For the person doing the work
Pet sitting rate calculator
For the sitter setting their rates. Enter how long a visit takes and how far you drive, and see the price per visit that actually pays for your time — not just the going rate on an app.
What pet sitting goes for, and where that number comes from
Your price should start from your costs. These published rates are the sanity check — if you land far outside them, look at your hours and your drive before you look at your rate.
| What | Published figure | Source | Data from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-minute pet sitting visit, typical range | $29 – $39 | Time To Pet | 2024 data |
| 30-minute pet sitting visit, national average | $34.12 | Time To Pet | 2024 data |
| Drop-in visit, average on Rover | $21.80 | Rover | Sep 2025 data |
| House sitting, per night, on Rover | $55.45 | Rover | Sep 2025 data |
| Boarding in the sitter's home, per night | $49.01 | Rover | Sep 2025 data |
Rover's figures are what sitters list on the app, before Rover takes its cut. Time To Pet doesn't publish how its averages are gathered. Treat both as a rough range to check your number against, not a price to copy.
The awkward questions
How should I price overnight stays?
Not by the hour — nobody pays twelve hours of wages to have you sleep on their couch. Overnights are usually a flat nightly rate. Use the published nightly figures in the table as a starting point, then check that the active care time (evening and morning visits, walks) priced here is covered.
What should I charge for an extra pet?
Charge for the extra time it adds. If a second dog adds ten minutes to the visit, add ten minutes to the visit length and see the difference. Many sitters settle on a flat add-on per extra pet once they know their numbers.
I book through an app. Where does its cut go?
Put the app's percentage in the card or app fees field instead of 3%. The price will rise to cover it, which is exactly what your listed rate needs to do.
Should holiday visits cost more?
Most sitters charge a holiday surcharge, because demand spikes and you're giving up your own holiday. Raise the hourly figure for holiday bookings and copy that link into your holiday price list.
Is the hourly figure what I take home?
It's before income and self-employment tax. This tool prices the visit; it doesn't give tax advice.