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by MoeGo on Apr 24, 2025 5:29:26 PM
Find out how much dog grooming costs in 2025. Explore average prices, cost factors, and tips for pet owners and dog grooming salons alike.
There are a lot of factors that go into setting dog grooming rates for a business. The size of dog, type of coat, condition of coat, and behavior of the dog all come into consideration when a grooming professional is assessing the cost of the services they are being asked to perform. This is why most answers to the question “How much does dog grooming cost?” are delivered in ranges, and not set dollars.
For the pet owner, this allows them to estimate what it might cost for their dog grooming appointment, and for the grooming professional, this ensures that they are being fairly compensated for their time and expertise.
Average Dog Grooming Costs in 2025
Prices vary depending on what part of the country you are looking at for a pet grooming cost estimate. The average dog grooming cost differs between small towns and cities, for instance, with major metro areas being the most expensive.
Basic Bath: Wash, Dry & Brush
In general, these prices for a basic bath and brush seem to be the low-end of average cost for dog grooming today:
- Small Dog (under 20 pounds): $25-$50
- Medium-Sized Dog (between 20 to 50 pounds): $50 to $75
- Large Dog (50 to 80 pounds): $75 to $125
- Extra Large or Giant Breeds (over 80 pounds): $125 to $200
Full-Grooming Package
In addition to a basic bath, many grooming professionals have full-service packages to care for dogs from tip to tail. These often offer nail trims, ear cleanings, deep conditioning, and more — even health screenings and before-and-after pictures of each pet. Of course, these full grooming packages will cost more than the simple bath and brush listed above, but by combining these services into one package, pet owners have access to a bundled discount, and pet salons can become their go-to for all things grooming-related.
Here are some basic full-service pet grooming price averages:
- Small Dog (under 20 pounds): $75-$125
- Medium-Sized Dog (between 20 to 50 pounds): $125-175
- Large Dog (50 to 80 pounds): $175-200
- Extra Large or Giant Breeds (over 80 pounds): $200 and up
Different breeds that have specific types of coats will have a different pricing structure as well. Goldendoodles, known for their low-maintenance personalities, definitely don’t have low-maintenance coats. Learn more about this specific breed from Sheena and the 300+ doodles she has groomed.
Likewise, a mixed-breed dog may take on more characteristics of one breed over the other — a Border Collie x Australian Shepherd cross could be assessed as the coat of a collie or the coat of a shepherd, and the latter is definitely a more time-intensive coat to care for. And if the furry family member is a German Shepherd, that’s going to push the cost a little higher based on the coat type and size of the dog.
All of these factors play into the average dog grooming cost that clients will encounter as a pet owner — or the average grooming price set by a grooming professional.
Grooming Frequency and Its Impact on Cost
How recently a dog has been brushed out also matters when it comes to the dog grooming cost. It may seem counterintuitive, but oftentimes booking grooming appointments more regularly keeps the average cost lower because a pet will be used to grooming and will have a properly maintained coat that is easier to take care of at the dog grooming salon. Pet grooming professionals are also able to make more accurate estimates if a dog is on a regular grooming schedule, so there are rarely surprises for the owner or salon professional.
If a pet owner takes a pet in only once or twice a year and does minimal maintenance in between grooming, there’s likely going to be a pretty big upcharge for dematting the dog’s fur before the grooming professional can even get started with a bath. The dog may also be unused to grooming, and the whole process may take longer because of it, resulting in more time needed to do a thorough job, and an increased cost.
Caring for a pet’s coat at home in between groomings is also helpful. If a pet owner can make sure to keep up on brushing and bathing at home as needed, this helps to keep the dog used to the grooming process, and keeps costs down for future appointments at the pet care salon. This benefits the pet care salon owner, too — a dog who looks forward to their grooming appointment is often a delight to work with.
Interested in creating a visual grooming guide for your salon? Check out the one that Cloud Grooming created to help serve their clients better.
Typical Add-Ons to a Grooming Appointment
We might think of a pet salon as similar to a human hair salon: wash, cut, style — and done! But a true dog grooming professional can take care of much more than that through add-on services.
Many grooming professionals can assess the health of a dog’s coat, as well as keep their nails trimmed and their ears cleaned. There are special treatments, too, like deep moisturizing conditioner, anti-shedding shampoos, and other treatments that can help a dog look and feel their best. If a dog brings fleas, large matts in their fur, or behavioral issues to their grooming appointment, that can all add to a dog grooming bill in the end. A typical nail trim in between sessions typically costs around $15. Other treatments vary depending on the coat type, size of the pet, and more.
In addition to the wide array of services a dog grooming professional can offer, there’s also the fact that most human salons don’t need to take into consideration their person acting out or potentially biting them because they are scared. The potentially dangerous nature of dog grooming needs to be factored into the cost of grooming services as well.
Mobile vs. Brick-and-Mortar Pet Care Salons
In addition to coat type, condition, and a dog’s behavior, the kind of dog grooming salon providing the service will factor into the overall cost.
Pet salons found in national chain stores can offer competitive pricing, but often lack personalized care for each dog. They are also tending to many dogs a day, often with overlapping appointments, which can create a chaotic environment that may not work well for every pet. The people caring for the dogs are employees of a big store, as well, and may or may not have the experience needed to deal with all types of dogs and their behaviors.
Locally-owned pet stores often offer grooming services as well, and often have less employee turnover, meaning more experience in caring for and grooming dogs of all types.
Many dog grooming salons are operated by owner-operators who are knowledgeable and passionate about caring for and grooming dogs. They generally offer very personalized attention, care for one dog at a time, and their pricing structures account for that.
In addition to brick-and-mortar pet care salons, mobile dog grooming salons are on the rise. With this business model, a pet grooming professional comes to a client’s home and cares for pets inside a van outfitted for that very purpose. This style of dog grooming offers the most personalized service possible, and saves owners a trip to and from the pet salon in the meantime. Odds are that this will be the most expensive of the pet grooming solutions, but it comes with some significant upsides.
Is Pet Grooming Worth the Cost?
Many pet owners neglect to factor in the cost of grooming before adding a furry family member. The sticker shock can certainly have them wondering if regular dog grooming is worth it, or even necessary. For the dog grooming professional, gentle client education can go a long way in demonstrating the effectiveness and benefits of regular dog grooming.
Health, Hygiene & Long-Term Savings
Dog grooming professionals today are often trained to do much more than wash and brush a dog’s hair. With regular grooming, an experienced dog grooming professional becomes cued into the condition of a pet’s coat and can be on the lookout for skin reactions that may be a sign of allergies. Similarly, regular brushing at a pet salon can help identify fleas, ticks, and more that the family may not catch themselves, ensuring that they are dealt with promptly to avoid future health issues. The long-term savings of pet grooming can be truly worth it.
Professional Grooming vs. DIY Grooming Costs
More frugal pet owners think they can handle a DIY grooming routine to save on grooming costs. While many can, especially for low-maintenance coats and personalities, a professional pet groomer has specialized equipment and training to help them do their job thoroughly and effectively.
Most pet owners would rather not spend three (or more!) hours on a beautiful Saturday morning bathing, drying, and clipping their pup with some worn-down kitchen shears. It’s not fun for the human — and usually not for the dog, either.
Establishing a relationship with a local pet grooming professional can save a pet owner time, money, and many headaches in the end. The expertise of a dog grooming professional is well worth the cost.
Bonus: How Grooming Businesses Use Software to Set & Manage Prices
As we’ve detailed, there are nearly unlimited factors that go into setting dog grooming rates in today’s market. This can be frustrating for pet grooming professionals and their owners, since neither party always knows what to expect when booking a dog grooming appointment. That’s where pet care software solutions can help.
Transparent Pricing with Grooming Software
With a pet care solutions software like MoeGo, pet salon owners can set transparent prices that owners can see when they log in to the booking software. Pet owners can select the breed type, size, time since last appointment, add-on services, and more so that clients can see the most accurate pricing range possible ahead of booking, and salon owners can book the right amount of time for their furry clients. MoeGo also offers salon owners the opportunity to create membership plans for recurring clients, and uses AI to help rebook clients to maintain optimal grooming intervals depending on dog coat type and more.
This means fewer surprises for pet owners, salon owners, and the pets themselves — which is a win-win all around.
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