so get a quote for your dog.

Typical grooming prices

Where these figures come from: we checked the published price lists of 13 US grooming businesses (salons, mobile groomers and self-service washes in 12 areas) on October 5, 2026. The figures are what each business lists, before tax unless stated. They’re indicative examples, not a national average, and they’ll change over time. We don’t recommend or endorse any of these businesses. How we selected them is in our editorial policy.

Full groom at a salon (bath, dry, brush, haircut, nails, ears)

Business (area)Small dogMedium dogLarge dogExtra-large dogPrice type and notes
KHS’ Pet Resorts (Louisville, KY) [P1]$55–$70 (≤20 lb)$65–$155 (21–50 lb)$80–$185 (51–70 lb)$90–$200 (70+ lb)Estimates; can rise with coat condition; plus 6% KY sales tax
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, Carriage Crossing (Boise, ID) [P2]$70 (≤20 lb)$80 (21–40 lb)$95 (41–75 lb)$110 (76–100 lb); $125 (100+ lb)Listed prices; “may vary” with breed and coat; poodles/doodles priced higher
PNW Grooming (Corvallis, OR) [P3]Shih Tzu $80—Golden Retriever $130—Priced by breed, not weight (examples shown)
Petco (stores in New York, NY; Columbus, OH; Austin, TX) [P4]“Bath & haircut starts at $38“Starting price; no size bands listed

Bath only, or bath and brush (no haircut)

Business (area)PriceNotes
KHS’ Pet Resorts (Louisville, KY) [P1]$25–$35 bath only; $30–$40 with nail trimShort-coated dogs; by weight; estimates; plus tax
Woof Gang (Boise, ID) [P2]$35 (≤20 lb) to $75 (100+ lb)“Classic Bath”
PNW Grooming (Corvallis, OR) [P3]Shih Tzu $60; Labrador $70; Golden Retriever $80Bath and brush, by breed
Petco (3 stores) [P4]“Starts at $22”Starting price

Mobile full groom (the groomer comes to you)

Business (area)Listed pricesPrice type and notes
Primped Pooches (McKinney/Frisco/Plano area, TX) [P5]$125 (≤15 lb) to $250 (60+ lb)Listed as an estimate; plus a $15 travel fee on every appointment
Million Dollar Dog (Gaston & York counties, NC/SC) [P6]$130–$155 (1–25 lb) to $220–$235 (46–75 lb)Priced by appointment length; “determined at the date of service”
Julia’s Pet Spa (Montgomery & Frederick counties, MD) [P7]Starts at $110 (≤15 lb) to $150 (30–50 lb)Starting prices; may change with fuel prices and travel distance
Space Coast Mobile Dog Grooming (Melbourne, FL area) [P8]$125 (≤10 lb) to $175 (51–70 lb) for haircut breeds; up to $225 for long-haired breeds; $90–$175 for short-coated breedsListed prices by size and coat
Wiggly Monsters (New York City metro, in-home) [P9]$190–$240 (long or double coat); $230–$320 (curly coat)Sizes not defined; excludes tax and a service charge

Self-service dog wash (you wash your dog)

Business (area)PriceWhat’s included
Agri Feed Pet Supply, “The Spaw” (Knoxville, TN) [P10]$15 per 45-minute sessionShampoo and conditioner, high-velocity dryer, shammy, wash cloth, apron
Care-A-Lot Pet Supply (Virginia Beach, VA) [P11]$20 per washShampoo, water, air dryers, towels, smock, goggles

Nail trim on its own: listed at $10–$12 [P1] and $15 [P3] at two of the salons we checked.

What drives the price

What a groomer charges depends on your dog and the job [1]:

  • Size: in every list we checked that’s priced by weight, the price goes up with the dog’s size [P1][P2][P5]–[P8].
  • Coat type: some businesses price long-haired, curly or “doodle” coats higher than other dogs of the same size [P2][P5][P8][P9]. For the five coat groups, see coat types.
  • Coat condition: a tangled or matted coat takes longer, and several lists say the price can rise with coat condition [P1][P2][2].
  • What’s included: a bath-only visit and a full groom with a haircut are different jobs [1][2]. Check what the standard price covers, for example nails, ears or teeth.
  • Time and handling: some dogs take longer than others [1], and some businesses price by appointment length [P6].
  • Where you live and the type of service: prices differ between areas. In our sample, mobile groomers listed higher prices than salons for similar-sized dogs, but they were in different cities, so this isn’t a like-for-like comparison.

A groomer can give you an accurate price once they’ve seen your dog [1].

Extra charges to expect

  • Matting: some businesses list a separate dematting charge, for example $15 [P3], or from $30–$40 by size [P5]. Others say the price rises with coat condition [P1][P2].
  • Extra time or handling: one mobile groomer lists an “Extra Care” charge for senior or anxious dogs, starting at $25 [P5]. Another prices by appointment length [P6].
  • Add-on services: de-shedding, teeth brushing and nail grinding are often priced separately [P3][P4][P5][P8].
  • Travel: a mobile groomer may add a travel fee (one lists $15 per appointment [P5]), or adjust prices for fuel and distance [P7].
  • Tax and service charges: sales tax may be added, for example 6% at one Kentucky salon [P1]. One in-home groomer’s prices exclude tax and a service charge [P9].
  • Deposits: one salon asks new clients for a refundable deposit when booking [P1].

Before you book, ask for the total and what it includes. If anything could be added on the day, such as for matting, ask the groomer to call you first. For other questions to ask, see choosing a groomer.

Budgeting for a year

  1. Get a quote for your dog’s usual service.
  2. Find your dog’s interval in how often to book, and count the visits in a year.
  3. Multiply the per-visit price by the number of visits.
  4. Add tax, any regular extras (such as nail trims between appointments), and a margin for occasional charges like matting.
StepExample
Per-visit price$80: full groom for a 21–40 lb dog at one Boise, ID salon [P2]
IntervalFor a long-coated dog, every 4 to 8 weeks (from how often to book), which works out to about 7 to 13 visits a year
Yearly costAbout $560 to $1,040, before tax and extras

Your own figures will differ. Use your groomer’s quote and your dog’s interval.

Home grooming vs professional grooming

Grooming at homeProfessional grooming
Upfront costTools, a one-off cost that’s reused. See the tools you’d need.None
Cost per sessionMainly your time and products. A self-service wash costs $15–$20 [P10][P11].Salon full grooms from $55 to $200 in our sample [P1][P2][P3]
What you can realistically doBrushing, bathing, nails, ears and teeth; small tidy-up trims. See grooming at home between visits.Full haircuts, clipping, heavy de-shedding, matted coats
Good fitShort coats; maintenance between appointmentsCoats that need regular haircuts; jobs you can’t do safely

You can also combine the two, doing maintenance at home and using a groomer for the work that needs skill or equipment. Whether home grooming saves money depends on your dog’s coat and how much of the work you can do safely.

Ways to reduce the cost safely

  • Brush between visits: keeping the coat free of tangles can help you avoid matting charges [P3][P5]. See preventing mats.
  • Do the simple jobs at home: for example nails, ears and teeth, if you can do them safely. See grooming at home between visits.
  • Ask for a quote first and check what’s included [1].
  • Choose the service your dog actually needs: a bath-only visit is listed for less than a full groom at every salon we checked [P1][P2][P3][P4].
  • Don’t cut costs by skipping mat prevention or stretching visits so long that the coat mats. A matted coat is uncomfortable for your dog [3], and it can cost more to deal with [P3][P5].

Common questions

Usually because the job turned out to be bigger than expected:

  • Coat condition: for example matting that needed extra time or a short clip. Several businesses list matting charges, or say prices rise with coat condition [P1][P3][P5].
  • Extra services: services added on the day.
  • Time or handling: your dog needed longer, or extra handling [1][P5][P6].
  • Tax or fees: tax, travel or service charges that weren’t in the headline price [P1][P5][P9].

Ask the groomer to explain the difference. Next time, agree in advance that they’ll call you before adding anything.

That’s your call:

  • Price in our sample: the mobile groomers listed full grooms from $90 to over $300 [P5]–[P9], generally above the salons we checked, though in different areas. Some add travel fees [P5][P7].
  • What you’re paying for: your dog is groomed at your door, without a car journey or a busy salon. For some owners, and some dogs, that matters more than the price difference.
  • Compare like with like: compare the total price, including any travel fee, for the same services.

For how the service types differ beyond cost, see choosing a groomer.

Listed doodle prices in our sample:

  • Salon: $90–$145 for a full groom at one Boise salon, depending on size, compared with $70–$125 for other dogs [P2].
  • Salon (by size label): $100–$150 at one Oregon salon [P3].
  • Mobile: $135–$275 from one Texas mobile groomer [P5].

Why it costs more: doodle coats are often curly or wavy. Coats like these keep growing and need regular clipping to stay free of mats, which means longer appointments than for a short-coated dog of the same size. See coat types and how often to book.

Where to go next

Choosing a dog groomer

What to look for beyond price.

How often should you groom your dog?

The interval for your budget.

Brushing your dog

Preventing mats and matting charges.

Dog grooming tools

What home grooming needs.

Prices are indicative examples from US businesses’ published price lists, checked October 5, 2026. They aren’t averages, they change, and they may not include tax or fees. Always get a quote for your dog. We don’t recommend or endorse any business listed. How we write, source and fund our guides.

Sources

Editorial sources

Price sources (all accessed October 5, 2026; citations only)